Zl.S 72-
Index to volume 7 8
1985
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British Birds
Editorial Board
Stanley Cramp
PJ Grant
M A Ogilvie
j I R Sharrock
Photographic Consultants
R J Chandler and Don Smith
V olume 78
1985
British Birds Ltd
Rarities Committee
P.J. Grant (Chairman), D. J. Britton, A. R. Dean, R. H. Dennis, D. J. Holman, T. P. Inskipp,
P. G. Lansdown, S. G. Madge, 1. S. Robertson & K. E. Vinicombe;
Peter Colston (Museum Consultant & Archivist); Michael J. Rogers (Honorary Secretary)
Behaviour Notes Panel
Dr G. J. Bibby, Dr J. J. M. Flegg, Dr C. H. Fry, Derek Goodwin,
Dr M. A. Ogilvie, DrJ. T. R. Sharrock & Dr K. E. E. Simmons
Identification Notes Panel
P.J. Grant, S. C. Madge, Dr M. A. Ogilvie & DrJ. T. R. Sharrock
Index to volume 78
Compiled by Airs N. D. Blamire
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 1984’, but excluding those in ‘Recent reports', ‘News and comment',
requests and reviews;
(2) scientific nomenclature under generic names only and following The 'British Birds' List of
Birds oj the Western Palearctic ( 1984);
(3) authors of all papers, notes, reviews and letters, and photographers; papers are referred
to by their titles, other contributions as ‘note on’, ‘review of’, etc.;
(4) a lew' subject headings, i.e. ‘Announcements’, ‘Breeding’, ‘Editorials’, ‘Field characters'.
‘Food’, Migration’, ‘News and comment’, ‘Obituaries’, ‘Rarities Committee’, ‘Recent
reports’, ‘Requests’, ‘Roosting’ and ‘V oice’;
(5) ‘Reviews’ and ‘Short reviews’, which are listed together under these headings in alpha-
betical order of authors reviewed.
Accentor, Alpine, European news, 343, 643
Accipiter gentilis, see Goshaw k
gularis, see Sparrow hawk, Japanese
nisus, see Sparrowhawk
soloensis, see Goshawk, Chinese
Acklam, Geolfrey, European news, 638-45
Acrocephalus aedon , see Warbler, Thick-billed
agricola , see Warbler, Paddyfield
arundinaceus , see Warbler, Great Reed
bistrigiceps , see Warbler. Black-browed
Reed
concinens , see Warbler, Blunt-winged
dumetorum , see Warbler. Blyth's Reed
paludicola , see Warbler. Aquatic
palustris , see Warbler, Marsh
schoenobaenus. see Warbler, Sedge
scirpaceus. see Warbler. Reed
stentoreus , see Warbler, Clamorous Reed
Actitis hypoleucos , see Sandpiper, Common
macularia , see Sandpiper, Spotted
Adams, S. N., how many bird species in the
world? (letter), 51
Aegolius Junereus . see Owl, Tengmalm's
Aix galericulata, see Mandarin
sponsa , see Duck, W ood
Alaemon alaudipes, see Lark, Hoopoe
Alauda arvensis, see Skylark
Albatross, Black-browed, summering in
Britain 1982, 73; European news, 338, 638:
accepted record 1984, 532
Alca torda, see Razorbill
Alcedo atthis, see Kingfisher
Alectoris ruja , see Partridge. Red-legged
Alexander, S. M. D., photograph of Griffon
Vulture, 291. plate 125
Alle alle , see Auk, Little
Allsopp, Keith, and Dawson, Ian. recent
reports, see Recent reports
Alstrom, Per, letter on identification of
Wheatearand Isabelline Wheatear, 304-5,
plates 139-43; note on tertial patterns of
Wigeon and American Wigeon. 397-8;
European news, 638-45
, , and L llman, Magnus. European
news, 337-46
Amandava amandava. see Avadavat
Ammodramus sandwichensis. see Sparrow.
Savannah
Anas acuta, see Pintail
americana. see Wigeon, American
crecca , see Teal
cyanoptera. see Teal, Cinnamon
discors, see Teal. Blue-w inged
formosa. see Teal, Baikal
penelope. see Wigeon
platyrhynchos, see Mallard
querquedula, see Garganey
rubripes, see Duck. American Black
Anastomus oscitans, see Openbill. Asian
Announcements: special Thailand ‘package'
for BB' readers, extra baggage allowance
on Thai Airways International. Mystery
Photographs Book. The ‘ British Birds ’ List of
Birds of the Western Palearctic. custom-
691
692
Index to volume 78
printed British Birds indexes 1946-83, front
cover designs for sale, Bird Photograph of
the Year, Best recent black-and-white
bird-photographs, Bird Illustrator of the
Year, The Richard Richardson Award,
‘BB’ badges, Collins Publishers, 53-8;
‘Young Ornithologists of the Year’, A
Lighthouse Notebook , Bird Navigation: the
solution of a mystery?, Oriental Bird Club,
XIX Congressus Ornithologicus, reduced
price for The Atlas of Birds of the Western
Palaearctic , BWP IV, special exclusive BWP
offer, 112-5; Christmas Whisky Puzzle,
birds of southern Africa in colour, ‘BW P’
reminder, £30 off 'BWP I-IV’, 154-5;
quicker books from British BirdShop,
BWP’ reminder, £30 off ‘BWP I-IY', The
Popular Handbook , 201; Italian conference,
253; The Birdwatcher’s A-Z, .4 Guide to the
Birds of Nepal , Eric Hosking’s Owls, huge
increase in BB subscription price, BB trip
to Thailand, 307-8; payments to BB by
GIRO, A Guide to the Birds of Nepal, David
Hunt’s autobiography, 357-9; Irish sub-
scribers, from plastic macs to dirty
raincoats, The Frontiers of Bird Identification,
special offer, Birds in your Garden, The Birds
of Australia, special offer, 405-6; your last
chance to buy ‘Bigjake’, moths & butter-
flies, and spiders, special BB trip to
Thailand, 458-9; meeting of Working
Group on Granivorous Birds, A Dictionary
of Birds — Best Bird Book of 1985, The
Frontiers oj Bird Identification — special offer,
A Field Guide to the Birds of Japan- — special
offer, new books in British BirdShop, 516-
7; loose binders: available again, new
books in British BirdShop, your January
issue, 599; binding your BBs. Bird Photo-
graph of the Year, Best recent black-and-
white bird-photographs, 675-6
Anser albifrons, see Goose, White-fronted
anser, see Goose, Greylag
brachyrhynchus , see Goose, Pink-footed
caerulescens , see Goose, Snow
erythropus , see Goose, Lesser White-
fronted
fabalis, see Goose, Bean
Anthropoides virgo, see Crane, Demoiselle
Anthus campestris, see Pipit, Tawny
cervinus, see Pipit, Red-throated
gustavi, see Pipit, Pechora
hodgsoni, see Pipit, Olive-backed
novaeseelandiae, see Pipit, Richard’s
roseatus, see Pipit, Rosy
spinoletta, see Pipit, Rock
trivialis, see Pipit, Tree
Appleyard, Ian, note on territorial behaviour
of Ring Ouzels, 149-50
Apus ajfinis, see Swift, Little
apus, see Swift
melba, see Swift, Alpine
pacificus, see Swift, Pacific
pallidus, see Swift, Pallid
unicolor, see Swift, Plain
Aquila chrysaetos, see Eagle, Golden
clanga, see Eagle, Spotted
heliaca , see Eagle, Imperial
pomarina, see Eagle, Lesser Spotted
rapax, see Eagle, Tawny/Steppe
Ardea cinerea, see Heron, Grey
purpurea, see Heron, Purple
Ardeola ralloides, see Heron, Squacco
Arenaria interpres, see Turnstone
Arlott, Norman, review of Lovegrove and
Snow: River Birds, 263; ol Ian Sinclair’s Field
Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa, 413; of
McCanch: A Lighthouse Notebook, 524
Armstrong, A., photograph of Greenish
Warbler, 576, plate 282
Ashby, C. B., note on House Sparrow associ-
ating in flight with Black-headed Gull, 597
Asio otus, see Owl, Long-eared
Athene noclua, see Owl, Little
Auk, Little, European news, 343; killed by
Eulmars, 451
Avadavat, European news, 345
Aviceda leuphotes, see Baza, Black
Avocet, British breeding records 1982, 82;
resting on sea, 235-6; semantic correction,
405
Ay thy a americana, see Redhead
baeri, see Pochard, Baer’s
collaris, see Duck, Ring-necked
fuligula, see Duck, Tufted
nyroca, see Duck, Ferruginous
Baicich, Paul, letter on A Guide to the Birds of
Venezuela , 597-8
Banwell, A., note on Grasshopper Warbler
mistaken for Savi’s Warbler, 197
Barnes, John, note on birds eating dog faeces,
513
Bartramia longicauda , see Sandpiper, Lapland
Basterfield, Peter, photograph of Common
Yellow throat, 582, plate 285
Baumanis, Janis, European news, 337-46,
638-45
Baza, Black, in Thailand, 18
Beaman, Mark, and Porter, Richard,
Expeditions, see Expeditions
Bee-eater, colour photograph, 216, plate 93;
European news, 343; accepted records
1983-4, 564
, Blue-cheeked, European news, 343;
accepted record 1982, 564
Index to volume 78
Bee-eater, Blue-tailed, in Thailand, 14
, Blue-throated, in Thailand, 14
Bell, Peter T., see Ross. Andrew G.
Belsey, .John T., photograph of Marmora’s
Warbler, 476, plate 218
Bennett, Linda, review of Holden and
Sharrock: A First Book of Birds. 687
Best recent black-and-white bird-photo-
graphs, 287-9, plates 122-34
Bibby, Colin J., review ol Evans, Goss-
Custard and Hale: Coastal Waders and
Wildfowl in 1 1 inter. 261; of O’Connor: The
Growth and Development of Birds. 264
, , see Robins, Mark
Bijlsma, Rob G., note on foraging and
hunting efficiency of Caspian Tern, 146-7
Binoculars and telescopes survey 1985, 167-
75
Bird Illustrator of the Year 1985, 317-22;
award presentation, 460, plates 212-3
Bird Photograph of the Year 1985, 211-6,
plates 88-93; award presentation, 407,
plate 190
Bittern, in Thailand, 17; mystery photo-
graph, 41, 103-5, plates 20, 47-8: British
breeding records 1982, 73; field-
characters, 98, 102, plate 46; risk of
confusing call with that of common toad.
198
, American, held characters, 104-5,
plate 49; accepted records 1982-3, 532-3
, Little, British breeding record:
correction, 73; European news, 338
, Schrenck’s Little, in Thailand, I 7
Blackbird, alopecia in. 47; taking rowan
berry in flight, 242; persistent attack on
cat. 354; juvenile moulting to first-winter
plumage, 426, plate 205; cannibalism by,
51 1 -2; second female rearing brood of dead
female, 512; eating fox faeces, 512; eating
dog faeces, 513; juvenile ‘frolicking’,
‘playing’, and copulating with inanimate
objects, 667; found dead at sewage-farm
sludge beds. 667
, Grey-winged, in Thailand. 25
Blackburn, F. V., photograph of Dartford
Warbler, 276, plate 1 12; photograph of
Cuckoo, 475, plate 2 1 7
Blackcap, foliage-bathing in gardens. 354;
influx of Fenno-Scandian migrants
October 1982, 388; spring migration 1985.
432
Blincow, J. L, note on Broad-billed
Sandpiper with long-legged appearance.
191. plates 84-5; letter on the Bucking-
hamshire skua. 669-7 1 . plates 325-8
Bloch, Dorete, European news, 337-46
Bluetail, Red-flanked, m Ihailand. 14. 24.
32; accepted record 1984. 571
693
Bluethroat. in Thailand. 11. 24. 31, 36;
European news, 344
Bobolink, accepted record 1984. 586
Boddy, M. and F. E., note on Cuckoos
mating on overhead electricity cable. 239-
40
Boilstone, M. A., see Ormerod. S. J.
Bombycilla garrulus. see Waxwing
Bonasa bonasia, see Grouse. Hazel
Bond, Anthony J., photograph of Curlews,
294, plate 131; of Common Terns, 294.
plate 132
Books for Christmas, 525-8
Boswall, Jeffery, letter on song of Grass-
hopper Warbler, 198; review of Knys-
tautas and Liutkus: In the World oj Birds.
262; letter on captive female Corncrake
uttering craking call. 403; letter on
requests for reprints, 672
Botaurus lentiginosus, see Bittern. American
stellaris. see Bittern
Bottomley, J. B. and S., photograph of
Western Sandpiper, 291, plate 126; of
Ring-billed Gull, 3.30, plate 152
Bourne, W. R. P., letter on the man who
thought of ‘jizz’, 251-2
Box, T. A., note on feeding behaviour and
voice of Cory’s Shearwater at sea, 507-8
Braae, Lasse, European news. 337-46
Brambling, British breeding records 1981-2.
90-1; catching falling nuts and robbing
Greenfinch, 244; influx of Fenno-Scandian
migrants October 1982, 388
Branta bemicla. see Goose, Brent
leucopsis. see Goose. Barnacle
ruficollis. see Goose. Red-breasted
Breeding: Nests: Kestrel. 601; Peregrine.
593-4; Collared Dove, 664; Swallow. 455-
6; House Martin, 149. 240-1: Incubation:
Kestrel. 144-5
Breek. C. J„ photograph of Richard's Pipit.
349. plate 161
Breife, Bertil, photographs of black-headed
Yellow Wagtails M./.Jeldegg. 178-82.
plates 71, 73, 77
British Birds’ Best Bird Book of the Year.
471
Brodie. Ewan, note on Bramblings catching
falling nuts in flight, and robbing Green-
finch. 244
Brown. Alan, and Gordon. Peter R.. note on
head pattern of immature Citrine Wagtail,
196
Brown, B. J., note on feeding method of a
Scarlet Rosefinch. 244; on Red-eyed \ ireo
catching great green bush cricket, 514
. . and Read. J. R.. note on White-
694
Index to volume 78
throat feeding on insects on algae-covered
concrete, 243
Brown, Chris, photograph of Needle-tailed
Swift, 563, plate 273
Brown, I. A. R., note on Grey Heron diving
from air for fish, 235
Brown, M. F., note on Rooks feeding on
human vomit, 513
Broyd, S. J., Savannah Sparrow: new to the
Western Palearctic, 647-56, plates 307-18
Bubo bubo, see Owl, Eagle
Bubulcus ibis, see Egret, Cattle
Bucanetes githagineus, see Finch, Trumpeter
Bucephala clangula , see Goldeneye
Bulweria bulwerii, see Petrel. Bulwer’s
Bundy, Graham, PhotoSpot: Grey Hvpo-
colius, 93-5, plate 35; note on communal
feeding by Western Reef Herons, 107-8; on
communal winter roosting by Imperial
Eagles, 108
Bunting, Black-faced, in Thailand, 30
, Black-headed, European news, 345;
accepted record 1984, 586
. Chestnut, in Thailand, 29, 32
, Chestnut-eared, in Thailand, 30
, Cirl, British breeding records 1982, 92
, Corn, PhotoSpot, 346-7, plates 156-7;
song possibly mimicked by Grasshopper
Warbler, 400- 1
, House, European news, 645
, Indigo, European news, 645
, Little, in Thailand, 29, 31-2; European
news, 345; accepted records 1983-4, 584-5
, Pine, photograph, 367, plate 170
, Reed, feeding on decaying potato, 401
, Rock, European news, 645
, Rustic, accepted records 1983-4, 583-4,
plate 287; European news, 645
, Snow, British breeding records 1982,
92; photograph, 164, plate 69; feeding on
sea-slaters, 597
, Yellow-breasted, in Thailand, 11, 13,
29, 33; summering in Britain 1982, 91;
accepted records 1980-4, 585-6; European
news, 645
, Yellow-browed, possible passage route
of Fair Isle bird, 51-2
Burhinus oedicnemus , see Stone-curlew
Burn, Hilary, review of Jonsson: Bud Island,
165-6
Burns, David W., photograph ofSwainson’s
Thrush, 569, plate 279
Bushchat, Grey, in Thailand, 32
, Pied, in Thailand, 24
Bustard, Great, European news, 341, 641,
plate 155
, Houbara, European news, 640
Bulastur indicus, see Buzzard, Grey-faced
Buteo buleo , see Buzzard
Buteo lagopus, see Buzzard, Rough-legged
rufinus. see Buzzard, Long-legged
Buzzard, in Thailand, 18, 32; seizing prey
dropped by attacking Peregrine, 193;
heavy hippoboscid infestations on, 592
, Crested Honey, in Thailand, 18
, Grev-faced, in Thailand, 18, 32
, Honey, British breeding records 1982,
76; European news, 340
, Long-legged, European news, 340
, Rough-legged, European news, 640
Calandrella brachydactyla, see Lark, Short-toed
Calidris acuminata , see Sandpiper, Sharp-
tailed
alpina, see Dunlin
bairdii , see Sandpiper, Baird’s
canulus , see Knot
ferruginea, see Sandpiper, Curlew
Juscicollis , see Sandpiper, White-
rumped
mauri, see Sandpiper, Western
melanotos, see Sandpiper, Pectoral
— — minuta, see Stint, Little
minutilla, see Sandpiper, Least
pusilla, see Sandpiper, Semipalmated
rujicollis, see Stint, Red-necked
subminuta, see Stint, Long-toed
temminckii, see Stint, Temminck's
tenuirostris, see Knot, Great
Calonectns diomedea, see Shearwater, Cory’s
Campbell, Bruce, review of North: Nests and
Eggs oj Buds found Breeding in Australia and
Tasmania , 470
Cant, R. G. H., note on tree-perching by
waders in Malaysia, 236
Capnmulgus europaeus , see Nightjar
nubicus , see Nightjar, Nubian
Carduelis chloris, see Greenfinch
bomemanni, see Redpoll, Arctic
spinus, see Siskin
Carlson, K. J., photograph of black-headed
Yellow Wagtail M jjeldegg , 179, plate 72;
colour photograph of Pheasants mating,
213, plate 89; photograph of Greenfinch,
293, plate 129; of Pheasant, 293, plate 130;
of Nuthatch, 295, plate 133
Carpodacus erythrinus , sec Rosefinch, Scarlet
nipalensis, see Rosefinch, Dark-breasted
Calharus guttatus, see Thrush, Hermit
minimus, see Thrush, Grav-cheeked
ustulatus , see Thrush, Swainson’s
Catley, Graham P., photographs of
Laughing Gull, 553, plates 260-1
, , and Hursthouse, David, Parrot
Crossbills in Britain, 482-505, plates 22 1 -
39
Cepphus grylle, see Guillemot, Black
Index to volume 78
695
Certhia brachydactyla , see Treecreeper, Short-
toed
Jamiliaris, see Treecreeper
Ceryle alcyon , see Kingfisher, Belted
Cettia canturiens , see Warbler, Manchurian
Bush
cetti, see Warbler, Cetti’s
squameiceps , see Warbler, Stub-tailed
Bush
Chaffinch, colour photograph, 215, plate 92;
eating dog faeces, 5 1 3
Chandler, R. J., photographs ofGrey Heron,
97-101, plates 38, 42-3; of Mystery
Photographs Book reception, 1 17, plates 51-
2; of Black Tern, 350, 378-9, plates 162,
179, 181; of Bird Photograph of the Year
award presentation, 407, plate 190; review
of Kear: Erie Hosking’s Wildfowl, 412-3;
photograph of Ring-billed Gull, 421, plate
199; photograph of ‘Bird Illustrator of the
Year’ awards presentation, 460, plates
212-3
el al., Bird photograph of the Year, 211-
6; best recent black-and-white bird-photo-
graphs, 287-9, plates 122-34
Charadrius alexandrinus , see Plover, Kentish
asiaticus , see Plover, Caspian
dubius, see Plover, Little Ringed
hiaticula, see Plover, Ringed
leschenaultii, see Plover, Greater Sand
mongolus , see Plover, Lesser Sand
morinellus , see Dotterel
peronii, see Plover, Malaysian
semipalmatus, see Plover, Semipalmated
voci ferns, see Killdeer
Chatfield, David G. P., note on Great Tit
unhooking nut-bag, 49
C'.heke, R. A., letter on an earlier Snowy
Sheathbill, 246
Chersophilus duponti, see Lark, Dupont's
Chettusia gregaria, see Plover, Sociable
leucura, see Plover, White-tailed
ChiffchafT, European news of P.c. tnstis. 344;
spring migration 1985, 432; field-
characters of P.c.abietinus and tnstis, 441-7,
plate 210
Chionis alba, see Sheathbill, Snowy
Chlamvdotis undulata, see Bustard, Houbara
Chlidonias hybndus. see Tern, Whiskered
leucopterus. see Tern, White-winged
Black
niger, see Tern, Black
Chondestes grammacus. see Sparrow, Lark
Chordeiles minor , see Nighthawk, Common
Chough, population structure, dispersal and
biometrics on Bardsey, 217-32, 690, plates
94-5; P.p.brachypus breeding in cities in
Mongolia, 247; competition with Jackdaw
for nest sites unlikely, 247-8
Chough, Alpine, European news, 644
Christie, David A., review of Hudec: Fauna
CSSR: Pldci — Aves. Part 3, vols. 1 & 2,
209-10; note on persistent attack on
potential nest predator by Blackbird, 354
Christmas books, 525-8
Ciconia ciconia, see Stork, White
nigra, see Stork, Black
Cinclus cinclus, see Dipper
Circaetus gqllicus, see Eagle, Short-toed
Circus aeruginosus, see Harrier, Marsh
cyaneus, see Harrier, Hen
macrourus, see Harrier. Pallid
pygargus, see Harrier, Montagu’s
Cisticola juncidis, see Warbler, Fan-tailed
Clarke, Margaret, note on Nuthatch
hovering, 1 1 1
Clegg, Michael, insect, amphibian or bird?
(letter), 198
Colaptes auratus, see Flicker, Northern
Colcombe, Keith, photograph, 678, plate 329
Coleman, J. R., note on cannibalism by
Blackbird, 51 1-2
Coles, Royston K., watching a Rustic
Bunting, 158, plate 59
Collinge, David B., note on House Martins’
nests on ship, 148-9
Collins, D. R., note on interspecific
aggression between Little Grebe and
Dipper, 591
Columba livia, see Dove, Rock
palumbus, see Woodpigeon
Constantine, David, photograph of
Waxwing, 313, plate 145
Cook, S. G. D., photograph of Marmora’s
Warbler, 478, plate 219; of Savannah
Sparrow, 649-55, plates 310, 313, 317; of
Pomarine Skua, 670-1, plates 325-8
Coot, feeding by artificial light, 108-9
, American, feeding on droppings of
Muscovy Duck, 513
, Crested, European news, 341
Cope, David A., note on hovering as feeding
strategy of Pied Wagtail, 1 1 1
Coracias garrulus, see Roller
Cormorant, European news, 338, 638
Corncrake, captive female uttering craking
call, 403; spring migration 1985, 433;
European news, 640
Conw corone, see Crow, Carrion
frugilegus, see Rook
monedula. see Jackdaw
Cottridge, David M., photograph of Purple
Heron, 98, plate 39; of Little Crake, 259,
plates 99-100; of Sociable Plover, 367,
plate 169; of Alpine Swift, 368, plates 172-
3; of Oriental Cuckoo, 523, plates 245-6; of
Savannah Sparrow, 65 1 , plate 3 1 2
696
Index to volume 78
Courser, Cream-coloured, accepted record
1984, 543-4, plates 251-4
Coutts, Dennis, photograph of Iceland Gull
L.g.kumlieni, 557, plate 264; of Needle-
tailed Swift, 562, plate 270; of Common
Yellowthroat, 570, plate 280
Cox, Simon, photographs of Crossbills, 487-
503, plates 224-5, 230, 238
Crake, Baillon’s, in Thailand, 19, 34;
European news, 341
, Little, photographs 258-9, plates 99-
101, 313, plate 146; call confused with
European tree frog, 306; accepted record
1983,541
, Spotted, in Thailand, 19; British
breeding records 1982, 81; European
news, 341
Cramp, Stanley, review of Hywel-Davies and
Thom: The Macmillan Guide to Britain’s
Nature Reserves , 262
Crane, accepted records 1982-4, 541-2;
European news, 640
, Demoiselle, European news, 640
, Siberian White, European news, 341
Cranfield, J. G., note on unusual Swallow
nest, 455-6
Crex crex, see Corncrake
Crossbill, eating minerals, 50; European
news, 345
, Parrot, summary' of British records,
482-505, plates 221-39; accepted records
1983-4,581
Croucher, Tony, photograph of Booted
Warbler, 63, plate 22; of Tawny Pipit, 64,
plate 28; of Little Crake, 259, plate 101; of
Cream-coloured Courser, 543, plates 25 1 -
4; of Savannah Sparrow, 650, plate 31 1
Crow, Carrion, taking seabird eggs, 150-1;
feeding methods on seashore, 151-2; taking
insect prey on the wing, 303; wire nest taken
over by Peregrines, 593-4, plate 290
Crowther, David, European news, 337-46,
638-45
Cuckoo, mating on overhead cable, 239-40;
drinking, 351-3, plate 163; spring
migration 1985, 429; photographs, 474-5,
plates 216-7; tired juvenile landing on sea
when harassed, 662
, Oriental, PhotoSpot, 473-5, plates 215-
7; photographs, 523, plates 245-6
Cuculus canorus, see Cuckoo
saturatus, see Cuckoo, Oriental
Cuisin, M., range-expansion of the Black
Woodpecker in Western Europe, 184-7,
plates 78-9
Curlew, aberrant individual in Gwent and
South Glamorgan, 44-5; tree-perching in
Malaysia, 236; photograph, 294, plate 131
, Eastern, in Thailand, 19
Cursorius cursor, see Courser, Cream-coloured
Curtis, W. E., Lassey, P. A., and Wallace,
D. 1. M., identifying the smaller shear-
waters, 123-38
Cygnus columbianus , see Swan, Bewick’s
cygnus, see Swan, Whooper
olor , see Swan, Mute
Cypsiurus batasiensis, see Swift, Asian Palm
Darling, P., note on leg-length of Black and
White-winged Black Terns, 238
Dathe, Heinrich, letter on distinction be-
tween Mandarin and Wood Duck in
female-type plumages, 514-5
Davenport, L. letter on black-headed
Yellow Wagtails in western Europe, 515;
note on Kestrel persistently running for
insects on golf green, 593; letter on British
status of northern Lesser Black-backed
Gulls, 668-9
Davies, Alan, note on Golden Eagle taking
badger cubs, 592-3
Dawson, Ian, review of Dejonghe: Les Oiseaux
de Montague, 209; of Perrins and Middle-
ton: The Encyclopaedia oj Birds, 609-10
, , see Allsopp, Keith
Dean, A. R., mystery photograph 102:
Pectoral Sandpiper, 281-2; review of
British status and identification of
Greenish Warbler, 437-51, plate 210;
comments in report on rare birds in Great
Britain in 1984, 529-89
Dean, Tim, note on plastic hazards to birds,
661-2, plate 324
de Juana, Eduardo, European news, 337-46,
638-45
Delichon dasypus, see Martin, Asian House
urbica, see Martin, House
de Liedekerke, Rene, and Tombeur,
Eranklin L. L., European news, 337-46,
638-45
Dendrocopos leucotos, see Woodpecker, White-
backed
major, see Woodpecker, Great Spotted
Dendrocygna javanica, see Treeduck, Lesser
Dendroica striata, see Warbler, Blackpoll
Dendronanthus indicus, see Wagtail, Forest
Diary dates, 283-4, 674-5
di Carlo, E. A., see Ortali. Azelio
Dicrurus macrocercus, see Drongo, Black
Diomedea melanophris, see Albatross, Black-
browed
Dipper, feeding on fish, 241-2; anting-like
behaviour with fish, 242; chased by Little
Grebe, 591
Diver, Black-throated, European news, 638
, Great Northern, European news, 338
, White-billed, photograph, 257, plate
98; European news, 338; accepted records
1984, 531, plate 247
Index to volume 78
697
Doherty, Paul, photograph of Little Crake,
313, plate 146; of Long-toed Stint, 567,
plate 275; of Penduline Tit, 569, plate 278
Dolichonyx oryzivorus , see Bobolink
Donnison, A., photograph of Lesser Grey
Shrike, 579, plate 283
Dotterel, European news, 341-2; photo-
graphs, 607, plates 301-2, 682, plate 333
Dougail, Tom \V., note on wing-clapping by
Mistle Thrush, 400
Dove, Collared, European new's, 642; nesting
inside buildings, 664
, Rock, failure of Peregrine to reach
injured individual stranded on mud, 235
, Laughing, European news, 642
, Rufous Turtle, European news, 343,
642
, Turtle, spring migration 1985, 433;
possible decline in Britain, 598-9
Dowitcher, accepted records 1983-4, 550
, Asian, in Thailand, 20, 35
, Long-billed, in Thailand, 19, 35;
European news, 342, 641; accepted
records 1979-84,549
, Short-billed, mystery photograph, 436,
506, plates 209, 240
Draper, Ivan T., letter on the origin of ’jizz’,
252
Dromas ardeola , see Plover, Crab
Drongo, Black, in Thailand, 14
Dryocopus martins , see W cxxlpecker. Black
Dubois, Philippe ]., European news, 337-46,
638-45
Duck, American Black, breeding with
Mallards in Britain 1982, 73; accepted
records 1984, 537
, Ferruginous, in Thailand, 32
, Marbled, European news, 639
, Ring-necked, possibility of confusion
with Tufted Duck X Pochard hybrids, 42-
3; European news, 339, 640: accepted
records 1981-4. 538. plate 250
. Tufted, hybrid X Pochard, mystery
photograph. 40. plate 19; hybrid X
Pochard resembling Ring-necked Duck.
42-3; female moving eggs to new nest. 59 1 -
2
, White-headed, European news. 339
, Wood, European news: correction,
339; female-type field-characters. 514-5;
European news. 639
Dummigan, Neil P.. note on Spotted
Flycatcher attacking grey squirrel. 49
Dunlin, aggression of albino towards other
waders, 44; photographs. 290, plates 123-
4; European news, 342; wing-span
measurements, 404; photographs ot. 422.
plate 200, 423. plate 201
Dunn. E. K., and W ilson, M. G., letter on
call of Pallid Swift, 152-3
Dunn, Margaret FI., letter on Ptarmigan on
Arran, 668
Dunn, P. J., note on feeding methods of
coastal Carrion Crows. 151-2
Dunnock, singing at night, 46-7; cutaneous
diseases in ringed population. 47-8;
rasping calls in presence of Cuckoo, 353-4;
feeding from Blackbird faeces, 508
Dymond, Nick, photograph of Snowy Owl.
561, plate 269; of Blue-w inged Teal, 567,
plate 274
Eagle, Bonelli's, in Thailand, 18
, Booted, in Thailand. 18; European
news, 340, 640
, Golden, dropping and cracking open
tortoises, 143; third or fourth calendar-
year plumage, 425, plate 204; taking
badger cubs, 592-3
, Imperial, in Thailand, 18; communal
winter roosting, 108; European news, 340,
640
, Lesser Spotted. FLuropcan news. 340
, Pallas’s Fish, in Thailand, 18; Euro-
pean news, 640
, Short-toed, in Thailand. 18; Fiuropean
news, 340
, Spotted, in Thailand, 15, 18. 33. 36;
European news, 340
, Tawny/Steppe. European news. 340.
640
, White-tailed. European news. 340.
640; request, 359; accepted record 1984.
540-1
Easterbrook, T. G., photograph of L,esser
Yellow legs, 551, plate 258
Edgar. R. D. NL, photograph of W hite-
winged Black Tern, 560. plate 268
Editorials. 1: what y ou think of BB. 315-6;
subscription changes, 369; plumage, age
and moult terminology, 419-27. plates
199-205
Egret, Cattle, accepted Irish records 1984.
533; racial identification. 659-61
, Great W hite, accepted records 1984.
plate 248
. Little, European news, 338: photo-
graphs. 418. plates 197-8: accepted records
1973-84. 533-4
Egretta alba, see Egret. Great W hite
garzetta. see Egret, Little
gularis. see Heron, Western Reef
Eider, trapped by plastic beer can binder,
66 1
. King. European news, 339; accepted
records i 983-4, 538-9
698
Index to volume 78
Eider, Steller’s, European news, 339;
accepted record 1984, 539
Elkins, Norman, letter on possible passage
route of Fair Isle Yellow-browed Bunting,
51-2; letter on requests for reprints, 672
Emberiza chrysophrys, see Bunting, Yellow-
browed
cia, see Bunting, Rock
cirlus, see Bunting, Cirl
citrinella , see Yellowhammer
Jucata , see Bunting, Chestnut-eared
leucocephalos, see Bunting, Pine
melanocephala , see Bunting, Black-
headed
aureola , see Bunting, Yellow-breasted
pusilla, see Bunting, Little
rustica, see Bunting, Rustic
rutila, see Bunting, Chestnut
schoeniclus , see Bunting, Reed
spodocephala , see Bunting, Black-faced
striolata, see Bunting, House
Emley, David W., note on unusual calls at
Pied Wagtail roost, 1 10
England, M. D., photographs of Black
Woodpecker, 186-7, plates 78-9
Eremalauda dunni, see Lark, Dunn’s
Eremophila alpestris , see Lark, Shore
Erilhacus akahige, see Robin, Japanese
rubecula , see Robin
Esacus magnirostris , see Thick-knee, Great
European news, 337-46, 638-45, plates 155,
305-6
Eurynorhynchus pygmaeus , see Sandpiper,
Spoon-billed
Everett, Mike, product report, 646
, , see Prytherch, Robin
Ewins, P. J., note on otter predation on Black
Guillemots, 663-4
Expeditions, 322-7
Ealco amurensis, see Falcon, Amur
columbarius , see Merlin
eleonorae, see Falcon, Eleonora’s
naumanni, see Kestrel, Lesser
peregrinus , see Peregrine
rusticolus, see Gyrfalcon
subbuteo , see Hobby
tinnunculus, see Kestrel
vespertinus, see Falcon, Red-footed
Falcon, Amur, in Thailand, 18, 34
, Eleonora’s, accepted record 1981, 541;
European news, 640
, Red-footed, plumage of Hrst-summer
male, 424, plate 203; accepted records
1981-3, 541; photographs, 607, plates 299-
300; European news, 640
Eicedula albicollis, see Flycatcher, Collared
hypoleuca, see Flycatcher, Pied
mugimaki , see Flycatcher, Mugimaki
parva, see Flycatcher, Red-breasted
zanthopygia , see Flycatcher, Yellow-
rumped
Field, B. R., photograph of Iceland Gull
L.g.kumlieni , 557, plates 262-3; of Desert
Wheatear, 568, plate 277
Field-characters: Manx Shearwater, 123-8;
Little Shearwater, 123-8; Audubon's
Shearwater, 123-8; Bittern, 98, 102, plate
46; American Bittern, 104-5, plate 49;
Cattle Egret, 659-61; Grey Heron, 97-102,
plates 38, 42-3; Purple Heron, 97-102,
plates 38-46; W'ood Duck, 514-5;
Mandarin, 514-5; W'igeon, 397-8; Ameri-
can Wigeon, 397-8; Blue-winged Teal,
398-9; Cinnamon Teal, 398-9, plate 189;
Sora, 145-6; Semipalmated Plover, 661;
Pomarine Skua, 669-71, plates 325-8;
Royal Tern, 236-8; Crested Tern, 237-8;
Lesser Crested Tern, 236-8; Black Tern,
238; White-winged Black Tern, 238;
Guillemot, 370-7, plates 176-7; Razorbill,
370-7, plate 178; Yellow Wagtail, 176-83,
plates 70-7; Citrine Wagtail, 196; Isabel-
line Wheatear, 304-5, plates 139, 143;
Wheatear, 304-5, plates 140-2; Siberian
Thrush, 509-11, plate 242; Marsh
Warbler, 297-8; Reed Warbler, 297-8;
Green Warbler, 442, 445-7; Greenish
Warbler, 439-47, plate 210; Arctic
Warbler, 442, 446-8; Two-barred Green-
ish W'arbler, 442, 445-7; Yellow-browed
Warbler, 442, 446-9; ChitTchaff, 441-7,
plate 210; Treecreeper, 330-3, plates 136-
7; Short-toed Treecreeper, 298-303, plates
135-8; Parrot Crossbill, 495-501, plates
22 1 -39; Tennessee Warbler, 449
Fieldfare, British breeding records 1982, 85-
6; as prey species in East Sussex, 111;
influx of Fenno-Scandian migrants
October 1982, 388; European news, 643
Finch, Citril, eating minerals, 50
, Trumpeter, accepted record 1984,
581; European news, 644-5
Fincher, F., note on roding at night and
vertical escape flight of Woodcock, 195
Firecrest, British breeding records 1981-2,89
Fisher, Crispin, note on Pintail migrating
with Brent Geese, 452
Fisher, David, review of Hunt: Confessions of a
Scilly Birdman , 687-8; of Newman’s Birds of
Southern A frica , 688-9
Fitter, R. S. R., letter on the Black Wood-
pecker as a British bird, 516
Flamingo, Greater, European news, 339
Flegg, .Jim, review of de Schauensee and
Phelps: A Guide to the Birds of Venezuela , and
Index to volume 78
699
Ridgely: A Guide to the Birds oj Panama,
260-1; of Harris: The Puffin, 261-2; of
Burton: Bird Behaviour, 686-7
Fletcher, M. R., and Smith, J. S„ note on
Collared Doves nesting inside buildings,
664
Flicker, Northern, reasons for Category D
status for Cork record, 52-3
Flycatcher, Brown, in Thailand, 9, 28-9, 36
, Collared, photograph, 416, plate 191;
accepted records 1984, 578; European
news, 644
, Dark-sided, in Thailand, 28-9, 36
, Mugimaki, in Thailand, 28, 36
, Pied, photograph, 292, plate 128;
spring migration 1985,434
, Red-breasted, in Thailand, 10, 28;
photograph, 418, plate 194
, Spotted, attacking grey squirrel, 49;
feeding bumble bee to nestlings, 243;
spring migration 1985,433
, Yellow-rumped, in Thailand, 14, 28,
35-6
Food: Golden Eagle, 592-3; Osprey, 143;
Moorhen, 453; American Coot, 513;
Redshank, 45-6; Red-necked Phalarope,
596; Black-headed Gull, 596; Kingfisher,
665-6; Dipper, 241-2; Dunnock, 508;
Blackbird, 512-3; Spotted Flycatcher, 243;
Blue Tit, 513; Magpie, 49-50, 513; Rook,
513; Carrion Crow, 150-2; Starling, 513;
Red-eyed Yireo, 514; Chaffinch, 513; Citril
Finch, 50; Crossbill, 50; Reed Bunting, 401
Forshaw, Derek, note on Pink-footed Geese
feeding on school playing fields, 397
Fowles, Adrian P., note on nest sites of House
Martins, 241
Franklin, K. H. E., 3rd place, Bird
Illustrator of the Year 1985, 317-22; award
presentation, 460, plate 213
Fratercula arctica, see Puffin
Fraticelli, Fulvio, and Gustin, Marco,
European news, 337-46
Fray, Robert, Young Ornithologist of the
Year 1984: award presentation. 360-1,
plate 164
Fringilla coelebs, see Chaffinch
montifringilla, see Brambling
Friston, Peter, note on the Fieldfare as a prey
species in East Sussex, 1 1 1
Frost, M. P.. note on Citril Finches and
Crossbills eating minerals, 50; photograph
of Isabelline Shrike, 120. plate 53
Fry, C. H., review of Cramp: Handbook of the
Birds oj Europe, the Middle East and North
Africa , vol 4: terns to woodpeckers. 468-70
Fulica americana , see Coot. American
atra , see Coot
Fulica cristata, see Coot, Crested
Fulmar, eating contraceptives and plastic,
350-1; attacking and killing Little Auk,
45 1 ; European news, 638
Fulmarus glacialis, see Fulmar
Gallinago galhnago, see Snipe
media, see Snipe, Great
nemoricola, see Snipe, W ood
stenura, see Snipe, Pintail
Gallinula chloropus, see Moorhen
Gallinule, Allen’s, European news, 640
Gammon, N. E., note on Dunnock singing at
night, 47
Gantlett, S. J. M.. note on hybrid resembling
Ring-necked Duck, 42-4
Garganey, in Thailand, 17, 32-4; British
breeding records 1981-2, 74-5; European
news, 339
Garrulax sannio, see Laughingthrush. White-
browed
Garrulus glandarius, see Jay
Gauci, Charles, see Sultana, Joe
Gavia adamsii, see Diver, White-throated
arctica, see Diver, Black-throated
immer, see Diver, Great Northern
Geister, Iztok, European news, 337-46, 638-
45
Gelochelidon nilotica, see Tern, Gull-billed
Geothlypis trichas, see Yellowthroat, Common
Geroudet, Paul, letter on calls of Bonelli’s
Warbler, 199
Gibson, Robert M., and Bacon, Philip J.,
note on Nightjars drinking in flight. 596
Gillmor, Robert, Shackleton. Keith, and
Sharrock, J. T. R.. Bird Illustrator of the
Year’ and ‘The Richard Richardson
Award', 317-22
Given, David, note on Fulmars attacking and
killing Little Auk, 45 1
Gladwin, T. W., note on Skylarks and
Yellowhammers roostine under snow,
109-10
Glareola lactea, see Pratincole, Small
maldivarum see Pratincole, Oriental
nordmanni, see Pratincole. Black-winged
Glover, R.. photograph of Dunlin, 422, plate
200
Glue. David, note on Blackcaps foliage-
bathing in gardens. 354
Godwit. Black-tailed, British breeding
records 1982, 84; European news, 342
. Hudsonian, accepted record 1983, 550
Goldcrest. imitating other species’ calls, 48:
influx of Fenno-Scandian migrants
October 1982. 388; found dead at sewage-
farm sludge beds, 667
700
Goldeneye. British breeding records 1981-2,
76; displaying with Smew, 192; European
news, 640
Goodwin, Derek, letter on Turtle Dove
decline, 598-9
Goose, Barnacle, European news, 339
, Bean, European news, 339
, Brent, European new's, 339; photo-
graph of B.b.bemida with B.b.hrota , 367,
plate 171; Pintail migrating with, 452;
accepted records o l B.b. nigricans 1984, 535-
6, plate 249
, Cotton Pygmy, in Thailand, 35
, Greylag, European news, 339
, Lesser White-fronted, accepted record
1984, 535
, Pink-footed, feeding on school playing
fields, 397
, Red-breasted, accepted records 1984,
536; European news, 639
, Snow, European news, 339, 639
, Spur-winged, European news, 639
, White-fsonted, European news, 639
Gordeev, Y., photograph of Oriental
Cuckoo, 474, plate 215
Gordon, Peter R., see Brown, Alan
Gore, Geoffrey, letter on Avocet correction,
405
Gore, Michael, photograph of Corn Bunting,
347, plate 157
Goshawk, in Thailand, 18; British breeding
records 1980-2, 78-9
, Chinese, in Thailand, 18
Gosling, Audley, note on exceptionally tame
Woodpigeons, 238-9
Grace, Kieran, photograph of Whiskered
Tern, 568, plate 276
Grant, P. J., letter on requests for reprints,
153-4; review of Svensson: Soviet Birds
(cassette), 265; PhotoSpot: Corn Bunting,
346-7; mystery photograph 103: Tawny
Pipit, 347-50; letter on jizz as an aid to
identification, 357; PhotoSpot: Ross’s
Gull, 393, plate 187; obituary of David
Bassil Hunt (1934-1985), 393-6; mystery
photograph 108: Least Sandpiper, 657-9
, , and Sharrock, J. T. R., bino-
culars and telescopes survey 1985, 167-75
Greaves, P. K., seeTurton, J. M.
Grebe, Black-necked, British breeding
records 1982, 72-3; European news, 338;
found dead at sewage-farm sludge beds,
666
, Great Crested, Bird Photograph of the
Year 1985, 213, plate 88; one adult
importuning another for food, 234-5; wing-
span measurements, 404; European news,
638
Index to volume 78
Grebe, Little, in Thailand, 35; chasing Dipper,
591
, Pied-billed, accepted records 1984,532
, Red-necked, British breeding records
1981-2, 71
, Slavonian, British breeding records
1975-82, 71-2; aberrant individual in
Cornwall, 142; European news, 338
Green, Dennis, photograph of Merlin, 289,
plate 122
Greenfinch, robbed of nut by Brambling,
244; photograph, 293, plate 129
Greenshank, Nordmann’s, in Thailand, 20,
35-6
Greenwood, Jeremy J. D., review of
Nettleship, Sanger and Springer: Marine
Birds , 4 1 3
Gregory, P. A., note on Common Sandpiper
feeding from hippopotamus injuries, 400
Grenfell, Harold E., photographs of Dunlins
and Little Stints, 290, plates 123-4
Grosbeak, Rose-breasted, accepted Irish
record 1983, 586
Grouse, Hazel, European news, 640
Grus grus, see Crane
leucogeranus, see Crane, Siberian White
Guillemot, appearance and behaviour of
immatures at sea, 370-7, plates 176-7;
European news, 642
, Black, otter predation in Shetland,
663-4
, Briinnich’s, European news, 343, 642,
plates 305-6; accepted records 1983-4, 561
Gull, Audouin’s, European news, 641
, Black-headed, in Thailand, 20, 35;
wing-span measurements, 404; apparently
taking lime fruits, 596; European news,
641
, Black-tailed, in Thailand, 21, 35
, Bonaparte’s, accepted records 1983-4,
554; European news, 641
, Brown-headed, in Thailand, 20-1, 35,
plate 1 1
, Common, possible record of L.c.heinei
on Fair Isle, 454; European news, 642
, Franklin’s, accepted records 1983-4,
554; European news, 641
, Glaucous, incidence of Glaucous X
Herring Gull hybrids in Britain, 246-7;
European news, 342, 642; origin of British
occurrences, 355-6
, Great Black-backed, European news
342, 642
, Great Black-headed, in Thailand, 21,
36; 1966 record not accepted, 553
, Herring, in Thailand, 20-1, 35; trapped
by plastic beer can binder, 661-2, plate 324
, Iceland, photograph, 368, plate 174;
accepted records of L.g.kumlieni , 556-8,
Index to volume 78
701
plates 262-4
, Ivory, European news, 642
, Laughing, photograph, 164, plate 66;
accepted records 1982-4, 553-4, plates
260-1; European news, 641
, Lesser, Black-backed, European news,
342, 642; British status of northern races,
668-9
, Little, summering in Britain 1982, 85;
photographs, 365, plates 165-7
, Mediterranean, British breeding
records 1982, 85; unusual wing-tip pattern
of third-year bird, 195; European news,
342,641 '
, Ring-billed, photographs, 206, plates
86-7; records in Britain and Ireland 1973-
83, 327-37, plates 151-4; photograph, 417,
plate 193; autumn moult from adult
summer to adult winter plumage, 421,
plate 199; accepted records 1982-4, 554-6;
European news, 641-2
, Ross's, PhotoSpot, 393, colour plate
187; accepted records 1983-4, 558
, Sabine’s, European news, 641; photo-
graphs, 683, plates 334-6
, Slender-billed, in Thailand, 21, 35;
European news, 641
Gulls, hrst winter census in Italy, 641
Gustin, Marco, European news, 638-45
, , see Fraticelli, Fulvio
Gyps Julvus , see Vulture, Griffon
Gyrfalcon, accepted record 1984, 541
Haematopus ostralegus, see Oystercatcher
Haig, Gavin, photograph of Black-eared
YVheatear, 416, plate 192
Haliaeetus albicilla , see Eagle, White-tailed
leucoryphus , see Eagle, Pallas’s Fish
Hall, K. J., letter on Red-rumped Swallow
and bird-artists, 306
Hallam, Martin, 3rd place, Bird Illustrator
of the Year 1985, 317-21; award presen-
tation, 460, plate 2 1 3
Hamblin, A. R., photograph of Pied Fly-
catcher, 292, plate 128
Hamblin, Mark, photograph of Rook. 292,
plate 127
Hanby, Andrew M., note on Pallid Swift in
Hampshire, 508
Hancock, James, note on Moorhens eating
apples, 453, plate 2 1 1
Handrinos, George L, European news, 337-
46, 638-45
Hardy, Eric, note on Dunnock singing at
night, 46-7
Hario, Martti, European news, 337-46, 638-
45
Harper, David, note on Kingfisher capturing
dragonfly on perch, 665-6; on bathing
behaviour of Kingfishers, 666
Harrier, Hen, in Thailand, 18, 3 1 ; hunting at
Starling roost, 192-3; European news, 640
, Marsh, in Thailand, 18, 32-3, 36;
British breeding records 1982, 77
, Montagu’s, British breeding records
1982, 78
, Pallid, European news, 340, 640
, Pied, in Thailand, 18, 33, 36
Harris, G. J., photograph of birders looking
tor Rock Thrush, 158 (690). plate 60
Harris, Mike, review of Lofgren: Ocean Birds,
166
Harrop, Andrew H. J., note on Swallows
mobbing Pectoral Sandpiper, 667
Harvey, W. G., letter on the origin of ‘jizz’,
252'
Harwood, John, photograph of Collared
Flycatcher, 416, plate 191
Hautkamp, Fritz, photograph of Bittern, 41,
103, plates 20. 47
Heron, Green-backed, in Humberside in
November 1982. 106-7
, Grey in Thailand, 17; field-characters,
97-102, plates 38, 42-3; diving from air for
fish, 235; one adult killing another on
feeding territory, 297; European news,
338-9,639
, Night, cooling in lake during incuba-
tion, 152; European news. 338; accepted
records 1978-84, 533
, Purple, in Thailand. 17; summering in
Britain 1982, 73; identification problems,
97-102, plates 38-46; European news, 339;
photograph, 523, plate 244; accepted
records 1982, 534-5
, Squacco, European news. 338; photo-
graph, 368. plate 175
, Western Reef, communal feeding, 107-
8; European news, 338, 639
Heteroscelus brevipes, see Tattler, Grey-rumped
Hewitt, John, photographs of Red-rumped
Swallow, 64, plates 25-6; of Olivaceous
Warbler, 65, plate 29; of Pine Bunting,
367, plate 170; of Marmora’s Warbler.
480. plate 220; of Curlew Sandpiper. 681.
plate 332
Hieraaetus Jasciatus. see Eagle. Bonelli's
pennatus, see Eagle, Booted
Hill. Alistair; letter on requests for reprints,
153; European news, 337-46, 638-45
Hill. D. A., review of Martin: Sporting Birds oj
the British Isles, 263-4; note on female
Mallard and Tufted Ducks moving eggs to
new nests, 591-2
Hill, Mike, photographs of Grey Hypocolius,
93-5, plates 34. 36-7
702
Index to volume 78
Hill, Paul, photograph of Laughing Gull,
164, plate 66
Himantopus himantopus, see Stilt, Black-winged
Hindle, Chris, note on Avocet resting on sea,
235-6
Hippolais caligata, see Warbler, Booted
pallida , see Warbler, Olivaceous
polyglotta, see Warbler, Melodious
Hirschfeld, Erik, further comments on tree-
creeper identification, 300-2, plates 136-8
Hirst, W. R., photograph of White-billed
Diver, 257, plate 98
Hirundapus caudacutus, see Swift, Needle-tailed
Hirundo daurica, see Swallow, Red-rumped
rustica, see Swallow
Hlsek. Lubomir, photograph of black-
headed Yellow Wagtail M.J.Jeldegg , 178,
plate 70
Hobby, in Thailand, 18; British breeding
records 1981-2, 80-1; spring migration
1985,433
Hogg, R. H., photographs of Savannah
Sparrow, 648-52, plates 309, 315
Holden, Peter, letter on measurement of
wing-span, 403-4; spring migration 1985,
427-34
Hollom, P. A. D., note on changes in
numbers of Swallows’ and House Martins’
nests in Somerset over 50-year period, 240
Holman, D.J., review of Fisher and Gantlett:
Lists oj the Birds of The Gambia, Great Britain,
Greece, etc., 608-9
Hoopoe, spring migration 1985, 433
Hope Jones, P., and Rees, E. 1. S.,
appearance and behaviour of immature
Guillemots and Razorbills at sea, 370-7,
plates 1 76-8
Hopkin, Peter J., note on Coot feeding by
artificial light in urban area during hard
weather, 108-9
Hopkins, David J., photograph of Lesser
Crested Tern, 522, plate 243
Hopkins, John R., note on Snow Bunting
feeding on sea-slaters, 597
Hoplopterus cinereus , see Lapwing, Grey-
headed
duvalicelli, see Lapwing, River
indicus, see Lapwing, Red-wattled
Hosking, Eric, photograph of Dunn’s Lark,
42, plate 21; of grey-headed Yellow
Wagtail M.j.thunbergi , 180, plate 74; of
Cuckoo, 474, plate 216
, , see Chandler, R. )., et al.
Howell, Steve N. G., letter on ship-assisted
passage, 52
Howey, D. H., and Bell, M., Pallas’s
Warblers and other migrants in Britain
and Ireland in October 1982, 381-92,
plates 184-6
Hughes, D., photograph of Savannah
Sparrow, 65 1 , plate 3 1 4
Hughes, S. W. M., note on House Martins’
nests on ship, 149
Hume, R. A., letter on describing bird calls,
252-3; review of Mitcham: The Birds of
Rutland and its Reservoirs, 264; letter on jizz
as an aid to identification, 356-7; review of
Lewis: A Sound Guide to the British Hawks and
Falcons, etc., 688; of Roche: The Bird-walker ,
689-90
Humphreys, Jim, note on second female
Blackbird rearing brood of dead female,
512
Hunt, David, photograph of Lesser Golden
Plover, 121, plate 54; with CB radio, 159,
plate 61; photograph of birders looking for
Olivaceous Warbler, 159, plate 62; of
Ross’s Gull, 393, plate 187; obituary, 393-
6, plate 188
Hursthouse, David, see Catley, Graham P.
Huseby, Bjorn, photograph of Blue Tit, 296,
plate 134
Hutchings, S. C., photographs of Blackpoll
Warbler, 63, plates 23-4; of Swainson’s
Thrush, 64, plate 27; of Barred Warbler,
65, plate 30; of Solitary Sandpiper, 66,
plate 33; of Bittern, 102, plate 46; of
juvenile Knot, 139, plate 55
Hydrobates pelagicus , see Petrel, Storm
Hypocolius, Grey, PhotoSpot, 93-5, plates
34-7
Ibis, Bald, European news, 639
, Black-necked, in Thailand, 17
, Glossy, European news, .339; accepted
records 1983-4, 535
Identification pitfalls and assessment prob-
lems: 8, Purple Heron, 97-102, plates 38-
46
Ingram, Rodney, note on Little Terns
harassing tired Cuckoo, which landed on
sea, 662
Inskipp, Tim, review of Hancock: The Birds of
the Wetlands , 68
Ixobrychus eurhythmus, see Bittern, Schrenck’s
Little
minutus, see Bittern, Little
Jackdaw, competition with Chough for nest
sites unlikely, 247-8; taking insect prey on
the wing, 303; eating dog faeces, 512-3
Jackson, Noel, letter on care with non-avian
identifications, 405
James, TrevorJ., noteon Goldcrest imitating
other species’ calls, 48
Index to volume 78
703
Janes, E. A., photograph of juvenile Black-
bird moulting to first-winter plumage. 426,
plate 205; of Jay, 628, plate 303
Jay, movements in autumn 1983, 611-37,
plates 303-4
Jeffers, D. J., letter on size illusion, 248-51
Jepson, Paul R., note on field-characters of
female and first-winter male Siberian
Thrush, 509-10
John, A. \\ . G., and Roskell, J., Jay move-
ments in autumn 1983, 61 1-37, plates 303-
4
Johnson, I. G., note on House Martin’s nest
on ship, 148
Johnston, Alan F., note on anting-like be-
haviour of Dipper with fish, 242
Jonassohn, Mikael, photograph of Short-
toed Treecreeper, 301, plate 138
Jones, Carl G., note on heavy hippoboscid
infestations on Buzzards, 592
Jones, J. M., note on Oystercatcher hawking
for flying ants, 399-400
Jones, Nigel R., photograph of American
Bittern, 105, plate 49
Jynx torquilla , see Wryneck
Kelly, P., photographs of Shore Lark, 313,
plates 147-8; of Brent Geese B.b.bemicla
with B.b.hrota , 367, plate 171
Kelsey, M. G., note on mouth and gape
colours of singing Marsh and Reed
Warblers, 297-8
Kendrick, J. S., note on Rock Pipit asso-
ciating with man, 353
Kestrel, in Thailand, 18; attempting to catch
bat, 109; role of male during incubation,
144-5; bigamy in Hampshire, 194; wing-
span measurements, 404; two apparently
adult males pairing, 452; persistently
running for insects on golf green, 593; nest
in Comet aircraft at Gatwick, 60 1 , plate 292
, Lesser, European news, 340
Killdeer, accepted records 1983-4. 544
King, Bernard, note on Grey Plovers asso-
ciating with inland flocks of Golden
Plovers, 43; on aberrant Slavonian Grebe.
142; on Reed Bunting feeding on decaying
potato, 401; on Jackdaws eating dog
faeces, 512-3; on Rock Pipits using roof-
tops as summer and autumn territories,
596
King, J. M. B.. photograph of Blackpoll
Warbler, 582, plate 284
Kingfisher, capturing dragonfly on perch.
665-6; bathing behaviour, 666
. Belted, accepted Irish records 1980-4,
564
Kinley, R. L, and Thexton, D. B., note on
opportunistic food acquisition by Buzzard
while mobbed by Peregrine, 193
Kite, Black, in Thailand, 15, 18; European
news, 340; accepted records 1983-4, 540
, Red, British breeding records 1982.
76-7; European news, 340
Kitson, Alan R., letter on Choughs and
Jackdaws, 247-8
Kittiwake, European news, 642
Knights, C. R., Bird Photograph of the Year
1985, 213, plate 88; award presentation.
407, plate 190
Knot, PhotoSpot, 139, plate 55
, Great, in Thailand, 20, 35-6; European
news, 342
Knox, Alan, letter on Glaucous X Herring
Gull hybrids, 246-7
Komolphalin, Kamol, see Lekagul. Boon-
song
Koning, F. J., note on owls feeding on snails,
195-6
Kramer, David, note on call of Great Grey
Shrike, 49
Ladbrook, David W. G., note on Great
Spotted Woodpeckers fighting in flight,
666
Lagopus mutus, see Ptarmigan
Lambert, R., Watson, R. K.. and Winfield,
K. W note on American Redstart in
Lincolnshire, 245-6
Langsburv, Gordon, colour photograph of
Stone-curlews, 214, plate 90
Lanius collurio. see Shrike. Red-backed
cristatus, see Shrike, Brown
excubitor, see Shrike, Great Grey
isabeltinus, see Shrike. Isabelline
minor , see Shrike. Lesser Grey
nubicus. see Shrike, Masked
schach , see Shrike, Long-tailed
senator, see Shrike. Woodchat
tigrinus. see Shrike, Tiger
Lansdown. Peter, identification pitfalls and
assessment problems 8: Purple Heron, 97-
102; mystery photograph 98: Bittern, 1 03-
5; review of Hancock and Kushlan: The
Herons Handbook. 1 22
Lapwing, Grey-headed, in Thailand, 11,31
. Red-wattled, in Thailand. 19
. River, in Thailand. 19
Lark. Black, European news. 643
. Calandra, European news, 643
. Dunn's. PhotoSpot. 42, plate 21
. Dupont's, PhotoSpot, 285-6, plates
120-1; European record deleted, 343
. Hoopoe, European news, 643
, Shore, photograph. 313. plates 147-8
704
Index to volume 78
Lark, Short-toed, accepted records 1977-84,
564-5
Larus argentatus , see Gull, Herring
atricilla , see Gull, Laughing
audouinii , see Gull, Audouin’s
bmnnicephalus , see Gull, Brown-headed
canus, see Gull, Common
crassirostris , see Gull, Black-tailed
delawarensis, see Gull, Ring-billed
genei, see Gull, Slender-billed
glaucoides, see Gull, Iceland
hyperboreus , see Gull, Glaucous
ichthyaetus , see Gull, Great Black-
headed
marinus , see Gull, Great Black-backed
melanocephalus , see Gull, Mediterranean
minutus , see Gull, Little
pipixcan, see Gull, Franklin’s
ridibundus , see Gull, Black-headed
sabini, see Gull, Sabine’s
Lassey, P, A., see Curtis, W. F.
Laughingthrush, White-browed, in Thai-
land, 3 1
Lekagul, Boonsong, Round, Philip D., and
Komolphalin, Kamol, birdwatching for
Palearctic migrants in Thailand, 2-39,
plates 1-18
Leshem, Yossi, note on shell-dropping by
Ospreys, 143
Lethaby, Nick, see Thompson, Paul
Lewington, Ian, Bird Illustrator of the Year
1985 and winner of The Richard Richard-
son Award, 317-8; award presentation,
460, plates 212-3
Lewis, Vic, note on voices of Willow Tit and
Marsh Tit, 197-8
Lilleleht, V., European news, 337-46, 638-45
Limicola falcinellus, see Sandpiper, Broad-
billed
Limnodromus griseus , see Dowitcher, Short-
billed
scolopaceus , see Dowitcher, Long-billed
semipalmatus , see Dowitcher, Asian
Limosa haemastica , see Godwit, Hudsonian
limosa, see Godwit, Black-tailed
Locustella certhiola, see Warbler, Pallas’s
Grasshopper
— ■ Jluviatilis , see Warbler, River
lanceolata, see Warbler, Lanceolated
luscinioides , see Warbler, Savi’s
naevia , see Warbler, Grasshopper
Lomax, Peter, note on one Peregrine killing
another on the ground, 594-5
Loxia curvirostra, see Crossbill
leucoptera, see Crossbill, Parrot
Lubbock, Tim, photograph of Brent Goose of
race nigricans , 535, plate 249
Lunn, J., Marmora’s Warbler: new to
Britain and Ireland, 478-81, plates 218-20
Luscinia calliope , see Rubvthroat, Siberian
cyane, see Robin, Siberian Blue
luscinia , see Nightingale, Thrush
megarhynchos, see Nightingale
obscura , see Robin, Black-throated
pecloralis , see Rubythroat, White-tailed
Lymnocryptes minimus, see Snipe, Jack
McGeehan, Anthony, photograph of White-
throated Sparrow, 570, plate 281
Machin, Niall, photograph of Common
Yellowthroat, 583, plate 286
McKee, John, note on Carrion Crow taking
seabird eggs, 150-1
Mackrill, Ed, photograph of Least Sand-
piper, 590, 657, plates 289, 319.
Madden, Brian, photograph of Temminck’s
Stint, 65, plate 31; of Little Egret, 418,
plates 197-8
Maddock, E. M., note on Black-headed
Gulls apparently taking lime fruits, 596
Madge, Graham, note on threatening
behaviour by Barn Owl, 665
Madge, S. C., mystery photograph 99: Lesser
Sand Plover, 140-2; photographs of Lesser
Golden Plovers 141, 189, plates 58, 80;
letter on vocalisations and Phylloscopus
taxonomy, 199-200
Magpie, taking food from cattle, 49-50; con-
taining warble-fly insecticide, 302-3;
eating dog faeces, 5 1 3
Mallard, wing-span measurements, 404;
female moving eggs to new nest, 591-2
Mandarin, female-type field-characters, 514-
5; European news, 639
Marchant, John, PhotoSpot: Knot, 139;
review of Burton and Tucker: A Sound
Guide to Waders in Britain , 524; mystery
photograph 107: Baird’s Sandpiper, 589-
90; photographs of Savannah Sparrow,
648, plates 307-8
Mardle, D. V., review of Chapman: The
Countryside and Wildlife for Disabled People,
608
Marmaronelta angus tiros tris, see Duck,
Marbled
Martin, Asian House, in Thailand, 23
, House, in Thailand, 23; nesting on
ships, 148-9; population changes in
Somerset 1929-81, 240; nest sites on cliffs
and under lamps, 240-1; spring migration
1985, 430; pecking at tarmac road, 455;
found dead at sewage-farm sludge beds,
667
, Sand, in Thailand, 22; European news,
343, 643; spring migration 1985, 430
— * — , White-eyed River, in Thailand, 33
Index to volume 78
705
Maton, P. W., photograph of Wilson’s
Phalarope, 552, plate 259
Matter, Karel A., photograph of black-
headed Yellow Wagtail MJJeldegg , 182,
plate 76
Medland, Bob, letter on distinctive bird
names, 403
Xlelanitta fusca, see Scoter, Velvet
nigra, see Scoter, Common
perspicillata , see Scoter, Surf
Melanocorypha calandra, see Lark, Calandra
yeltoniensis , see Lark, Black
Melville, David S., note on House Martin’s
nest on ship, 149
Me rlin, photograph, 289, plate 122
Merops apiaster , see Bee-eater
— — philippinus , see Bee-eater, Blue-tailed
superciliosus , see Bee-eater, Blue-cheeked
vindus , see Bee-eater, Blue-throated
Michev, Tanyu, European news, 337-46
Micropalama himantopus , see Sandpiper, Stilt
Migration: Palearctic migrants in Thailand,
12-30; Pallas’s Warblers and other
migrants in Britain and Ireland in October
1982, 381-92. plates 184-6; letter, 457-8;
Pintail, 452; Yellow-browed Bunting, 51-2
Miliaria calandra , see Bunting, Corn
Miller, A., note on Goldeneyes displaying
with Smew, 192
Mills, Richard T., photographs of Ring-
billed Gulls, 329-33, plates 151, 153; of
Dunlin, 423, plate 201; of Baird's Sand-
piper, 507, 589, 684, plates 241, 288, 339-
40; of Sabine’s Gull, 683, plates 334-6
Milvus migrans, see Kite, Black
milvus , see Kite, Red
Mitchell, John, note on Peregrines utilising
w'ire nest of Carrion Crows, 593-4, plate
290
Mniotilta varia , see Warbler. Black-and-white
Moffett, A. T., note on Cuckoo drinking, 351-
3, plate 163
Monticola gularis, see Thrush. White-throated
Rock
rufiventris , see Thrush, Chestnut-bellied
Rock
saxatilis, see Thrush, Rock
solitarius , see Thrush, Blue Rock
Moon, Andrew V., photograph ofStonechat
S.t.maura or stejnegeri , 66. plate 32; of
White-throated Sparrow. 164, plates 64-5;
of Dotterel, 607, plates 301-2
Moore, Alick, note on Wren swimming. 456
Moore, D. R., note on Hen Harrier hunting
at Starling roost, 192-3
Moorhen, eating apples, 453. plate 211;
European news, 640
Motacilla alba , see Wagtail, Pied
cinerea , see Wagtail, Grey
citreola , see Wagtail, Citrine
flava, see Wagtail, Yellow'
Mountfort, Guy, letter on foreign expedi-
tions, 674
Munsterman, P., photograph of Purple
Heron, 99. plate 40; of Bittern. 104, plate
48
Muscicapa latirostris. see Flycatcher, Brown
sibirica , see Flycatcher, Dark-sided
striata , see Flycatcher, Spotted
M vstery photographs: 98, plate 20; 99, plate
50; 100, plate 58: 101. plate 81: 102. plate
97; 103, plates 118-9; 104, plate 162; 105,
plate 183; 106, plate 209; 107. plate 241;
108, plate 289; 109, plates 320-3
, answers to: 97, 40-1; 98, 103-5; 99.
140-2; 100, 189-90; 101,233-4; 102,281-2;
103, 317-50: 101. 578-80; 105; 134-7, 690;
106, 505-7; 107.289-90; 108, 657-9
Neophron percnopterus. see Vulture, Egyptian
Netta rujina, see Pochard. Red-crested
Nettapus coromandelianus. see Goose. Cotton
Pygmy
News and comment, 59-60; 1 15-9, plates 51-
2; 156-61, plates 59-63; 202-4; 254-5; 308-
10. plate 144; 360-2, plate 164; 406-9, plate
190; 459-61, plates 212-4; 518-9; 600-2.
plate 292; 676-9, plate 329
Nicholls, Howard, photograph of Ring-billed
Gull, 417, plate 193; of Baird's Sandpiper.
548, plate 257
Nicholls, J. C., photographs of Ring-billed
Gulls. 206, plates 86-7
Nighthawk, Common, accepted record 1984.
562
Nightingale. European news, 344, 643;
spring migration 1985,433
, Thrush, European news, 343; accepted
records 1984, 571
Nightjar, churring confused with sound of
motorcycle, 198; drinking in flight. 596
, Nubian. European news. 643
Norman, D. M., letter on amphibian calls
and small crakes. 306; note on a white-
headed juvenile Long-tailed Skua. 453-4
Numenius arquata, see Curlew
madagascariensis . see Curlew, Eastern
minutus, see W Timbrel, Little
phaeopus, see Whimbrel
Nuthatch, hovering while feeding. 111;
photograph. 295, plate 133
. Algerian. PhotoSpot, 265-8, plates 102-
5
. Giant, in Thailand, 31
706
Index to volume 78
Nuttell, Anthony, note on Barn Owl attack-
ing and killing YVoodpigeon, 664
Nyctea scandiaca , see Owl, Snowy
Nycticorax nycticorax, see Heron, Night
Obituaries: Colin Rhind, 309, plate 144;
David Hunt, 393-6, plate 188
Oceamtes oceanicus, see Petrel, W ilson’s
Oceanodroma castro , see Petrel, Madeiran
Odin, Nigel, note on aberrant Curlew in
Gwent and South Glamorgan, 44-5; on
‘Siberian’ Lesser YVhitethroat w intering in
Mid Glamorgan 1982-3,242-3
Oenanthe deserti , see YY'heatear, Desert
hispanica , see YVheatear, Black-eared
leucopyga , see YVheatear, YY'hite-crowned
Black
leucura, see YY'heatear, Black
moesta , see YY'heatear, Red-rumped
oenanthe , see YVheatear
pleschanka, see YY’heatear, Pied
Ogilvie, M. A., product report, 96-7; mystery
photograph 101: Baikal Teal, 233-4;
review of Campbell and Lack: A Dictionary
oj Birds , 467-8
Oliver, P. J., note on Magpies apparently
taking food from cattle, 50; on YY’ood-
pigeon alighting on water apparently to
avoid Carrion Crow, 35 1 ; on Swallows and
Sand Martins pecking at tarmac road, 455
Olsen, Klaus Mailing, note on pair of
apparently adult male Kestrels, 452-3
Openbill, Asian, in Thailand, 13
Oreel, Gerald J., see van den Berg, Martin
Oriole, Golden, British breeding records
1979-82,89-90
Oriolus oriolus , see Oriole, Golden
Ormerod, S. J., and Boilstone, M. A., note on
Dippers feeding on fish, 241-2
Ortali. Azelio and di Carlo, E. A., European
news, 337-46
Osborn, K., note on possible ‘Eastern’
Common Gull on Fair Isle, 454
Osborne, Ken, mystery photograph 97:
hybrid Tufted Duck X Pochard, 40-1
Osprey, in Thailand, 18, 35; British breeding
records 1982, 79-80; shell-dropping, 143;
European news, 640
O’Sullivan, Cathy, photograph of Colin
Rhind, 309, plate 144
O’Sullivan, C)ran, photograph of Great
White Egret, 534, plate 248
Otis tarda , see Bustard, Great
Olus scops, see Owl, Scops
Ouzel, Ring, territorial behaviour, 149-50;
spring migration 1985,433
Owl, Barn, attacking and killing YVood-
pigeon, 664; threatening behaviour by, 665
, Eagle, colour photograph, 214, plate
91; European news, 343
, Hawk, European news, 343
, Little, European news, 343; found dead
at sewage-farm sludge beds, 666
, Long-eared, feeding on snails, 196
, Scops, call confused with sound of
police radio, 198
, Snowy, summering in Britain 1982, 85;
introduction of males to Shetland urged.
286-7; accepted records 1983-4, 561-2,
plate 269
, Tawny, feeding on snails, 196
, Tengmalm’s, European news, 343, 642;
accepted record 1981, 562
Oxyura leucocephala , see Duck, YY’hite-headed
Oystercatcher, European news, 341; hawk-
ing for flying ants, 399-400; with
abnormally long bill, 595, plate 291;
trapped by plastic beer can binder, 661
Packham, C. G., note on role of male Kestrel
during incubation, 144-5; on bigamy by
Kestrel, 194; colour photograph of Eagle
Owl, 214, plate 91
Pagophila ebumea , see Gull, Ivory
Palmer, Gary, photograph of Parrot Cross-
bill, 501, plate 233; note on Red-necked
Phalarope taking berries from water, 596
Palmgren, Jurgen, photograph of Ring-billed
Gull, 336, plate 154
Pandion haliaetus, see Osprey
Panurus biarmicus, see Tit, Bearded
Paradoxomis guttaticollis , see Parrotbill, Spot-
breasted
Parkes, Kenneth C., note on several ‘adult’
Common Terns attempting to feed
juvenile, 147-8
Parmenter, T. YV., letter on jizz as an aid to
identification, 357
Parr, Helen, Young Ornithologist of the Year
1984: award presentation, 360-1, plate 164
Parrotbill, Spot-breasted, in Thailand, 31
Partridge, Red-legged, found dead at
sewage-farm sludge beds, 666
Parus caeruleus , see Tit, Blue
major, see Tit, Great
montanus, see Tit, YY’illow
palustris, see Tit, Marsh
Passer domesticus, see Sparrow, House
Passerina cyanea, see Bunting, Indigo
Paterson, Andrew M., note on unusual wing-
tip pattern of third-year Mediterranean
Gull, 195
Pearson, Bruce, photograph, 678, plate 329
Index to volume 78
707
Pederson, Knud, photographs of Tawny
Pipit, 283, 348, plates 1 18-9, 158-9
Pelecanus onocrotalus, see Pelican, White
Pelican, White, European news, 338, 638
Penhallurick, R. I)., letter on ‘Identification:
it’s a beginning’, 672-4
Peregrine, in Thailand, 18; losing prey to
Buzzard while attacking, 193; failure to
reach prey stranded on mud, 235; Euro-
pean news, 34(3, 640; utilising wire nest of
Carrion Crows, 593-4, plate 290; one
killing another on ground, 594-5
Perkins, Trevor, note on birds found dead at
sewage-farm sludge beds, 666-7
Pernis apivorus , see Buzzard, Honey
ptilorhyncus , see Buzzard, Crested Honey
Perry, Philip, points of view 12: the taking of
bird specimens, 106
Persson Sture, photograph of Treerrecper,
301, plate 136
Petit, Pierre, photograph of Purple Heron,
100, plate 41
Petrel, Bulwer’s, European news, 338, 638
, Madeiran, European news, 638
, Storm, European news, 338; eating
plastic beads, 350-1; photograph, 605,
plate 295
, Wilson’s, photographs, 605, plates
293-5
Petronia petronia , see Sparrow, Rock
Phaethon aethereus, see Tropicbird, Red-billed
Phalacrocorax aristotelis, see Shag
carbo , see Cormorant
Phalarope, Grey, European news, 641
, Red-necked, British breeding records
1982, 84; European news, 342; taking
berries from water, 596
, Wilson’s, accepted records 1982-4,
552; European news, 641
Phalaropus fulicarius , see Phalarope, Grey
lobatus , see Phalarope, Red-necked
tricolor , see Phalarope, Wilson's
Phasianus colchicus, see Pheasant
Pheasant, colour photograph, 213, plate 89;
photograph, 293, plate 130
P/ieucticus ludoviaanus , see Grosbeak,
Rose-breasted
Philomachus pugnax , see Ruff
Phoenicopterus ruber , see Flamingo, Greater
Phoenicurus auroreus, see Redstart. Daurian
phoenicurus , see Redstart
PhotoSpot: Dunn's Lark. 42, plate 21; Grey
Hypocolius, 93-5, plates 34-7: Knot, 139,
plate 55; Broad-billed Sandpiper, 190,
plates 82-3; Algerian Nuthatch, 265-8,
plates 102-5; Dupont's Lark, 285-6, plates
120-1; Corn Bunting, 346-7. plates 156-7;
Ross's Gull, 393, plate 187; Oriental
Cuckoo, 473-5, plates 215-7
Phylloscopus armandii. see Warbler, Yellow-
streaked
bonelli, see Warbler. Bonelli’s
borealis , see W arbler, Arctic
collybita , see Chiffchaff
coronatus, see Warbler, Eastern
Crowned Leaf
davisoni. see Warbler, White-tailed Leaf
Juscatus , see Warbler, Dusky
inomatus , see Warbler, Yellow-browed
maculipennis , see Warbler, Ashy-
throated
nitidus, see W arbler, Green
plumbeitarsus , see Warbler. Two-barred
Greenish
proregulus, see W arbler, Pallas’s
pulcher, see Warbler, Orange-barred
reguloides, see Warbler. Bly th’s Crowned
Leaf
ricketti. see Warbler, Sulphur-breasted
schwargi, see Warbler, Radde’s
sibilatrix , see Warbler, Wood
subajfinis , see W arbler. Buff-throated
tenellipes , see Warbler. Pale-legged Leaf
trochiloides , see Warbler, Greenish
trochilus , see Warbler, Willow
Pica pica, see Magpie
Pickess, B. P., photographs of Dartford
Warbler habitat, 273-8. plates 109-11.
113-4
Picus viridis, see Woodpecker, Green
Pike, Nicholas, winner. Mystery Photographs
Book competition, 1 16-7, plates 51-2; 2nd
place. Bird Illustrator of the Year 1985.
3 1 7-22; award presentation. 460. plate 2 1 3
Pinder, J. M., letter on calls of Bonelli's
Warblers, 199
Pintail, in Thailand, 17, 32-3; British
breeding records 1981-2, 73-4; migrating
with Brent Geese, 452
Pipit, Olive-backed, in Thailand, 23;
European news, 343, 643; British records
October 1982, 390: accepted records 1984.
566
. Pechora, accepted record 1983, 566;
European news, 643
. Red-throated, in Thailand. 1 1, 23, 31;
accepted records 1984. 566
, Richard’s, in Thailand, 23; photo-
graph, 349, plate 161; European news, 643
, Rock, associating with man, 353; using
rooftops as summer and autumn terri-
tories, 596
. Rosy, in Thailand. 23, 31
, Tawny, photograph. 64, plate 28;
mystery photograph, 238, 348, plates
1 18-9, 158-60; accepted record 1981, 566
. Tree, spring migration 1985, 433
708
Pitta, Blue-winged, in Thailand, 13
Pitta moluccensis, see Pitta, Blue-winged
Platalea leucorodia, see Spoonbill
Plectrophenax nivalis , see Bunting, Snow
Plectropterus gambensis , see Goose, Spur-
winged
Plegadis falcinellus, see Ibis, Glossy
Plover, Caspian, European news, 341, 641
, Crab, in Thailand, 19, 36
, Golden, Grey Plovers associating with
inland flocks, 43
, Greater Sand, in Thailand, 19;
photograph, 140, plate 57; European
news, 341, 641
, Grey, associating with inland flocks of
Golden Plovers, 43
, Kentish, in Thailand, 19; summering
in Britain 1982, 83
, Lesser Golden, in Thailand, 19-20;
photograph, 121, plate 54; mystery
photograph, 141, 189, plates 58, 80;
European news, 342, 641; accepted
records 1983-4, 544-5, plate 255
, Lesser Sand, in Thailand, 19; mystery
photograph, 105, 140, plates 50, 56-7;
European news, 341
, Little Ringed, in Thailand, 19, 20
, Malaysian, in Thailand, 19
, Ringed, wing-span measurements,
404; eggs incubated to hatching by Arctic
Tern, 454-5
, Semipalmated, yellow orbital ring, 66 1
, Sociable, photograph, 367, plate 169;
accepted record 1984, 545; European
news, 641
, White-tailed, accepted records 1984,
545; European news, 641
Plumalis apricaria , see Plover, Golden
dominica , see Plover, Lesser Golden
sqnatarola , see Plover, 'Grey
Pochard, Baer’s, in Thailand, 17, 32-3
, Red-crested, European news, 639
Podiceps auritus , see Grebe, Slavonian
cristatus , see Grebe, Great Crested
grisegena , see Grebe, Red-necked
nigricollis , see Grebe, Black-necked
Podilymbus podiceps , see Grebe, Pied-billed
Points of view: 12, 106; 13, 188; 14, 286-7
Polysticta stelleri, see Eider, Steller’s
Pop, Rene, photograph ofTawny Pipit, 348,
plate 160
Porphyrula alleni , see Gallinule, Allen’s
Porter, R. F., photograph of rice paddies,
Thailand, 12, plate 8
, , see Beaman, Mark
Porzana Carolina , see Sora
parva, see Crake, Little
porzana , see Crake, Spotted
pusilla, see Crake, Baillon’s
Index to volume 78
Prater, Tony, PhotoSpot: Broad-billed Sand-
piper, 190
Pratincole, accepted record 1984, 544
, Black-winged, European news, 341,
641
, Oriental, in Thailand, 19
, Small, in Thailand, 30, 33
Product reports: Welt/Safe-Lock PT-3
pneumatic tripod, 96-7; Barbour
‘Durham’ jacket, 646
Prokop, Peter, European news, 337-46, 638-
45
Prunella collaris , see Accentor, Alpine
modularis, see Dunnock
Prytherch, Robin, and Everett, Mike, news
and comment, see News and comment
Pseudochelidon sinntarae, see Martin, White-
eyed River
Ptarmigan, status on Arran, 668
Puffin, European news, 642
PuJJinus assimilis, see Shearwater, Little
gravis , see Shearwater, Great
griseus , see Shearwater, Sooty
Iherminieri , see Shearwater, Audubon's
puffinus, see Shearwater, Manx
Pullan, Dave, photograph of White-billed
Diver, 53 1 , plate 247
Punsar, Sven, note on nest sites of House
Martins, 241
Pym, A., mystery photograph 100: Lesser
Golden Plover, 189-90; letter on bill
coloration ofTreecreepers, 303
Pyrrhocorax graculus, see Chough, Alpine
pyrrhocorax , see Chough
Radford, A. P., note on Spotted Flycatcher
feeding bumble bee to nestlings, 243; on
rasping calls of Dunnock in presence of
Cuckoo, 353-4; on Blackbird eating fox
faeces, 512
Radford, D. J., note on Arctic Terns incubat-
ing Ringed Plover eggs to hatching, 454-5
Rail, Water, in Thailand, 19; wing-span
measurements, 404
Rallus aquaticus , see Rail, Water
Rare Breeding Birds Panel, rare breeding
birds in the LInited Kingdom in 1982, 69-
92
Rarities Committee, news and announce-
ments, 471-3; report on rare birds in Great
Britain in 1984, 529-89, plates 247-87
Razorbill, appearance and behaviour of
immatures at sea, 370-7, plate 1 78
Read, J. R., see Brown, B.J.
Recent reports, 61-7, plates 22-3; 119-22,
plates 53-4; 161-4, plates 64-9; 205-7,
plates 86- 7; 255-60, plates 98-101; 310-4,
Index to volume 78
709
plates 145-50; 363-8, plates 165-75; 415-8,
plates 191-8; 461-5; 520-3, plates 243-6;
603-8, plates 293-302; 679-84, plates 330-
40
Recurvirostra avosetta, see Avocet
Redhead, European record rejected, 339
Redman, Nigel, PhotoSpot: Oriental
Cuckoo, 473-5, plates 215-7; photograph
of Siberian Thrush, 510, plate 242
Redpoll, Arctic, European news, 345, 644;
accepted records 1984, 580-1
Redshank, feeding on paved area, 45-6; tree-
perching in Malaysia, 236; European
news, 64 1
Redstart, spring migration 1985, 433
, American, in Lincolnshire, November
1982, 245-6
, Daurian, in Thailand, 24, 31-2
Redwing, British breeding records 1973-82,
86; influx of Fenno-Scandian migrants in
October 1982, 388
Reese, R. A., note on hedge causing death of
Sparrowhawk, 143
Regulus ignicapillus , see Firecrest
regulus , see Goldcrest
Remiz pendulinus , see Tit, Penduline
Requests: please use 'British BirdShop', 59;
colour-marked and wing-tagged Eiders,
colour-marked birds: a reminder, why
hasn’t my January issue arrived?, birds of
Upper Volta, readership survey, 155-6;
Shropshire Breeding Bird Atlas Survey,
253; sightings of White-tailed Eagles,
Spanish rare birds committee, trans-
parencies request, 359; migration surveys
and ringing at Eilat, Israel, 459; resub-
scription urgency, why didn't I get the last
issue?’, 600; please help, 676
Reviews:
Ali and Ripley: Handbook of the Birds of India
and Pakistan: compact edition. 67
Baker: Bird Navigation, 165
Booth, Cuthbert and Reynolds: The Birds
oj Orkney. 412
Burton: Bird Behaviour, 686-7
Burton and Tucker: ,4 Sound Guide to Waders
in Britain, 524
Campbell and Lack: ,4 Dictionary of Birds.
467-8
Chapman: The Countryside and Wildlife for
Disabled People, 608
Cramp: Handbook of the Birds of Europe, the
Middle East and North Africa, vol 4: terns
to woodpeckers, 468-70
Dejonghe: Les Oiseaux de Montague, 209
de Schauensee and Phelps: ,4 Guide to the
Birds of Venezuela, 260- 1
Evans, Goss-Custard and Hale: Coastal
Waders and Wildfowl in Winter, 26 1
Fisher and Gantlett: Lists oj the Birds oj The
Gambia; Great Britain; Greece; Israel;
Majorca; Morocco ; Spain & Portugal; Isles
of Scilly; Norfolk, 608-9
Fitter: The Wildlife of the Thames Counties,
609
Fry: The Bee-eaters, 207-8
Glenister: The Birds of the Malay Peninsula,
Singapore and Penang, 67-8
Hancock: The Birds of the Wetlands, 68
Hancock and Kushlan: The Herons Hand-
book, 122
Harris: The Puffin, 261-2
Holden and Sharrock: .4 First book of Birds.
687
Hudec: Fauna CSSR: Ptdci — ,4m. Part 3.
vols 1 & 2,209-10
Hunt: Confessions of a Scilly Birdman. 687-8
Hywei-Davies and Thom: The Macmillan
Guide to Britain ’s Nature Reserves , 262
Jonsson: Bird Island, 165-6
Rear: Eric Hosking’s Wildfowl , 412-3
Knystautus and Liutkus: In the World oj
Birds, 262
Lewis: A Sound Guide to the British Hawks and
Falcons; Breeding Waders; Thrushes;
Warblers; Tits; Finches, 688
Lotgren: Ocean Birds, 166
Lovegrove and Snow : River Birds. 263
McCanch: A Lighthouse Notebook, 524
Martin: Sporting Birds of the British Isles.
263-4
Mead: Robins. 210
Mitcham: The Birds of Rutland and its
Resenmrs, 264
Nettleship, Sanger and Springer: Marine
Birds, 4 1 3
Newman: Newman 's Birds of Southern Africa.
688
North: Nests and Eggs oj Birds found Breeding
in Australia and Tasmania, vol 1 . 470
O’Connor: The Growth and Development of
Birds, 264
Page: The Wildlife oj the Royal Estates. 265
Perrins and Middleton: The Encyclopaedia oj
Birds, 609-10
Polking: Nature Photography Yearbook 1985
86, 6 1 0
Ridgelv: .4 Guide to the Birds of Panama.
260-1
Roche: The Bird-walker (cassettes), 689-90
Sinclair: Ian Sinclair’s Field Guide to the Birds
of Southern Africa. 413
Svensson: Soviet Birds (cassette), 265
Tavlor: Birdwatching in Kent, 690
Wh ite: ,4 Field Guide to the Bird Songs of
South-East Asia , 4 1 4
Wood: The Birds in Your Garden. 470
710
Index to volume 78
Rhind, Colin, obituary, 309, plate 144
Rhodostethia rosea, see Gull, Ross’s
Richard Richardson Award 1985, 317-22;
award presentation, 460, plate 213
Richards, Michael YV., photograph of
juvenile Starling moulting to first-winter
plumage, 424. plate 202
Richner, Heinz, note on one adult Grey
Heron killing another on feeding territory,
297
Rinnhofer, Gunter, photograph of Jay, 633,
plate 304
Riparia riparia , see Martin, Sand
Rissa Iridactyla , see Kittiwake
Roberson, Don, letter on distinctive bird
names, 401-3
Roberts, P. J., the Choughs of Bardsey, 217-
32, plates 94-5
Robertson, I. S., photograph of flooded
paddyfields, Thailand, 11, plate 7; of
Lesser and Greater Sand Plovers, 140,
plate 57
Robin, influx of Fenno-Scandian migrants
October 1982, 388
, American, accepted record 1984, 573;
European news, 643
, Black-throated, in Thailand, 24
.Japanese, in Thailand, 24
, Siberian Blue, in Thailand, 6, 9-10, 24,
32-4, plate 18
Robin, Klaus, mystery' photograph 109,658,
plates 320-3
Robins, Mark, and Bibby, Colin J., Dartford
Warblers in 1984 Britain, 269-80, plates
106-15
Rodriguez de los Santos, M., notes on Short-
toed Treecreepers from southern Spain,
298-9
Rogers, M. J., points of view 13: identifica-
tion of bird sounds, 188; 'report on rare
birds in Great Britain in 1984, 529-89,
plates 247-87
Roller, accepted record 1984, 564
Rook, photograph, 292, plate 127; feeding on
human vomit, 513
Roosting: Imperial Eagle, 108; Skylark, 109-10;
Pied Wagtail, 1 10; Yellowhammer, 109-10
Rose, Laurence N., note on Carrion Crows
taking insect prey on the wing, 303
Rosefinch, Dark-breasted, in Thailand, 32
, Scarlet, in Thailand, 32; British
breeding record 1982, 91; feeding method,
244; European news, 345
Roskell, J., see John, A. W. G.
Ross, Andrew G., and Bell, Peter T., note
on Green-backed Heron in Humberside,
106-7
Rossetti, John, letter on definition of a
birdwatcher, 597
Rostratula benghalensis , seen Snipe, Painted
Round, Philip D., photographs of Thailand
habitats, 3-35, plates 1,5, 10, 13-4, 16-7; of
Brown-headed Gull, 21, plate 11; of
Swallows roosting in Bangkok, 22, plate
12; of Siberian Rubythroat, 33, plate 15; of
Siberian Blue Robin, 36, plate 18; Photo-
Spot: Dunn’s Lark, 42; review ofGlenister:
The Birds oj the Malay Peninsula, Singapore
and Penang , 67-8; of White: A Field Guide to
the Bird Songs oj South-East Asia, 4 1 4
, , see Lekagul, Boonsong
Rubythroat, Siberian, in Thailand, 11, 24,
32-5, plate 15
, White-tailed, in Thailand, 24
Ruff, British breeding records 1982, 83-4
Rumsey, S. J. R., letter on incompatibility of
Marsh and Willow Tit, 67 1
Sadler, Dave, photograph of Lesser Golden
Plover, 544, plate 255; of Rustic Bunting,
584, plate 287
Sandpiper, Baird’s, accepted records 1982-4,
548, plate 257; mystery photograph, 507,
589, plates 241, 288; photographs, 684,
plates 337-40
, Broad-billed, in Thailand, 35;
PhotoSpot, 190, plates 82-3; with
long-legged appearance, 191, plates 84-5;
accepted records 1982-4, 548-9
, Buff-breasted, European news, 342;
accepted Irish record 1982, 549;
photograph, 68 1 , plate 33 1
— — , Common, feeding on hippopotamus
injuries, 400; spring migration 1985, 428
, Curlew, in Thailand, 19
, Least, accepted records 1983-4, 546;
mystery photograph, 590, 657, plates 289,
319
, Marsh, in Thailand, 19, 35; European
news, 342; accepted records 1984, 550
, Pectoral, mystery photograph, 234,
281, plate 97, 1 16-7; European news, 342;
mobbed by Swallows, 667; photograph,
680, plate 330
, Purple, British breeding record 1982,
83
, Semipalmated, accepted records 1978-
84, 545-6
, Sharp-tailed, in Thailand, 19; Euro-
pean news, 641
, Solitary, photograph, 66, plate 33;
accepted records 1984, 551
, Spoon-billed, in Thailand, 19, 35
, Spotted, accepted records 1983-4, 551-
2; European news, 641
, Stilt, European news, 342; accepted
record 1 984, 549
Index to volume 78
711
Sandpiper, 1 erek, in Thailand, 35; European
news, 342; accepted record 1984, 551
, Upland, accepted record 1984, 550;
European news, 641
> Western, photograph, 291, plate 126;
European news, 342; accepted record
1969,546
, White-rumped, accepted records 1980-
4, 546-8
, Wood, in Thailand, 20; British
breeding records 1982, 84
Sansone, Larry, photograph of Short-billed
Dowitcher, 436, 506, plates 209, 240
Sargeant, Chris, photograph of Young
Ornithologists of the Year 1984, 361, plate
164
Saxicola caprata , see Bushchat, Pied
ferrea, see Bushchat, Grey
rubetra , see Whinchat
torquata, see Stonechat
Scharringa, Kees, European news, 337-46,
638-45
Schram, Jan, colour photograph of Bee-
eater, 216, plate 93
Schutzer, Jan, photograph of Treecreeper,
301, plate 137
Scolopax rusticola , see Woodcock
Scoter, Common, British breeding records
1982, 75
, Surf, European news, 339, 640;
accepted records 1981-4, 539-40
, Velvet, European news, 339
Scott-Ham, M., photographs of White-
winged Black Tern, 560, plates 266-7
Seel, D. C., note on Magpie containing
warblefly insecticide, 302-3
Serin, British breeding records 1982, 91;
photograph, 418, plate 195; accepted
record 1981, 580
Serinus citrinella , see Finch, Citril
serinus , see Serin
Setophaga ruticilla , see Redstart, American
Sevfik, Ian, photograph of Purple Heron,
101, plate 45
Seventy-five years ago, 51; 95; 139; 200-1;
232; 284; 316; 377; 458; 517; 528; 656
Shackleton, Keith, see Gillmor, Robert
Shag, European news, 638
Sharrock, J. T. R., review of Ali and Ripley:
Handbook oj the Birds of India and Pakistan:
compact edition, 67; review of Fry: The Bee-
eaters, 207-8; review of Page: The Wildlife oj
the Royal Estates , 265; PhotoSpot: Dupont's
Lark, 285, plates 120-1; short reviews, 409-
12, 465-6, 685-6; review of Booth. Cuthbert
and Reynolds: The Birds oj Orkney, 412;
mystery photograph 105: Reed Warbler X
Sedge Warbler hybrid, 434-7; review of
Wood: The Birds in Your Garden, 470; note
on yellow legs of Siberian Thrush, 510-11,
plate 242; review of Polking: Nature Photo-
graphy Yearbook 1985/86, 610; review of
I aylor: Birdwatching in Kent. 690
, , see Chandler, R. J.. et al.
, , see Gillmor, Robert
, , see Grant, P. J.
Shearwater, Audubon’s, field identification,
123-8
, Cory’s, European news, 338, 638;
feeding behaviour and voice, 507-8;
accepted record 1982, 532
, Great, European news, 338
, Little, field identification, 123-8;
European news, 338; accepted records
1979-84, 532
, Manx, field identification, 123-8;
eating plastic beads, 350-1; European
news, 638
, Sooty, European news, 338
Sheathbill, Snowy, in Co. Down in
December 1892,246
Shelduck, Ruddv, photographs, 606. plates
296-8
Shibnev, Y., photograph of Baikal Teal. 189,
233, plates 81. 96
Shimmings, Paul, note on Kestrel attempt-
ing to catch bat in mid air, 109
Short reviews: Ali, 465; Bradley, 465;
Burton. 409-10; Ceballos, et al.. 465: ( Joe,
685; C.reutz. 465; Engler, 685; Flegg. 685;
Flegg, Arlott and Hosking, 410; Freethv,
410; Friday and Ingram. 410: Gill. 685;
Gilpin, 410; Grosskopf and Klaehn. 410;
Heath and Emmet. 465-6; Hinde, 410;
Hollands, 685; Horwood, 410; Hosking,
410; Karpinski. 410; L^ppenthin. 410-1;
Liibcke and Furrer, 411; Marcon and
Mongini. 411; Menzel. 411; Niall, 685;
Ockey, 685; Olschlegei. 685; Owen
Spellerberg and Wallace, 411: Pemberton.
411; Quadriga, 686; Richardson, 686;
Roberts. 466; Scott. 466; Smith, 411;
Stephan, 686: Stiefel and Scheufler. 411:
Tate, 466; Tomkies. 686: Tunniclifle, 411;
Yriends, 411-2; Waite. 686: W’oolfenden
and Fitzpatrick, 412
Shrike. Brow n, in Thailand. 14. 28
. Great Grev. call. 49; European news,
644
. Isabelline. photograph. 120, plate 53;
European news, 344-5, 644; British record
October 1982, 390; accepted record 1984,
579
, Lesser Grey, accepted records 1984.
579, plate 283
, Long-tailed, in Thailand, 28
, Masked, European news. 345
712
Index to volume 78
Shrike, Red-backed, British breeding records
1982, 90; European news, 345; photo-
graph, 418, plate 196
, Tiger, in Thailand, 9, 14, 28, 34
, Woodchat, accepted records 1980-4,
579-80
Siblet, Jean-Philippe, and Tostain, Olivier,
photograph of black-headed Yellow Wag-
tail M.J.feldegg, 181, plate 75
Silcocks, Andy, see Thompson, Paul
Simmons, K. E. L., note on bizarre
behaviour and death of House Sparrow,
243-4; on Dunnock eating from Blackbird
faeces, 508; on juvenile Blackbird
‘frolicking’, ‘playing’ with leaf, and
copulating with inanimate objects, 667
Siskin, European news, 644
Sitta europaea, see Nuthatch
ledanti, see Nuthatch, Algerian
magna , see Nuthatch, Giant
Skua, Arctic, Buckinghamshire bird
re-identified as Pomarine, 669-71, plates
325-8
, Long-tailed, white-headed juvenile,
453-4; European news, 641
, Pomarine, in Buckinghamshire in
November 1982, 669-71, plates 325-8
Skylark, roosting under snow, 109-10
Smew, displaying with Goldeneyes, 192
Smith, Don, see Chandler, R. J., et ad.
Smith, J. S., see Fletcher, M. R.
Smith, Richard G., photograph of Pectoral
Sandpiper. 282, plate 1 17
Snipe, in Thailand, 20, 34; wing-span
measurements, 404
, Great, European news, 342; accepted
records 1984, 549
.Jack, in Thailand, 20
. Painted, in Thailand, 19-20
. Pintail, in Thailand, 34
, Wood, in Thailand, 20
Snow, Barbara K., note on cutaneous
diseases in a ringed Dunnock population,
47-8
Somateria mollissima, see Eider
spectabilis , see Eider, King
Soper, Tony, presenting Bird Photograph of
the Year award, 407, plate 190
Sora, identification of first-winter, 145-6
Sparrow, House, bizarre behaviour and
death, 243-4; associating in flight with
Black-headed Gull, 597
, Lark, reasons for Category D status for
Suffolk record, 52-3
, Rock, European news, 644
, Savannah, accepted record 1982, 583;
in Dorset in April 1982, 647-56, plates 307-
18
Sparrow, White-throated, photographs, 164,
plates 64-5; photographs, 314, plates 149-
50; accepted Irish record 1984, 570, 583,
plate 281
Sparrowhawk, in I hailand, 18; killed by
hedge, 143; wing-span measurements, 404
, Japanese, in Thailand, 18
Spencer, Robert, rare breeding birds in the
United Kingdom in 1982, 69-92; review of
Baker: Bird Navigation, 165
Spoonbill, in Thailand, 17; European news,
639
Stainton, J. M., review of Mead: Robins, 210
Starling, in Thailand, 28; Hen Harrier
hunting at roost, 192-3; juvenile moulting
to first-winter plumage, 424, plate 202;
feeding on dog faeces, 513; eating snowy
wax caps, 513-4; European news, 644;
found dead at sewage-farm sludge beds,
666
, Purple-backed, in Thailand, 28
, Rose-coloured, accepted records 1983-
84, 580; European news, 644
Stastny, Karel, European news, 337-46, 638-
45
Stenersen, John, photographs of Brunnich's
Guillemot, 642, plates 305-6
Stercorarius longicaudus , see Skua, Long-tailed
parasiticus, see Skua, Arctic
pomarinus, see Skua, Pomarine
Sterna albifrons, see Tern, Little
anaethetus, see Tern, Bridled
bengalensis, see Tern, Lesser Crested
bergii , see Tern, Crested
bernsteini, see Tern, Chinese Crested
caspia, see Tern, Caspian
Jorsteri , see Tern, Forster’s
Juscata, see Tern, Sooty
hirundo , see Tern, Common
maxima , see Tern, Royal
paradisaea , see Tern, Arctic
sandvicensis , see Tern, Sandwich
saundersi, see Tern, Saunders’s
Stilt, Black-winged, in Thailand, 19;
accepted records 1983-4, 542-3
Stint, Little, photographs, 290, plates 123-4;
feeding behaviour, 595-6
, Long-toed, in Thailand, 20, 34; British
record October 1982, 390; accepted record
1982, 546, 567, plate 275
, Red-necked, in Thailand, 19
, Temminck’s, in Thailand, 20, 31;
photograph, 65, plate 31; British breeding
records 1982,83
Stone, C. W., note on aggression of albino
Dunlin towards other waders, 44
Stonechat, in Thailand, 11, 14, 24;
photograph of S. t. maura or stejnegeri, 66,
plate 32; British records of S. t. maura or
Index to volume 78
713
stejnegeri October 1982, 390; accepted
records of .S'. /. mama or stejnegeri 1982-84
571
, Canary Islands, name criticised, 401-3
Stone-curlew, in Thailand, 19; British
breeding records 1982, 82; colour photo-
graph, 214, plate 90; European news, 341
Stork, Black, in I hailand, 17; European
news, 339, 639; accepted record 1983. 535
1 White, in I hailand, 17; European
news, 339, 639
Slreptopelia orientalis, see Dove, Rufous Turtle
senegalensis, sec Dove, Laughing
turtur , see Dove, Turtle
Strix aluco, see Owl, Tawny
Stumus roseus, see Starling, Rose-coloured
stu minus , see Starling, Purple-backed
vulgaris , see Starling
Sultana, Joe, and Gauci, Charles, European
news, 337-46, 638-45
Surnia ulula, see Owl, Hawk
Sutton, Graham, photograph of Squacco
Heron, 368, plate 175; photograph of
Ring-necked Duck, 538, plate 250;
photograph of Buff-breasted Sandpiper,
68 1 , plate 33 1
Sutton, Richard, letter on call of Bonelli’s
Warbler, 199
Swallow, in Thailand, 14-5, 22, 33, plate 12;
population changes in Somerset 1929-81,
240; pecking at tarmac road, 455; unusual
nest, 455-6; individual with no feet, 456;
mobbing Pectoral Sandpiper, 667
, Rcd-rumped, in Thailand, 22-3;
photographs, 64, plates 25-6; misleading
portrayal by bird-artists, 306; European
news, 343; accepted records 1984, 565
Swan, Bewick's, European news, 339
. M ute, European news, 339, 639
, Whooper, British feral breeding
records 1982, 73; European news, 639
Swanberg, P. O., photograph of Broad-billed
Sandpiper, 190, plate 83; of third or fourth
calendar-year Golden Eagle, 425, plate
204
Swift, spring migration 1985, 429
, Alpine, European news, 343, 643;
photographs, 368, plates 1 72-3; accepted
records 1983-4, 563-4
, Asian Palm, in Thailand, 22
, Little, European news, 643
, Needle-tailed, in Thailand, 22, 34;
accepted record 1984, 562-3, plates 270-3
, Pacific, in Thailand, 22
, Pallid, call, 152-3; in Hampshire May
1983, 508; accepted records 1983-4, 563;
European news, 643
, Plain, European news, 643
Sylvia atncapilla , see Blackcap
borin , see W arbler, Garden
cantillans , see Warbler, Subalpine
communis , see Whitethroat
conspicillata. see Warbler, Spectacled
curruca , see Whitethroat, Lesser
deserticola , see Warbler, Tristram’s
hortensis, see Warbler, Orphean
nisoria, see W arbler, Barred
sarda , see W arbler, Marmora’s
undata , see Warbler, Dartford
Tachybaplus rujitollis. see Grebe, Little
Tadorna ferruginea, see Shelduek. Ruddy
tadoma , see Shelduek
Tarsiger cyanurus, see Bluetail, Red-flanked
Tattler, Grey-rumped. in Thailand, 20
Teal, in Thailand, 17; accepted records of .1.
c. carolinensis 1983-4, 537; European news,
639
, Baikal, mystery photograph. 189, 233,
plates 8 1 , 96; European news, 639
, Blue-winged, European news, 339,
639; accepted records 1983-4, 537, 567,
plate 274
, Cinnamon, field identification of
juvenile, 398-9, plate 189
Teixeira, Antonio, European news. 337-46.
638-45
Tern, Arctic, incubating Ringed Plover eggs
to hatching, 454-5
, Black, leg-length, 238; European news,
343, 642; photograph, 366, plate 168;
mystery photograph, 350, 378. plates 162,
179, 181; spring migration 1985.433
, Bridled, accepted record 1984. 559
, Caspian, in Thailand. 21, 35; foraging
and hunting efficiency, 146-7; accepted
records 1984, 558; European news, 642
, Chinese Crested, in Thailand, 22
, Common, in Thailand, 21. 35; pre-
breeding terns attempting to feed
juveniles, 147-8; photograph, 294, plate
132; spring migration 1985, 429
, Crested, in Thailand. 21, 35-6; field-
characters, 237-8
, Forster's, accepted records 1984. 558-9
, Gull-billed, in Thailand, 21, 35;
accepted records 1983-4, 558
, Lesser Crested, in Thailand, 21, 36;
field identification, 236-8; European news,
342; photograph, 522. plate 243
. Little, spring migration 1985. 433
, Royal, field identification. 236-8
, Sandw ich, spring migration 1985, 428;
European news, 642
. Saunders’s, in Thailand, 22
714
Index to volume 78
Tern, Sooty, accepted records 1984, 559,
plate 265
, Whiskered, in Thailand, 21, 35;
European news, 342-3; accepted records
1969-84, 559, 568, plate 276
, White-winged Black, in Thailand, 21,
35; leg-length, 238; photographs, 378-9,
plates 180, 182; accepted records 1982-4,
560-1 , plates 266-8
Terry, Mike, points of view 14: help for the
Snowy Owls, 286-7
Thailand, birdwatching in, 2-39, plates 1-18
Thevenot, Michael, European news, 638-45
Thexton, D. B., see Kinky, R. E
Thick-knee, Great, in Thailand, 19
Thomas, Brian, photograph of Purple
Heron, 101, plate 44; of Red-footed
Falcon, 607, plates 299-300
Thompson, Paul, Lethaby, Nick, and
Silcocks, Andy, note on identification of
large terns, 236-8
Thompson, Roger, twitchers beware!, 461,
plate 214
Thompson, Ron, photographs of White-
throated Sparrow, 314, plates 149-50
Threskiomis melanocephalus, see Ibis,
Black-necked
Thrush, Black-breasted, in Thailand, 25
, Black-throated, in Thailand, 25;
British records October 1982, 390;
accepted record 1983, 573
, Black-throated/Red-throated, Euro-
pean news, 344, 643
, Blue Rock, in Thailand, 24; European
news, 643
, Chestnut, in Thailand, 25
, Chestnut-bellied, in Thailand, 24
, Chestnut-capped, in Thailand, 36
, Dusky, in Thailand, 25
, Eye-browed, in Thailand, 24-5, 32;
European news, 344; accepted records
1984,573
, Grey-cheeked, accepted record 1984,
573
, Grey-sided, in Thailand, 25
, Hermit, accepted record 1984, 573
, Long-tailed, in Thailand, 25
, Mistle, wing-clapping, 400
, Orange-headed, in Thailand, 25
, Red-throated, in Thailand, 25
, Rock, accepted records 1968-84, 572-3
, Siberian, in Thailand, 25; field-
characters, 509-11, plate 242; accepted
record 1984, 573
, Song, found dead at sewage-farm
sludge beds, 667; juvenile ‘frolicking’, 667
, Swainson’s, photograph, 64, plate 27;
accepted records 1983-4, 569, 573, plate
279
, White’s, in Thailand, 25, 32
, White-throated Rock, in Thailand 24,
34
Tidman, Roger, photographs of Parrot
Crossbills, 485-503, plates 222, 226, 229,
232, 234-5, 239
Tipling, David, photograph of Purple Heron,
523, plate 244
Tit, Bearded, European news, 344, 644
, Blue, photograph, 296, plate 134;
feeding on dog faeces, 513; found dead at
sewage-farm sludge beds, 667
, Great, unhooking nut-bag, 49
, Marsh, voice, 197-8; incompatibility
with Willow Tit, 67 1
, Penduline, European news, 344, 644;
accepted records 1983-4, 569, 578-9,
plate 278
, Willow, voice, 197-8; incompatibility
with Marsh Tit, 67 1
Tizard, B. A., note on interaction between
Peregrine and injured feral Rock Dove,
235
Tombeur, Franklin L. L., see de Liedekerke,
Rene
Tomiafojc, L., European news, 337-46, 638-
45
Tomlinson, David, photograph of Great
Bustard, 341, plate 155; of Red-breasted
Flycatcher, 418, plate 194
Topp, Antero, colour photographs of Pallas’s
Warbler, 391-2, plates 184, 186; photo-
graphs of Reed Warbler X Sedge Warbler
hybrid, 380, 434-5, plates 183, 206-8
Tostain, Olivier, see Siblet, Jean-Philippe
Towler, Raymond, photograph of Keith
Colcombe and Bruce Pearson, 678, plate
329
Travis, Roy, note on Oystercatcher with
abnormally long bill, 595, plate 291; on
feeding behaviour of Little Stint, 595
Treecreeper, field-characters, 300-3, plates
136-7; found dead at sewage-farm sludge
beds, 667
, Short-toed, plumage and biometrics of
southern Spanish population, 298-300,
plate 135; field identification, 300-3, plates
136-8; European news, 644
Treeduck, Lesser, in Thailand, 1 7, 33
Treesucon, U., photographs of Thailand
habitats, 5-16, plates 2-4, '6, 9
Tringa Jtavipes, see Yellowlegs, Lesser
glareola, see Sandpiper, Wood
guttifer , see Greenshank, Nordmann’s
solitaria, see Sandpiper, Solitary
stagnatilis, see Sandpiper, Marsh
totanus , see Redshank
Troglodytes troglodytes , see Wren
Tropicbird, Red-billed, European news, 338
Index to volume 78
715
Tryngites subruficollis, see Sandpiper, Buff-
breasted
I ucker, Laurel A., note on racial identifica-
tion of Cattle Egret, 659-61
I ucker, Vic, letter on origin of British
Glaucous Gulls, 355-6
I ulloch, Bobby, photograph of first-summer
male Red-footed Falcon, 424, plate 203
Turdus americanus , see Robin, American
bulbul , see Blackbird, Grey-winged
dissimilis , see Thrush, Black-breasted
Jeae, see Thrush, Grey-sided
iliacus , see Redwing
merula , see Blackbird
naumanni eunomus , see Thrush, Dusky
obscurus, see Thrush, Eye-browed
pilaris , see Fieldfare
rubrocanus , see Thrush, Chestnut
ruficollis atrogularis , see Thrush, Black-
throated
ruficollis ruficollis , see Thrush, Red-
throated
torquatus , see Ouzel, Ring
viscivorus, see Thrush, Mistle
Turnstone, European news, 342
Turton, J. M., and Greaves, P. K., note on
Orphean Warbler in St illy, 150
Tyto alba , see Owl, Barn
Oilman, Magnus, see Alstrom, Per
Upupa epops , see Hoopoe
Uria aalge , see Guillemot
lomvia , see Guillemot, Briinnich's
Urquhart, D. A., photograph of Broad-billed
Sandpiper, 190, plate 82
van den Berg, Arnoud B., photograph of
hybrid Tufted Duck X Pochard. 40, plate
19; of international identification meeting
in California in 1983, 161, plate 63; Photo-
Spot: Algerian Nuthatch, 265-8. plates
102-5; photograph of Pectoral Sandpiper,
234. 281. plates 97, 1 16; of Dupont's Lark,
285-6, plates 120-1, of Savannah Sparrow,
655, plate 318
van den Berg, Martin, and Oreel, Gerald J.,
field identification and status of black-
headed Yellow Wagtails in Western
Europe, 176-83, plates 70-7
van Laar, Jan A. M., photograph of Parrot
Crossbill. 484, plate 22 1
VAT on books? 165
Vermivora peregnna. see \\ arbler. Tennessee
Vines, P., photographs of White-winged
Black Tern. 378-9. plates 180. 182
Vinicombe, K. E., note on identification of a
first-winter Sora, 145-6; Ring-billed Gulls
in Britain and Ireland. 327-37, plates 151-
4; mystery photograph 104: Black Tern,
378-80; comments on report on rare birds
in Great Britain in 1984. 529-89
Vireo olivaceus , see Vireo. Red-eyed
\ ireo, Red-eved, catching great green bush
cricket, 514; accepted record 1984. 580
Voice: Cory’s Shearwater, 507-8; Bittern,
198; Corncrake, 403; Scops Owl, 198;
Nightjar, 198; Pallid Swift. 152-3; Pied
Wagtail, 110; Dunnock, 353-4; Grass-
hopper Warbler, 198, 400-1; Greenish
Warbler, 200; Arctic Warbler, 200;
Pallas’s \\ arbler, 200; Yellow-browed
Warbler, 200; Bonelli’s Warbler, 199-200;
Goldcrest, 48; Marsh Tit; 197-8; Willow
Fit, 197-8; Great Grey Shrike, 49
\ ulture, Egyptian, European news, 340, 640
, Griffon, photograph, 291. plate 125;
Fiuropean news, 340, 640
Wade, Imogen, Young Ornithologist of the
Year 1984: award presentation. 360-1,
plate 164
W agtail, Citrine, in Thailand, 23. 31; head
pattern of immature, 196; European news,
343, 643; British record October 1982, 390;
accepted records 1977-84, 566
, Forest, in Thailand. 14, 23. 34, 36
, Grey, in Thailand, 14, 23; European
news, 343
, Pied, in Thailand, 23; unusual calls at
roost, 1 10; feeding by hovering, 1 1 1
, Yellow, in Thailand, 23; 33. 36: field
identification and status in western
Europe of MJ.Jeldegg and M.fi.thunbergi,
176-83, plates 70-7; European news, 343;
spring migration 1985, 431; status of
black-headed individuals in western
Europe, 515
Wall, Tom, note on nest sites of House
Martins, 240-1
Wallace, D. I. M., see Curtis. W. F.
Waller. Marv, letter on ‘What's about?’ calls.
253
Walsh. Terence A., note on yellow orbital
ring ofSemipalmated Plover. 661
Warbler, Aquatic, European news, 344
, Arctic, in Thailand. 9, 13-4, 27, 35-6;
differences in vocalisations between races,
200; European news, 344; field-characters.
442. 446-8; accepted records 1984. 577
. Ashy-throated, in Thailand, 26. 32
, Barred, photograph. 65, plate 30
. Black-and-white, accepted Irish record
1984. 581
. Black-browed Reed, in Thailand, 11.
26-7. 33-4
716
Warbler, Blackpoll, photographs, 63, plates
23-4; accepted records 1983-4, 581-2, plate
284
. Blunt-winged, in Thailand, 26, 34
. Blyth’s Crowned Leaf, in Thailand. 34
, Blyth’s Reed. European news, 344;
accepted record 1984, 574
, Bonelli’s, differences in calls of eastern
and western races. 199-200; accepted
records 1983-4,578
. Booted, photograph, 61, plate 22;
European news. 344, 644; British record
October 1982, 390; accepted records 1982-
4, 575
. Buff-throated, in Thailand, 31-2
. Cetti’s. British breeding records 1982,
86-7
, Clamorous Reed, in Thailand. 26
, Dartford, British breeding records
1982, 88-9; breeding numbers in Britain
1984, 269-80. plates 106-15
. Dusky, in Thailand, 9, 11, 26, 33;
European news, 344, 644; British and Irish
records October 1982, 390; accepted
records. 1983-4, 578
, Eastern Crowned Leaf, in Thailand,
13-15, 26-7,36
, Fan-tailed, European news, 643
, Garden, spring migration 1985, 433
, Grasshopper, mistaken for Savi’s, 197;
analysis of song, 198; possible mimicry of
Corn Bunting’s song, 400-1; spring
migration 1985,433
, Great Reed, in Thailand, 26; accepted
records 1984, 574-5
, Green, field-characters, 442, 445-7;
accepted record 1983, 576
, Greenish, in Thailand, 27; differences
in vocalisations between races, 200; British
status and identification, 437-51, plate
210; accepted records 1983-4, rejected
records 1958-72, 576-7, plate 282
, Lanceolated, in Thailand, 1 1, 25, 33-4;
British records October 1982, 390;
accepted records 1984, 574
, M anchurian Bush, in Thailand, 28
, Marmora’s, in South Yorkshire in May
1982, 475-81, plates 218-20; accepted
record 1982, 575
, Marsh, British breeding records 1982,
88; mouth and gape colour, 297-8
, Melodious, European news, 644
, Olivaceous, photograph, 65, plate 29;
accepted record 1984, 575; European
news, 644
, Orange-barred Leaf, in Thailand, 32
, Orphean, in Stilly, 150
, Paddyfield, in Thailand, 26; European
news, 344; accepted records 1984, 574
Index to volume 78
, Pale-legged Leaf, in Thailand, 9, 15,
26. 34
, Pallas’s, differences in vocalisations
between races, 200; influx in Britain
October 1982, 381-92, plates 184, 186;
letter, 457-8; accepted records 1982-4,
577-8
, Pallas’s Grasshopper, in Thailand, 25,
34; European news, 643-4
. Radde’s, in Thailand, 10, 26, 32, 34;
British and Irish records October 1982,
390; accepted records 1984, 578
, Reed, mouth and gape colour, 297-8;
mystery photograph of Reed X Sedge
Warbler hvbrid, 380, 434-5, plates 183,
206-8; spring migration 1985,433
, River, accepted records 1984, 574
, Savi’s, British breeding records 1982,
87-8; accepted record 1982, 574
, Sedge, mystery photograph of Sedge X
Reed Warbler hybrid, 380, 434-5, plates
183, 206-8; spring migration 1985, 431
, Spectacled, European news, 344
, Stub-tailed Bush, in Thailand, 28
, Subalpine, European news, 344, 644;
accepted records 1979-84, 575-6
, Sulphur-breasted, in Thailand, 34
, Tennessee, European news, 345; field-
characters, 449
, Thick-billed, in Thailand, 26, 34
, Tristram’s, European news, 644
, Two-barred Greenish, in Thailand, 10,
26, 34; field-characters, 442, 445-7
, White-tailed Leaf, in Thailand, 26, 32
, W iilow, spring migration 1985, 433
, Wood, spring migration 1985, 433
, Yellow-browed, in Thailand, 2, 9-10,
26-7; photographs, 164, plates 67-8; differ-
ences in vocalisations between races, 200;
European news, 344; British records in
October 1982, 390, 392. plate 185; field-
characters 442, 446-8
, Yellow-streaked, in Thailand, 32
Watson, Frederick (., note on Redshank
feeding on paved area, 45-6
Watson, R. K., see Lambert, R
Waxwing, photograph, 313, plate 145;
European news, 343
Weibull, Peder, photograph of Lesser Sand
Plover, 105, 140, plates 50, 56
Weir, Dennis, photographs of Wilson's
Petrel and Storm Petrels, 605, plates 293-5
Wells, Martin, note on Swallow with no feet,
456
Wheatear, field identification in winter, 304-
5, plates 140-2; spring migration 1985, 431
, Black, European news, 643
, Black-eared, European news, 344;
photograph, 416, plate 192
Index to volume 78
717
YVheatear, Desert, European news, 344; ac-
cepted records 1984, 568, 572, plate 277
, Isabelline, field identification in
winter, 304-5, plates 139, 143
, Pied, British records October 1982,
390; accepted record 1983, 572
, Red-rumped, European news, 643
, White-crowned Black, accepted record
1982, 572
\\ heeler, Dennis A., letter on Siberian
passerine vagrancy in October 1982, 457-8
\\ himbrel, tree-perching in Malaysia, 236
, Little, British record in October 1982,
390; name criticised, 401-3; accepted
record 1982; correction, 550
W hinchat, spring migration 1985, 433
White, C. A., letter on a possible reason why
pigeons and other birds sometimes swim,
152
White, G. J., and Andrews, T. P., identifica-
tion pitfalls of a juvenile Cinnamon l eal,
398-9, plate 189
Whitethroat, feeding on insects on algac-
covered concrete, 243; spring migration
1985, 432
, Lesser, in Thailand, 28; S.c.blythi
wintering in Mid Glamorgan 1982-3, 242-
3; spring migration 1985, 433
Wigeon, in Thailand, 17, 32; tertial patterns
of females and immatures, 397-8, 690;
European news, 639
, American, tertial patterns of females
and immatures, 397-8; 690; accepted
records 1983-4, 536; European news, 639
Wilds, Claudia, mystery photograph 106:
Short-billed Dowitcher, 505-7
Wilkes, M. C., photograph of Corn Bunting.
346, plate 156
W ilkinson, David, note on behaviour of
Magpies feeding on backs of large
mammals, 49-50; on Blackbird taking
rowan berry in flight. 242
W ilmshurst, Roger, colour photograph of
Chaffinches, 215, plate 92
W ilson. J. David, note on possible mimicry of
Corn Bunting song by Grasshopper
Warbler, 400-1
W ilson, M. G., see Dunn. E. K.
Winfield, K. W .. See Lambert. R.
Wolsey, R. P. S., note on one Great Crested
Grebe apparently importuning food from
another, 234-5
Woodcock, in Thailand, 20; roding at night
and vertical escape flight, 195; wing-span
measurements, 404
Woodpecker. Black, range-expansion in
Western Europe, 184-7. plates 78-9; status
as a British bird. 516; European news, 643
, Great Spotted, fighting in flight. 666
, Green, found dead at sewage-farm
sludge beds. 667
, W hite-backed, European news, 643
W oodpigeon, exceptionally tame birds in St
James’s Park, 238-9; European news, 343;
alighting on water to avoid Carrion Crow,
351
Wren, swimming, 456
Wryneck, British breeding records 1982, 85;
found dead at sewage-farm sludge beds.
667
Xenus cinereus , see Sandpiper. Terek
Yates, B. J., photograph of Sooty Tern, 559,
plate 265
Yellowhammer, roosting under snow. 109-10
Yellowlegs, Lesser, European news. 342,
641; accepted records 1983-4. 550-1, plate
258
Yellowthroat, Common, accepted records
1984. 570, 582-3, plates 280, 285-6
Young, Dav e, photographs of Needle-tailed
Swift, 562, plates 271-2
Young, Steve, photographs of Yellow-
browed Warbler. 164, plates 67-8; of Snow
Bunting, 164, plate 69; of Little Gulls. 365.
plates 165-7; of Black Tern, 366, plate 168;
of Iceland Gull. 368. plate 174; of Serin,
418. plate 195; of Red-backed Shrike. 418,
plate 196; of Ruddy Shelducks. 606, plates
296-8; of Pectoral Sandpiper, 680. plate
330; of Dotterel. 682. plate 333; of Baird's
Sandpiper, 684. plates 337-8
Young Ornithologists of the Year 1984.
award presentation. 360-1. plate 164
Youngman, R. E., review of Fitter: The
Wildlife of the Thames Counties, 609
Zbinden. N\. European news, 337-46, 638-45
Zonfrillo, Bernard, note on petrels eating
contraceptives, polythene and plastic
beads. 350- 1
Zcnotrichia albicollis, see Sparrow. White-
throated
Zoothera citrina, sec Thrush. Orange-headed
— — dauma, see Thrush. White’s
dixoni. see Thrush. Long-tailed
interpres, see Thrush, Chestnut-capped
sibirica, see Thrush, Siberian
List of line-drawings
PAGES
8
Siberian Blue Robin (Karnol
Komolphalin)
14
Red-flanked Bluetail (Killian
Mullarney)
25
Eye-browed Thrush (Karnol
Komolphalin)
27
Black-browed Reed Warbler
(. Killian Mullarney)
29
Brown Flycatcher and Dark-sided
Flycatcher ( Karnol Komolphalin)
61
Barnacle Geese (Darren Rees)
62
Semipalmated Sandpiper (D.
Daly)
63
Forster’s Tern (Philip Snow)
69-88
Brambling; Black-necked Grebe;
Marsh Harrier; Osprey; Hobby;
Marsh Warbler (Norman Arlott)
1 19
‘Siberian- Stoncchat (R. A. Hume)
120
Hoopoe (D. Numey); Lanceolated
W arbler ( W. S. Morton)
121
Belted Kingfisher (Eric Dempsey)
123
Shearwaters (D. I. M. Wallace)
161
Black-necked Grebe (D. Daly)
163
Desert W heatear (D. Numey)
176
Grey-headed Yellow Wagtail and
black-headed Yellow Wagtails
(Killian Mullarney)
184
Black Woodpecker (J. P. P.
Wilczur)
205
Smew ( Eric Dempsey)
207
W axwings ( Nik Borrow)
217
Choughs (Philip Snow)
255-58
Nutcracker; Smew; W axwing (D.
Numey)
269
Dartford Warbler (Jane Brewer)
310
Sociable Plover (.4. .V/. Stoddart)
311-12
Red-breasted Goose; Parrot
Crossbill (D. Numey)
317-22
Bird Illustrator of the Year
1985: Sedge Warbler (Ian Lewing-
ton); Marsh Sandpipers (Nicholas
Pike); Woodchat Shrike (Ian
Lewington); Great Spotted Wood-
pecker ( Nicholas Pike); Common
Yellow throat; Little Gull ( Martin
Hallam ); Brent Geese (A. H. E.
Franklin)', Bam Owl (Marlin
Hallam ); Pintail (A’. //. E.
Franklin)', Glossy Ibis (Nicholas
Pike )
327
Common Gull with Ring-billed
Gulls (iMurel Tucker)
363-64
Hawfinch; Wryneck ( D. Numey)
370
Guillemots ( T. R. Birkhead)
381
Pallas’s Warbler ( Guy Troughton)
415
Blue throat (Guy Troughton)
427
Cuckoo (Kevin Baker)
437
Greenish Warbler (Killian
Mullarney)
461
Red-throated Pipit ( Martin
Hallam)
462
Pied Flycatcher; Wood Warbler
(Guy Troughton)
463
Kentish Plover (D. Numey)
464
Purple Heron (Ernie Leahy);
Spoonbill (Adrian Thomas)
465
Arctic Skua and Long-tailed Skua
(Martin Hallam)
475
Marmora's Warbler (J. Lunn)
482
Parrot Crossbills (Graham P.
Catley)
520
Broad-billed Sandpiper and
Ringed Plover (Dave Showier);
Red-footed Falcon (Brian E. Slade)
521
Osprey (David The! well)
603
Franklin's Gull (David G. Mitchell)
604
Little Swift (William S. Morton)
61 1
Jay (David G. Mitchell)
647
Savannah Sparrow (Nik Borrow)
679
Yellow-browed Warbler (A. M.
Stoddart); Pectoral Sandpiper
(Alan Harris)
682
Lapland Bunting (D. Numey)
WINNER, BIRD ILLUSTRATOR OF THE YEAR 1985 and
the richard richardson award 1985 (see pages 3 1 7-322) :
Reed Buntings (Ian Lewington)
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irdwatching in Thailand
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Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford mk.44 3nj
Subscriptions and orders Jor back copies Mrs Erika Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane,
Blunham, Bedford mk44 3nj
Advertising Mrs Sandra Barnes, BB Advertising, c/o Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham,
Bedlord mk44 3nj. Phone: Tiptree (0621) 815085
Bird news for 'Recent reports ’ Ian Dawson & Keith Allsopp, c/o RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy,
Bedfordshire sg 19 2di„ Phone (outside office hours): Huntingdon (0480) 214186.
News items for ‘News and comment' Mike Everett & Robin Prytherch, 7 Burlington Way,
Hemingford Grey, Huntingdon pe18 9bs
Rarity descriptions M. J. Rogers, Flat 4, Pentland Flats, St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly
tr21 Ohy
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outside Europe £36.70 or $56.55. Single back copies, if available. £2 or $4.
Make all cheques payable to British Birds Ltd. Payment may also be made
directly into UK Post Office GIRO account number 37 588 6303.
British Birds publishes material dealing with original observations on the birds of the west Palearctic. Except for
records of rarities, papers and notes are normally accepted only on condition that material is not being offered in
whole or in part to any other journal. Photographs and sketches are welcomed. All contributions should be sub-
mitted to the Managing Editor.
Papers should be typewritten with double spacing, and wide margins, and on one side of the sheet only. Authors
should carefully consult this issue for style of presentation, especially of references and tables. English and scientific
names and sequences of birds follow The ‘British Birds* List of Birds of the Western Palearctic ( 1984): names of
plants follow Dony et at. (1980, English Names of Wild Flowers); names of mammals follow Corbet & Southern
(1977, The Handbook of British Mammals). Topographical (plumage and structure) terms should follow-
editorial recommendations (Brit. Birds 74: 239-242). Figures should lie in Indian ink on good quality tracing paper,
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in pencil; captions should be typed on a separate sheet.
Authors of main papers (but not notes or letters) receive ten free copies of the journal (five each to two or more
authors).
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LARGE SELECTION OF SECOND-HAND INSTRUMENTS
PART EXCHANGE WELCOME
MAIL/PHONE ORDER SERVICE
Choose and select from our comprehensive range of equipment
BINOCULARS
WEST ZEISS
£
Dialyt 8 x 20 B
155.00
Dialyt 10 x 25 B
169.00
Dialyt 8 x 30 BGAT
313.00
Dialyt 10x40 BGAT
Phone
Standard or close focus
for price
Dialyt 8 x 56 BGAT
410.00
15x60 GAT Porro
675.00
LEITZ
Trinovid 8 x 40 BA
Phone
Trinovid 10x40 BA
for price
CARL ZEISS JENA
Deltrintem 8 x 30
47 95
Dekarem 10x50
79 95
OPTOLYTH
Alpin 8 x 30 BGA
119.00
Alpin 8 x 40 BGA
129.00
Alpin 10x40 BGA
132.00
Alpin 7 x 42 BGA
135.00
Alpin 10 x 50 BGA
150.00
HABICHT
Diana 10 x 40 B
239.00
WSL/M 7 x 42
239.00
WSL/M 10x40
269.00
HARTMANN
Compact 8 x 30
197 60
Compact 8 x 40
234.79
Compact 10x40
234.79
BUSHNELL
Explorer 7 x 35
105.00
Explorer 8 x 40
110.00
We also stock: Swift, Kowa, Bresser,
Greenkat, B&L. Mirador, Pentax. etc.
Kowa Observation 35 x 150
and Stand 5,945
TELESCOPES
£
Spacemaster Zoom
Phone
Spacemaster 22 x 60
for price
Eye Pieces 15x to 60x
29 00
Camera Adaptor
22.00
Case for Spacemaster
1500
Mirador 15x-60 x 60
174.95
Case for Mirador
15.00
Kowa TS-1 Body
119 00
Kowa TS-2 Body
96 60
Eye Pieces 1 5x to 60x from 26.45
Case for TS-1
1600
Case for TS-2
15.00
Kowa TSN-1 Body
Phone
Kowa TSN-2 Body
for price
Eye Pieces 20x 25x 40x
and 20x-60x Zoom
Optolyth 22 x 60
145.00
Optolyth 30 x 75
239 00
Optolyth 30 x 80
273.00
Habicht 30 x 75 C/F
339 00
Mirador 30 x 75
139.00
Steiner 24 x 80
212.95
Bauch & Lomb
420.00
Criterion 4000
Mirror Scope 40x
For top quality high
power
observation the Criterion can be used
with Kowa Eye Pieces, e g. Kowa
20 x WA gives approx. 65x
TELESCOPE AND TRIPOD
OUTFITS
If you purchase a Telescope and
Tripod at the same time we can offer
you a very special price.
Phone for a quote!
TRIPODS & ACCESSORIES
Slik Gazelle
28 95
Slik 35S
34 95
Slik 35D
3895
Slik Master D2
49.95
Slik SL67
74.95
Slik Tripod Strap
495
Slik Tripod Case
8.76
Car Window Mount
17.00
Universal Mount
17.50
Binocular Lanyards, leather
2.00
Rainguards from
1.00
CAMERA LENSES
We have in stock a number of
catadioptic long focal length lenses,
e g. Sigma & Tamron AV in most
fittings.
Phone for details.
All equipment sent on
14 days
approval upon receipt
remittance.
of full
BUY A SCOPE AND WIN A ZEISS!
Order a Telescope from us value £100 or over and you will be auto-
matically entered in our April Draw, the lucky winner receiving a West
Zeiss 10 x 40 BGAT, ABSOLUTELY FREE. This offer is exclusive to "BB"
readers and you will only enter the draw if this portion of our advert
accompanies your order (photo copy accepted).
Offer runs January 1st to March 31st. See May issue for winner
Please add £2.00 P&P if ordering by mail.
Prices correct 5.12 84
BINOCULARS AND TELESCCPES
REPAIRED ON THE PREMISES
(0445)
1
Birdwatcher’s
Logbook
New Edition
The second edition of the Birdwatcher’s
Logbook contains a list of 762 species
with their scientific names and new
sections for garden birds and dates of
migrants. 36 pages of monthly columns,
plus columns for holidays, annual and
life lists and 1 59 pages for daily records.
208 pages in attractively bound cover
22 X 14cms. Price £4.95 including
postage and packing. From:
Coxton Publications,
23 f Vest Hill Rd,
Foxton, Cambridge CB2 6SZ.
(D373)
TELESCOPES
Optolyth, Kowa, Bushnell, Swift,
Mirador, Opticron, Televari
BINOCULARS
Zeiss Jena, AJpin, Swift, Panorama,
Opticron, Helios, Mirador
Fast mail order service.
Easy access to M6 & M62.
14 day approval.
Callers welcome.
COMPETITIVE PRICES
Phone or write for details now:
FIRECREST
8 Chapelcross Road, Fearnhead,
Warrington, Cheshire WA2 OPP
Phone: Padgate (0925) 81 7874
(D293)
Founded 1758
COX & KINGS SPECIAL INTEREST HOLIDAYS
Holidays Designed Around Birds
Join one of our small groups and experience for yourself the excitement of
watching birds in a friendly and relaxed manner. Led by experienced
ornithologists with a wide interest in Natural History, beginners and experts
alike will be warmly welcomed and catered for.
1985 TOURS
Northern India
(with Nepal extension)
Southern Mexico
Northern France
Cyprus
Tunisia (with Algeria extension)
Central and Southern Spain
Spanish Pyrenees
Majorca
New Guinea (Birds of Paradise Tour)
Bosphorous and N.W. Turkey
Ethiopia
January 26 —
— February 16
March 9-27
March 3-9
April 11-25
April 20 — May 1 1
May 11-26
4 departures, April-October
May 25-June 2
July 27-August 13
September 14-28
November 1-17
Leaders include: John Hollyer, Mike Kendall, Tony Pym, Nigel Tucker. (D4i 7)
Find out more about us and our holidays — come to our reunion weekend in
Bristol, November 2-4. For full details and a copy of our brochure, contact:
Cox & Kings Special Interest Holidays, 46 Marshall Street, London W1V 2PA
Tel: 01-439 3380 Agents of Cox & Kings Travel, AT0L 484
CYGNUS WILDLIFE World- wide holidays
February 5-21
THAILAND
£ 1275
February 18-March 8
NORTHERN INDIA (second departure) £1175
March 5-21
KENYA
£1390
March 7-25
SOUTHERN INDIA
£1659
March 17-31
MALAYSIA
£1700
March 28-April 13
TEXAS
£965
April 14-30
JORDAN
£890
May 4-19
TURKEY
£745
May 18-26
CAMARGUE
£485
May 19-31
EASTERN AUSTRIA
£490
May 26-June 9
SOVIET CENTRAL ASIA & SIBERIA
£990
June 14-28
PYRENEES
£650
June 29-July 7
SWISS ALPS
£580
August 6-22
KENYA
£1390
Also Ethiopia and Gambia in
April-September.
November and David Hunt’s Isles of Scilly Holidays
For full details of programme contact:
Paul Dukes, Cygnus Wildlife Holidays, 96 Fore Street, Kingsbridge,
Devon TQ7 1PY. Telephone: 0548 6178.
(D44I )
Dwarwn
f A member of the Field & Trek Group) '
I Compare our prices . . .
| but don’t stop there !!
ft
BINOCULARS
Please add £2.00
p&p on all orders
HERON 8x40 BWCF £37.25
CARL ZEISS 10x40 B DIAL YT
(Hard Case) £358.80
CARL ZEISS 10x40 BGA
(Soft Case) £364.35
LEITZ 10x40B
(Hard Case) £376.00
OPTOLYTH 8x40GA
(Soft Case) £129.00
OPTOLYTH 10x40GA
(Soft Case) £132.00
HABICHT DIANA
10x40 .
£239.95
'>ȣ*>
MIRADOR 8x40BCF £46.55
SWIFT TRILYTE 10x40 Roof
Prism £106.95
SWIFT AUDOBON 8 5 x 44 £145.30
SWIFT GRAND PRIX 8x40 Mkll
£86.10
ZEISS JENOPTEM 8x30 £48.75
ZEISS JENOPTEM 10x50 £80.40
^^-TELESCOPES
SCHMIDT & BENDER 15x60x60
£149.95
MIRADOR 15 x60x 60"
(Similar to Discoverer) £179.95
BUSHNELL DISCOVERER"
15-60x60 £194.95
OPTOLYTH 30 x 75 £239.00
BUSHNELL SPACEMASTER with
ZOOM" £179.00
"no case
)\eie'x|
HERON OPTICAL COMPANY
HI Dept. BB11 23/25 KINGS RD. BRENTWOOD ESSEX CM144ER
Tel. (0277) 233122 (Mail Order) 222230 (Showroom)
BOOKS
ON BIRDS
Catalogue on request
WHELDON &
WESLEY LIMITED
LYTTON LODGE
CODICOTE
Nr. HITCHIN
HERTS. SG4 8TE
Tel. Stevenage (0438) 820370
(D269)
CHINA ’85
Roger Lovegrove in
China (RSPB Wales)
1st -21 st June
Travels in the nature Reserves of
Northern China and Inner
Mongolia — rarely visited new
areas.
Cost: £1,499.00
For details please contact:
SCT-China
Rose Crescent
Cambridge CB2 3LL
24 hour answering service.
ABTA/IATA
(D452)
Birdquest offers birdwatchers of all levels of experience professionally arranged and
guided holidays based on a unique combination of ornithological and travel expertise.
Join one of our friendly groups and see for yourself the qualities that lead so many
people to travel with us time and time again.
1985 Birdquests: THAILAND; Jan 5-26, £1,690. TANZANIA; Feb 1-17, £1,855
(RWANDA; extension to Feb 22, £400). CAPE VERDE ISLANDS; Feb 1-23 and
Feb 23-Mar 17, £1,750. RAJASTHAN 8c THE HIMALAYAS; Mar 2-24, £1,735.
MOROCCO; Apr 12-28, £985. EGYPT; April 20-May 5, £1,460. TURKEY;
May 2-19, £1,140. SICHUAN 8c THE TIBETAN PLATEAU; May 24-Jun 16,
£2,790. SIBERIA, CENTRAL ASIA 8c THE CAUCASUS; May 26-Jun 16, £1,635.
KENYA; Sept 14-Oct 6, £1,890. AUSTRALIA; Nov 2-24, £2,680.
For our brochure please contact: BIRDQUEST Ltd., 8 Albert Road East, Hale,
Altrincham, Cheshire WA15 9AL. Telephone: 061-928 5945. Agent for C.S.R.
Travel (Manchester) Ltd., ATOL 1 190B, ABTA, IATA. (D394)
IV
KAY OPTICAL SERVICING
for
BINOCULARS and TELESCOPES
REPAIRS to all types of instruments without corner-cutting. From conven-
tional cleaning/overhauling and precise optical adjustments to renovation
of older instruments, everything is carried out on these premises. Serving
the naturalist for over 22 years ensures you of a high standard. Call in or
use our postal service.
Estimates free.
SALES (some examples)
BINOCULARS £
C. Zeiss (West)
8 x20B with pouch 143.50
10 x 25B with pouch 163.50
1 0 x 40BGAT with pouch 350 qo
8x56BGAwithcase 401.00
E. Leitz
10 x40B with pouch 365.00
1 0 x 40BA with pouch 375.00
Swarovski (Habicht)
1 0 x 40WM with case 239.00
Swift 7y2 x 42 Osprey 98.00
Magnon 8 x20RP with pouch 69.00
TELESCOPES
Optolyth 30 x 75BGA with case 225.00
Optima Super 60 (e.g. 30 x 60) 120.00
Kowa TS-2 (20 x WA) 130.00
Add £2.50 ppi if marking wanted.
89B London Road*, Morden, Surrey. Tel: 01 -648 8822.
*The A24. We are opposite the Midland Bank.
(D431 )
Birds of Galapagos and the Amazon
This year in commemoration of Charles Darwin’s visit to Galapagos 150
years’ ago we are introducing a special ‘once only’ cruise when we will be
using the two yachts Charles Darwin and Isabela, spending one week
cruising the Archipelago with a short stay ashore in Galapagos and several
days exploring by foot and in canoes Ecuador’s LIpper Amazon Basin. The
Darwin Celebration Cruise will be escorted by naturalist Derek Green,
departs 25th May 1985 (23 days) £2,310. Our Galapagos Cruise and
Amazon Safari under the auspices of the World Wildlife Fund and
escorted by Steven Shcmeld leaves on 24th July
1985 (20 days) £2,400. Other Galapagos cruises,
some including Ecuador and Peru, throughout the
year from £1,375. For full details of these and other
birdwatching, wildlife, cultural and wilderness
journeys across the globe, call 01-892 8164 and ask
for the new Twickers World colour brochure.
1 1 rite or telephone Jor our worldwide 1985/86 brochure.
Twicke rs World
•WILDLIFE, CULTURAL A WILDERNESS JOURNEYS-
Twickers World Brochure — 01-892 8164.
22 Church Street, Twickenham TW1 3NW. Tel: 01-892 7606. Telex: 25780/
FOCALPOINT FOR OPTICS
For the best selection of Binoculars and
Telescopes, please write or phone for our
free information pack containing:
Our own Comprehensive Information
Sheets on leading makes of telescopes and
binoculars. Compiled with the help of our
fellow birdwatchers.
A reprint of the British Birds T est Reports on
the Bushnell Spacemaster telescope and
the Bushnell Explorer II 8 x 40 binoculars.
A reprint of the test report by Amateur
Photographer on using your telescope as a
telephoto lens.
A colour brochure and specification sheet
on the superb new Kowa 77mm TSN
System.
‘Books for Bins Offer’ Details of our unique
offer to part exchange your high quality
books for the optics of your choice.
List of quality optical second-hand optical
equipment for sale.
A list of our very special January Sales
offers that you can’t afford to miss!
All this and the prices are still right.
Tony and Enid Murphy
FOCALPOINT ~
14 Cogshall Lane, Comberbach, 5
Northwich, Cheshire CW9 6BS. q
Tel: 0606 891098.
UNIQUE
TIT FEEDER
FEED YOUR
FAVOURITE BIRDS
EXCLUSIVELY
Make nuts available only / \
to the Tit family - Blue A
Tits , G reat Tits etc - U=======^
and not to Sparrows,
Starlings or
Greenfinches
ONLY £2.45
EACH + 55p p & p
Cheques/ POs to:
Eagle Products,
Dept. BB1
1 Eagles Close,
Felixstowe,
Suffolk IP11 7SE. /■
(D440)
2
• I
O
S
£ :
( \
EXPLORACION ESPANA
THE SPANISH WILDLIFE TOUR 1985
Enjoy 12 days of Central and Southern Spain led by professional Spanish
Naturalists. The small party _wi 1 1 have privileged access to private sanctuaries
and estates. It will visit DONANA and enjoy comfortable accommodation in
private hunting lodges.
U.K. Consultant: Tony Soper
Exploracion Espana, 18 Bromley Gardens, Tel: 0582-864540
Houghton Regis, Dunstable, Beds. Telex: 826314 BUSAID G.
(D430)
25th May 1984
byC.H. Fry
Dr Hilary Fry’s monograph of the
bee-eaters covers all 24 species.
They range from southern Europe,
Africa and the Middle East, to India,
China, south-east Asia and
Australia.
A major part of the book
comprises the species accounts,
with complementary colour plates
of 42 species and sub-species and
detailed maps depicting the
geography of their evolution. There
are also chapters on the
bee-eaters’ evolutionary
development, food and foraging
behaviour, relationships with
apiculture, social and reproductive
life, the role of 'helpers’ at the nest,
and the meaning of plumage and
social distinctions between the
species.
The author's colour plates
faithfully portray plumage and ’jizz',
and there are more than 100
drawings by John Busby.
320 pages, 8 colour plates, over
100 drawings, £19.60 net
T & A D POYSER
(D350)
ViSiTOUR
SPOONBillS
Dutch Ornithological Tours organises interesting
and well guided birdstudy-holidayweeks in The
Netherlands with full board in hotel or inn. You will
discover our rich and varied birdworld in an intensive
and instructive way. In our friendly and nice low-
lands we have an avifauna which does not have its
equal in North Western Europe: colonies of
Cormorant and Spoonbill, Bittern. Great White
Egret, Little Bittern, Purple Heron, Red Crested
Pochard, Marsh-, Hen- and Montagu's Harrier,
Avocet, Ruff, Little GuH, Sandwich-. Little- and
Black Tern, Black Woodpecker, Golden Oriole.
Savi's Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Bluethroat,
Bearded Tit. Write or phone DOT, Purmer 70, 8244
AT Lelystad, Holland, phone: 01031320061 110.
Name
Address
Country
Please send me the interesting use a stamped
and free DOT-brochure envelope please
(D433)
n one-hour cassettes (138
compiled and edited by
-ry White.
Wished by the British Library
stional Sound Archive
i Exhibition Road, Lon °
S7 2AS. £10 p°st free in UK
ydd £1 for overseas).
•SsSSSSSS
rBSSBh
Enquiries welcome.
Vll
COUNTRYSIDE VIEWING
FACILITIES
Unlimited
^Parking at
Shop
BINOCULARS- TELESCOPES
| Wide range -Top quality - Discount prices
SWIFT- HABICHTZEISS(West)- LEITZ
ALPIN - NIKON -OPTOLYTH -KOWA
OMIYA-ZEISS(East FMIRADOR
HARTMA -SLIK TRIPODS
eg AUDUBON HR £134-50
ZEISS 10 X 40 BT £341-00
HABICHT SL 10 X 40 £249-00
PRICES SUBJECT TO ALTERATION WITHOUT NOTICE
Price lists on request
FOCUS OPTICS
Church Lane* Corley
Coventry CV7 8BA
Tel: 0676-40501
Open MON - SAT. 10. a m. - 5.p.m.
MAIL ORDER WELCOME
Ins. P&P. FREE
Talk to A. R. Hawkins
about Binoculars!
A. R. HAWKINS DELIVERS THE GOODS FAST-
BUY FROM THE SPECIALIST IN COMPLETE
CONFIDENCE, WE WON’T LET YOU DOWN.
ZEISS WEST THE NEW YEAR SPECIALS
WORLD’S FINEST! TELESCOPE AND
TRIPOD KITS
YOU’VE JUST GOT
TO OWN ONE!
NEW close locus
ZEISS 10I408GA
in stock NOW at
only £359.
10 x 40 B Dialyl £353.00
10x40 BGADialyi £359.00
7 X4ZBGA Dialyl £369.00
8 x 30 B Dialyl £308.00
8x30 BGADialyi £313.00
8x56 BGADialyi £441.00
8 x20B Mini-Dialyl £156.00
10 x 25 B Mini-Dialyt £171.00
7x50 RGA Porro . £455.00
15x60 GAT Porro £675.00
All Zeiss West supplied wild case
OPTOLYTH ALPIN
Superb Lightweight Models
8 x 40 BGA Alpin ... £129.00
10x40 BGAAIpin £132.00
10x50 BGA Alpin £150.00
12x50 BGA Alpin £153.00
Spacemaster Zoom 20-45 x 60
scope complete with Slick D2
Tripod £212.95
B/L Discoverer 15-60 x 60 scope
complete with Cullman 2505
Tripod £217.95
Hawk 20-60 x 60 compact scope
complete with Cullman 2505
Tripod £170.00
Steiner 24 x 80 BGA scope
complete with Cullman 2502
Tripod £240.00
Spacemaster 22 x W/A 60 scope
complete with Cullman 2505
Tripod £176.00
Optolyth 22 x 60 complete with
Cullman 2505 Tripod £155.00
Post and Insurance on above
Telescope/Tripod Kits £5.00.
TELESCOPES
TELESCOPES!
Optolyth 30x80
Optolyth 30x75
Optolyth 22-60 x 70
Optolyth 30x60
Optolyth 22 x 70
Spacemaster 20-45 x 60 .
Spacemaster 22 x WA 60
£273.00
£239 00
£255.00
£145.00
£210.00
£179.95
£149.95
Bushnell Trophy 16-36 x 50 Rubber Body
Close Focus 2011
Kowa TS1
Kowa TS2
Kowa Leather Case
Habichl 25-40 x75S
Mirador 30 x 75 R/A
Habichl 30 x 75 close locus
Oplicron 20-45 x 60
TamronZoom 20-60x65
15-60x60Miiadot
Oiscoverer 15-60 x 60 .
Kowals N2 body
£174.95
£125.00
£108.00
£24.95
£385.00
£159.95
£340 00
£120.00
£247.95
£179.95
£187.95
£199.95
You can buy in complete confidence
PHONE US FOR
Best Makes
Largest Stocks
Fastest Service
By return
Despatch and
. Free Advice
NEW FROM KOWA
The New KOWA TSN-2 with large
77mm Objective Lens is in our
Showrooms now
Kowa TSN2 Body £189.95
Kowa TSN-2 20x W/A Lens £57.00
Kowa TSN-2 25x Lens £34.50
A good quality telescope with
rotating body, rain-prool. and can
he supplied with Photo
Attachments!
SLICK 02 TRIPOD
THE finest tripod lor your
telescopel Extends to a lull 5fl 9ln
weights only 416 12oil
Our Special Price £53.95
Post and Insurance £2.75.
ORDER NOW tor By Return
Dispatch. Binoculars and
Telescopes E2.25p post and
Insurance send cheque or
Visa/ Access accepted by phone!
Stamps (50p). For Illustrated
Discount Price List and Coloured
Brochures on over 200 Models.
CALLERS WELCOME!
Our Showrooms are only
7 minutes Irom Ml Exit 15 or 16
and 2 min walk Irom railway stn
Early closing Thursday 1pm.
Prices correct 5th Dec '84
subject to change availability. E&OE
A R HAWKINS
LTD
9 MAREFAIR
NORTHAMPTON NN1 1SR
TELEPHONE 0604/39674 (D451)
viii
The Quarterly Ornithological Journal
ALAUDA
The French ornithological journal
ALAUDA contains scientific papers on
field studies of wild birds concerned with
their anatomy, ethology, feeding, moult,
reproduction, migration, population dyna-
mics, vocal behaviour, etc
Coverage is world-wide but mainly
western palearctic and particularly French
Papers have an English summary There is
a selected review of recent ornithological
publications.
Copies of most back numbers exist,
these can be supplied on request
An annual subscription of 160 FF entitles
a private member to four copies of
ALAUDA Institutional subscription 180 FF
Also available: Sound recordings of some
of the more difficult West African birds — A
complete set of 10 LP Records (specially
produced by ALAUDA) and accompanying
notes 420 FF
Please contact:
J. F. Dejonghe or Tony Williams
Alaucia,
Ecole Normale Superieure,
46 rue d’Ulm,
75230 PARIS Cedex 05 if interested.
(D144)
LOSEHILL
HALL
NATURE BREAKS
Mosses & Liverworts
Birds of the Peak
Nature Photography
Looking at Grasses
Wildlife & Flowers
Nature Walks
26-28 Apr
10-1 2 May
14-16 Jun
5-7 Jul
3-1 0 Aug
31 -7 Sept
NEW FOR '85:- Beetles, Bugs & Butter-
flies; Bird Sketching; Looking at Ferns;
Recording Bird Song and more.
Further details (S.A.E. please) from:
Peter Townsend, Principal,
Peak National Park Study Centre
Losehill Hall, Castleton,
Derbyshire. S30 2WB or
Tel: Hope Valley (0433) 20373.
(D453)
f BRANTA h DFDS "A
TRAVEL * WITH SEAWAYS
LIMITED V
BRANTA 1985 BIRDWATCHING HOLIDAYS IN SWEDEN AND THE NORTH SEA
Travel in style by DFDS Seaways and luxury coach for exceptional birding in southern Sweden and
seabird watching in the North Sea. Enjoy seeing birds under expert guidance both at sea and through
the unrivalled Swedish landscape with its lakes, forests and islands. Combine this with delightful
country inns and delicious local food specialities.
15-day Spring Tour (April 14)
See the unique Crane dancing courtship at Hornborgasjon and visit a variety of forest, lake, marsh and island
habitats at a time when returning migrants flood through Scandinavia and breeding gets under way.
Our autumn holidays all include a Seawatch on board in the company of Peter Harrison, the foremost seabird expert
and author of the unrivalled field guide.
15-day Autumn Migration Tours with Seawatch (September 1 & 15)
A comprehensive tour of southern Sweden covering the most important migration areas and in particular the
outstanding migrating stages at Falsterbo, at the country’s southernmost tip. and on the Baltic island of Oland.
Seawatch in the North Sea when seabird migration is at its peak.
8-day Seawatch with Falsterbo Migration Tour (September 15)
The exciting Seawatch in the North Sea with a four day stay at Falsterbo when raptor migration is at its height.
And a special short sea birdwatch lor both beginner and expert -
3-day Seawatch Cruise with Peter Harrison (September 13)
A short break on board a DFDS Seaways liner to Gothenberg under the guidance of Peter Harrison, who will give two
talks on identification problems A most interesting and economical way to study a variety of shearwaters skuas
auks and other seabirds.
At all times on land we are guided by local experts with close knowledge of current bird movements
Send for detailed programme to: Branta Travel Ltd., 20-24 Uxbridge St., London W8 7TA (D448)
IX
CHICHESTER • NEW YORK
BRISBANE • TORONTO • SINGAPORE
The Growth and
Development of Birds
Raymond J. O’CONNOR,
Director, British Trust for Ornithology
An important new
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recent exciting research into
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factors behind growth patterns
in animals and applies these
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growth and development of birds.
Morphological, physiological
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but why, from an ecological and
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so. This original thesis provides new
insight into such traditional topics
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This book will not only be of interest to all ornithologists,
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students of animal behaviour.
0471 903450
328 pages
September 1984
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This book is available through good bookshops or, in case of difficulty, direct from
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You may also telephone your credit card order - dial 1 00 (UK only) and ask for
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John Wiley & Sons Limited
Baffins Lane • Chichester • Sussex P019 1UD • England
(D429)
x
British Birds
VOLUME 78 NUMBER 1 JANUARY 1985
Editorial
We have once before devoted a large part of one issue to the birds and
birdwatching opportunities of a single country' (Ireland: Brit. Birds 73:
57-102). This time, we have ventured farther afield — indeed right outside
our normal sphere of the West Palearctic — to present a paper on Thailand.
There are several reasons for this choice. An increasing number of British
and other west European ornithologists (as well as many from North
America) have recognised that Thailand provides excellent opportunities
for seeing Siberian birds (in non-breeding plumage, on their wintering
grounds or on passage) in very pleasant surroundings. Although hot, the
Thai winter is tolerable, especially away from the coastal lowlands. Access
is easy: visas are currently not needed for stays of under 15 days and can be
obtained without undue red-tape for longer trips; and Bangkok is a major
international airport. In comparison with air travel within Europe, inter-
continental flights are nowadays real bargains. Many of the best birding
areas can be reached on good roads, yet the number of local birdwatchers is
few, so that visitors can make exciting discoveries which are genuine
contributions to scientific knowledge. The Thai people are friendly and
welcoming, but with none of the over-inquisitiveness which can mar
birdwatching near habitations in many other Eastern countries. Thai
food — recalling Chinese and Indian, but quite distinct from each — is
recognised both for its excellence (it need not be unduly hot if you know
what not to order) and for its cheapness. I ndeed, this latter point can help to
compensate for the cost of getting to Thailand. For the English-speaking
birdwatcher, it is very convenient to find that English is the second
language, used on many signs, as well as being spoken by a surprising
number of Thais. They even drive on the left! Thus, one can watch a
fascinating mixture of exotic and Palearctic birds in the pleasant semi-
tropical climate of a very' Oriental country', but with all (or most of) the
convenience for birdwatching that one would expect of Scotland or Sweden.
We believe that the popularity of Thailand as a destination for Western
birdwatchers in search of Siberian birds will increase. Elsewhere in this
issue (pages 53-54), we announce a special, flexible ‘package* offered by
Thai Airways International to British Birds readers. We have also
negotiated an additional free luggage allowance for British Birds subscribers
on Thai Inti" lational flights to or from Bangkok or elsewhere (see page 54).
We are most grateful to Dr Boonsong Lekagul, Philip D. Round and
Kamol Komolphalin for all their work, which has resulted in this valuable
summary of birdwatching opportunities in Thailand.
The cost of this special Thailand paper has been substantially subsidised
by the revenue from the associated advertising. Eds
1
Boonsong Lekagul, Philip D. Round and Kamol Komolphalin
Among Asian birdwatching destinations, Thailand has shown a very
recent upsurge in popularity among European birdwatchers due
partly to its easy accessibility (it is a major tourist destination) and partly to
its immensely rich avifauna. Approximately 885 bird species have so far
been recorded in Thailand, including a wealth of resident Indo-Chinese,
Indo-Burmese and Malaysian species, a both resident and migrant Sino-
Himalayan component, and a great many winter visitors from the Pale-
arctic. This last group is usually of most immediate interest to European
birders, as the visitor can gain experience with species which are actual or
potential rare migrants to the Western Palearctic yet which are common
and widespread in Thailand during the winter months. In some respects,
experience gained in Thailand may be more valuable than that from India
or Nepal, as the races of many common winter visitors are more often the
same as those which occur as vagrants in Europe. For example, the
commonest race ofYellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inomatus wintering
in Thailand is P. i. inornatus, whereas that in most of India is P. i. humei.
While Palearctic-African migration has received extensive study
(Moreau 1972; Curry-Lindahl 1981), patterns of migration into southern
and southeastern Asia are less well known, and a large proportion of
existing information was collected during the Migratory Animal
Pathological Survey (1963-71) which was funded by the US Army. During
this programme, over 1 million birds of 1,218 resident and migrant species
2
[Bril. Birds 78: 2-39, January 1985]
3
Birdwatching in Thailand
were ringed in eastern Asia, 185,000 of them in Thailand, and the results
summarised in McClure (1974). Other recent seminal papers are those of
Medway ( 1976) and Nisbet ( 1976).
The aims of this paper are to provide a broad perspective on the ecology
and status of some migrant Palearctic birds in Thailand and to provide
birdwatching guidance for the prospective visitor. Nomenclature follows
The British Birds’ List oj Birds of the Western Palearctic ( 1978), and King et al.
(1975) or Voous (1977) for species not listed therein.
Location and topography
Thailand (513,517 km1 2) covers an area only slightly smaller than France,
and extends from 5°45'N to 20°30'N, and 97°30'E to 105° 45' E (roughly
1,500km from north to south and 800km from east to west). The country
can be divided into three geological provinces. The Central Plains, which
extend to the coast in the vicinity of Bangkok, consist of a huge, marshy
alluvial floodplain. Almost the entire northeastern region consists of a
raised, dry plateau (the Korat Plateau) with poor soils derived from sands,
clays and salt deposits. Along the western margin of the country there is a
chain of mountains, of mostly granitic and metamorphic rocks with an
average height of 1,000-2, 000m, which continues to the south, forming the
backbone of the Malay Peninsula. The period of uplift during the Tertiary
epoch which raised both the northeastern plateau and the western moun-
tains also pushed up intrusive rocks and much limestone, which occur as
outcrops around the margins of the higher mountain ranges. There are
many such outcrops in the western part of the country, throughout the
Central Plains (plate 1) and among the mountains of moderate elevation
1. Typical scene in Thailand’s Central Plains: rice-paddy in foreground and limestone
outcrops in distance, Ratburi Province, August 1981 (P. D. Round)
4
Birdwatching in Thailand
(the Phetchabun Range) at the western rim of the Korat Plateau. In
southeast Thailand, the isolated mountains of Khao Soi Dao rise in a
westward extension of the Elephant and Cardamom Mountains of south-
west Kampuchea, to 1,670m.
Birdwatching in Thailand 5
I he west and northwest parts of the country mostly drain into the Rivers
Mae Klong and Chao Phraya respectively, while the extreme north and the
northeast areas drain into the Mekong.
Climate
Thailand has a tropical, monsoonal climate, with a pronounced dry season.
Most of the rain falls from May to October, during the southwest monsoon.
The southern peninsula and the southeast also receive some rain from the
northeast monsoon, from November to January, and in some parts annual
rainfall exceeds 4,000mm. Lowlands in central Thailand receive around
1,200-2, 000 mm, while in the drier west, northwest and northeast rainfall
averages 1,000- 1,400 mm per year. Temperatures are influenced by the
relative proximity to the sea and by the regularity of the rainfall. Around
Bangkok, daytime temperatures usually range from 26-36°C, while in the
north and northeast the variation is more marked. Lowland temperatures
may rise to over 40°C in the hottest month (April) and sometimes fall to
10°C in winter, when ground frosts may be recorded on the higher hills.
Habitats for birds
The great variation in topography and climate have led to the development
of a complex mosaic of different forest types, in which dry deciduous forests
give wray, with increasing rainfall, to a variety of broadleaved, semi-
evergreen and evergreen facies, including tropical rain forest. Mangrove
forests occupy sheltered intertidal areas which are provided with
freshwater outflow, such as river deltas. Formerly, the only natural non-
forested areas were freshwater lakes and swamps and some coastal areas.
2. Grasslands alternating with dense primary forest. Khao Yai National Park. Thailand
(U. Treesucon)
6
Birdwatching in Thailand
Man’s activities have had a profound effect on the vegetation, and it is
generally recognised that almost all forests in mainland Southwest Asia
have been disturbed by man at some point during the last 10,000 years, ever
since shifting cultivation was first practised. Typically, small areas were
burnt and cleared for cultivation and then abandoned after a few years,
when they would slowly be recolonised by smaller, secondary trees and
shrubs, and, over a period of several human generations, would return to
primary forest. In the 20th Century, concomitant with a great increase in
the human population, both shifting cultivation and commercial timber
exploitation have reduced cover very markedly. Thailand was probably
still 70-80% forested at the end of the Second World War, but, by the end of
1980, closed canopy forest occupied only 18% of the land area, with another
5%, at most, occupied by open-canopy formations (F.A.O. 1981). Dry,
deforested areas, if not cultivated, become dominated by scrub, tall lallang
grass Imperata cylindrica and small trees. Open woodland or secondary
growth may become re-established , but, typically, such areas are routinely
burnt and cut over by rural people, which prevents the establishment of all
but the most fire-resistant tree species. Some important dryland crops
include tapioca, sugar cane, maize, tobacco and cotton.
Of Thailand’s formerly huge, lowland freshwater swamps, relatively few
remain today; those that do are used for irrigation purposes or support
important freshwater fisheries. Although sophisticated rice cultivation
techniques have been practised in Southeast Asia for perhaps 4,000 years,
most major drainage works took place during the late 19th and early 20th
Centuries. Smaller, piecemeal drainage efforts are continuing to the present
time, but nevertheless a great number of small marshes remain and
continue to support many wetland birds. Ricefields themselves constitute
an important bird habitat which is subject to seasonal inundation.
The main habitats for land birds are set out below. Forest types have
been classified following Neal ( 1967) and Smitinand ( 1967).
1 . Tropical evergreen forest
Tropical evergreen forest is the most complex terrestrial ecosytem known to
man and is found from sea level up to 1,000m in those areas which have a
rainfall of at least 2,000 mm spread fairly evenly throughout the year. Drier
sub-types of this forest exist, however, in areas which are seasonally dry.
The dominant tree species are members of the Dipterocarpaceae. The
foliage is structured into layers: the ground flora is usually rather sparse;
there is an understorey layer of shrubs and small trees; a continuous tree
canopy occurs at 20-25 m, while isolated emergent trees may be up to 50 or
60m tall. Species diversity is great, and 100 or more tree species per hectare
is not unusual. Such forests support considerable numbers of Palearctic
migrants, including many arboreal leaf-warblers and flycatchers and some
chats, such as the Siberian Blue Robin Luscinia cyarie (plate 18). Three
types of tropical evergreen forests are recognised in Thailand:
a. tropical rainforest occupies only small areas in the extreme south of
the peninsula, in the least seasonal areas.
b. semi-evergreen forest occupies most of peninsular Thailand and parts
7
Birdwatching in Thailand
3. Edge of primary dry evergreen forest, Khao Yai National Park, Thailand (U. Treesucon )
of southeastern Thailand (e.g. Khao Banthat Wildlife Sanctuary; KhaoSoi
Dao Wildlife Sanctuary).
c. dry evergreen forest is the predominant type of lowland evergreen
forest in Thailand and occupies considerable areas in the Phetchabun
mountain range and in western Thailand. Typically, it occurs on hill slopes
of intermediate elevation where the lowlands are occupied by deciduous
forests (e.g. Khao Yai National Park, plates 2-4).
4. Interior of dry evergreen forest on ridgetop, Khao Yai National Park. Thailand; note
relatively open appearance of forest floor ( U . Treesucon )
8
Birdwatching in Thailand
Differences in the wintering bird community of such areas appear to be
influenced by their geographical position rather than by any differences in
their biotic structure. It must be emphasised that, to all but the experienced
botanist, these three forest types appear remarkably similar.
2. Hill evergreen forest
Hill evergreen forest occurs above 1,000m, in areas where the annual
rainfall exceeds 2,000 mm. The dominant trees are oaks Quercus and
chestnuts Lithocarpus & Castanopsis, and there are also many trees and
shrubs of the families Rosaceae, Ericaceae and Magnoliaceae. Typically,
the trees are swathed in epiphytic mosses, lichens and herbs. Hill evergreen
forest can be structurally quite varied, with taller trees and dense
undergrowth being found in moist stream valleys, while smaller trees and
more open, thorny undergrowth occupy drier ridgetops. Hill evergreen
forests occur on the higher mountains throughout the country, though it is
the areas in the northwest which support the greatest variety of Palearctic
migrants, including a variety of thrushes, chats, warblers and flycatchers
(e.g. Doi Inthanon National Park; Doi Suthep-Pui National Park).
3. Pine forests
Two native species of pines, Pinus kesiya and P. merkusii, occur in Thailand.
Pig. 2. Siberian Blue Robin Luscinia cyane { Kamol Komolphalin)
5. Dry dipterocarp forest, Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary’, Western Thailand, March
1984 (P. D. Round)
They are seldom found in pure stands, but are generally mixed in with oaks
and other hill evergreen tree species on the drier ridgetops. Pinewoods
support relatively few bird species, and Yellow-browed Warblers and
Red-breasted Flycatchers Ficedula parva are the only Palearctic species
which are common in such habitats.
4. Mangrove forests
Mangroves are found only in relatively sheltered areas between the level of
the peak spring tides and the lowest neap tides, which are prov ided with
(resh water outflow. The most extensive mangroves occur on the west
peninsular coast, though considerable areas are also found in the Gulf of
Thailand. A number of Palearctic migrants winter commonly in man-
groves, including Dusky Warblers Phylloscopus fuscatus, Pale-legged Leaf
Warblers P. tenellipes, Arctic Warblers P. borealis and Brown Flycatchers M.
latirostris. A much greater variety may be found here on spring and autumn
passage, occasionally including such species as Siberian Blue Robin (fig. 2
& plate 18) and Tiger Shrike Lanius tigrinus. Mangroves usually occur in
association with extensive areas of mudflats, which may support huge
concentrations of wintering or passage waders.
5. Deciduous forests
Deciduous forests were once much more extensive than evergreen forests in
Thailand, formerly covering an area approximately twice as great. They
are found in lowland areas which are highly seasonal, and many of their
component tree species shed their leaves in response to water stress during
the dry season. As in lowland evergreen forest, dipterocarp trees pre-
dominate. Deciduous forests may be divided into two types:
a. mixed deciduous forest occurs in areas which have 1,250-2, 000mm
annual rainfall and are typically found in the extreme lowlands on alluvial
Birdwatching in Thailand
10 Birdwatching in Thailand
soils. Though these forests may contain many huge trees, the canopy is
more broken than in evergreen forests and more light reaches the forest
floor. This encourages a dense scrub and ground flora layer, and such
forests are frequently characterised by areas of impenetrable thorny
undergrowth, including much bamboo. Mixed deciduous forests support a
similar variety of Palearctic migrants to evergreen forests. Both Siberian
Blue Robins and Radde’s Warblers P. schwarzi haunt the undergrowth,
while Two-barred Greenish Warblers P. plumbeitarsus are especially found
in bamboo (e.g. Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary),
b. dry dipterocarp forest is usually found in the driest areas, on the
poorest, most porous soils, and typically occurs in the foothills, often
intergrading with pines, or with dry evergreen or hill evergreen formations
at their upper altitudinal limits. Dry dipterocarp forests are extremely
open, with trees of relatively low stature and a dense growth of grasses
usually occupying the ground layer. This is a relatively species-poor forest
type, the dominant trees being two species of Shorea and one or two species
of Dipterocarpus (known to many as the ‘sal’ forests of Northern India).
Although this habitat holds many medium to large resident bird species,
such as woodpeckers and treepies, it supports very few small insectivorous
birds, and the only common migrant species are Radde’s and Yellow-
browed Warblers and Red-breasted Flycatchers (e.g. lower slopes of Doi
Inthanon or Doi Suthep-Pui National Parks; Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife
Sanctuary: plate 5).
6. Secondary growth, scrub and grassland
Such habitats are found where the forest has been cleared (plate 6). A great
6. Secondary growth and cleared areas at about 1,700 m, Doi Pha Horn Pok, Thailand
(U. Treesucon)
11
Birdwatching in Thailand
number of the less arboreal migrant species occur in secondary growth,
and many species, such as Siberian Rubythroat Luscinia calliope (plate 15)
and most buntings Emberiza, winter more or less exclusively in deforested
areas.
7. Dryland crops
Dryland crops (e.g. tapioca, maize) generally support only the most
tolerant of migrant species which frequent open country, such as Stonechat
Saxicola torquata. Buntings and occasionally wagtails will utilise sugar-cane
fields as roost sites. Fruit orchards provide feeding areas for the more
arboreal migrants, such as some leaf-warblers and flycatchers.
8. Marshes and paddyfields
F resh water marshes support a great wealth of migrant landbirds, including
pipits, wagtails, Siberian Rubythroat, Bluethroat L. svecica, Stonechat,
Locustella and Acrocephalus warblers, Dusky Warblers and Yellow-breasted
Buntings Emberiza aureola. Few migrant species utilise fields of standing
rice, and Lanceolated Warbler Locustella lanceolata and Black-browed Reed
W arbler Acrocephalus bistrigiceps are mostly confined to their rushy or grassy
margins. Paddyfields are at their richest either when being ploughed and
planted, when they support many wagtails, pipits and a variety of waders,
or after harvest, when dry, prairie-like fields of stubble support Grey-
headed Lapwings Hoplopterus cinereus , Red-throated Pipits Anthus cervinus,
Bluethroats and buntings.
7. Aerial view near Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, showing many flooded paddyfields,
February 1982 (/. 5. Robertson)
12
Birdwatching in Thailand
Origins and wintering areas of Palearctic migrants
Of the total of 885 species of bird so far known for Thailand, some 262 occur
only as migrants, while a further 62 species, at least, are represented both
by resident and migrant populations. The vast majority of these species
enter Thailand from the north during the Palearctic winter, although some
8. Rice paddies, north of Fang, northern Thailand, February 1980 ( R . F. Porter)
13
Birdwatching in Thailand
intratropical migrants (e.g. Blue-winged Pitta Pitta moluccensis) enter
I hailand as breeding visitors from the south. Some other species (mainly
waterbirds, such as the Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans ) are east-west
migrants (McClure 1974).
I axonomic studies have pointed to the existence of a major faunal divide
in Asia along the 90th meridian, and ringing studies have subsequently
confirmed that most populations of birds breeding to the east of this
overwinter mainly in Southeast Asia (McClure 1974; Nisbet 1976). There
are a few species, such as the Arctic Warbler and the Yellow-breasted
Bunting, which, having extended their breeding ranges westward as far as
hurope, may make a journey of 8,000 km or more to their Southeast Asian
wintering areas. Birds which inhabit a breeding area of around 21 million
km2 in eastern and northeastern Asia must, therefore, overwinter in a much
smaller land area in Southeast Asia, to the south of the 10°C isotherm, of
less than 4 million km2 (excluding Australasia and New Guinea, which are
reached by relatively few migrant landbirds). This helps to explain the
obtrusiveness of wintering Palearctic species among the residential
Oriental bird fauna in Thailand. As Southeast Asia was once almost
entirely forested, wintering areas for species inhabiting open country' must
formerly have been severely limited.
The extreme north of Thailand supports a greater variety of Palearctic
migrant passerines, particularly thrushes and warblers, than do areas
farther south (table 1), and the importance of this region for migrant birds
is increased still further if shorter-distance migrants from the Sino-
Himalayan region are considered.
Table 1. Principal wintering areas in Thailand of Palearctic migrant passerines
NUMBER OF SPECIES
Whole
Family country 15-20°N 10-15°N <10°N
Hirundines (Hirundinidae)
Wagtails (Motacillidae)
Thrushes (Turdidae)
Warblers (Sylviidae)
Flycatchers (Muscicapidae)
Shrikes (Laniidae)
Starlings (Sturnidae)
Buntings (Emberizidae)
5
8
15
19
7
3
2
6
5
8
12
19
3
2
1
6
4
7
7
16
5
2
1
2
4
6
4
10
6
2
1
1
65 56 -44 34
Observations of migration
While localities such as Fraser’s Hill in Malaysia and Dalton Pass in the
Philippines are w'ell known as sites where large numbers of night-flying
migrants are attracted to lights, no such observation points have yet been
discovered in Thailand. Passage of land birds is apparent when small
numbers of migrants appear in uncharacteristic situations, such as city
gardens, coastal mangroves and other unusual habitats or outside their
usual altitudinal ranges. A well-defined spring and autumn passage of
species such as .Arctic Warblers, Eastern Crowned Leaf Warblers
14
Birdwatching in Thailand
Fig. 3. Male Red-flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyatmrus ( Killian Mullamey)
Phylloscopus coronatus, Yellow-rumped Flycatchers Ficedula ganthopygia and
Tiger Shrikes (all species which winter mostly in the peninsula or farther
south) is detectable around Bangkok, for example. There are also a number
of observations of diurnal migration. In addition to observations of raptor
passage, described below, movements of Blue-tailed Bee-eaters Merops
philippinus, Blue-throated Bee-eaters M. viridis, Swallows H. rustica and
Black Dronffos Dicrurus macrocercus have been noted (Melville & Fletcher
1982).
Dates of migration
The earliest passerine migrant to arrive in autumn is usually the Grey
Wagtail Motacilla cinerea, a few of which appear from mid July onwards.
Forest Wagtails Dendronanthus indicus also occur in August although there
are records from as early as 21st July in Malaya (Medway & Wells 1976).
Mass arrivals of Brown Shrikes Lanius cristatus and Stonechats take place in
early September, when southward passage of Arctic and Eastern Crowned
Warblers and Yellow-rumped Flycatchers is also evident. Larger migrants,
such as thrushes, do not appear until October.
Various authors have commented on the lateness of the spring exodus of
Palearctic migrants from Southeast Asia compared with that from Africa.
Peak passage across the Sahara and into Southern Europe is in April (Fry et
al. 1970). In Thailand, although a few species (such as Red-flanked Bluetail
Tarsiger cyanurus, fig. 3) may have disappeared by early April, most migrants
remain throughout the month and well into May, and may be heard in song
before their departure. A late departure in spring may be favoured by the
prevalence of the northeast monsoon over the South China Sea until the end
Birdwatching in Thailand 15
of April, and over southeastern China until even later. Late-departing birds
could be at a selective advantage in avoiding flying into bad weather
(Nisbet 1976). Not confronted with major geographical barriers such as
long sea and desert crossings, some species may show a gradual drift
northward in the late winter. Swallows ringed in Malaysia between August
and January have been recovered in Bangkok in late January to early
February (Medway 1973), while a few Eastern Crowned and Pale-legged
Leaf Warblers usually reappear in mangroves around Bangkok in February
and March.
Conservation
In I hailand, as in much of the rest of the world, habitat destruction is the
major threat faced by wild bird populations. The great reduction in forest
cover has restricted the distribution of many forest-dwelling species, while
drainage and conversion of wetlands has adversely affected populations of
waterfowl. Paradoxically, although Thailand is a Buddhist country,
hunting pressure is intense, and those bird species known with certainty to
have been extirpated (Giant Ibis Pseudibis gigantea, White-shouldered Ibis
P. davisoni, White-winged Duck Cairina scutulata and Sarus Crane Grus
antigone) have suffered from a combination of both habitat destruction and
direct persecution. The extent to which migrant bird populations have been
affected is not fully clear, although it is certain that the general population
levels of egrets, storks (and other large waterbirds) and Black Kites Milvus
migrans, all of which comprise both resident and migrant populations, have
been markedly reduced within the last 20 years. The senior author has in
the past observed thousands of wintering ducks off the coast at Bangpoo,
where very few are found today. Large raptors, such as the Spotted Eagle
Aquda clanga , which winter in Thailand’s densely populated lowlands are
still widely shot. It is not clear whether pesticides are implicated in the
decline of populations of larger birds, although this seems likely.
Intertidal mudflats are very extensive in Thailand, and are undoubtedly
of international importance for the huge populations of wintering and
passage shorebirds which they support. Up to the present, such sites have
been much less damaged by man’s activities than have those in Malaysia
and Singapore (Parish & Wells 1984). With increased pressure on land,
however, reclamation for urban and industrial development is beginning to
become apparent, while widespread cutting and conversion of mangroves
to fishponds could remove protection for fragile mudflat ecosystems and
lead to their erosion.
Many passerines that winter in Thailand occupy a broad range of
wooded habitats, including secondary growth, and may therefore be less
immediately threatened by habitat destruction than are many resident
forest birds which have much more specialised requirements. While ‘slash-
and-burn’ (shifting) cultivation is practised by poorer, landless people
throughout the country, in northwestern Thailand (a key area for migrant
landbirds), the problems of deforestation and habitat degradation are
especially acute. There, the mountains above 1,000m are occupied by
ethnically distinct groups known collectively as ‘hilltribes’. Such peoples
16
Birdwatching in Thailand
9. Areas cleared for cultivation by hilltribes, with relict stands of forest, Doi Pha Horn Pok,
Thailand, November 1983 (U. Tressucon)
are mostly pioneer shifting cultivators, who clear large areas of forest in
order to cultivate opium as a cash crop, and their activities have reduced
most remaining hill evergreen forests to a patchwork of grassland, scrub
and secondary growth, with most forest cover remaining on the steepest
slopes and along stream courses (plate 9). Although, up to the present
time, most smaller hill birds, both resident and migrant, may still be found
on those mountains where they were first identified 50 or more years ago
(Round 1984), the situation needs careful monitoring, since continued
burning and cutting for timber is sure to reduce still further or destroy
completely many relict forest stands.
Although most bird species are nominally protected by law in Thailand,
enforcement is poor. Illegal hunting has already been mentioned, but large
numbers of small birds, including Swallows and Yellow-breasted Buntings,
are also caught using mist-nets and sold in local markets for food. There is
also a thriving and largely illegal domestic trade in cagebirds.
Thailand has, however, established a large network of protected areas,
most of which are either National Parks or Wildlife Sanctuaries, comprising
approximately 8% of the country’s land area. All such reserves are fully
protected by law and range in size from less than 50km2 to over 3,000km2.
A further category of reserve is ‘Non-Hunting Area’; these are usually
smaller than reserves in the previous categories and often support human
populations within their boundaries, but they do include some wetlands of
national or international importance. While none of these areas is, at
present, effectively patrolled, and while illegal hunting and habitat
encroachment continues, large-scale habitat destruction within such areas
has largely been halted, so that they do form a valuable basis for present
and future conservation efforts.
17
Birdwatching in Thailand
Interest in wildlife conservation among the Thai people has increased
markedly in recent years, and this is reflected by the appearance of a
number of magazines which feature articles on wildlife and environment,
and by the soaring numbers of visitors to National Parks.
Systematic review of main groups of migrants
Herons, storks and ibises
Many herons and egrets are represented by both resident and migrant
populations; recoveries of Grey Herons Ardea cinerea and Purple Herons .4.
purpurea ringed in the USSR have been reported from Thailand (McClure
1974). Small flocks of Grey Herons apparently on autumn migration have
been noted at Bangpoo and, in winter, flocks of up to 30 occur at Khao Sam
Roi Yot National Park. Of species which occur exclusively as winter
visitors, Bittern Botaurus stellaris and Schrenck’s Little Bittern Ixobrychus
eurhylhmus are uncommon, frequenting marshes and paddyfield margins
from the far north of the country to around Bangkok. There are no recent
records of the Chinese Egret Egrelta eulophotes, which is listed in the ICBP
Red Data Book. A recent increase in records from the Philippines (S. Cast
in lilt.), however, may suggest that this species, which exclusively frequents
coastal areas, has hitherto been overlooked.
There are only very few records of the Black Stork Cicoma nigra , all from
marshy plains in the vicinity of the Mekong River. There appear to be at
least two records of the White Stork C. ciconia from the vicinity of Bangkok.
One sighting concerned three individuals of one of the red-billed races,
presumably C. c. asiatica (Junge & Kooiman 1951). The endangered black-
billed subspecies, C. c. boyciana, which breeds in northeastern Asia and
winters in southern China, has never been identified in Thailand. A
small wintering population of the Black-necked Ibis Threskiomis melano-
cephalus is presumed to originate from a neighbouring country rather than a
Palearctic source. There is one record of Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia
(Lekagul 1977).
Wildfowl
Thailand continues to be of international importance as a wintering area
for wildfowl, and annual concentrations of 10,000 to 30,000 occur in two
sites in the northern part of the Central Plains, while another four or five
sites are each known to support totals of 5, 000- 10,000. The most numerous
Palearctic species is the Garganey Anas querquedula. which usually occurs
together with concentrations of the Lesser Treeduck Dendrocygna javamca. A
few hundred Pintails A. acuta, together with small numbers of Wigeons A.
penelope. Teals A. crecca and occasionally a few^ other species, may be found.
A recent significant find was a concentration of 1 12 Baer’s Pochards Aythya
baen on Beung Boraphet in February 1983.
Although duck populations have probably been reduced throughout
much of eastern and southeastern Asia, many species are highly adaptable
and spend the day on undisturbed waters, flighting out to feed on ricefields
after dark. In recent years, at least 5,000 Garganevs and 2,000 Lesser
1 8 Birdwatching in Thailand
Treeducks have taken to roosting on a 2-ha pond, completely surrounded
by a housing estate, in the suburbs of Bangkok.
Birds of Prey
Large numbers of migrant raptors enter Southeast Asia, yet surprisingly
little is known concerning their migration and wintering areas. As
elsewhere, migration watches have been concentrated at straits (e.g the
Malacca Strait between Malaysia and Sumatra) and in mountain ranges
(e.g. in peninsular Thailand) which tend to ‘funnel’ raptors, but no
systematic counts have yet been made. In Thailand, there are discrete
movements of Crested Honey Buzzards Pernis ptilorhyncus, various species of
Accipiter (probably mostly Japanese Sparrowhawks A. gularis and Chinese
Goshawks A. soloensis) and Grey-faced Buzzards Butastur indicus, together
with small numbers of Spotted Eagles Aquila clanga and occasionally Short-
toed Eagles Circaetus gallicus and Booted Eagles Hieraaetus pennatus. The
predominant species in such movements is often a shorter-distance
migrant, the Black Baza Aviceda leuphotes. October is probably the best
month for observing southbound passage, while March and April are the
best months in spring.
In open lowland areas, the Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosas is one of the
commonest wintering raptors and all those so far identified have been of the
distinctively different eastern subspecies spilonotus. The Pied Harrier C.
melanoleucos is found in similar, usually marshy habitats, but is markedly
less common. One or two Hen Harriers C. cyaneus have also been identified
annually in recent years, on deforested mountains in the northwest. One of
the most frequently identified wintering, broad-winged raptors, in both
open and wooded areas of lowlands and mountains, is the Buzzard Buteo
buteo, erroneously described as ‘rare’ by Lekagul & Cronin (1974). A few
Spotted Eagles are now found annually, wintering in open marshy plains,
and often frequenting heronries, where they prey on waterbirds. Surpris-
ingly, the Steppe Eagle A. rapax nipalensis is unknown from Thailand, but
there is now one record of Imperial Eagle A. heliaca (K. Grace et al. in litt.).
The Black Kite Milvus migrans is fairly common, and winter visitors
probably outnumber residents of the race govinda.
Crested Honey Buzzards (which have resident as well as wintering races
in I hailand) and Grey-faced Buzzards inhabit wooded areas throughout
the country, but are most numerous in the peninsula. Other species which
are uncommon or scarce winter visitors or migrants include Goshawk A.
gentilis, Sparrowhawk A. nisus, Kestrel Falco tinnunculus, Amur Falcon F.
amurensis, Hobby F. subbuteo and Peregrine F . peregrinus . There are also a few
records of Bonelli’s Eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus and one record of Pallas’s Fish
Eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus from the far northwest. The Osprey Pandion
haliaetus is fairly frequent in coastal areas and freshwater marshes, and a few
remain until at least June and may possibly oversummer.
Crakes and rails
Although many rails are prodigious, long-distance migrants, the status of
many species is little known, owing to their secretive habits. Baillon’s
19
Birdwatching in Thailand
Crake Porzana pusilla is common in open marshy areas of lowlands, but
there are only very few records of Water Rail Rallus aquaticus or Spotted
Crake P. porzana , although both have recently been found at Khao Sam Roi
Yot National Park.
Waders
Among Palearctic migrants, waders are usually of particular interest to
visiting birdwatchers. A total of 55 species of wader has so far been recorded
in Thailand, of which all but nine (Painted Snipe Rostratula benghalensis,
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus, Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus,
Great Thick-knee Esacus magnirostris, Oriental Pratincole Glareola
maldivarum, Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius, Malaysian Plover C.
peromi, River Lapwing Hoplopterus duvaucelii and Red-wattled Lapwing H.
indicus) are represented only as winter visitors or passage migrants.
With huge areas of both intertidal and freshwater habitats, Thailand is
certainly of international importance for its wintering or passage wader
populations. Owing to a lack of observers, however, and the inaccessibility
of intertidal mudflats and the wader roost sites along the mangrove-
dominated coastlines, little attention has thus far been paid to shorebirds,
and no systematic surveys of numbers and distribution have yet been
carried out. Nevertheless, in recent years, a number of newr species have
been added to the Thai list, including Crab Plover Drornas ardeola , Sharp-
tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata , Spoon-billed Sandpiper Eurynorhynchus
pygmaeus, Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus and Eastern
Curlew Numenius madagascariensis.
The most numerous species on intertidal areas include Lesser Sand
Plovers Charadrius mongolus (which far outnumber the Greater C.
leschenaultii), Red-necked Stints Calidris rujicollis. Curlew Sandpipers C.
Jerruginea and Marsh Sandpipers Tringa stagnatilis. Both Kentish Plover
Charadrius alexandrinus and Lesser Golden Plover Pluvialis donunica are also
10. Wader-watching at coastal fish pond, Saniut Sakhon, near Bangkok. I hailand
(P. D. Round)
20
Birdwatching in Thailand
very numerous. Two species whose main winter range may lie in Thailand
and which are listed in the ICBP Red Data Book are Asian Dowitcher
Limnodromus semipalmatus and Nordmann’s Greenshank Tringa guttifer. Both
species have proved elusive, but an outstanding concentration of 400 Asian
Dowitchers was recorded on mudflats in the Gulf of Thailand, which may
be an important wintering or staging area, in April 1984. Nordmann’s
Greenshank may overwinter scattered at low density along both peninsular
coasts, as there have been a number of sightings of one or two on open sandy
beaches. The largest concentration so far recorded was a flock of ten at Ko
Libong in Trang Province in March 1983. The Great Knot Calidris
tenuirostris is another scarce species, one to three being occasionally
encountered on the coast near Bangkok. Again, peninsular Thailand may
be important as a wintering area, and a concentration of 26 was recorded at
Ko Libong in March 1983. The Grey-rumped Tattler Heteroscelus brevipes
appears to be a scarce passage migrant and may be greatly overlooked as it
tends to avoid large concentrations of waders on open mudflats and
fishponds, frequenting rocky areas and drier mud along the upper shore,
rather in the manner of a Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos.
In freshwater marshes and paddyfields, Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola
is the commonest species, while Temminck’s Stints Calidris temminckii and
Little Ringed Plovers are also fairly numerous, particularly in the north.
Long-toed Stints C. subminuta occur mostly on freshwater (and, unlike
Red-necked, never venture out on to extensive mudflats), but are usually
most numerous in areas immediately adjacent to the coast. Both Snipe
Gallinago gallinago and Pintail Snipe G. stenura are extremely common winter
visitors. Over 60 years ago, Forty (1923) noted that the Pintail Snipe was
more numerous in the early part of the season (up to and including
October), whereas the Snipe predominated throughout most of the winter.
Both species are usually found together in freshwater marshes and paddy-
fields, but the Pintail Snipe has a slight tendency to occur in drier
situations, while the Snipe outnumbers the Pintail in somewhat brackish
marshes along the landward edge of the mangroves. There are no recent
records of Swinhoe’s Snipe G. megala in Thailand, which may stem in part
from the continued uncertainty over its field characters (Madge 1977). In
Malaysia, Swinhoe’s Snipe apparently prefers more wooded situations
than does Pintail Snipe (Medway & Wells 1976). The Jack Snipe
Lymnocryptes minimus is so far known from only one record, whereas the
Woodcock Scolopax rusticola is a frequent winter visitor, inhabiting moist
forest floor and stream-sides in both evergreen and deciduous forest, from
the plains to the highest elevations. There are only two records of the W?ood
Snipe G. nemoricola, from evergreen forest of high to moderate elevation in
the northwest.
Gulls and terns
Only two species of gulls, Brown-headed Lams bmnnicephalus (plate 11)
and Black-headed L. ridibundus, were previously known for Thailand,
although the great attention which birdwatchers have paid to gulls in
recent years is starting to produce results: Herring Gull L. argentatus (ten
Birdwatching in Thailand
21
records), Slender-billed Gull L. genei (eight records), Black-tailed Gull L.
crassirostris (two records) and Great Black-headed Gull L ichthyaetus (two
records) have since been added. Most sightings have been made in the
inner gulf, at Bangpoo or Samut Sakhon, which are the only sites regularly
supporting large concentrations of gulls (mainly Brown-headed). Most
Herring Gull sightings have been of first-winter birds, and there is still some
uncertainty over the separation of immature Herring Gulls of the eastern
race L. a. vegae from the Slaty-backed Gull L. schistisagus (Harrison 1983).
The Herring Gull, however, is much the commoner species in Hong Kong
(Webster 1975). The surprising number of Slender-billed Gull records
(apart from one record in eastern Nepal, there are no other winter records
east of the northwest Indian coast: Ali & Ripley 1983. Harrison 1983) could
suggest that the species’ breeding range extends much farther east than is at
present known.
The commonest wintering tern is the Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus,
which is widespread in both freshwater and coastal habitats, although it is
seldom found in numbers any great distance inland. White-winged Black
Terns C. leucopterus are much scarcer during midwinter, when most are
probably farther south, but there is a well-defined spring and autumn
passage through the Bangkok area. The Common Tern Sterna hirundo is
fairly common in the inner gulf in winter, while both Gull-billed Gelochelidon
nilotica and Caspian Terns Sterna caspia occur in small numbers. Although
the Crested Tern S. bergii, which breeds in Thailand, is regular in the inner
gulf, it is most often found on more open shores, in southeastern Thailand
and along both peninsular coasts. The Lesser Crested Tern S. bengalensis is
known only as a winter visitor, and all records are from the west peninsular
coast, where concentrations of up to 60 have been recorded at Ko Libong.
11. Adult Brown-headed Gull Lams bmnnicephalus , Bangpoo, Thailand, January 1979
(P. D. Round)
Birdwatching in Thailand
12. Part of 200,000-strong roost of Swallows Hirundo rustica on wires in busy, well-lit part of
Bangkok, T hailand, March 1983 ( P . D. Round)
The Chinese Crested Tern S. bernsteini is known in Thailand only from three
specimens collected in 1923, and it has been unrecorded anywhere in the
world since 1937. There is, however, one recent — unconfirmed, though
probably reliable — sight record (ten off the west peninsular coast in July
1980: A. Tsuji & P. Poonswad in litt.). There are two records of Saunders’s
Tern S. saundersi from the west coast.
Aerial-feeders
The rarest of the three Hirundapus species in Thailand is the Needle-tailed
Swift H. caudacutus : there are only very few records, from forested areas of
the east and southeast. This species occurs as far south as Australasia in
winter and probably occurs in Thailand only on spring passage: all records
have been in March or April. The Pacific Swift Apus pacificus is fairly
common in winter. It seldom occurs in large concentrations, but is usually
mixed in with other species (such as Asian Palm Swifts Cypsiurus batasiensis,
needletails and, occasionally, swiftlets Aerodramus) over forest and
secondary growth of hilly areas.
The Swallow Hirundo rustica is a ubiquitous winter visitor, feeding over
both forest and open country of the lowlands and hills, and a few remain
throughout the summer months. An interesting feature of the Southeast
Asian wintering populations is their use of urban roosts as well as more
traditional sites such as reedbeds, and this has been recorded in both
Thailand and Malaysia (King 1966; Medway 1973). In Bangkok, over
200,000 roost on electric wires in a very brightly lit part of the inner city
(plate 12). The Sand Martin Riparia riparia is very much less common and
is usually found over marshy plains. Most of the Red-rumped Swallows //.
daurica that winter in Thailand belong to the heavily streaked ‘s trio lata ’
23
Birdwatching in Thailand
group of races which also lack a pale dorsal collar. They tend to be much
more restricted to forests and secondary growth on hill slopes than are
Swallows. Both House Martin Delichon urbica and Asian House Martin D.
dasypus winter in I hailand, but the latter species is the more common and
widespread; it may be distinguished by its sooty black underwing-coverts,
which contrast with the paler, grey undersides to its flight feathers.
Pipits and wagtails
Three wintering pipits are all common and widespread. Richard's Pipits
Anthus novaeseelandiae of the race richardi occur in moist and dry open areas
and are readily distinguishable from the resident races, A. n. rufulus and A.
n. malayensis, by their larger size and familiar ‘schreep’ calls, in contrast to
the short ‘chirp' of the resident races. The Olive-backed Pipit A. hodgsoni is
usually found in forests and open woodlands of the lowlands and hills, but is
also occasionally found in moist areas of paddy stubble. The Red-throated
Pipit A. cervinus primarily frequents open coastal flats and dry', prairie-like
areas of paddy stubble (plate 13). The relatively few records of both of
these species in peninsular Thailand may merely reflect the poor coverage
of that region. A fourth species, the Rosy Pipit A. roseatus , is a recently
discovered visitor to the plains of the extreme north, and is generally found
in moister areas than is the Red-throated, occurring particularly around
the margins of pools (Round 1983). This species is a shorter-distance
migrant which breeds along the Himalayas to western China.
The three commonest wagtails, Yellow Motacilla Jtava, Grey M. cinerea
and Pied M. alba, are all well known to European observers, although the
plumages of some races of Yellow and Pied are distinctively different from
those occurring in Europe. While Yellow Wagtails occur in all manner of
open lowland areas, including the landward edge of mangrove, the Grey
mostly haunts streamsides in shady, wooded areas. The Pied Wagtail is
markedly commoner in the north, and is found in open grassy areas of the
lowlands and hills. The Citrine Wagtail M. citreola is common only in the
marshy plains of the extreme north, although there are a few records from
central Thailand. It feeds in wetter, more flooded paddies than does the
Yellow Wagtail. While the usual call of Citrine appears to be almost indis-
tinguishable from the equally harsh calls of the eastern races of Yellow
Wagtail, it does have an additional, diagnostic note, best described as a
metallic ‘pzeeow’, slightly higher-pitched and less rasping than the more
frequently heard ‘dzeep’.
The Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus indicus is also fairly common, but. as its
name suggests, it haunts mainly wooded areas, including parks and
gardens of both lowlands and hills to at least 1,400m. In the peninsula,
where it is most numerous, concentrations of several hundred may roost in
mangroves, together with large numbers of Yellow Wagtails. Breeding as
far north as Ussuri land and Sakhalin, it is a possible candidate for vagrancy
to Europe and has been recorded as far west as Kutch in Northwest India
(Ali & Ripley 1983).
Robins , chats and thrushes
Among the robins and chats are some highly skulking species whose status
24
Birdwatching in Thailand
has yet to be clarified. Most species frequent moist, shady areas. Three are
known from only single Thai records. A Japanese Robin Erithacus akahige
was trapped at 1,464m in hill evergreen forest in the southeast; a White-
tailed Rubythroat Luscinia pectoralis was taken in the early 20th Century,
near Bangkok; and a Black-throated Robin L. obscura was taken in lowland,
scrubland habitat in the far north: so far, the only record outside its
breeding range (Ripley & King 1966). This situation parallels that of the
Rufous-headed Robin L. ruficeps, which breeds in the same area, and which,
though unknown for Thailand, has been netted once in Malaysia (McClure
1963). The rarity of the last two species in their winter quarters may be due
to their populations having been reduced as a result of forest destruction in
their Chinese breeding ranges.
Both the Siberian Rubythroat L. calliope (plate 15) and the Bluethroat L.
svecica are very common in open areas, but the Rubythroat is much more
skulking and haunts dense scrub and grassland of both open plains and
forest clearings up to at least 1,800m. The Bluethroat appears to be
restricted to the marshy lowlands, and is frequently found on open, dry
mud in fields of paddy stubble (plate 1 3) . The Siberian Blue Robin L. cyane
(plate 18) is, by contrast, an inhabitant of wooded situations and is found
in a variety of habitats, from tropical rain forest to degraded deciduous
woodland and bamboo. It is most common at low elevations, being found
only rarely above 1,000m. This species has a habit of rapidly and constantly
quivering its tail: a useful aid to identification. The Red-flanked Bluetail
Tarsiger cyanurus usually inhabits evergreen forest of the higher hills, and
may sometimes be locally common on ridgetops and summits above
1,400m. Although most records are from the north and northwest, there
have recently been a number of unconfirmed reports of the species from
mountainous areas farther south, and the species may be more widespread
than hitherto thought. The Daurian Redstart Phoenicurus auroreus is not
uncommon in the northwest; it occurs primarily in deforested areas and
open woodlands.
Among the races of the Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitanus which
winter in Thailand is the race philippensis which breeds in northeastern Asia,
the male of which has mostly chestnut-rufous underparts and can be
confused with other species, such as the Sino-Himalayan Chestnut-bellied
Rock Thrush M. rufiventris. The White-throated Rock Thrush M. gularis is
also a long-distance migrant, breeding in northeastern Asia and wintering
in eastern, southeastern and peninsular Thailand, where it is rare or
uncommon, frequenting forest canopy and forest edge. The Stonechat
Saxicola torquata is one of the most conspicuous winter visitors to open areas
up to approximately 1,600m, but is most common in well-watered low-
lands. Those which winter in most ofThailand are of the race stejnegeri. The
Pied Bushchat S. caprata is known only as a resident in Thailand, breeding
in open areas, including cultivated land, up to 1,600m.
I he predominant wintering thrush in Thailand is the Eye-browed Turdus
obscurus (fig. 4), which occurs annually. Although occurring throughout the
country, often appearing in lowland gardens and mangroves, the largest
flocks are found in hill evergreen forests of the north and northwest, where
Birdwatching in Thailand
25
Fig. 4. Male Eye-browed Thrush Turdus obscurus (Kamol Komolphalin)
they feed on the forest floor, in fruiting trees and in flowering trees (where
they apparently take nectar). The Siberian Thrush Zoothera sibirica
probably winters mostly to the south, in peninsular Thailand and in
Malaysia, though small flocks occur annually with Eye-browed during
March and April on the hills of the northwest. The White’s Thrush Z.
dauma has both breeding and wintering populations in Thailand. Again
found mostly in hill forests of the northwest, it is usually encountered singly
or in pairs and is less liable to associate with mixed thrush flocks.
Small numbers of Grey-sided Thrushes T.Jeae are found annually with
Eye-broweds, but most other thrush species show more irregular and
irruptive patterns of occurrence. While a few Dusky Thrushes T. naumanni
eunomus have been recorded from the northwest in most winters since 1980,
there was an exceptionally large influx in January 1982, with one flock of
over 100 on the summit of Doi Inthanon alone, where they locally out-
numbered Eye-browed Thrushes. In the same year, a few Red-throated
Thrushes T. ruficollis ru/icollis and Black-throated Thrushes T. r. atrogularis
were also found. Other migrant thrushes, of mostly Sino-Himalayan origin,
which occur in Thailand include Orange-headed Thrush Z. citrina, Long-
tailed Thrush Z. dixoni , Black-breasted Thrush T. dissimilis, Grey-winged
Blackbird T. boulboul and Chestnut Thrush T. rubrocanus. There are
undoubtedly many other species from both the Sino-Himalayan and
Eastern Palearctic regions which are likely candidates for future occurrence
in Thailand.
Warblers
Both Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler Locustella certhiola and Lanceolated
Warbler L. lanceolata are extremely common in open lowland areas
throughout Thailand. Whereas Pallas’s Grasshopper prefers the more
swampy or reedy areas, Lanceolated occurs in a wider range of habitats,
from swamps and paddyfield margins to dry grasslands up to at least
1,800m. Both species are fairly vocal in their winter quarters, and have a
26
Birdwatching in Thailand
variety of hard metallic and Acrocephalus- like chacking notes, as well as a
slurred, trilling subsong, which facilitates their detection. Pallas’s
Grasshopper Warbler is generally the more easily observed, being more
readily flushed, and less inclined to dart immediately into dense cover. It
often emerges to sit in the tops of rushes or low bushes in the early morning.
The commonest small Acrocephalus is the Black-browed Reed Warbler A.
bistrigiceps (fig. 5), which frequents marshy, lowland areas. Blunt-winged
Warbler .4. concinens is much less common and winters in dry grassland on
hill slopes as well as in lowland marshes. This species is best distinguished
from the much rarer Paddyfield Warbler A. agricola by its generally warm
olive upperparts, without a strong rufescent tinge, and by its longer, heavier
bill. Paddyfield Warblers are greyer above and whiter below when worn
(i.e. for most of the winter) or brighter, more strongly rufescent above and
tawny-coloured beneath when in fresh plumage (Williamson 1976). Both
species possess a well-defined, whitish supercilium, but this is more
pronounced on Paddyfield. Paddyfield Warbler may be restricted to
lowland, marshy areas, and there are only very few records, from the
extreme north and from around Bangkok.
The Great Reed Warbler A. arundinaceus is very common, frequenting a
variety of lowland marshy habitats, including the landward edge of
mangrove. Glamorous Reed Warbler A. stentoreus is little known in
Thailand: it has been found in the plains of the north, but there are no
satisfactorily documented recent records. As the eastern race of Great
Reed, A. a. orientalis, almost always shows fine, greyish streaking on the
upper breast, Clamorous Reed should be separable, with care. The Thick-
billed Warbler A. aedon is common in winter, especially in the north.
Though frequenting marshes, it is also common in drier scrub and grass-
land of the hills.
No fewer than 1 7 species ol' Phylloscopus warbler are found in Thailand, of
which only two (the White-tailed Leaf Warbler P. davisoni and the Ashy-
throated W arbler P. macuhpennis) breed. A further seven species, however,
are relatively short-distance migrants from the Sino-Himalayan region. Of
the remainder, both Radde’s Warbler P. schwarzi and Dusky W^arbler P.
fuscatus are common, but the former frequents forest edge, open woodlands
and secondary growth, from the foothills up to high elevations, while the
Dusky Warbler is predominantly a lowland bird, occurring in scrub and
low trees, usually close to water and in mangrove.
I he Pale-legged Leaf W'arbler P. tenellipes is also a bird of lower storey
vegetation and mostly frequents forest edge, especially along streams, and
mangrove. Like Eastern Crowned Leaf Warbler P. coronatus, it is a long-
distance migrant, breeding in northeastern Asia, and its possible potential
for westward vagrancy has already been mentioned (Brit. Birds 74: 100).
I he Yellow-browed W^arbler P. inomatus is by far the most common and
widespread ol the arboreal leal-warblers, occurring in a broad spectrum of
wooded areas and in scrub, gardens and cultivated areas up to the highest
elevations. I he Two-barred Greenish Warbler P. p/urnbeitarsus is fairly
common, occurring mostly in forest edge, gardens, open woodlands and
bamboo ol low to moderate elevations. It is the only ‘Greenish Warbler’
Birdwatching in Thailand
27
Fig. 5. Black-browed Reed W arbler Acrocephalus bistrigiceps ( Killian Mullamey)
known in most of Thailand: Greenish Warblers P. trochiloides (of the races
trochiloides and obscuratus ) are known with certainty only from the hills of the
northwest. Nonetheless, a visitor who has seen well-marked Two-barred
Greenish on its breeding grounds or on spring passage in Mongolia (e.g.
Kitson 1979) may be puzzled by the apparent indistinctness of the
wingbars of most of the Two-barred Greenish Warblers wintering in
Thailand. This is probably because most are in worn plumage and do not
undergo their complete moult until the late winter (Williamson 1976).
In northern and central Thailand, including the Bangkok area, the
Arctic Warbler P. borealis and Eastern Crowned Leaf Warbler occur mostly
on spring and autumn passage, and winter mainly to the south. Eastern
Crow ned Leaf Warbler is the commonest leaf-warbler of lowland primary
forest in peninsular Thailand. The Arctic Warbler appears more often to
frequent forest edge, mangroves and open wooded areas, although both
species occur in these habitats on passage. As suggested by Wallace (1980),
the Eastern Crowned Leaf Warbler is a potential candidate for westward
vagrancy, and there is an old record for Heligoland (Gatke 1895). In
Thailand the common race of the Pallas's Warbler P. proregulus is chloronotus ,
but P. p. proregulus has now also been recorded from the hill evergreen forests
ofChiang Mai Province (Round 1983).
The more arboreal Phvl/oscopus warblers are frequent components of
mixed species flocks in forest, where they often associate with various
babblers, flycatchers and a variety of other small birds, both resident and
migrant. Species such as the Yellow-browed Warbler, which occur in a
variety of habitats, will often associate w ith flocks in forest, but feed singly
in more open situations.
28
Birdwatching in Thailand
Some other warblers which are long-distance migrants and which winter
in Thailand include Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca (two records only:
Round 1982), Stub-tailed Bush Warbler Cettia squameiceps and Manchurian
Bush Warbler C. canturiens.
Flycatchers
Both Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa latirostris (fig. 6) and Red-breasted
Flycatcher Ficedula parva are common at low and moderate elevations, but
the Brown Flycatcher is the more arboreal of the two and restricted to open
woodlands, wooded gardens, forest edge and mangrove, while the Red-
breasted occurs also in more open areas and scrub. The Dark-sided
Flycatcher M. sibirica (fig. 6) is more closely associated with forest edge than
is either of these two. It is commonest in the peninsular part of the country,
but a few are found also in the north and in the east. Though there have
been a few reports of Brown Flycatcher in Europe, the identification of all is
perhaps suspect (Nisbet & Nuefeldt 1975), while a record of Dark-sided
Flycatcher from Bermuda is almost certainly due to extreme eastwards
vagrancy (overshooting) in spring and subsequent dispersal southwards
(Wingate 1983). Two very strikingly marked species, the Mugimaki
Flycatcher F. mugimaki and the Yellow-rumped Flycatcher, both breed in
northeastern Asia and frequent the crowns of trees in evergreen forest on
their wintering grounds in Thailand. The Mugimaki is scarce in winter at
Khao Yai, whereas the Yellow-rumped winters mainly to the south and
occurs mostly as a spring and autumn passage migrant, when it may also be
found in gardens, mangroves and more open areas.
Shrikes
The Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus is one of the commonest and most charac-
teristic winter visitors to predominantly open lowlands throughout
Thailand, and is found at fairly high density in paddyfields, dry croplands,
gardens and open scrub. The Tiger Shrike L. tigrinus, however, winters in
southern Thailand and inhabits clearings and forest edge. It is found on
passage in all manner of wooded habitats, including gardens and
mangroves. Resident races of the Long-tailed Shrike L. schach are very
common in open areas of scrub and cultivation in both lowlands and hilly
areas.
Starlings
There were three records of the Starling Sturnus vulgaris in the north during
winter 1983/84, the first records for Thailand (G. Speight, J. M. Turton, T.
Lawrence et al. in litt.). The Purple-backed Starling S. sturninus , which
breeds in northeastern Asia, is an uncommon winter visitor, probably
wintering mostly in the south of Thailand, though occasional large concen-
trations, probably of passage birds, have been recorded from the southeast
(Ogle 1974). I hough mostly wintering in Southeast Asia through to the
Greater Sundas, one individual has been recorded as far west as Pakistan
(Ali & Ripley 1983).
Birdwatching in Thailand
29
Fig. 6. Left two birds, Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa latirostris latirostris; right two birds. Dark-
sided Flycatcher At. sibirica. Note heavier, pale-based bill of Brown; longer wings of Dark-
sided, which has darker, more obviously streaked flanks and sides to breast, contrasting with
white stripe down centre of breast; Dark-sided also usually, but not always, shows partial
white collar ( Kamol Komolphalin)
Buntings
The commonest bunting is the Yellow-breasted Emberiza aureola, which
occurs throughout the entire country', predominantly in lowland areas
(especially ricefields). It can nevertheless be difficult to find away from the
more extensive marshy areas, where reedbeds provide secure roosts and
where concentrations of several thousand may occur. The Chestnut
Bunting E. rutila and the Little Bunting E. pusilla are somewhat less
common and usually found singly or in small groups. Both species frequent
open scrubby hillsides, although the Little Bunting also frequents
30
Birdwatching in Thailand
paddyfields in the extreme north. The Black-faced Bunting E. spodocephala is
rather local and scarce and most records here come from scrub growth and
riverine sandbars in the far north. This species has been recorded once on
Heligoland (Weigold 1911). The Chestnut-eared Bunting E.fucata is fairly
common only in the extreme north, frequenting paddyfields and marshy
areas. Tristram’s Bunting E. tristrami is rare: and there are only two records,
offour individuals, from open hill slopes at 1,600-1, 700m (King 1966; P. A.
Coe & G. Walbridge in litt.).
Other landbird migrants
Migrant species which breed in Northeast Asia and which occur in
Thailand (but which are not considered in this paper) include Common
Cuckoo Cuculus canorus, Oriental Cuckoo C. saturatus, Lesser Cuckoo C.
poliocephalus, Wryneck Jynx torquilla, Ashy Minivet Pericrocotus divaricatus,
Japanese White-eye Zosterops japonica and Chestnut-flanked White-eye Z.
erythropleura.
Birdwatching sites
The following list includes a representative selection of birdwatching sites
in a variety of different habitats and geographical areas. The majority of
localities have been chosen also for their accessibility: they will give good
results to birdwatchers provided with a hire car who have perhaps only
three to four weeks to spend in the country. Thailand, however, does have
an efficient public transport system, so that, for those visitors who are less
constrained by time, most sites are accessible by bus. Sites which are nature
reserves are identified as such (either National Park, Wildlife Sanctuary or
Non-Hunting Area); they are administered by the Royal Forest
Department. All are provided with guest accommodation and although, in
theory, anyone planning to stay overnight should first obtain a permit in
Bangkok, in practice, visitors are almost never turned away, so that this is
not really necessary, particularly at the more frequented sites, such as Khao
Yai and Doi Inthanon. While forest trails exist at all reserves, in many
parks and sanctuaries these are not well signposted. Forestry personnel are,
however, often available to act as guides in cases of difficulty. Very few
areas have information leaflets or interpretive centres, but the Shell Guide to
the National Parks of Thailand by R. J. Dobias ( 1982) gives good background
information and small-scale trail maps for many sites. The location of each
site is shown in fig. 1.
1. Chiang Saen and the Golden Triangle, Chiang Rai Province. Plains. Low, deforested foothills
extending to shores of Mekong River where borders of Laos, Burma and Thailand meet, about
10km north of Chiang Saen. Relict trees and scrub in moist valley bottoms support good
variety of migrant passerines, including Siberian Rubythroat, Siberian Blue Robin, Spotted
Bush Warbler Bradypterus thoracicus and Manchurian Bush Warbler. Sandbars of Mekong and
large freshwater marsh to southwest of the town hold many waterbirds; recent records of Black
Stork, over 40 Spot-billed Ducks Anas poecilorhyncha , Long-billed Plover Charadrius placidus and
Small Pratincole Glareola laclea. Area probably at its best in late dry season (late January
onwards), when many riverine sandbars exposed. Black-faced Buntings occur in riverine
scrub.
Birdwatching in Thailand
31
13. Dry paddy stubble in Fang Basin, northern Thailand, January 1981. Haunt of wintering
Grey-headed Lapwings Hoplopterus cinereus , Bluethroats Luscinia svecica, Red-throated Pipits
Antkus cervinus and buntings Emberiza ( P . I) Round)
2. Tha Ton and the Fang Basin , Chiang Mai Province. Plains. Degraded marshland and rice-
paddy, between confluence of Kok and Fang Rivers. At its best when areas of newly flooded,
unplanted rice-paddy exist in close proximity to dry stubble (late December to late February),
when many waders, including Temminck's Stints and Grey-headed Lapwings, Bluethroats.
reed and bush warblers. Red-throated and Rosy Pipits, and many Citrine Wagtails may be
found, together with four species of bunting. Situated on east side of Highway 107, 170km
north ofChiang Mai and 2km south ofTha Ton. (Plates 8 & 13)
3. Doi Pha Horn Pok, Chiang Mai Province. Thailand’s second highest mountain, maximum
elevation 2,285 m. Forest cover greatly reduced by hilltribes, but good,
more-or-less-continuous hill evergreen exists above 1,700m. Outstanding locality for both
wintering and resident chats, warblers and thrushes, including several Sino-Himalayan
species which are either scarce or absent elsewhere in Thailand. Visits must be arranged in
advance with Chiang Mai office of Watershed Development Division, Royal Forest
Department. Access by rough dirt road (impassable to saloon cars) branching west off
Highway 107, 9km north of Fang (about 160km north ofChiang Mai). (Plates 6 & 9)
4. Doi Ang Khang, Chiang Mai Province. Maximum elevation about 1.800m. Almost completely
deforested, remaining cover being mostly limited to steep, rocky ridges, but nevertheless an
exciting birding locality. Open terrain is much favoured by raptors; a few records of Goshawk,
while Hen Harriers are annual. Of w intering passerines, Daurian Redstarts, Buff-throated
Warblers Phylloscopus subajjinis and Little Buntings are fairly common, while resident
specialities include Giant Nuthatch Sitta magna in relict stand of pines. White-browed
Laughingthrush Garrulax sannio and Spot-breasted Parrotbill Paradoxomis guttaticollis in scrub
and grassland. Access via steep (but good) dirt road branching west off Highway 107, 137 km
north of Chiang Mai. Rustic overnight accommodation and food exist in a small village
situated near a government agricultural station. (Plate 14)
5. Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai Province. Maximum elevation 1,685m. The best-
known and most-accessible birding locality in Northern Thailand, where 326 species have
been recorded (Round 1984). Low'er slopes covered with dry dipterocarp woodland, while
upper slopes support mosaic of hill evergreen forest and open areas. Higher elevations hold
32
Birdwatching in Thailand
White’s and Eye-browed Thrushes, a few Red-flanked Bluetails, Daurian Redstart and several
leaf-warblers. Access is by tarmac road extending 19 km from Chiang Mai to Phuphing Palace
at 1,400 m elevation; dirt road leads on to highest summit (Doi Pui). Easily accessible by public
transport from Chiang Mai.
6. Doi Inthanon National Park, Chiang Mai Province. Thailand’s highest mountain, maximum
elevation 2,590m. Undoubtedly the foremost birding locality in Northern Thailand; 343
species recorded so far (Round 1984). Dry dipterocarp forests on lower slopes give way to
stands of pines and to open, deforested areas which support wintering Grey Bushchats Saxicola
Jerrea, Siberian Rubythroats, Buff-throated, Radde’s and Yellow-streaked Warblers
Phylloscopus armandii and a few Little and Chestnut Buntings. Buzzards and occasional Grey-
faced Buzzard may also be found. Hill evergreen forest above 1,500m grades into lower-
stature, almost montane-type forest around summit, where small marsh surrounded by
rhododendrons proves very attractive to winter visitors. There are usually five or six Red-
flanked Bluetails in vicinity and, in good years, large, mixed thrush flocks. Predominant
leaf-warblers are the two resident species, White-tailed and Ashy-throated, together with
wintering Orange-barred Phylloscopus pulcher. Flocks of Scarlet Rosefinches Carpodacus erythrinus
are often present and frequently contain occasional surprise visitor, such as Dark-breasted
Rosefinch C. nipafiensis. Metalled access road branches west oil Highway 108, 58 km southwest
of Chiang Mai and 1 km before Chom Thong, and extends 46 km to summit of mountain.
7. Nam Nao National Park, Phetchabun Province. Maximum elevation 1,271 m. One of chain of
parks and sanctuaries extending along mountain range on western rim of Korat Plateau (of
which Khao Yai is southernmost). Holds range of habitats, from dry dipterocarp to bamboo
dry evergreen forest, pines and hill evergreen forest. Although it has many birds in common
with Khao Yai, it supports more Sino-Himalayan species. Evergreen forest occurs at a lower
elevation than on either Doi Suthep or Doi Inthanon, and is therefore an especially good site
for Siberian Blue Robin and other species which winter in foothills. Situated on Highway 12,
50km east of Lomsak. Dirt road leads to the headquarters, 2km to north.
8. Ban Lung Dua, Phitsanulok Province. Plains. Small marshy area, maintained as sanctuary for
wintering ducks by local rice farmer. Up to 10,000 Lesser Treeducks, over 1,000 Garganeys, a
few hundred Pintails and, occasionally, small numbers of Wigeons, Baer’s Pochards and
Ferruginous Ducks. Many scattered trees, shrub growth and reeds, so area supports good
14. Open deforested area at about 1 ,600m, Doi Ang Khang, Thailand, July 1983 (P. D. Round)
Birdwatching in Thailand
33
15. Male Siberian Rubythroat Luscinia calliope , Beung Boraphet, Thailand. March 1981 ( P . D. Round )
variety of resident and migrant birds, including Marsh Harriers, Siberian Rubythroats (plate
15), Lanceolated, Black-browed Reed and Dusky Warblers. Situated in Bang Rakham
District, about 15 km west of Phitsanulok.
9. Lam Khan Chu, Chaiyaphum Province. Plains. Freshwater marsh of over 20 km2. surrounded by
rice-paddies. One of few remaining semi-natural wetlands in northeastern Thailand,
supporting concentrations of over 1.000 Lesser Treeducks and smaller numbers ofGarganeys.
Marsh Harriers and Small Pratincoles have been recorded, and area, though little-explored, is
certain to hold wide range of winter visitors. Situated on Highway 201, 10km north of
Ghaturat and on route between Nam Nao and Khao Yai National Parks.
10. Beung Boraphet Non-Hunting Area , Nakhan Sauan Province. Plains. Freshwater lake, over
200 knr in area, near confluence of Nan, Yom and Ping Rivers, formed by damming of swamp.
Known primarily as site where White-eyed River Martin Pseudochelidon sirintarae was
discovered in 1968, when nine individuals were netted (Thonglongya 1968). There are still
only two sight records of this species, whose breeding area is unknown (King & Kanwanich
1978; D. Ogle in lilt.). Large numbers of Swallows, Yellow Wagtails and Yellow-breasted
Buntings roost in reedbeds around lakeside, while at least 30.000 ducks (mainly Lesser
Treeducks and Garganeys, with a few hundred Pintails, over 100 Baer's Pochards and small
numbers of other species) roost on lake. Many Marsh Harriers, a few Pied Harriers and
Spotted Eagles overwinter. Marshes and dry paddies support variety of wintering chats,
warblers and pipits. Access via Non-Hunting Area headquarters, some 20 km east of Nakhon
Sawan. Boats on lake may be hired. (Plate 16)
34
Birdwatching in Thailand
16. Rank grass and reeds around margins of rice cultivation, Beung Boraphet, Thailand,
February 1981. Haunt of Locustella and Acrocephalus warblers and Baillon’s Crakes Porzana
pusilla (P. D. Round)
1 1. Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Uthai Thant Province. Maximum elevation 1,554m. Some
of the least disturbed lowland deciduous forest in Thailand, existing in mosaic with dry
evergreen and hill evergreen formations. Contains more-or-less-intact lowland bird fauna.
Accessible areas of dry dipterocarp and mixed deciduous woodland around sanctuary head-
quarters hold variety of winter visitors or passage migrants, including Siberian Blue Robin,
Radde’s and Two-barred Greenish Warblers, Forest Wagtail and Tiger Shrike. Access via dirt
road, near village of Fan Sak, some 70km west of'Uthai Thani. (Plate 5)
12. Khao Yai National Park, Nakhon Ratchasima Province. Maximum elevation 1,328m.
Thailand’s first and best-known national park. Accessible area around headquarters supports
lush, tail-stature, dry evergreen forest alternating with grassy clearings. Radde’s, Two-barred
Greenish and Pale-legged Leaf Warblers are fairly common around forest edge, while
Sulphur-breasted Warblers Phylloscopus ricketti and Blyth’s Crowned Leaf Warblers P.
reguloides are found in mixed-species flocks in forest interior. Grasslands support Siberian
Rubythroats, Thick-billed and Blunt-winged Warblers. Many resident species, including four
species of hornbills. Good accommodation and restaurant facilities. Tarmac access road
branches south ofTHighway 2, 1 km before Pat Chong. (Plates 2-4)
13. Chiangrak and Rangsit Marshes, Phalhum Tham Province. Plains. Freshwater marshy areas on
northern outskirts of Bangkok, with abundant growth of low rushes, some scrub and trees and
small ponds. Good site for seeing both resident and migrant Ixobrychus bitterns, crakes,
including Baillon’s Crake, Snipe and Pintail Snipe, Pallas’s Grasshopper, Lanceolated, Black-
browed Reed and Blunt-winged Warblers. Up to a few hundred Garganeys and small variety
of waders, including Long-toed Stints, often present. Access via side roads on both east and
west of Highway 1, near Rangsit, a few km north of Bangkok Airport.
14. Khao Soi Dao Wildlife Sanctuary, Chanthaburi Province. Maximum elevation 1,660m. Moist,
semi-evergreen and hill evergreen forest. Lowland areas around headquarters are easily
accessible and support many Siberian Blue Robins and occasional White-throated Rock
Thrush. Amur Falcon and Needle-tailed Swift both recorded in spring. Sanctuary
headquarters is 2 km down dirt road which branches west off Highway 317, 62.5 km north of
Chanthaburi.
Birdwatching in Thailand 35
15. Khao Khieo (1 ildlije Sanctuary and Bang Phra Non-Hunting Area, Chonburi Province. Maximum
elevation 798m. Khao Khieo is a steep mountain, covered with secondary growth and
semi-evergreen forest, while Bang Phra is a freshwater reservoir, surrounded bv small areas of
rushes, long grass and dry scrub. Open areas around lake-shore support wintering Acrocepbalus
warblers and Siberian Rubythroats, while the more wooded areas around foot of mountain
support many arboreal migrants, such as Arctic Warblers and Yellow-rumped Flycatchers,
during spring and autumn passage. Few birds on the open water, other than Little Grebes
Tachybaptus ru/icollis, and some Cotton Pygmy Geese Nettapus coromandelianus. One or two
Ospreys usually fish here. Area greatly underwatched, in spite of relative proximity to
Bangkok, and has a lot of potential. Tarmac road branches east off Highway 3 between
Bangsaen and Sriracha and winds around lake-shore, to foot of Khao Khieo.
16. Bangpoo, Samut Prakan Province. Coastal. Areas of coastal mudflats, fishponds, mangrove
and freshwater marsh in close proximity. Becoming somewhat built-up, but still very good for
birds. Similar, though usually more restricted variety of waders to thoseat Samut Sakhon (17).
Best on rising or falling tide, when small areas of mudflats exposed, or when fishponds only
partly flooded. Large numbers of Whiskered and Common Terns, a few White-winged Black
Terns and occasionally Gull-billed, Caspian and Crested Terns, together with over 1,000 gulls
(mostly Brown-headed, with a few Black-headed, but Slender-billed. Black-tailed and
Herring Gulls have all been recorded). Freshwater areas support similar array of species to
those at Rangsit (13), while mangroves are good for wintering or passage leaf- warblers and
flycatchers. Situated at Km 37, on Highway 3, east of Bangkok. Good views over coast and
mudflats from long pier (which ends in fish restaurant).
17. Samut Sakhon Area, Samut Sakhon and Samut Songkhram Provinces. Coastal. Huge area of
fishponds and salt pans, extending 30-60 km west of Bangkok between mouths ofTachin and
Mae Klong Rivers. Supports larger numbers and better variety of waders than Bangpoo.
including three stints, many Broad-billed and Marsh Sandpipers and a few Terek Sandpipers
Xenus cinereus. Spectacular concentration of 400 Asian Dowitchers found in April 1984. Good
numbers of egrets, terns and gulls. Access by viewing from Highway 35. Dirt road extends 2 km
to upper shore at Km 50. (Plates 10 & 17)
18. Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province. Coastal. Good juxtaposition of
habitats, with open sandy shore, small mudflats, dry coastal flats, freshwater marsh and rocky,
wooded hills. Supports unparalleled variety of waders in modest numbers. Both Great Knot
and Nordmann’s Greenshank recorded annually, while Caspian and Crested Terns present
throughout winter. Three recent ‘firsts’ for Thailand: Long-billed Dowitcher. Spoon-billed
17. Intertidal mudflats at Samut Sakhon, near Bangkok, Thailand (P. D. Round)
36
Birdwatching in Thailand
Sandpiper and Great Black-headed Gull. Freshwater marshes support many crakes, both
Marsh and Pied Harriers, and one or two Spotted Eagles, many Bluethroats, warblers, and
other small migrants. Open deciduous woodland around park headquarters supports
wintering and passage Arctic Warblers, Brown Flycatchers, and Forest Wagtails. Foothills
about 20km west of park are good for southward raptor migration in autumn. Access by
turning east off Highway 4 at Km 287; dirt road skirts marsh and leads to headquarters.
19. Khlong Nakha Wildlife Sanctuary, Ranong Province. Maximum elevation 1,170m. This and
succeeding sites are situated in Malaysian faunal subregion, with distinctly different resident
bird fauna. Good, lowland, valley-bottom evergreen forest and adjacent garden habitat.
Eastern Crowned Leaf Warbler and Forest Wagtail are commonest Palearctic migrants,
though Siberian Blue Robin (plate 18), Brown and Dark-sided Flycatchers may all be found.
Headquarters situated 0.5 km along dirt road which branches east off Highway 4 at Km 687,
about 70 km south of Ranong.
20. Khao Banthat (Khao Chong) Wildlife Sanctuary, Trang Province. Maximum elevation 1,370 m.
Similar — but more extensive — streamside, lowland, valley-bottom forest to that at Khlong
Nakha, with better trails. Similar array of migrant species. Of particular interest for Chestnut-
capped Thrush Zoothera interpres (rare and little-known Malaysian species). Situated on
Highway 4, about 20 km east of Trang.
21. Ko Libong Non- Hunting Area, Trang Province. A small (8 km X 9 km) island, known chiefly as
wader site. Nordmann’s Greenshank (flocks of up to ten), Great Knot (up to 26) and Crab
Plover (maximum 12) recorded annually on offshore mudflats and sandbars, as well as flocks
of Crested and Lesser Crested Terns. Accessible areas of island dominated by mangroves and
secondary growth, holding a few migrants, such as Yellow-rumped and Mugimaki
flycatchers. Large roost of Yellow Wagtails and Forest Wagtails. Situated 3.5 km olfshore;
access via boat from Kantang, about 30 km southwest of Trang.
37
Birdwatching in Thailand
Future prospects
Until the mid 1970s, ornithology in Thailand was largely the province of
the professional scientist. Since that time, visiting amateur birdwatchers
have added immensely to the knowledge of bird status and distribution. In
some cases, they have contributed the only existing bird lists for nature
reserves; they have identified hitherto unknown sites of conservation
importance; and they have engendered interest and knowledge among Thai
birdwatchers and scientists. Notwithstanding, coverage in Thailand has
been very uneven, and much of the northeast, for example, is very little
known. That area attracts fewer birdwatchers because it is largely
deforested and has a much less diverse resident bird fauna, but there is no
doubt that it must continue to support a great many migrant open-country
species. Many nature reserves throughout the country are still ornitholo-
gically unexplored, so that the visiting birdwatcher can make original and
exciting discoveries. Shorebirds, in particular, are certain to receive much
more attention in the near future owing to the likely international
importance of intertidal habitats in Thailand; indeed, Tnterwader’, an
international co-operative research project, expects to be operating in
Thailand in 1985, as it was in 1984 (Brit. Birds 77: 126-128).
Tourism is of steadily increasing importance in Thailand as a source of
foreign income, and increasing numbers of foreign visitors are becoming
aware of the country’s wildlife interest. Birds, through their relative
conspicuousness and great species diversity, exert a powerful attraction for
visitors to national parks. While ‘wildlife tourism’ may never contribute
more than a small proportion of the total volume of tourists, there is little
doubt that it can provide incentives for conservation through contributing
to the local economy of the rural people who live around park margins.
To summarise, ornithology in Thailand is entering a new and dynamic
phase, due to the activities of both visiting and resident birdwatchers.
While Thailand, like most of the tropical world, is facing conservation
problems of unprecedented gravity, it is to be hoped that the study of birds,
through increasing environmental awareness, will further enhance current
conservation efforts.
Acknowledgments
We wish to thank all those visiting birdwatchers who, through their efforts in the field,
assiduous note-taking and submission of records, have greatly added to our knowledge ofThai
birds. Please keep coming! Some observers will recognise that their records have been referred
to briefly in this article. They should rest assured that, where appropriate, all such will be
published elsewhere with full acknowledgment to the observers concerned. We thank the staff
of the Royal Thai Forest Department (National Parks Division and Wildlife Conservation
Division) for their assistance and unstinting hospitality at the many nature reserves
frequented by birdwatchers. Peter Alexander-Marrack and Steve Gast commented on sections
of this manuscript. Tim Inskipp drew attention to some useful references.
Finally, we thank the editor, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock. who originally conceived the idea of this
paper and who provided much encouragement during its preparation.
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Birdwatching in Thailand
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Moreau, R. E. 1972. The Palearctic- African Bird Migration Systems. London.
Neal, D. G. 1967. Statistical description of the forests of Thailand. Bangkok.
Nisbet, I. C. T. 1976. The Eastern Palearctic Migration System in operation. In Medway,
Lord, & Wells, D. R. The Birds of the Malay Peninsula, vol. 5, pp. 57-69.
& Neufeldt, I. 1975. Studies of less familiar birds. 1 75 Brown Flycatcher. Brit. Birds 68:
68-75.
Ogle, D. 1974. A systematic list ofbirds to be found in a lowland area ofChanthaburi. Nat.
Hist. Bull. Siam Soc. 25: 69-98.
Parish, D., & W7ells, D. R. 1984. Interwader 1983. Kuala Lumpur.
Ripley, S. D., & King, B. 1966. Discovery of the female of the Black-throated Robin Erithacus
obscurus (Berezowsky and Bianchi). Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 79: 151-152.
Round, P. D. 1982. Speckled W7ood Pigeon Columba hodgsonii and Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia
curruca, two new species for Thailand. Bull. Brit. Om. Cl. 102: 14-16.
1983. Some recent bird records for Northern Thailand. Nat. Hist. Bull. Siam Soc. 31:
123-138.
1984. I he status and conservation of the bird community in Doi Suthep-Pui National
Park, North-W'est Thailand. Nat. Hist. Bull. Siam Soc. 32 (in press).
Smitinand, 1 . 1967. Map of Thailand showing types of forests. Bangkok.
I honglongya, K. 1968. A new martin of the genus Pseudochelidon from Thailand. Thai Nat. Sci.
Papers, Fauna Series No. 1 . Bangkok.
Voous, K. H. 1977. List of Recent Holarctic Bird Species. London.
Wallace, D. I. M. 1980. Possible future Palearctic passerine vagrants to Britain. Brit. Birds
73: 388-397.
Webster, M. A. 1975. An Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Hong Kong. 3rd edn. Hong Kong.
Weigold, H. 191 1. Wieder ein Ostasiate von Helgoland. Om. Mber. 19: 14-15.
Williamson, K. 1976. Identification for Ringers, vols. 1 & 2. 3rd (revised) edn. Tring.
Wingate, D. B. 1983. A record of the Siberian Flycatcher (Aluscicapa sibirica) from Bermuda:
an extreme extra-limital vagrant. Auk 100: 212-213.
39
Birdwatching in Thailand
Appendix I. Organisations and journals concerned with ornithology
in Thailand
1 . The Association Jor the Conservation of Wildlife is conducting ornithological research and has
established a database on bird distribution, seasonality, and conservation status and so on.
I he ACM provides information and adv ice on request to visiting birdwatchers, and is
currently working on a new held Guide to the Birds oj Thailand. Details of sight records should be
sent to P. D. Round, ACM', 4 Old Custom House Lane, Bangkok 10500.
2. I he Bangkok Bird Club has one indoor meeting and one field meeting per month and also
publishes a newsletter which appears at monthly intervals. Contact M. R. Parcharjakorn
Voravan, 656 Friendship Village, Sukhumvit 77, Bangkok 10260.
3. The Siam Society (Natural History Section) organises field outings (mostly botanical) and
lectures and publishes a good, scientific journal The Natural History Bulletin oj the Siam Society.
which appears bi-annually and contains many papers on birds, including updates on status
and distribution. Contributors or would-be subscribers should write to the co-editor: Dr \V. Y.
Brockelman, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Nlahidol University, Rama 6 Road.
Bangkok 10400.
4. 1 he National Parks Division and the Wildlife Conservation Division of the Royal Thai Forest
Department are the organisations concerned with the administration of nature reserves and
wildlife protection legislation. Address: Royal Thai Forest Department, Phahol Yothin Road.
Bangkhen, Bangkok 10900.
Appendix II. Bibliography
The following books are especially useful for ornithologists visiting Thailand.
Dobias, R. J. 1982. The Shell Guide to the National Parks oj Thailand. Bangkok. Presents access
details, maps, habitat descriptions and lists some wildlife occurring in 27 national parks or
other categories of nature reserve. Available from The Shell Company of Thailand Ltd. PO
Box 345, Bangkok.
King, B., Dickinson, E. C., & Woodcock, iVl. W. 1975. .4 Field Guide to the Birds of South-East
Asia. London. The most detailed and accurate guide currently available, but not particularly
well-suited for rapid use in the field.
Lekagul, B., & Cronin, E. W. 1974. Bird Guide of Thailand. 2nd edn. Bangkok. Ready field
reference, with fairly good habitat and distributional information, though many inaccuracies
in the plates.
Medway, Lord, & Wells, D. R. 1976. The Birds of the Malay Peninsula, vol. 5. London.
Detailed habitat and distributional information on birds occurring in peninsular Thailand
and Malaysia. Useful introductory chapters contain much information on the biology of
resident and migrant species.
Smythies, B. E. 1983. The Birds of Burma. 3rd edn. Hindhead. Good, detailed information on
habitat, behaviour and voice of resident and migrant species.
Sonobe, K., & Robinson, J. W. (eds.) 1982. .4 Field Guide to the Birds of Japan. Tokyo. Good
illustrations of many Palearctic species which winter in Thailand.
Dr Boonsong Lekagul , Philip D. Round and Kamo/ Komolphalin , Association for the
Conservation of Wildlife, 4 Old Custom House Lane. Bangkok 10500. Thailand
Mystery photographs
4~\^ In last month's photograph (repeated here as plate 19), an unusual
%J 4 duck (left-hand bird) is seen consorting with a pack of Tufted Ducks
Aythya fuligula. Its outline clearly confirms that it is a diving duck, probably
of the genus Aythya. Its distinctive grey mantle suggests an adult male
Scaup A. marila, or even Lesser Scaup A. afjinis. On the other hand, first
impressions can be wrong.
What are the diagnostic characters of Scaup? In the male, the plumage is
black-and-white, with a grey back, the head-shape is rounded, and the head
sheen is greenish; the bill is grey, dark-tipped on the nail only. The male
Lesser Scaup is similar in general appearance, but its head is higher domed
and the sheen bluish; the bill is likewise tipped dark on the nail alone.
Clearly, the bird in the photograph is not a scaup. It has a broad dark
bill-tip and its head-shape is peaked and kinked, perhaps reminiscent of
Ring-necked Duck A. collaris. So, what can it be? In the photograph, there
are few clues apart from head-shape and bill-tip. In the field, head sheen,
iris colour and vermiculation pattern might provide further evidence.
Another hint might be the company it keeps, for the mystery bird is in fact a
male hybrid from a male Tufted Duck X female Pochard A.jerina. (Note
that female Tufted X male Pochard produces a bird much more like a
typical female Tufted Duck: see Gillham et al. 1966.) The birds in plate 19
were photographed in the Netherlands by Arnoud B. van den Berg in
November 1982.
This hybrid occurs not infrequently on inland waters in England,
particularly in the southeast. Superficially resembling Scaup and Lesser
Scaup, the male hybrid is a trap for beginners and experts alike. In the late
1950s, a bird at Sutton Courtenay, Berkshire, was diligently claimed as a
Lesser Scaup until shot in March 1960 and finally identified as a male
hybrid Tufted Duck X Pochard.
The male hybrid plumage derives from both species. Undoubtedly the
black-and-white feathering comes from Tufted Duck, but the head sheen
tends to be purplish-brown rather than mauve (Sage 1961, 1963), although
it can be greenish as on Scaup (Gillham et al. 1966). The Pochard-like
head-shape has a curious kink, possibly a vestigial tuft. The broad bill-tip,
19. Hybrid Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula X Pochard A.jerina, Netherlands, November 1982
(. Arnoud B. van den Berg)
40
[lint. Birds 78: 40-41, January 1985]
41
Mystery photographs
on the other hand, is clearly a Pochard character, and so is the grey mantle
which is much more finely vermiculated than on either of the scaups. Not all
‘Scaup-type’ hybrids, however, are identical to the bird shown; there is a
fair amount of variation in tone on the back, for example. Ken Osborne
REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
Gillham, E., Harrison, J. M., & Harrison, J. G. 1966. A study of certain Aylhya hybrids.
Wildfowl Trust Ann. Rep. 17: 49-65.
Osborne, K. C. 1972. The need for caution when identifying Scaup, Ferruginous Duck and
other species in the Aylhya genus. Land. Bird Rep. 36: 86-91 .
Perrins, G. \1. 1961. The ‘Lesser Scaup’ problem. Brit. Birds 54: 49-65.
Sage, B. G. 1961 . An immature male Tufted Duck X Pochard hybrid. Brit. Birds 54: 399-402.
1963. Notes of Scaup X Tufted Duck hybrids. Brit. Birds 56: 22-27.
20. Mystery photograph 98. Identify the species. Answer next month
PhotoSpot
9. Dunn’s Lark
Eric Hosking’s photograph at the nest is perhaps the best known picture of
this relatively little-known species of deserts and sub-deserts. The key
features of Dunn’s Lark Eremalauda dunni are its massive, almost conical bill,
its distinctly streaked upperparts, and its tail which, in flight, shows broad
black outer margins. This species also shows a much shorter primary
projection than do the desert larks Ammomanes.
21. Dunn’s Lark Eremalauda dunni, Jordan, May 1965 (Eric Hosking)
Dunn’s Lark apparently breeds across North Africa, from Mauretania to
Sudan and the Arabian Peninsula, but occurs sporadically to the north,
having been recorded from Jordan, Israel and Lebanon. Its identification
and status have been discussed in detail recently (Round & Walsh,
Sandgrouse 3: 78-83). P. D. Round
Notes
Hybrid resembling Ring-necked Duck On 18th March 1984, a Ring-
necked Duck Aylhya collaris was reported f rom Tot ten h i 1 1 Gravel-pits,
42
\lint. Hirds 78: 42, January 191!")]
Notes
43
Norfolk. N. Bostock, myself and others went to see it. At about 150m it
resembled a male Ring-necked Duck, but at closer range in good light a
number of features pointed to its being a hybrid Tufted Duck A. Juligula X
Pochard A. Jenna. Its size, shape and structure were much as Tufted, but its
bill was very slightly deeper-based and a short, distinct tuft to its rear crown
suSSested the peaked crown of Ring-necked. Its bill was blue-grey with a
black tip and a conspicuous white subterminal band. In poor light its head
appeared blackish, but in good light it looked distinctly dark reddish-
brown. Its breast and tail area were black, but its mantle and back were
Fig. 1. Hybrid duck Aylhya, Norfolk, March 1984 (S.J. M. Ganllett)
dark grey. Its flanks were uniform pale grey, with a very slight brownish
tinge. Its eyes were orange-red. In flight, the duck showed a bold greyish
wing stripe on the primaries and secondaries. A first-winter male Ring-
necked Duck could quite closely resemble this indiv idual (see Brit. Birds 75:
327-328), although by mid March first-year Avt/iva ducks should normally
be approaching adult plumage. S.J. M . Gantlett
l-t Bracken Way, Grimston, King's Lynn. Norjo/k
Although the parentage of this duck is uncertain, we are publishing this note to draw
attention to the possibility of contusion of such hybrids with Ring-necked Duck. Eds
Grey Plovers associating with inland flocks of Golden Plovers The
note on Grey Plovers Pluvialis squatarola associating with inland Golden
Plovers P. apricaria in winter in Buckinghamshire (Brit. Birds 75: 127)
prompts me to record the following. In February and March during 1935-
71, on high ground at Saltford and Marksbury, Avon, about 32km in a
direct line from the Bristol Channel, I occasionally found up to three Grey
Plovers at a time with wintering flocks of Golden Plovers. It seems that
there was a marked movement of Golden Plovers, following which the
Greys were present. I have not associated their occurrence with adverse
weather conditions in the Bristol Channel. Bernard King
Gull Cry , 9 Park Road , Newlvn , Penzance, Cornwall
David Staincliffe has also informed us ofa Grey Plover he watched on 12th November 1978,
near Keighley, West Yorkshire, in the middle of about 300 Golden Plovers; it reacted
aggressively towards any Golden Plovers w hich came within about 1.5m of it. It is apparent
that Grey Plovers do occasionally occur inland in winter with Golden Plovers; we shall not.
therefore, be publishing further notes on this subject. Eds
44
Notes
Aggression of albino Dunlin towards other waders During 1 7th-29th
August 1981, at Dawlish Warren, Devon, I observed a completely albino
Dunlin Calidris alpina in apparently first-autumn plumage. I watched it on
eight days, during which it persistently showed aggressive behaviour
towards the other Dunlins present, and also to Sanderlings C. alba and
Ringed Plovers Charadrius hiaticula, both while feeding near the high-water
mark and occasionally when in roosting parties. 1 1 did not appear to occupy
any fixed territory and moved around at all times in flocks of other small
waders, defending the area immediately around itself. Crouching with its
neck sunk into its ‘shoulders’ and its bill pointing ahead, it ran at intruders,
causing them to withdraw as if in panic; when it broke o IT from a roosting
position and challenged the nearest resting wader, the latter invariably
became aware of its aggressor only at close quarters, whereupon it leapt
vertically into the air in alarm. The other waders appeared to be very wary
of it, and at no time did 1 see the aggression returned. Confrontations took
place a few metres either side of the high-water line in areas of sand or
mixed sand-mud, where food was probably in relatively short supply. 1 can
find no mention in the literature of an albino bird adopting aggressive
behaviour, although there are a number of references to albinos being the
recipients of harassment {Brit. Birds 71: 357-358; 73: 588; 74: 266).
C. W. Stone
117 Kings down Crescent , Dawlish , Devon EX70HB
Aberrant Curlew in Gwent and South Glamorgan On 9th August 1 983,
at Sluice Farm, Gwent, C. Jones had brief views of an unusually plumaged
curlew Nurnemus. From 10th to 15th August, at Sluice Farm or the adjacent
Peterstone Great Wharf, Gwent/Rumney Great Wharf, South Glamorgan,
it was observed daily by about 1 5 people. 1 1 was readily picked out, in flight
and at rest, from a roosting flock of up to 500 Curlews N. arquata and
Whimbrels N. phaeopus by its distinctive behaviour and appearance. The
following is compiled from notes by M. Chown, R. G. Smith and myself.
size As large, long-billed Curlew.
behaviour Often asleep when rest of flock
alert; when they had flown, would remain
with laggards. Not concordant with flock in
flight.
upperparts Uniform rust-brown with
indistinct paler supercilium; neck uniform
rust-brown, with no demarcation between it
and head, upperparts or underparts. Rest of
upperparts and upperwings deep brown,
darker than on normal Curlew; rump paler
‘grey-yellowish-brown’, appearing all-dark
at a distance, tapering up back; tail pattern
as on Curlew.
underparts Breast, belly and undertail-
coverts rich rusty-brown. Underwing-
coverts creamy-white, contrasting sharply
with completely dark rusty-brown body;
remainder of underwing darkish (but much
less dark than body), with series of narrow
darker lines parallel with trailing edge on
primaries; darker area noticeable in region of
under primary coverts and primary feathers,
roughly at carpal joint.
bare parts Bill very long, dark brown with
pink base to lower mandible. Legs dull
bluish-grey. Eyes dark.
The notes were submitted to the Rarities Committee. All members who
commented thought that the bird was a Curlew. Suggested theories for its
appearance included the spreading of an area of light oiling during
preening; and plumage staining from preening with a muddy bill, the mud
having a high iron content. Neither, however, is convincing, because of the
Notes
45
Fig. 1 . Aberrant Curlew Numenius arquata, Gwent and South Glamorgan, August 198:5 (.S'. A’. 6'.
Howell, from original sketches by Nigel Odin)
bird’s pale underwing-coverts. Leucism has apparently been recorded for
Curlews, but this individual seems to have possessed an excess oferythrism
affecting both the normally pigmented and the usually white plumage
areas. If this was the case, and if it could occur also in the \\ himbrel, claims
of the Nearctic race of \\ himbrel N. p. hudsonicus in Britain must be closely
scrutinised. Other possibilities, however remote, are aberrant Eastern
Curlew N. madagascariensis , or a hybrid between Curlew and. for example,
Eastern Curlew or Long-billed Curlew N. americanus.
Records of similarly plumaged Curlews, with notes on behaviour, would
be welcome, as would correspondence on the likely causes of such plumage
and behavioural aberrations. I thank P. G. Lansdown for commenting on
the above, and S. N. G. Howell for drawing the figures from the field notes
and my field sketches. Nigel Odin
4 Y-Goedwig, Rhiwbina , Cardiff, South Glamorgan CF4 6UL
Since the dark-rumped Eastern Curlew seems as likely as Little \\ himbrel A . minutus to stray
to Western Europe, we felt that this aberrant Curlew should be noted, as a potential
identification pitfall. Details of other records of such individuals will be welcomed, but will be
filed for reference or summarised and not published individually. Eds
Redshank feeding on paved area On 1st January 1982, during a
prolonged freeze, near North Shields Fish Quay, Tyne & Wear. I sketched
and photographed a Redshank Tringa totanus feeding with a Black-headed
Gull Larus ridibundus and a Common Gull L. canus on fish remains on a paved
area faced by several lock-up fish merchants' stores. The Redshank allowed
an approach by car to about 10m, and I watched it for about an hour. It
46
Notes
Fig. 1. Redshank Tringa totanus contorting itself to feed on fish waste in boxes, Tyne & Wear,
January 1982 ( Frederick J. Watson)
pecked at fish waste on the ground, and on several occasions probed in a
determined manner at fish remains in and between empty wooden and
plastic crates stacked against the brick wall. Frederick J. Watson
The Old Farm Cottage, Greenhead Farm, Church Lane, Shepley,
near Huddersfield HD88AF
Swift catching oak-eggar moths During the afternoon of 2nd July 1981, I
watched about 40 Swifts Apus apus feeding over an area of Derbyshire
moorland. On several occasions, one chased and tried to catch large,
low-flying oak-eggar moths Lasiocampa quercus ; after several attempts, one
particular Swift caught and engulfed two oak-eggars. It appeared that,
because these moths have a wingspan of 45-75mm, the strike needed to be
made when the moth was at a suitable angle; other attacks resulted in
complete misses, or the moth being knocked to one side. The same moth
was repeatedly attacked until either it was caught or it sought cover in the
heather Calluna vulgaris. Although I visited the area again many times
during the following weeks, when Swifts were always present, only once (on
4th July) did a Swift attempt, twice (unsuccessfully), to catch one of these
large moths. David Sneap
Tornngton House, Lower Somercotes. Derbyshire
Dunnock singing at night I was surprised that the note on a Hedge-
Sparrow [Dunnock] Prunella modularis disturbed into song by a noisy train
(or its ground vibration) was considered so unusual because it happened at
night. Any dishonest angler fishing without a permit at night, because fish
bite best then, has to avoid disturbing a roosting Hedge-Sparrow or the bird
will protest with territorial song and let the keeper know. A memory of
schooldays, when I was cycling on a windy night with an oil-lamp which
would not keep in so continued in the dark until an unseen stone sent me
head over handlebars into the shrubbery, is that I sat up with a Hedge-
Sparrow singing its head oil' in protest at my disturbing its sleep. Cuckoos
Notes
47
Cuculus canorus , Swallows Hirundo rustica and most songbirds protest at such
nocturnal intrusions into their roosting haunts. Eric Hardy
77 Woodsorrel Road. Liverpool L156UB
At 20.20 GMT on 9th April 1976, between Hemel Hempstead and
Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, a Dunnock sang a full song a few seconds alter
a long express passenger train had passed. It was probably roosting very
close to the line. Although the noise or draught presumably disturbed it, the
considerable amount of light from the carriages may have induced it to sing.
During 1973-76, other colleagues and I were engaged on another project at
this site on many spring nights from dusk to about midnight, but this was
the only occasion on which a Dunnock was heard singing. N. E. Gammon
Crist in. Dwyran, Yns Mon. Gwynedd
Cutaneous diseases in a ringed Dunnock population During six years'
observation in 1976-81 of a largely colour-ringed population of Dunnocks
Prunella modularis in a habitat including scrub, bog, lakeside and conifer
woods, and of a small population in a garden, I kept notes on the incidence
of cutaneous diseases. The symptoms noted were alopecia (feather loss) on
the head and some leg or foot trouble which causes a bird to use only one leg
when hopping, giving it a crippled appearance. Judging from Blackmore &
Keymer (Brit. Birds 62: 316-331), the probable cause of alopecia of the head
is a fungal infection: mycotic dermatitis typically attacks the head region
and results in a bald-headed appearance with a sharp demarcation between
the bald area and the feathering. There were no external signs of leg or foot
trouble, but a male trapped in mid February 1977 (ringed 13 months
previously) had his ringed leg sufficiently swollen to warrant transferring
the rings to the other leg; towards the end of May, it was holding up the
swollen leg and hopping in crippled fashion. Again judging from Blackmore
& Keymer (62: 316-331), this is probably a viral complaint, or bird pox.
From a total of 25 marked males monitored through 44 breeding seasons,
plus a further four unmarked males with marked mates monitored through
four breeding seasons, there were seven examples of alopecia and four of leg
trouble, one male being subject to the latter in two consecutive seasons:
thus, an average of 25% of males per breeding season showed some form of
cutaneous disease. None of 13 marked females monitored through a total of
28 breeding seasons, plus three unmarked females with marked mates
monitored through three breeding seasons, showed alopecia, but one
showed leg trouble: thus, an average of 3% of females per breeding season
showed some form of cutaneous disease.
In Blackbirds Tardus merula, alopecia of unknown cause was found in 14
males and in five females (62: 316-331). In our ringed Dunnock population,
females have a higher annual survival than males (80% compared with
60%: Snow & Snow 1982, J. Yamashina Inst. Orn. 14: 281-292), and it seems
likely that the difference may be related to these cutaneous diseases. Six
marked males, now presumed dead, survived for an average of five months
(0-1 1 months) after the onset of cutaneous complaint. The expectation of
further life for an individual in a population with 40% annual mortality is
exactly two years.
48
Notes
The onset of head alopecia has been in March (one), May (one), June
(four) and July (one); in addition, a juvenile in mid June, about 14daysout
of the nest, had a bare lump between its beak and its eye. The time ol onset
of leg trouble has been much the same: two cases started in each of May and
June, and one male in his first breeding season started in July 1980 and
again in April of the following season. The history ofalopecia in three males
seems worth detailing:
(1) On 13th March, an unringed male (with a ringed mate) had spikey untidy leathers on its
forehead; by 17th April, this had developed into a bare white lesion or lump on the forehead,
which by 16th May was more extensive. This male was not seen again after 22nd May, when
its territory was taken over by another male.
(2) A ringed male was five years old when alopecia started. It had held a territory for the
previous three breeding seasons and throughout the autumn and winter, showing no signs of
feather loss. On 1 0th J une 1 980, it had bare areas around the eyes and on the forehead; by 1 5th
J uly, the latter area had extended back to include the eyes. T his had not changed by 29th J uly,
the last time the bird was seen until 24th September, when all the feathers had regrown. 4 he
Dunnock remained in its territory until 20th January 1981, after which it disappeared and was
presumed dead.
(3) Another ringed male did not become resident in the study area until the end of May 1978,
when already five years old. By 28th June, it had lost many feathers around its beak and
lorehead. When it was next seen in the same territory, in mid November 1978, its head feathers
had regrown, but it had thickened whitish rings around the eyes, most marked on the left one;
it also had a whitish area at the base of the upper mandible. It remained in this territory- until
24th January 1979, after which it disappeared and was presumed dead. During the 1978/79
winter, this Dunnock was heavily dependent on artificial food and became very tame and
unwilling to fly; possibly, its sight was becoming defective. This history closely resembles a
case observed by Mrs A. Carney (reported in Blackmore & Keymer), in which midsummer
alopecia of the head had gone by mid October, but was followed in November by a white horny
growth around the eye eventually causing blindness and death in January.
Barbara K. Snow
Old Forge, Wingrave, near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
Goldcrest imitating other species’ calls On 4th March 1972, at
Northaw, Hertfordshire, I found a solitary male Goldcrest Regulus regulus
singing in a scrubby hedge in marshland. Its singing, although incor-
porating odd snatches of normal Goldcrest song, was made up largely of
clearly identifiable calls of a range of species. The Goldcrest was first noted
because of its imitation of the ‘pee-pee-purr’ call of a Blue Tit Parus caeruleus,
but the ‘chink’ call of the Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs along with its variant
‘twit, chink-chink’ were freely interspersed. I watched the Goldcrest calling
at not more than 3 m, as it moved about the hedgerow; in the medley, it also
uttered, although less frequently, the buzzing ‘trrr, trrr’ of a Long-tailed Tit
Aegithalos caudatus, the ‘tweep’ of a Dunnock Prunella modularis and the sharp
‘tzip-zuu’ of a Marsh Tit Parus palustris. The whole medley was quite loud,
audible at 30m, and was continued until I left after about five minutes.
About half an hour later, the Goldcrest was relocated farther down the
hedgerow, still singing in the same fashion, this time accompanied by two
Long-tailed Tits apparently interested in the imitation of their call.
Trevor J. James
65 Back Street, AshwelL Hertfordshire
We know of no other instance of vocal mimicry by a Goldcrest. Eds
Notes
49
Spotted Flycatcher attacking grey squirrel jell Hunt’s note on a Spotted
1 lvcatc her .Muscicapa striata attacking a red squirrel Sciurus vulgaris (Brit.
Birds 75: 384-385) prompts the following. On 30th May 1982. in Middles-
brough, Cleveland, 1 saw a Spotted Flycatcher repeatedh (about 15 times)
attack a grey squirrel S. caro/inensis sitting in a tree. The flycatcher would
glide down at the squirrel, sometimes appearing to hit it, but always living
away safely. Xeil P. Dummigan
2() Sedgejield Road , Acklarn , Middlesbrough. Cleveland TSJH/P
Great Tit unhooking nut-bag On 28th December 1981, in Swansea. West
Glamorgan, a Great Fit Barns major came to a feeding station in my garden
where, among other things, plastic-net bags of ground nuts were suspended
from the edge ol the feeding table. In this case, the bag was almost empty so
that, without resistant pressure, the tit was unable to extract a nut. It then
Hew on to the table, leaned over the edge, unhooked the bag w ith its bill,
allowed the bag to fall to the ground, then followed it down; against an
unyielding surface, it was then able easily to extract a piece of nut. This act
was made very quickly after the initial unsuccessful attempt: perhaps
suggesting a very rapid recollection of success in some similar previous
circumstance. David G. P. Chatfield
3 Cyncoed Close , I) unvan t. Swansea SA2 7RS
Call of Great Grey Shrike During the w inter of 1983/84, at Priory Park,
Barkers Lane, Bedford, I noted down a repeated shrieking call of a Great
Grey Shrike Lanius excuhilor as ‘sheeek’, ‘shreek’, or \shree', usualK uttered
slowly and deliberately, eight to ten times, always from the middle or low er
branches of a large bush. Although this is the call from w hich the shrikes'
English vernacular name is derived, most identification guides do not even
mention it. David Kramer
7 Little Headlands . Putnoe. Bedford \IK4t HJT
Behaviour of Magpies feeding on backs of large mammals Dr F.
Coombs (1978, The Crows: a study of the corvids oj Europe) did not mention
Magpies Pica pica feeding on the backs of large mammals.
In April 1980, near Criccieth, Gwynedd, a Magpie was feeding among a
flock of sheep; after feeding for some time on the ground, it flew on to the
back of a sheep, where it appeared to take something among the wool; it
then pulled at the wool a number of times (for nest material?), before being
shaken off by the mammal. In October 1981, at Whipsnade Zoo. Bedford-
shire, about five Magpies were feeding on the backs of white rhinoceroses
Ceratotherum simum in a large enclosure; there was only one Magpie per
rhinoceros and, when a second tried to land on the back of an already-
occupied rhinoceros, it was chased off by the incumbent bird; again, the
Magpies appeared to be pecking at something on the animals’ backs, using
their long tails for balance when the mammals moved about.
These observations raise two interesting points. Do Magpies defend the
50
Notes
animals on whose back they are feeding against other birds? Is the
behaviour learnt and, if so, how widespread is it? One can often see
Magpies feeding in the same field as cattle or sheep, but making no attempt
to land on the animals’ backs; as in the case of tits Parus attacking milk
bottles (e.g. Perrins, 1979, British Tits), could this behaviour be spread from
areas where it has been learnt to other parts of Britain?
David Wilkinson
35 Meadow Lane, Worsley, Manchester M28 4PL
Derek Goodwin (1976, Crows oj the World, page 176) wrote: ‘Magpies sometimes damage
large domestic animals by eating or trying to eat the flesh from branding wounds, saddle sores
or other injuries caused by human cruelty or folly.’ He has commented that dried sweat (for its
salt content) and ectoparasites are also eaten. Although infrequently recorded, the behaviour
appears to be not unusual. Eds
Magpies apparently taking food from cattle I have twice watched
Magpies Pica pica perched on or near cattle, pecking at the animals’ hides
and apparently securing food. Dr F. Coombs ( 1978, The Crows : a study of the
corvids of Europe) made no mention of Magpies or any crows, other than
Jackdaws Corvus monedula, feeding in this way.
The first occasion was at Crockham Hill, Kent, on 16th October 1983,
when a Magpie was standing on the back and head of a calf that was lying in
a meadow, pecking at it, and evidently searching for invertebrates. The
Magpie then hopped to the ground near the animal’s head, whereupon the
calf twice lowered its head, and the Magpie reached up and appeared to
take something first from the calfs ear and then from close to its eye. A
second Magpie was feeding on the ground close to the calf.
The second occasion was similar, and concerned two Magpies feeding
beside and then on a bull, also lying in a meadow, at Birling Gap, Sussex, on
28th May 1984. After pecking at the animal’s back, first one Magpie and
then the other hopped onto its head and pecked repeatedly at one of its ears
and then from extremely close to its eyes. For most of the time, the bull was
asleep, with its eyes shut, and showed no reaction to the birds, though each
time that they pecked near its eyes the Magpies leapt up as if anticipating a
hostile reaction from the bull. On neither occasion could I be certain that
the birds were actually obtaining food, but their behaviour left me in no
doubt that this was what they were seeking. P. J . Oliver
1 Albany Court , Palmer Street, London SW1
Citril Finches and Crossbills eating minerals E. \Y. Flaxman’s letter
on communal mineral-eating by Siskins Carduelis spinus (Brit. Birds 76: 352)
interested me. In xMay 1983, in the Sierra Guadarrama, central Spain, 1
noticed similar behaviour by Citril Finches Serinus citrinella and Crossbills
Loxia cunnrostra. On a cold day with frequent heavy rain showers, a flock of
about 20 Citril Finches and four Crossbills repeatedly flew back and forth
from nearby conifers to the side of an old stone road bridge. The Crossbills
preferred a cavity hidden by the branches of a small pine Pirns , whereas the
finches clung to the stonework, pecking constantly at the surface and
crevices for loose mortar to extract minerals and grit. M . P. Frost
12 Venland Close, St Cleer, Liskeard , Cornwall
i^cUcutp-fiUc pears ago...
l am naturally very reluctant to diller w ith so great an authority as Professor Collett, but 1
should like to remind the Rev f . Jourdain and l)r \. f . 1 icehurst that apparently some doubt
existed in Professor Collett s mind in regard to the ellect of the abundance of the lemming on
the fecundity ol the Rough-legged Buzzard. Snowy ( )wl, etc., for he savs. "Now it is a fact that
many birds breed more abundantly when food is plentiful than under ordinary circumstances.
1 his, for instance, has been shown to be the case with several species of the Owls that pre\
principally on small rodents, which, in certain years, are exceptionally numerous, but whether
sut h increase in the procreative power is owing to the abundant supply of food, or is to be
traced rather to the cause (whatever it be) which renders the small rodents in that very year so
much more prolific than common, is still an open question” ( Robert Collett. "Ornithology of
Northern Norway”, p. 38).’ (Brit. Birds 3: 234, January 1910)
Letters
How many bird species in the world? In a recent book rev iew (Brit. Birds
IT. 280) mention is made of the ‘8,500-odd species’ of birds in the world. A
similar figure is quoted by the late Leslie Brown in his foreword to A
Complete Checklist oj the Birds oj the World by Richard Howard and Alick
Moore, which is reviewed on the same page. Yet Howard & Moore’s
checklist itself lists 9,003 species.
I realise that, with the debates between ‘splitters' and lumpers’, we can
never be exactly sure of the world total, but surely we can do better than
quoting it to the nearest 500? S. N. Adams
44 A l alone Heights , Belfast BT95PG
We asked Alick Moore to comment: ‘S. N. Adams nicely illustrates the problem of try ing to
apply a systematic approach to the highly dynamic subject ol avian taxonomy . Not only is it
kept dynamic by the production ol new facts, but it also depends upon the individual opinions
of the listers, and, further, on the opinions of the authorities these listers follow , revealing a
wide range of taxonomic views. For example, the Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus
has been classed over the last 50 years as one. or as many as four separate species, according to
the weight given to various field studies and proposals. Itall depends upon what one accepts as
a species.
‘Over the many years of listing species, the trend has been for the number to increase
dramatically up to about the year 1910. Linnaeus’s tenth edition in 1 758 included 533 species.
Latham in 1 790 listed 2,95 1 : Vieillot in 1823 raised this to 3,828; and Bonaparte in 183 1 got to
4,099. Numbers then increased rapidly, with Gray's Handlist in 1871 containing 11.162
species; Dubois in 1902 listed 12.509; and Sharpe in 1909 included 18.937. Since that time,
‘lumping’ has reduced numbers by about 50%. Nevertheless, w ith such a history it is hardly
surprising that now we are left with a total that varies so w idely . One could perhaps justify a
maximum today of 9. 400 species and a minimum of8,700: something around an 8% variance.'
Eds
Possible passage route of Fair Isle Yellow-browed Bunting I was
interested by the account of the Yellow-browed Bunting Emberiga chrysophrys
on Fair Isle, Shetland, in October 1980 and its possible passage route (Brit.
Birds 76: 217-225). Any assessment, however tentative, of the route of an
overland migrant is lull ol pitfalls, since one does not know how long the
bird has been on passage. In this case, a great-circle route, as suggested by
the authors of the account, is incompatible with one using the easterlies of
the Siberian anticyclone. Such a route from the breeding grounds to a
52
Letters
region favourable for a downwind passage on the northeasterlies (i.e.
somewhere in Norway) to Fair Isle would take a bird westwards across
Arctic Russia betw een latitudes 60°N and 70°N. During the week before the
bunting’s arrival on Fair Isle, northern Siberia was under the influence ol
westerlies associated with a succession of frontal depressions moving east-
wards to the north of the Siberian anticyclone. It is, therefore, most
probable that the vagrant’s route was indeed in the easterlies to the south of
this high-pressure system. Since these easterlies were w'eak before 9th
October, the bunting may have been on passive dispersal for some time
before reaching the Caspian Sea area; here it would have come under the
influence of strong southeasterlies over European Russia, thence into the
frontal zone that had been allecting the Baltic states and Finland for a week
or more, and thus into Scandinavia.
This trajectory, ‘subjectively’ calculated from the weather charts,
assumes only "short stop-overs, with an entirely downwind passage, and it is
likely that other Far-Eastern vagrants recorded at the same time followed
the same roundabout route. If this assumption is correct, it is intriguing to
contemplate why they should have continued their flight, rather than gone
to ground somewdtere in the Baltic frontal zone. Norman Elkins
10 Oakbank Place, Elgin, Morayshire IV302LZ
Ship-assisted passage Perhaps I am alone in wondering about the ‘logic’
behind the seemingly inconsistent ‘relegation’ of certain birds to Category
D. Yes, I’m thinking about those birds who take a break from beating the
air towards a place they never reckoned on going and put down on a ship.
I he Cork Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus (Brit. Birds 56: 163) and the
Suffolk Lark Sparrow' Chondestes grammacus (Bril. Birds 74: 403-404) are
examples of proved or highly probable assistance which have resulted in
this dubious distinction being applied to the birds involved. But what of the
numerous vagrants, predominantly Nearctic, which turn up, but are not
found guilty of having ‘hitched’ partial or more-or-less complete rides with
ships? It seems, at least to me, that there is often a better-than-average
chance that they may not have made the Atlantic crossing completely
unaided. And then there are those birds recorded ‘At Sea’: great for pelagic
species, but surely a passerine landing on an oil platform does so because it
needs a break and would not make it to terra Jirma alive? So, to be strictly fair,
should not many more birds be placed in Category D, or maybe even given
a category of their own? I reckon these little fellows who have the presence
of mind to rest on a ship are potentially the more successful pioneers in a
mass of vagrants which, let’s face it, are basically only the freaks and
failures of the bird world. Steve N. G. Howell
40 Cae Glas Road, Rumney, Cardiff CF38JU
The Northern Flicker was proved to have crossed the Atlantic on board ship, so falls within
the definition of category D (‘Species which have been recorded within the last 50 years and
would otherwise appear in Category A except that (1) there is a reasonable doubt that they
have ever occurred in a wild state, or (2) they have certainly arrived with ship-assistance, or
(3) they have only ever been found dead on the tideline; also species which would otherwise
appear in Category C except that their feral populations may or may not be self-supporting.
Letters
53
I he main object ol category I) is to collect together the records of species which arc not yet lull
additions, so that these are not overlooked if there are subsequent fully acceptable records.’).
I he latest (eleventh) report of the BOU Records Committee (Ibis 12b: 440-444) states for
the Suffolk Lark Sparrow: Identification was accepted and the escape risk is low: but the
record does not match the pattern found for other American Lmberizidae which have occurred
in Bi itain and 1 reland, so the species is placed in ( Category D. 1 his comment suggests that it is
merely the aberrant time and place ol the Lark Sparrow at Landguard Point, Suffolk, from
30th June tooth July 1981 which has caused relegation to ( laiegorv 1). Most \ care tic buntings
and sparrows that have occurred here have, however, also been in spring (bl%,or87% it the
1 3 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks Pheudicus ludovicianus , which have all been in autumn and winter,
arc excluded). Most have been in May with fewer in April, but 27% have occurred in June
(including two staying over after May arrival). Admittedly, the latest arrivals were two
\\ hite-throated Sparrows Zonotrichia albicollis on 1 7th ( in Cumbria in 19b.) and in Shetland in
1978). but another which arrived in early May stayed over four months (in Caithness in 1970).
So a late j une Nearctic sparrow is not unique. Neither is the locality exceptional, for there have
been other accepted Last Coast records of Nearctic sparrows (twice in Humberside, and in
South \ orkshire, Suffolk, and at sea oil Norfolk), as one might expect especially in the case of
species probably well capable of overwintering on this side of the Atlantic, and probably
appearing in Britain in seasons subsequent to that in which they crossed the Atlantic.
1 he vital point which influenced the BOf Records Committee, however, is that the Lark
Sparrow does not breed within 400 km ol the Atlantic coast, is not common within 800 km of it,
and is indeed very rare there even as a vagrant, though there are a few scattered records.
I nlike the North American sparrows and buntings which are on the British and Irish list, it
does not have a migration route which takes it over the Atlantic Ocean or across the Gulf of
Mexico. II it did, it would be more likely to occur as a genuine vagrant, or, alternatively, to
drop onto a ship and occur as a ship-assisted stray.
Thus, it is not the risk of assisted passage that has led to the Lark Sparrow entering ( iategorv
1) rather than Category A. Indeed, if there was such a risk, that would enhance the species’
claim to Category A status, lor it is only proved (as distinct from suspected) assisted passage
which is one of the disqualifications for inclusion in Category A. The essential point is that the
BOU Records Committee, after sifting all the available evidence, considered that — slight
though it was — an escape source was as likely as — or more likely than — wild occurrence
(either by an unassisted crossing of the Atlantic or by assisted passage on a ship). With a
reasonable doubt that the species has ever occurred here in a wild state. Lark Sparrow was
placed in the ‘pending file' of Category D. In the days before the BOU Records Committee
introduced Category D (in 1971), records of such species would have been summarilv
dismissed as ‘rejected'. M e approve the present flexible system. Lds.
Announcements
Special Thailand ‘package’ for ‘BB’ readers If you are planning a trip
to Thailand, some special arrangements have been made available for
British Birds readers by Thai Airways International.
Knowing that birdwatchers generally want (1) flexibility, and (2)
cheapness, the arrangements are not for a fixed period (stay as long as you
like) and accommodation has been arranged for six nights (in two centres),
so that you are free to make your own arrangements for the rest of your stay.
These nights can be at any time during your stay. For instance, if you plan
to stay for three weeks, your three days in a first-rate hotel could be
immediately when you arrive (as you are arranging car hire and so on), or
mid-way (when you feel like some luxury after returning from some
strenuous birdwatching), or at the end of your trip (when you may feel like a
bit of a holiday: shopping and ‘acting the tourist' in Bangkok). You will, of
54
Announcements
course, fly London/Bangkok/London by Thai Airways International (the
Royal Orchid Flight, generally considered the most relaxing of the longhaul
eastern flights — ‘smooth as silk’ is their motto). The second centre is
Chiang Mai: convenient for the renowned birding mountains, Doi
Inthanon, Doi Suthep and Doi Pui.
The package consists of:
( 1) Thai Airways International flight from London to Bangkok.
(2) Three nights’ accommodation with American breakfast (and optional city tour included)
at Erawan, Indra or Ambassador Hotels in Bangkok (to be taken at any time during your trip).
(3) Air ticket for internal flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.
(4) Three nights’ accommodation with American breakfast at Suriwongse Hotel in Chiang
Mai (to be taken at any time during your trip).
(5) Air ticket for internal flight from Chiang Mai to Bangkok.
(6) Thai Airways International flight from Bangkok to London.
The total cost of all six components is £665.00 (twin room, sharing) or
£720.00 (single room). This package is valid until 30th October 1985.
These arrangements have been made especially for birdwatchers. The
hotels are first class. The package represents superb value and is
thoroughly recommended by British Birds. We are delighted that Thai
Airways International has made these arrangements on our behalf and we
hope that many readers take up the offer. (The price includes no percentage
to British Birds, so our recommendation is completely unbiased!)
All bookings should be made with Thai Airways International, 41
Albemarle Street, London VV1X 3FE (telephone 01-491 7953) and, of course,
you must make it clear that you are a British Birds reader.
Have a good trip!
Extra baggage allowance on Thai Airways International Bird-
watchers tend to want to take a lot of equipment on foreign trips: tents,
tripods, photographic gear, wellingtons and other boots, reference books,
and so on. We have, therefore, negotiated with Thai Airways International
for British Birds subscribers to take an extra 5 kg of luggage completely free
on any Thai International flights, provided that the flight is booked through
their London Office at 41 Albemarle Street, W1X 3FE. This concession
remains valid until 31st October 1986. Subscribers should take or send a
copy of this announcement when making their booking, so that the tickets
can be marked to show the extra weight allowance.
‘Mystery Photographs Book’ Despite the fact that the 2
prize of £1,000 and a pair of Zeiss West binoculars has been
won (Brit. Birds 77: 572), we have had so many requests for
copies of this book that it is now again for sale. Apparently
the complexities of the solution to its secret have intrigued
even those who did not themselves try to solve the mystery.
Although it originally cost £4.80, it is now for sale through
British BirdShop (see page xv) for £1.50. 1 he price includes a copy of the
full explanation of the puzzle and the identities of all 43 species (cf. Brit.
Birds 77: 608-612).
Announcements
DD
Custom-printed, personal ‘British Birds’ indexes 1946-83 The
cumulative index ofall papers, notes, letters and photographs appearing in
British Birds since 1946, which was announced in the January 1983 issue,
has been revised to include 1983, and this up-to-date version is now
available to subscribers. The index is held on a micro-computer and,
because of the flexibility which this oilers, it is possible to prov ide indexes
relating to individual species or groups of species as well as for a wide range
of different subjects. The latter consist of: identification, habitat,
distribution and status, mortality, migration, food and feeding, behaviour,
voice, breeding biology, physiology, classification, and photographs. Thus,
listings can be produced of, for example, all behaviour notes, or ofall entries
on seabirds, or on the distribution and migration of the Kestrel, or any
other combination of species and subjects, and for any or all years from
1946 to 1983.
The index has been compiled from the comprehensive indexes published
with each volume. It has been restricted to birds (i.e. not authors' names,
book reviews, etc.), and nor does it include entries from regularly recurring
features, such as the annual reports on rarities, ringing, and rare breeding
birds, nor ‘European news' or ‘Recent reports', as these can be located
The “British Birds’’ List of Birds of the Western Palearctic’
I bis completely revised,
authoritative list of West
Palearctic birds is now
available for sale through
British BirdShop. It is in
a new BB- style format,
with 15 columns for use
during field trips and so
on. The standard price is
£1.85, but anyone using
the British BirdShop
order form to purchase
another book (or bird-
sound recordings) at the
same time can obtain a
copy of this list for the
reduced price of £ 1 .00.
British Birds
56
Announcements
readily in each volume. It does, however, include all photographs from
these features. It also includes all entries for species mentioned in, for
example, papers on the birds of a particular area. \\ here an entry relates to
more than one of the subjects given above (e.g. on the identification of a
species illustrated with photographs), it will appear in an index of
identification entries, as well as in one of all photographs, though only the
once if both subjects are combined.
It is necessary to make a small charge for the indexes to cover such costs
as paper, computer entry, and operation. Indexes will be provided on
fan-fold computer paper with approximately 45 entries per page, and be
charged at the rate of 3p per page, plus postage. It is estimated that the
entire cumulative index since 1946 runs to some 1 9,000 entries, so taking up
about 450 pages.
Subscribers who would like an index (or indexes) are invited to write,
setting out their requirements. These should include the run of years
required, the species or groups of species, and the subjects. Please do not
send any money with your order: you will be invoiced. If wanted, an
indication of the size of the index asked for can be supplied before it is
printed. Orders or enquiries should be sent not to the editorial office, but to
Dr Malcolm Ogilvie, Wildfowl Trust, Slimbridge, Gloucester GL2 7BT.
Front cover designs for sale The original unframed drawings of the
pictures on the front cover of BB are for sale each month in a postal auction.
The pictures are usually IV2 or two times the published size. These sales
help not only the artists, but also BB , since the artists donate 20% to the
journal. It is also a way for BB readers to acquire — for themselves or as a
present for a friend — top-class bird art at very reasonable prices. During
the past year, successful postal bids have ranged from £12 to £87; the
average has been £37. Why not send in your bid each month? If you are
successful (if your bid is the highest, and it exceeds the artist’s reserve
price), you will be asked to pay the sum you bid, plus £1 .50 for postage and
packing. Send your name, address and telephone number and your bid (no
money at this stage), to arrive before the last day of the month, to Cover
Bid, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ.
Bird Photograph of the Year This annual com-
petition will again be run by British Birds and spon-
sored by Matthew Gloag & Son Ltd, proprietors of
‘ The Famous Grouse’ whisky. The rules are as
follows:
Up to three colour transparencies, each taken during 1984, may be
submitted by each photographer. T hey will be judged not only on
technical excellence, but also on originality and scientific interest,
and aesthetic appeal and artistic composition. Preference will be
given to photographs taken in Britain and Ireland, but those of
species on the British and Irish list taken elsewhere arc also eligible. Photographs must not
have been submitted for publication elsewhere (though, of course, the copyright remains with
the photographer and use subsequent to publication in British Birds is unrestricted). The
photographs by winner and runners-up may be used at the discretion of the judges in
promoting British Birds or the competition. A brief account (not more than 200 words) should
Sponsored by
Announcements
57
be enclosed vviih each, giving the circumstances in which obtained, the method used, technical
details (local length of lens and make ol camera and film), locality, date and photographer’s
name and address. 1 ransparencies will be returned only ii accompanied bv a suitable SAE.
Entries are accepted only on the above conditions.
I he judging panel will consist of Dr R. J. Chandler, Eric Hosking, Dr
J. T. R. Sharrock and Don Smith.
Past winners of this competition have been Michael C. W ilkes (1977),
Peter Lowes (1978), Dr Edmund C. Fellowes (1979), Don Smith (1980),
Richard T. Mills (1981), Dennis Coutts (1982), David M. Cottridge (1983)
and John Lawton Roberts (1984). The 1985 award (cheque for £100 and
engraved Red Grouse trophy) will be presented to the winning photo-
grapher at a Press Reception in London. The runners-up will be welcome to
attend the award presentation.
The closing date for entries is 31st January 1985. Transparencies should
be clearly marked ’Bird Photograph of the Year' and sent to the editorial
office at Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ.
Best recent black-and-white bird-photographs The closing date for
submission of prints for the twenty-sixth annual selection is 31st January
1985. Photographers may submit as many black-and-white prints as they
wish.
The following details should be written on the back of each print: photographer's name and
address, species, county (or country, if taken abroad), month, year, and technical details, such
as make and size of camera, make and focal length of lens, type of film material, exposure and
approximate distance from the subject. Prints will be retained in the editorial office as part of
the reference collection and for possible use in the journal unless a request for return is noted on
the back of each print and a suitable stamped and addressed envelope is supplied.
Entries should be addressed to 'Best recent work', Fountains, Park Lane,
Blunham, Bedford MK.44 3NJ.
Bird Illustrator of the Year Amateur and
professional artists are invited to submit four
line-drawings suitable for reproduction in
British Birds (pen-and-ink or scraperboard. but
not pencil or wash). The subjects should be
birds recorded in the W est Palearctic (Europe,
North Africa and the Middle East). Exact size is
important: drawings should be the following
sizes (width X depth in cm) (a) 18.6 X 20.8, (b) 16.35 X 6.9 and (c) 7.95 x
6.0, for publication at two-thirds of those dimensions (the largest drawings
(a) may, if preferred, be submitted at 24.8 X 27.7, for publication at
half-size). Each set of four drawings must include at least one each of a, b
and c. Entries will be judged as sets. Drawings based on published photo-
graphs or drawings are ineligible. The announcements of the previous
winners {Brit. Birds 1'2‘. 403-409; 73: 380-384; 74: 275-278; 75: 304-308; 76:
288-291; 77: 283-288) included suggestions intended to help future
entrants. Entries need not be mounted, but should have a generous
‘handling margin' around each drawing.
58 Announcements
The judging panel will consist of Robert Gillmor, Keith Shackleton and
DrJ. T. R. Sharrock.
The winner will receive £75 and an inscribed salver, and the two runners-
up will receive £40 and £25. All three artists will also be invited to attend the
award presentation at a Press Reception at The Mall Galleries in London,
where a selection of the drawings will be on display. Artists whose work is
displayed will also be welcome to attend the reception, which in previous
years has provided a very happy occasion for meeting many of our top bird
artists. The winners’ entries will also be displayed in the annual exhibition
of the Society of Wildlife Artists at The Mall Galleries. Previous winners
have been Crispin Fisher (1979), Norman Arlott (1980 and 1981), Alan
Harris (1982), Martin Woodcock (1983) and Bruce Pearson (1984).
Entries w ill remain the copyright of the artists, but are accepted on the
understanding that they may be reproduced free in, or on the cover of, or for
the promotion of British Birds. If accompanied by a suitable stamped
addressed envelope, all drawings will be returned to the artists, but any
selected for possible use by British Birds may be retained for up to 12 months
after the award presentation. Each drawing must be marked clearly on the
back with the artist’s name and address (and date of birth if aged under 2 1 ,
see ‘The Richard Richardson Award’, below), the identity of the species,
and any other relevant information about the illustration.
Ihe closing date will be 14th March 1985; the set of four drawings should
be sent to ‘Bird Illustrator of the Year’, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham,
Bedford mk44 3nj.
The Richard Richardson Award To encourage young, up-and-coming
bird artists, a special award (a cheque and a book to the total value of £60)
will be presented for the best work submitted for the ‘Bird Illustrator of the
Year' competition (see above) by an artist aged under 21 years on 14th
March 1 984. I he winner’s entries will be displayed in the annual exhibition
of the Society of Wildlife Artists at The Mall Galleries. This aw^ard is in
memory of the famous Norfolk ornithologist and bird-artist, the late R. A.
Richardson. The rules for entry are exactly the same as for ‘Bird Illustrator
of the Year' and entries by persons under 21 will automatically be con-
sidered for both awards.
‘BB’ badges Badge-toting birders can now
obtain a free ‘BB’ badge merely by sending a
SAE to Free badge offer, c/o P. J. Grant, 14
Heathfield Road, Ashford, Kent TN24 8QD.
Collins Publishers wish to announce that their oiler (Brit. Birds 76: 588)
will expire on 31st January 1985.
Requests
Please use ‘British BirdShop’ Subscribers’ support of our special book oilers and the
Peterson Sound Guide oiler has significantly increased the journal’s income and enabled us to
have extra pages of papers and notes. We hope that we have also provided a useful service to
our readers.
Please support BB by looking down the "British BirdShop’ list each month and using this
service whenever we oiler an item that you want. By doing so, you will be helping us to provide
a bigger British Birds.
News and comment
Robin Prytherch and Mike Everett
Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of ‘British Birds’
Hayle Estuary developments Birders who
have enjoyed watching many species on the
Hayle Estuary in Cornwall (including quite a
lew rarities over the years) will be concerned
to hear of damaging activities affecting the
site, l he owners, l ekoa (Hayle) Ltd, have
produced grandiose plans for development ol
the Port of Hayle, many of which are detri-
mental to the bird interest. 1 hese include
proposals for moorings for "240 craft, build-
ings and roads, all within the Site ol Special
Scientific Interest. Penwith District Council
has already given retrospective planning
permission for the tipping of rubble in
Carnsew Pool, despite opposition from the
\CC. Initially described as lor the ducting of
power lines, this infilling now provides a firm
base lor a road to the important high-tide
roosting area.
The RSPB has called for a full public
inquire into the proposals, but to date these
requests have been denied. Those who value
the site should make their views known b\
letter to the Penwith District Council, St
Clare, Penzance, Cornwall TRlH tQW, and the
Department of Environment, Tollgate
House, Houlton .Street. Bristol BS2 9»J.
( Contributed by John 1 1 aldon)
Oil and Scotland Habitat Scotland's latest
report, ‘ l he Environmental Impact of North
Sea Oil-related Developments on Scotland',
has been written by J. Graeme Robertson,
l he purpose of the report is to detail how
North Sea oil has environmentally affected or
changed Scotland, and to offer some con-
structive suggestions for reducing pollution
risk. It is not, the author says in his
introduction, ‘to show that poor harmless
Scotland is threatened by a vast conspiracy
called the oil industry’. Three chapters deal
with Shetland — the biggest and most impor-
tant oil development in Scotland. l he next
chapter deals with the rest of Scotland, and is
followed by one on the causes and sources ol
oil pollution. In the final chapter. J. Graeme
Robertson discusses what can and must be
done to help prevent marine oil pollution,
adding, in a postscript which comments
upon the Government’s response to the
Royal Commission on the Environment's
Eighth Report, five major courses of action
which Report Scotland recommends.
It appears to be a thorough report; it is
certainlv readable. Specialists will no doubt
have their own views on the contents, but any
reader with an interest in the sea and its birds
will want to see this report. Copies are
available. £7.50 (inch p&p), from Habitat
Scotland. Blaven Park, Portree, Isle of Skye.
‘WingTips’ W e have just received the first
issue of this new journal and. to quote its
editor. Helen S. Eapham. ‘ WingTips is for
people interested in birds and who want to
learn more about identification. It is an
information source for what is happening in
ornithology today.’ She goes on to say that.
59
60
News and comment
with the recent increase in professionally
trained students and the technical nature of
publications, amateur participation has
become more difficult: comments which refer
to the USA. where the journal is published.
H’ingTips hopes to have a number of regular
features. One of these will summarise
specific, current work on a single subject,
citing recent papers, discussing discoveries,
and comparing theories. The first such
subject will be 'Helpers at the Nest',
appearing in the second issue.
Other features will be short behaviour
observations; notes on finding organisa-
tions— international to specialist; notes and
news; meeting dates; information requests
and letters. 1 1 ingTips is to be published
quarter!} at $10.00 plus postage fiv the
editor. Helen S. l.apham. Box 220. Lansing,
W 1 f882, l SA. II you would like a sample
copy send them your name and address
before February 1983.
Speyside birding Any birdwatcher looking
lor extra experience or guidance to the birds
of Speyside may be interested in two bird-
watching activity weeks to be held in the
spring of 1985 in that beautiful part of Scot-
land. The courses have the help of local
RSFB wardens, but are organised by the
Boat ol Garten I ourist Association, a volun-
tary body. If you are interested, write to them
at Loeheil, Boat ol Garten, Inverness-shire
PHlM :iB \ .
Congratulations On Friday 26th October
1984. the Monks Wood Experimental
Station celebrated its 21st anniversary with
an Open Day. I he station was also open to
the public on the following four davs, with
current research projects on display .
New USSR handbook The first volume of
the new Handbook of the Birds oj the Soviet Union
by V. 1). llychev and V. E. Flint is being
translated into German (by, amongst others,
Dieter W’allsch lager) and will shortly be
published by A. Zicmsen, W ittenberg 4600,
DDR. {Contributed by JeJfery Boswall)
Birds of Hortobagy, Hungary Birders
visiting Hungary will want to know of a
recent paper in English listing the birds of the
Hortobagy National Park. By L. Horvath
and E. \ . Szabo, it lists 215 species
(including 106 breeders) and is on pp. 391-
107 of The hauna oj the Hortobagy National Park,
1981, edited by S. Mahunka and published in
Budapest by Akademiai Kiado. {Contributed
by Jeffery Boswall)
‘Breeding Birds in Greater Manchester’
This attractively produced book gives the
results of a breeding bird survey conducted
from 1979 to 1983, and describes how 114
species compete — on the whole success-
fully— with 2.6 million humans. Based on the
now-familar breeding atlas format, it
includes, among many interesting features,
estimates for Mancunian populations ol
individual species. This is the first
publication to treat Greater Manchester in
such detail and dispels any preconceived
ideas of this area lacking in ornithological
interest. Gopies can be obtained, price £5.95,
from Trevor Sutton, 86 Brookdale, Healey ,
Rochdale OL12 0NY. {Contributed by Barry
Nightingale)
‘Birds of the Hants/Surrey Border’ A
summary of the birds of a collection of ‘local
patches’ is a departure from the usual county
guide and this book covers a fairly arbitrary
area 39 km X 29 km straddling four county
boundaries. Full of interesting detail and
punctuated by some excellent drawings, the
systematic list includes a surprising number
of rarities for an inland area. Essential
reading for anyone visiting, living in or
moving to the area. Gopies can be obtained,
price £7.95 (plus 65p p&p), from Hobby
Books, 14 Dunmow Hill, Fleet. Hampshire
( . 1/ 1 :i 9AN. {Contributed by Barry Nightingale)
Spotted in Peterborough
[This cartoon by Tony Holland first appeared in
the London Day by Day ’ column by Peterborough
in The Daily Telegraph of 23rd October 1984. and is
reproduced by permission.)
ft
Recent
reports
These are largely unchecked reports, not authenticated records
The dates in the report refer to October
unless otherwise stated.
Weather and movements
The unsettled westerly weather of September
continued throughout October, with
temperatures remaining near to the average.
The Continental high-pressure systems
stayed far to the east, allowing the Atlantic
depressions to travel across Britain and
Ireland, usually on a track to the north. Early
in the month, one travelled across northern
France on 4th, 5th and 6th, with the easterly
winds on its northern flank bringing the only
substantial fall of migrants to the British east
coast. On 6th, there were 5,000 Redwings
Turdus iliacus at Eandguard (Suffolk) and
1,130 at Sandwich Bay (Kent). Eight Ring
Ouzels T. lorquatus were also at Eandguard,
and two at Minsmere (Suffolk); Firecrests
Regulus ignicapillus were reported in small
numbers at all these locations. On 7th.
Siberian Stonechats Saxicola torquata maural
stejnegeri were identified at Landguard,
Minsmere and Blakeney (Norfolk), and
further records came from Jersey (Channel
Isles) on 17th and the Isles ofScilly on 13th
(plate 32). Another wave of Red-breasted
Flycatchers Ficedula parva also arrived, with
20 found along the East Coast from 4th to
7 th; others included one at Blackpool
(Lancashire) from 2nd to 4th, one at Point ol
Air (Clwvd), three in Ireland, and over seven
in Scillv by 13th. The most impressive
movement reported was of House Martins
Delichon urbica at Sandwich Bay, where
85,000 were estimated passing northwards
on 7th. Yellow-browed Warblers Phyllo-
scopus inomatus continued to be reported after
the September influx, with six in Ireland, a
further five in Orkney, one in Blackpool on
16th and 17th, two in Merseyside, at Crosby
and Meols, one inland at Alresford (Hamp-
shire) on 9th. and an estimated nine in Scillv
on 20th.
Rarer passerines
The variety of species seen was as usual
impressive, but not the numbers, as the
opportunities provided by the weather for
vagrants to drop by was limited.
There were a few Barred Warblers Sylcia
nisoria (plate 30). Phylloscopus warblers
reported included a Greenish Warbler P.
trochiloides on Cape Clear Island (Co. Cork)
from 6th to 9th. Arctic Warblers P. borealis
at Nanquidno (Cornwall) on 2nd and in
Scillv on 13th, a Radde's Warbler P.
schwarzi in Kent, three Dusky Warblers P.
Juscatns in Scilly, and, arriving late in the
month, Pallas’s Warblers P. proregulus at
Landguard and Hartlepool (Tees-side). The
commoner Hippolais warblers. Melodious H.
polyglotta and Icterine H. iclenna, were quite
scarce, but an Olivaceous Warbler H.
pallida in Scilly from 14th to 23rd (plate 29)
and Booted Warblers H. caligata at Land-
guard on 1st and 2nd and at Foreness ( Kent)
on 7th and 8th (plate 22) provided adequate
22. Booted Warbler Hippolais caligata. Kent.
October 1 984 ( Tony Croucher )
compensation. A Paddvfield Warbler
Acrocephalus agricola was found at Hartlepool
on 27th, in the very same bush frequented by
Britain's third, recorded in 1969. A Red-
throated Pipit Anthus cervinus was present in
Scilly from 18th to 21st, with at least three
Tawny Pipits .4. campestris also there (plate
28), and another on Jersey on 13th.
Richard’s Pipits A. novaeseelandiae were
scarce, but three at Porthgwarra (Cornwall)
61
62
on 1 3th were notable. One or two Short-toed
Larks Calandrella brachydactyla were present
in Scilly from 13th, but perhaps more
unusual there was a Woodlark Lullula
arborea. Among the late-staying hirundines
were Red-rumped Swallows Hirundo daurica
at Sandwich Bay on 10th and in Scilly from
13th to 15th (plates 25 & 26). Vagrant
buntings were more prominent than usual:
Little Buntings Emberiza pusilla were found
at W ells (Norfolk) on 5th, on Jersey on 20th,
and there were four in the southwest; Rustic
Buntings E. rustica appeared at Shellness
(Kent) in early October and in Scilly, with
three between 12th and 15th; a Yellow-
breasted Bunting E. aureola was seen at
Margate ( Kent) on 7th; and a Black-headed
Bunting E. melanocephala at Cley (Norfolk)
on 25th and 26th. Arctic Redpolls Carduelis
homemanni provided the excitement on Fair
Isle, with seven on 20th and ten the next day;
there were two others on Whalsay (Shetland)
and another in Orkney. Four Scarlet Rose-
finches Carpodacus erythrinus were present in
Scilly. and also a Serin Serinus serinus on 1 3th
and an Ortolan Bunting Emberiza horlulana
on 14th. A remarkable collection of thrush
records occurred there, with Grey-cheeked
Thrush Catharus minimus and Swainson’s
Thrush C. uslulalus (plate 27) from the west.
Rock Thrush Monticola saxalilis from the
south, and Eye-browed Thrush Turdus
obscurus on 20th from the east (or far west?).
Another report of the latter species from
Haslemere (Surrey) on 12th might be of a
first-year American Robin T. migratorius.
Further Nearctic vagrants included two
more Blackpoll Warblers Dendroica striata in
Scilly (plates 23 & 24), others on Lundy
(Devon) and on Cape Clear Island on 6th,
and a Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus at
Dungeness (Kent) in early October.
Waders
Eastern rarities were few, but included a
Sociable Plover Chettusia gregaria at Neath
(West Glamorgan) on 20th and 21st, a
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata
in southwest Ireland, and a Temminck’s
Stint C. temminckii at Killough (Co. Down)
on 13th (plate 31). A Black-winged Stilt
Himanlopus himantopus was a surprise record
from Ythan (Grampian) on 14th.
Further additions to the autumn’s
Nearctic species list included a late Upland
Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda in Scilly and
a Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria also
thereon 1 0th to 14th (plate 33), with another
at 1 ring Reservoirs (Hertfordshire) from
Recent reports
5th. There were five more reports ol Long-
billed Dowitchers Limnodromus scolopaceus ,
three in Ireland, and at Frampton (Glou-
cestershire) and Kirkwall (Orkney) on 26th
and 27th; three more Wilson’s Phalaropes
Phalaropus tricolor , at Grafham Water
(Cambridgeshire) from 7th to 9th, West
Huntspill (Somerset) on 16th and 17th, and
at Sidlesham (West Sussex) on 12th; a
further Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa Jlacipes, at
Durleigh Reservoir (Somerset); a Buff-
breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subrupcollis at
Lough Foyle (Co. Derry) on 4th and 5th; two
Lesser Golden Plovers Pluvialis dorninica , at
Sennen (Cornwall) and at Cheddar (Somer-
set); a Baird’s Sandpiper Calidris bairdii in
Co. Kerry; Semipalmated Sandpipers C.
pusilla in Scilly, and at Tacumshin (Co.
Wexlord) on 18th; and a White-rumped
Sandpiper C. fuscicollis at Walberswick
(Suffolk) on 6th.
Waterbirds
Seabird reports were few this month, but
included a White-billed Diver Gavia adamsii
at Birsay (Orkney) on 1st. Little Auks Alle
alle off Landguard on 28th, at Holm
(Orkney) on 23rd and at Newcastle (Co.
Down) on 21st, and Long-tailed Skuas
Stercorarius longicaudus at Birsay on 1 1th and
Brandon Point (Co. Kerry) on 20th. A sub-
adult Pomarine Skua S. pomarina, complete
with tail streamers, stayed inland at Eye-
brook Reservoir (Leicestershire) from 21st, a
rare opportunity to watch this species at
length. Single Sabine’s Gulls Larus sabini
were seen at Holme (Norfolk) on 5th and at
Aber Dysynni (Gwynedd) on 18th, and a
Franklin’s Gull L. pipixean reported from
Dungeness on 17th was preceded by a record
of one, possibly two, observed at sea 20
nautical miles (37 km) southwest of
Plymouth (Devon) on 3rd. A Royal Tern
Sterna maxima was claimed at Flamborough
(Humberside) in early October, a Gull-
hilled Tern Gelochelidon nilotica was seen at
Recent reports
63
Tacumshin on loth, a Forster’s Tern .S'.
forsteri was seen at Penmon, Anglesey
(Gwynedd) on l()th, and a record ol White-
winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucoplerus
came from ( Winchester (West Sussex) on 6th.
An interesting movement of Barnacle
Geese Branta leucopsis occurred oil the
Grampian coast, where 600 were seen mov-
ing south on 13th. The northerly winds
present olf the Norwegian coast the prev ious
two clays changed to southwesterlies as a
weather front crossed Scotland and the
North Sea. Reports of Nearctic ducks came
from Ireland, with an American Wigeon
Anas americana at Lough Beg (Co. Derry) on
13th and a Blue-winged Teal T. discors from
Co. Kerry, and from the West Country. Surf
Scoters Melanitta perspicillata being seen in
South Wales and in Stilly on 2nd. Elusive
crakes included a Spotted Crake Porgana
23 8c 24. Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica striata.
St illy, October 1984 (,V. C. Hutchings)
porgana at Newton Pool (Tyne & Wear), and
two in St illy on 9th, where three Corncrakes
Crex crex were also noted during the month.
Birds of prey
A late Honey Buzzard therms apivorus was
seen at Wells (Norfolk) on 8th. after the
easterlies, which may also have been re-
sponsible tor Rough-legged Buzzards Buteo
lagopus appearing in St illy, also on 8th. and in
Co. Down, on 13th and 14th. Also on 8th. an
Eleonora’s Falcon h'alco eleonorae was a
surprise visitor to \ than. For the third year
running, a Gyrfalcon /•'. rusticolus was seen at
Lough Foyle, reported present on 6th and
7th.'
64
Recent reports
29. Olivaceous W arbler Hippolais pallida, St illy . October 1984 (John Hewitt )
30. Barred W arbler Sylvia nisoria , Scillv, October 1984 (.S'. C. Hutchings)
31. Temminek’s Stint Calidris temminckii. Co. Down. October 1984 (Brian Madden)
Recent reports
66
Recent reports
32. Stonechat Saxicola torquata of one ol Siberian races maura or stejnegeri, Scilly, October 1984
(Andrew V. Moon)
33. Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria, Scilly, October 1984 (S. C. Hutchings)
67
Recent reports
Latest news
The weather in the first half of December
was very mild, and ornithologically the
month was quiet. A White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis was in Belfast until
at least 8th; the Pied-billed Grebe Podilym-
bus podiceps was still at Ogwen Pool,
Bangor (Gwynedd), but being very elusive;
the American Wigeon was again at Ringstead
(Northamptonshire); and a late-staying
Yellow-browed Warbler was still present in
Humberside.
Reviews
Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan. Compact edition. By
Salim Ali and S. Dillon Ripley. Oxford University Press, New Delhi &
Oxford, 1983. 737 pages + 113 colour plates; numerous maps and line-
drawings. £75.00.
Over since the publication of the first of the ten volumes of the Handbook of the Birds of India and
Pakistan , in 1968, this has been the much-praised standard work on the birds of the subconti-
nent. T he last of the ten volumes was published in 1974, only six years after the first. This
review need not repeat the detailed critical analyses given by Sir Hugh Elliott and Stanley
Cramp in their reviews of the individual volumes as they were published (Brit. Birds 62:
544-546; 66: 1 70- 171; 69: 223). These ten volumes have been used so much over the past ten
years or so that it is unnecessary to do other than remind readers of the excellent layout,
generally good cross-referencing and usefulness of these volumes. The main problem for the
ornithologist visiting these areas of the world has been the impracticability of carry ing ten
large volumes on air flights and, especially, on field trips. That problem is now solved. This
new single volume combines the text of all of the previous ten at quarter size, and the plates of
all of the previous ten at full size. So, instead of carrying ten huge volumes, one can now carry
just one (it weighs just over 2xh kg). Anyone interested in the birds of this area, or who is likely
to visit India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal. Bhutan or Sri Lanka, will have good reason to
thank the Bombay Natural History Society and Oxford University Press for coming up with
this easy-to-handle compact edition. J. T. R. Sharrock
The Birds of the Malay Peninsula, Singapore and Penang. By A. G.
f Glenister. Oxford University Press, Kuala Lumpur & Oxford, 1983. xiv +
291 pages; 8 colour plates; 8 black-and-white plates; many line-drawings.
Paperback £10.95.
This is an unmodified reprint of the first paperback edition ( 1971 ) of a book which originally
appeared in 1951. The book has an unusual plan: following brief introductory chapters, the
main body of the text is divided into two parts. Part 1 briefly summarises key plumage features,
while Part II gives a fuller species description, together with habitat and status information.
Totals of 64 species are illustrated in colour and 86 in monochrome plates, photographs or
line-drawings. The text describes all species of birds known to have occurred in the Malay
Peninsula up to 1971. Those from southern Thailand, considered a part of the Malaysian
faunal subregion, are covered in a short addendum.
The text places much emphasis on identification by colour. Plumage descriptions and
bare-part colours are needlessly duplicated in the curious two-part arrangement of the text,
while far too little emphasis is given to birds' shapes and habits. This is, perhaps,
understandable as, when this book first appeared, the field-guide format had yet to become
standard outside the USA. The author was, for his time, highly successful in producing an
attractive, informative and compact book, but it is a format which is sadly inadequate for
today. Some introductory sections (‘Malayan Birds as a Hobby’; ‘Bird Life of Towns and
Gardens’; ‘ The Bird Life of the Hill Stations’; and ‘For the Sportsman') reveal the book's
68
Reviews
original intended appeal to the colonial administrators of the day. Today’s birdwatcher is
more likely to be found stalking resolutely along trails in search of pheasants, pittas, babblers
and various other ‘arch-skulkers’ of the deep forest, especially lowland rain forest. Although
such species are described in the text, they are under-represented in the illustrations, and only
two of Malaysia’s 50 species of babbler are illustrated in colour (and another three depicted in
line-drawings).
Some positive attributes of the book include a compact table giving easily recognisable
pnemonics for the calls of some commoner birds. Appendix B lists all bird species known to
occur in Sumatra, Java and Borneo. There is a photograph of a caged male Crested Argus
Pheasant Rheinartia ocellata , a species which may no longer be held in captivity, and which only
a handful of ornithologists have ever seen in the wild. Although this book does have colour
illustrations of two species not depicted in King, Woodcock & Dickinson (1975, Field Guide to
the Birds of South-East Asia) , most other species are illustrated and described far more accurately
in the latter.
It is unfortunate that no effort has been made to update this edition. Appendix D, added in
1971, gives the English and scientific names then used by the Malayan Nature Society and is
included in this reprint even though some of them are no longer in current usage (the MNS and
most other birdwatchers now follow the names of King et al.). Thus, the Dusky Thrush in the
main body of the text becomes Grey-headed Thrush in the appendix, but the species actually
referred to is Eye-browed Thrush Turdus obscurus. Status information for many species is no
longer current, sadly because so much lowland forest has fallen to the axe in the intervening
years. Gurney’s Pitta Pitta gumeyi, for example, is listed as ‘. . . fairly common locally in the
lowlands of peninsular Thailand' even though it has apparently not been seen in the wild by
any living ornithologist and is now listed in the IGBP Bird Red Data Book.
Of course, there are limits to the number of footnotes and appendices that can be added to a
book before it loses any semblance of the original. Nonetheless, if any book deserved extensive
revision before release, then this surely is it. Possibly the publishers were hoping to reap
maximum profit from sales to an expanding or undiscerning bird book-buying public in return
for minimum outlay. Although a few Asian bird enthusiasts may purchase this book for
historical interest, or for the sake of the completeness of their libraries, it will have limited
utility given the availability of the King et al. field guide. Peninsular Malaysia, however, is
poorly served even by this work, as many of the Sunda endemics which occur there are not
illustrated. It is surely time that a fully illustrated field guide to Malaysian birds came into
being.
The review copy supplied had a block of 16 pages missing. P. D . Round
The Birds of the Wetlands. By James Hancock. Groom Helm, London,
1984. 152 pages; 1 13 colour plates. £13.95.
This book covers nine major wetland areas of the world, describing their histories, habitats,
birds and conservation problems. The brief accounts, which provide a stimulating intro-
duction to each place, and the useful hints on travel gave me a severe attack of itchy feet. It is
sad that most of these sites are threatened by drought, development, pollution, or clogging
vegetation. The largely inaccessible reedbeds of the Zhalong Reserve in China are hopefully
free from such problems, and the Shinhama Reserve in Japan has apparently been saved in the
nick of time. I he 19 pages devoted to area checklists of birds could perhaps have been more
usefully filled; the one for Bharatpur seems to have been copied uncritically from the published
list available previously (but apparently not currently) at the sanctuary itself. The author
admits that his nomenclature has not been standardised, but the listing of the Darter Anhinga
melanogaster under five different English names (and a curious mix of scientific names) serves
only to confuse.
The most striking feature of the book, which alone makes it worth buying, is the colour
photographs. It is not surprising, given the author’s interests, that nearly half of the 102 bird
photographs are of herons. Even so, the inclusion of 19 depicting white egrets is surely an
excess of these, albeit attractive, birds.
The photographs are generally of a high standard, and so it is a pity that some, including a
mislabelled Green Sandpiper, are marred by being ‘bent’ across two pages. A few are rather
out of focus and could have been replaced by more shots of the habitat. Tim I nskipp
British BirdShop
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/I held Guide to the Birds oj the LSSR flint, Boehme, Kostin & Kuznetsov' (Princeton U.P.i £49.
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The British Birds ' Mystery Photographs Book + The Solution £ 1
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Bird and mammal recordings
Discs and cassettes are still available at March 1983 prices.
Please use the form on page xvi and this form (both are needed).
PRICES VALID DURING JANUARY 1985
Make all cheques and POs payable to British Birds. Payments can also be made directly into UK Giro account
number 37 588 6303. but please still post this form. ( Payment can be made in USS. but. please add i 1 plus overseas postage
charges and then convert to dollars at current exchange rate.) Please allow 28 days for delivery in l‘K. longer if abroad
5 Name
Address
Total £ Cheque/PO enclosed Q Giro payment madcQ
Send to BB Offers, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ
Please help us to find new subscribers We will send a sample copy o IBB and a subscription leaflet to the
person you name below. Thank you.
^ Name of potential subscriber
Address
Back in print: eight classic NEW NATURALIST titles, including
THE FULMAR
]ames Fisher
First published in 1 952,
this ornithological
masterpiece was
acclaimed as 'the most
complete study of an
important species of wild
bird yet undertaken.' The
author spent twenty years
investigating every aspect
of the life of this bird to
produce a definitive
monograph that remains
unrivalled in scope or detail.
£7 50pb, 576pp. 85 b/w photographs, 6 1 b/w drawings,
appendixes
FINCHES
I an Newton
Finches
t AN MU ION
A model of scientifc
writing, this volume
describes the ecology of
the whole family of
European finches.
Their status and history,
distribution and varied
habitats, their
populations, breeding,
feeding, focking,
roosting and nesting
are all discussed.
£6.S0pb, 320pp, 38 b/w photographs, 64 drawings and
figures, appendixes
(D447)
The text and line illustrations in these books remain unaltered from the original editions: but
the manufacturing process used to achieve an economic price does not. unfortunately, do full
justice to all the photographs, and those previously in colour now appear in black and white.
Also available in this limpback form at £6.50; London's Natural History: Filler, Britain’s
Structure and Scenery: Slump, Dragonflies: Corbel, Longfield and Moore, Wild Orchids:
Siinimerftaijes, Wild Flowers: Gilniour and Walters, Mountain Flowers: Raven and Walters.
Collins
British BirdShop
□
□
□
Recordings (add extra 70p per disc or £ 1 .00 per cassette pack lor all overseas orders)
A Field Guide to the Bird Songs oj Britain and Europe Sture Palmer & Jeffery Boswall
Complete set of 16 cassettes in four packs (running time approx 13 hours) (Post free) £86.00
Cassette pack 1 Divers to gulls (Price includes postage) CPI CD J
Cassette pack 2 'Ferns to warblers (Price includes postage) CP2 CD I £23 00 each
Cassette pack 3 Goldcrest to crows (Price includes postage) CP3 CD (
Cassette pack 4 Accidentals (Price includes postage) CP4 [~1 ^
Complete set of 15 LP discs of birds (running time approx 12 hours) (Post free) £84.00
Complete sets of 15 LP discs of birds and 2 I.P discs of mammals (Post free) £95.20
LP disc Divers to swans RFLP5001 □ \
LP disc Ducks and raptors RFLP5002 CD
LP disc Game-birds to Long-billed Dowitcher RFLP5003 CD
LP disc Spotted Redshank to gulls RFLP5004 CD
LP disc Terns to owls RFLP5005 CD
LPdisc Nightjars to larks RFLP5006 CD
LP disc Martins to Lanceolated Warbler RFLP5007 CD
LP disc 30 warblers RFLP5008 CD
LP disc Goldcrest to Red-flanked Bluetail RFLP5009 CD
LP disc Thrushes to treecreepers RFLP5010 CD
LP disc Buntings to Scarlet Rosefinch RFLP501 1 CD
LPdisc Pine Grosbeak to crows RFLP5012 CD
LP disc Accidentals up to Common Nighthawk RFLP50I3 CD
LPdisc Remaining accidentals RFLP5014 CD
LP disc new disc: Extra recordings of main species and
more accidentals RFLP5015 CD
Companion set oj recordings oj 69 British and European mammals
LP disc Hedgehog to Polecat RFLP5016 CD
LP disc Otter to Musk Ox RFLP5017 CD /
£5.60 each, plus
£1.50 p& p per order
Please use the British BirdShop form on page xv to complete your order.
xvi
Classified Advertisements 0621 815085
Classified Advertisements
All advertisements must be
PREPAID
and sent to
British Birds Advertising
Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham,
Bedford MK44 3NJ.
Telephone 0621 815085
Rates
£1 .50 a line — average of 6 words
£6.00 a centimetre —
min. 2 centimetres
Box Number counts as 2 words is
£1 .00 extra per insertion
Replies should be sent to the
above address
Series Discounts
3 insertions for the price of 2
6 insertions for the price of 4
Copy Date
5th of the month preceeding
Please post early
to avoid disappointment.
Sponsors of ‘Bird Photograph
of the Year'
British Birds
is most grateful to The Famous
Grouse’ Scotch whisky and
Zeiss West Germany for their
support.
Sponsors of the Rarities
Committee
ZEISS
West Germany
HO LI DA Y A CCOMMODA TION
FLINT COTTAGES
In rural surroundings at Stiflkey
and Beeston Regis, Norfolk,
recently renovated and centrally heated.
Tel: 0263 822986 for brochure.
(BB22)
NATIONAL TRUST VILLAGE on Exmoor.
Self-catering holiday homes. Centrally heated,
near Porlock. Sea, moors, woods and marshes all
within walking distance. Stamp for brochure.
Sheila Wright, The Pack Horse, Allerford. Nr.
Minchead. Tel: (0643) 862475. (BB72)
MIGRATION VANTAGE POINT. Sur-
rounded by National Trust land, with breath-
taking views over the Needles — immaculate 2
bedroom luxury flats. Short breaks till April.
Colour brochure: Marion and John Smith,
Headon Hall. Alum Bay, Isle of Wight. Tel: 0983
752123 (24 hrs). (BB69)
SIBTON (nr Minsmere), Suffolk, fhe White
Horse Inn. A unique and charming 16th century
freehouse in 2Vi acres, en suite accommodation,
bed and breakfast or weekly rates. Ample car
parking. CC location site. Bar snacks or
restaurant meals available. Tel: Peasenhall 337.
(BB68)
MINSMERE 4m. B&B in comfortable private
house, edge of village. Brochure/terms. Hills, Old
Mill House, Yoxford, Suffolk. Tel: 536.
IN EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK. 2 semi-
detached cottages. Winsford. Also comfortable
farmhouse, Wheddon Cross. All sleep 6. plus cot.
Colour TV. Open fires. Sheets provided. Sorry no
pets. SAE please to: Mrs D. Jack, c/o Mrs A.
Webber, Steadway Farm. Wheddon Cross.
Minehead TA24 7EB. Tel: Timberscombe 492.
(BB66)
BARN HOUSE, Bempton. Plcasanth situated,
comfortable farmhouse style B&B. Schofield. 5
Newsham Hill Lane, Bempton. Bridlington. Tel:
0262 850523. " (BB73)
4-BERTH CARAVAN individual rural site,
edge Minsmere. Meg/Terry James. Charity
Farm, Westleton. Phone Westleton 314.
(BB79)
CAIRNGORMS — Nethybridge near
Aviemore. Choice of unique converted smithy,
hay loft, cottages and bungalows. Very comfor-
table. well furnished, central heating and col. TV
from £65-£250 pw. Mrs B. Patrick. Chapelton
Place. Forres. Tel: 0309 72505. (BB76)
•THE OSPREY VILLAGE’: Beautiful Boat-of-
Garten in the central Scottish Highlands close by
the RSPB Loch Garten Reserve. Year-round
Highland hospitality. For details of 150 local
bird species, walks/activities, SAE please:
Tourist Assoc. Bbat-of-Garten. Inverness-shire.
(BB75)
xvu
Classified Advertisements 0621 815085
SELF-CATERING PROPERTIES. All
personally inspected. Brochure: Rural Vacations
Ltd, Pipworth Lane, Eckington, Sheffield S31
9EY. Tel: 0246 432202. (BB54)
SMALL FAMILY RUN HOTEL 300 yards
from the sea in a coastal area well known to
ornithologists. Recommended by Ashley
Courtenay, AA, RAC. Good food, warm
friendly atmosphere. Open all year. The
Lodge Hotel, Old Hunstanton, North
Norfolk. Tel: 048 53 2896. Dogs welcome.
(BB20)
NEWPORT, PEMBS. Coastal cottage, adj. Nat.
Park, 5 mins. Sea and Estuary. Sleeps 8. Tel:
0222 752965. (BB70)
HEREFORDSHIRE. Farm holiday bungalow
to let amidst Black Mountains in the lovely
Olchon Valley of Herefordshire. Lovely walks
and bird watching area. Dippers nesting close to
bungalow in Spring. Week-end lets until April.
Probert, Glandwr Farm, Llanvaynoe, Longtown,
Hereford. Tel: Longtown Castle 608. (BB81)
VISIT FLAMBOROUGH HEADLAND,
Heritage Coastline. Next to RSPB’s Bempton
reserve. The Flaneburg Hotel offers every
comfort, bargain breaks, early and late season.
Details tel: 0262 850284. (BB1)
ELIZABETHAN FARMHOUSE set in a
beautiful position near Welsh Border. Enjoy
complete relaxation. Excellent food. Marvellous
walking country. Close to coast and golf course,
and Offa’s Dyke. Ideal place for birdwatching.
Open Easter onwards. Contact Mrs E. V'enables,
Rorrington Hall. Chirbury Powys (093 872) 223.
(BB65)
MILTON MANOR HOTEL, nr Tenby. Tel:
064 67 398. In 7 secluded areas near National
Park, estuary and coast path. 26 bedrooms most
en-suite, 6 with self-catering terms. Licensed
restaurant. Central heating. (BB23)
WARM, COMFORTABLE Lakeland Cottage,
Nr Hawkshead to let all the year round. Low
tariff, November-Easter SAE ‘Allarcf. ‘The Old
Vicarage’ Hawkshead, Cumbria LA22 0PD.
(BB61)
COME AND SEE the King Eider and many
other rare birds on Loch Fleet and stay with us at
The Park House Hotel, Golspie, Sutherland.
Tel: 040 83 3667 where we promise to make your
stay enjoyable. (BB12)
LUXURY IDYLLIC COTTAGE. Ideal base
Cheviot Hills, Fame Isles and Kiclder Forest.
Forster. Pel: 1-904 9107 and 0669 30265.
(BB1 1)
HISTORIC COUNTRY HOUSE overlooking
Derwent Ings. Explore York, the Wolds,
Bempton Cliffs. Enjoy Yorkshire cooking. B/B,
EM from £10.50. Mrs Vincent, Aughton Hall,
Aughton, York Y04 4PG. Bubwith 237.
(BB62)
GREYHOMES HOTEL
Torcross, S. Devon
Holiday Accommodation, S. Devon
SLAPTON SANDS, AA and RAC one star.
Small friendly licensed hotel magnificiently
situated in six acres of mature gardens over-
looking the panorama of Slapton Ley Nature
Reserve and Start Bay. Unspoilt coastline
famous for its variety of birds and wildlife.
Also four self-catering holiday bungalows in
grounds. SAE for brochure: Greyhomes
Hotel, Torcross, Nr. Kingsbridge, S. Devon.
Tel: Kingsbridge (0548) 580220. (BB30)
AT THE TIDE’S EDGE between Prawle/Start
Points, Maelcombe House Farm offers B&B/EM
or s/c flat. Spectacular situation for migrations.
Magnificent coastal walking. Ring Mrs Davies on
Chivelstone (054 851) 300 lor brochure.
(BB48)
DUNWICH. Holiday cottage, sea '/* mile,
overlooking marshes, sleeps 6 plus 2 children.
Ideally situated for Minsmere and surrounding
countryside. Fully furnished and equipped
personally supervised. £18 per day. Reduced
rates for March-October. Dogs allowed, car
parking. Details from R. Green, 53 Albany Road,
West Bergholt, Colchester C06 3LB. Tel: 0206
241716. (BB33)
NORTH LAKES— p effect for Caerlaverock and
South Solway Estuary. Six self-catering lodges
overlooking sheltered 30 acre lake. Woodland site
designated of ‘Special Scientific Interest’. Impor-
tant location for large flocks of water birds,
wintering site lor duck, wide variety of wildfowl.
Brochure: Lakeshore Lodges, The Lough,
Thurston Field, Carlisle, Cumbria CA5 6HB.
Tel: 0228 76552. (BB38)
GALLOWAY. Hills, lochs, forests and sea.
Speciality, birds of prey and waterfowl. High
quality houses, cottages, flats. Details, send 27p
stamp to: G. M. Thomson & Co, 27 King Street,
Castle Douglas. (BB43)
CLEY. Attractive house in village, four bed-
rooms, large garden, garage, c.h. Available all
year. Details from Mrs E. Album, 47 Lyndale
Avenue, London NW2. Tel: 01-431 2942.
(BB58)
BEDDGELERT. Charmingly furnished cottage.
Superb surroundings. Sleeps 5. Sorry no pets.
SAE Day, White Cottage, Church Lane, Corley,
Coventry CV7 8BA. T el: 0676 40501 .
(BB85)
NORTH WEST HIGHLANDS, Dundonnell
Hotel, just south of Ullapool, ideal location for
hill walkers, birdwatchers and those who enjoy
the open spaces. Private bathrooms. Col. TV, full
c.h. Send for col. brochure/ tariff giving details of
bargain holidays on selected dates, to Selbie
Florence, Dundonnell Hotel, by Carve, Ross-
shire. T el: 085 483 204. (BB63)
NR MINSMERE, Kings Head. Southwold
723829. B&B, packed lunches, Adnams ales.
(BB19)
xviii
Classified Advertisements 0621 815085
SELF-CATERING
WEST HIGHLANDS
Holiday houses to let on a private 35,000
acre Highland Estate. Ideal for birdwatching
with 136 species on check list, also for fishing,
boating, wildlife & flora with hills, lochs and
sea and woodlands. Accommodation ranges
from 2-8 bedrooms. Apply to: Factor,
Ardtornish Estate Office, Morvern, by Oban,
Argyll. Tel: Morvern (096-784) 288. 24 hours
answering service. (BB88)
NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS National
Park. Coast and country. For the largest selection
of inspected self-catering cottages, farmhouses
etc, contact: Ingrid Flute, White Cottage,
Ravenscar, Scarborough YC)13 ONE. Tel:
Scarborough (0723) 870703. (BB67)
ISLES OF SCILLY — Seaview Moorings, St.
Mary’s. Home cooking and personal service from
resident proprietors, Tony and Linda. Over-
looking harbour, close to quay and town —
licensed — in-room tea and coffee making facili-
ties— pets welcome. SAE for details or telephone
i Tony or Linda Dingley on 0720 22327. (BB35)
ORCHARD HOUSE, N. W. Norfolk nr. 1 itch-
well Marsh Reserve. Homely Bed and Breakfast
accommodation (F,.M. available). Also self-
catering unit in orchard. Tel: Thornham (048
526)259. (BB49)
FARM COTTAGES between Lindisfarne Re-
serve and The Fames. Comfortable and well
equipped. Sorry no pets. Brochure: Mr J.
McNish, Outchester Farm, Bclford. North-
umberland. Tel: 066 83 336. ( BB45)
' SOLWAY COAST. B&B. evening meal
optional. CH, ample parking, convenient wild-
fowl reserve. Ideal painting, hill walking. Packed
lunches and vegetarian meals available.
Bardslev, The Rossan, Auchencairn, Castle
Douglas DG7 1QR. Tel: 055 664 269. (BB10)
AN OUTSTANDING RANGE of self-catering
holiday homes and cottages in the glorious
■ Scottish highlands. Send for illustrated brochure:
Lorna Lumsden, Scottish Highland Holiday
Homes, Wester Altourie, Abriachan. Inverness.
Tel: 0463 86247. (BBS)
HAYLE ESTUARY. 10 min walk to hide. Bed &
breakfast from £5.50. St Ives 3 miles. Trendreath
House, Lower Lelant. St Ives, Cornwall, lei:
Hayle 753714. (BB16)
BIRDWATCHING IN THE HIGHLANDS.
Cottages in Wild Mountainous beauts area b\
Sea-Loch. Botanists and Climbers paradise. Rare
wild life of every kind. Boating fishing, good food
and night life locally. TV aerial and heating
available. SAE Inverlael Cottages. Loch Broom,
bv Ullapool. Ross-shire 085 485 262.
(BB86)
SHETLAND, 3 -star BTA commended country-
house hotel offers inclusive or tailor-made
holidays. Rachel and Edwin Cope, Busta House,
Busta, Shetland. Tel: 080622 506. (BB26)
ISLE OF ISLAY, Lochside Hotel. Situated on
the edge of Loch Indaal. Birdwatching all the
year round. Superb 2 star accommodation with
full central heating. All rooms have private
bathroom or shower with wash hand basin,
colour TV, wireless, telephone and tea/coffee
making facilities. Fully licensed. Brochure and
tariff from Norman or Elaine Osborne, Lochside
Hotel, Bowmore, Isle of Islay. Argyll PA43 71.B.
Tel: Bowmore (049681 ) 244/265. ( BB2)
ISLE OF ISLAY— Hebrides— our S/C C/H
cottages are beautifully situated on the shores of
Loch Indaal, home of wintering geese, with
superb views to the hills. A peaceful five minutes
stroll to the village where you can enjoy an
evening’s entertainment among friendly people.
From £50 per week. Full details and brochure —
Mrs James Roy, Lorgba Holiday Cottages, Port
Charlotte, Isle of Islav. Argyllshire PA48 71 D.
Tel: 049685 208. (BB34)
BED AND BREAKFAST. Mrs I) Crowden.
Rosevilla, Middleton. Saxmundham, Suffolk.
Tel: Westleton 489 between 6-7 pm. ( BB50)
NEAR MINSMERE, delightful converted barn.
Sleeps 6/7. Fully equipped and linen provided.
Turner, Vine Cottage, The Street. Middleton,
Saxmundham: Tel: Westleton 208 after 6pm.
(BB7)
15th CENTURY COACHING INN midway
Ross/Hereford amidst gentle wooded hills. 2
fields from Riser Wye. A comfortable and in-
formal place, with proper emphasis on real food,
real ales, civilised prices. Log fire, ch. fourposter.
Egon Ronay. Relais Routier. Green Man Inn,
Fownhope. Hereford. Tel: Fownhope (043 277)
243. (BB21)
PERTHSHIRE. SUTHERLAND. NORTH
WALES and other areas. Self-catering country
cottages in idyllic surroundings, with golfing,
fishing, hill walking, sailing, canoeing and other
recreational pursuits near at hand. For brochure
and list of available dates write to: Renton
Finlayson, Bank House, 82 Atholl Road.
Pitlochry . Perthshire. Tel: (0796) 2512. (BB4)
COUNTRY COTTAGES between Alnw ick and
Belford. Sleep up to six. fully equipped,
self-catering, available throughout the year. Well
placed for Holy Island and Fame Islands.
Cheviot Hills and many places of natural beauty .
SAE to Mrs P. Foster. Coxons. Graster South
Farm, Alnwick. Northumberland. Tel: (066 576)
640. ( BB27)
MANOR BARN COTTAGE. Mudgley. South
Isle of Wedmore. overlooking Somerset Levels.
Fine English cooking, log fires. CH. rooms en
suite, open all vear. Brochure: Wedmore 0934
712953. (BB46)
xtx
Classified Advertisements 0621 815085
CLEY, 2 1 uxury cottages (sleep 6 and 8). Stamp
please for brochure: Hughes, Wilburton, Ely.
Tel: 0353 740770. (BB24)
NORTH NORFOLK COAST, fishermen’s
cottages. Open all year. Oak beams. Colour TV
and open fires Oct/March, Ray Hewitt, Brig
Square Holiday Cottages, Freeman Street, Wells
next the Sea. Tel: 0328 710440. (BB 1 7)
NEW FOREST. New Park Hotel, Brockenhurst.
260 acres. Stables, etc. Self-catering cottages.
Colour brochures: (0590) 23467.
(BB40)
WARM WELCOME, B&B/EM optional. Close
to marshes. Heritage Coastal Walks. Central for
Cley and Titchwell reserves. Mrs Court,
Eastdene, Northfield Lane, W'ells-next-thc-Sea,
Norfolk. Tel: (0328) 710381. (BB36)
BETWIXT I nverness/John O’Groats. Small
comfortable guest house, panoramic views, ideal
base. Home baking, DB&B. Also 6 berth
residential caravan. Ard Beag, Brora, Suther-
land. Tel: 0408 2 1 398. (BB47)
MINSMERE. Accommodation at the Eight
Bells, Kelsale A12, B&B. Real Ale, good food.
Tel: Saxmundham 2975. (BB59)
ISLE OF ISLAY, ARGYLL. Port Charlotte
Hotel, fully licensed, family riyn, adjacent to
sandy beaches. Situated between Ellister Wild-
fowl Trust and the RSPB’s own Gruinart Nature
Reserve. Special rates for groups. Let us send you
our colour brochure. We also have a centrally
heated, self-catering, seafront chalet. Tel: 049
685 321 or 379. (BB41)
SOUTHWOLD. ‘Avondale’. North Parade,
overlooking sea. B&B/EM, ch, dglazed, licensed.
Open all year. Ideal Minsmere, Havergate,
Walberswick. Good food, friendly atmosphere.
Tel: 0502 722538. ' (BB8)
ISLE OF MULL. A stable converted into 2 warm
comfortable flats. Frachadil Farm, Calgary. Tel:
068 84 265 or (0573) 24852. (BB120)
PEMBROKESHIRE Charming cottage se-
cluded spot close Cleddau River. Sleeps 5.
Available spring/summer. Ideal centre for
exploring lovely area. Tel 0242 524516 for
brochure. (BB122)
CLEY — 6 miles. Flint cottage sleeps 2. Cot
available. SAE: M rs Hampshire, Riverbank,
Hunworth, Melton Constable, Norfolk. Tel: Holt
3891. (BB127)
EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK. Come and
enjoy the peace of 77 acre wooded nature reserve
and our smallholding. We have 7 camouflaged
caravans on a secluded site, modern toilet
facilities with showers, utility room, children’s
play area. Nature trails and fresh produce. Sea 4
miles. SAE to: Chris and Babs Johnson, Cowley
Wood, Conservation Centre, Parracombe, N.
Devon EX31 4 PQ. Tel: Parracombe 200. Day
visitors to centre also welcome. (BB1 28)
BARGAIN BREAKS
Small, recommended, coastal, licensed hotel
facing open countryside. National Trust
cliff walks nearby. All bedrooms with baths/
shower/wc, central heating, colour TV and
tea maker, en suite. Four poster bed. Heated
indoor swimming pool. Dinner choice from
extensive menu. 2/5/7 night Bargain Breaks
from £20 including dinner, breakfast and
VAT. Brochure/reservations: GLENCOE
HOTEL, Gwithian Village (St Ives Bay)
TR27 5BX. Tel: 0736 752216.
(BB42)
POLPERRO. Delightful harbourside cottage.
Sleeps 6. Fully furnished and in easy reach of
lovely cliff walks. From £110pw. Lawrence, 63
Elm Park Mansions, Park Walk, London SW 10.
Tel: 0483 232230. (BB87)
MOST ATTRACTIVE choice of selfcatering
cottages, isolated and in beautiful surroundings
overlooking the sea on a Westhighland Estate.
Scotland’s natural beauty at its best. The ideal
holiday for the true country lover with wild life in
abundance. For full colour brochure please write
to: The Booking Office, Ellary 7, Lochgilphead,
Argyll. Tel: 08803 232/209 or 054685 223.
(BB 101 )
ISLES OF SCILLY. Derek and Mary Scofield
welcome you to their comfortable family guest
house, situated on the shore with unrivalled
views. We ofTer a happy atmosphere, home
cooking and a select wine list. Ideal for spring and
autumn birdwatching. Send stamp for brochure
to Beachfield House, St. Mary’s. Tel: 0720 22463.
(BB92)
ALDERNEY the unspoilt Channel Island.
Escape to tranquility and friendship. B. B.
Griffin, Farm Court, Alderney, C.l l ei: 0481 82
2075. (BB98)
NORTH NORFOLK. The George & Dragon
Hotel. Accommodation, bars & meals. Over-
looking the marshes at Cley, towards Blakeney
Point. Tel: Cley (0263) 740652. (BB94)
MID WALES. Radnor Forest. Self-contained fiat
in old chapel. Sleeps 2. Ideal walking,
birdwatching. SAE: Arnott, Zion Cottage, New
Radnor, Powys. Tel: 625. (BB99)
SELF-CATERING CHALETS. 4 miles from
Vane Farm, Kinross (Loch Leven). Brochure
from Andrew Sneddon, Stan-ma-lane, Balgedie,
Kinross. Tel: 059 284257. (BB100)
NORTH NORFOLK MARSHES
Self-catering cottage near Holt, 2 bedrooms,
sitting room, fully equipped kitchen, 2 WCs,
shower, 2 wash basins, extra low sink. C.h. &
hot water throughout. Kings Head, with
meals and real ale, 2 mins walk. Cley 5 miles.
). N. Cozens-Hardy, Glavenside, Lethering-
selt, Holt, Norfolk NR25 7AR Tel: Holt
(026371)3181. ( BB91 )
xx
Classified Advertisements 0621 815085
ISLE OF MULL. Small comfortable guest house
on island rich in birdlife. Owners keen
birdwatchers. Pets welcome. Baliscate Guest
House, Tobermory. Tel: 0688 2352.
(BB102)
CORNWALL. Your cottage by the sea lor winter
breaks or summer holidays. Very comfortable,
lovely sea views. Sleeps 4/5. Details: P.
Greenwood, Talland Bay, Looe PL13 2JB. Tel:
Polperro 72263. (BBI03)
WELLS, NORFOLK B&B., (Les Routiers
recommended). H. & C., Tea and Coflee facilities
in all rooms. Anne Taylor, The Cobblers (0328
710155). (BBI11)
BIRDWATCHERS’ HAVEN: Shore of Fleet
nature reserve, Dorset. Tern nesting site etc.
Rowing boat available. B& B £7.00. E.M. /Packed
lunches if required. Excellent cooking. Home
produced vegetables. Warm welcome, peace and
freedom assured. Telephone: Weymouth 772268.
(BB112)
GALLOWAY for coast, Lochs and Hills. Private
Hotel ideally situated for birdwatching and
holidays. Small parties welcome. Comfortable
i accommodation and excellent food. Open all
year. Tel: 0556 2173. Merrick Hotel, Castle
Douglas, Kirkcudbrightshire. (BBI 13)
ISLES OF SCILLY. Migrate to Mount Flagon
on St Mary’s and enjoy the friendly atmosphere
and good food provided by Bas and Nan Cons.
Write or ring lor brochure 0720 22598. (BBI 14)
SUPERIOR RIVERSIDE BUNGALOW and
comfortable mod. country cottage: sleep 5 CH FE
inch linen Loch Garten ospreys 2 miles.
Farmhouse B&B also available. Grant West
Cullachie Boat of Garten. Tel: 047 982 226.
(BBI 15)
SOUTHWOLD A A** HOTEL. Ensuite bed-
rooms, good food and wines. Ideal base for
Minsmere and surrounding area. Open all year.
Reduced terms for party bookings. Write or tel:
Pier Avenue Hotel, Southwold. Tel: 722632.
(BB32)
GRIANAIG HOUSE
Garryhallie, Lochboisdale, South Uist.
Opportunities unique in the Hebrides,
indeed in Britain, for bird-watching.
Would you enjoy the open peal fire in the
evening after your meal? Would you like
more information?
We would be delighted to hear from you at:
08784 406 or write the above address.
(BBI 26)
ISLE OF MULL, Torosay Castle, Craignure.
Golden eagles often seen in the area. 20 species in
the garden and over 200 recorded on the island.
Mull is a paradise. Gardens open year-round.
Castle: 1 May-30 Sept, I flat and gardener's
cottage to let. Each sleeps 4 plus camp beds.
Special monthly winter terms. For terms apply:
The Secretary. Tel: 068 02 421. (BBI 5)
BIRD W A TCHING HO LI DA YS
TURKEY AND GREECE 1985
Central & Southern Turkey
16 Days April/May £665
North West Turkey & North Greece
I 1 Days May/September £488
Eastern Turkey
16 Days May £665
Central Turkey & Bosphorus Migration
16 Days September £650
Bosphorus Migration
1 1 Days September £460
ICELAND 16 Days July £700
All Indus lie Prices
Details: Chris Slade eT
1 urkish & Greek Birdwatching Holidays so
8 The Grange, Elmdon Park, Solihull —
West Midlands B92 9EL.
Tel: 021-742 5420 021-705 5535
BIRDWATCH CORNWALL. 2lst-27th
March 1985. £105.00 inclusive: 14th-21st
September 1985. £105.00 inclusive. Five days of
field trips. Local RSPB leaders. Evening films
and talks. Special help for beginners. Exciting
seabirds, waders, ducks and birds of prey.
Discounts for parties. Two star hotel with
Scandinavian leisure centre. For brochure and
birdlist phone Pauline Boss. 0736 795294.
Karenza Hotel, St Ives, Cornwall. ( BB78)
SKOKHOLM AND SKOMER ISLANDS,
Pembrokeshire, Dyfed. Full board accom-
modation; bird watching/photography courses.
Send s.a.e. to Dept BB. WWTNC, 7 Market
Street, Haverfordwest. (BBI 16)
OVER 100 SPECIES on our 40 areas, and
Morecambe Bay’s winter visitors close bv. Join a
BIRDWATCHER’S HOUSE PARTY, or block
book a group. Castle Head Field Centre,
Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria (04484 4300).
(BBI 18)
WEST COUNTRY WILDLIFE. Birdwatching,
wildlife holidays, in Devon. Small parties, expert
leadership. Excellent food/accommodation,
talks, slides, trips out each day. Beginners
welcome. April-October one week holidays,
November-March 2, 3 or 4 day week-ends.
Birdwarching on the Exe. Brochure from
Courtlans. Colebrooke, Crediton. Devon EX 17
5JH. (BB53)
SUTHERLAND, VALHALLA, CHALETS.
On seashore of Kirkaig Bay and bordering the
largest NNR in Great Britain — Inverpolly
National Nature Reserve, and only one hour’s
drive from Handa Bird Reserve is the ornitholo-
gists paradise. Tel: 05714 382 or details from
Hutchison, Valhalla, Inverkirkaig, Lochinver,
Sutherland IV27 4LF. (BB105)
ZAMBIA. Personally escorted 21 -day camping
Safari departing 18th May visiting Kariba, the
Victoria Falls, Kafue Flats, Lochinvar and
Luangwa Valley National Parks. All Inclusive,
£1,450 Adventure Agency, The Square, Rams-
bury, Wiltshire. (0672 20569). (BB56)
xxi
Classified Advertisements 0621 815085
THE FIELD STUDIES COUNCIL
is organising a winter break in search of Sea
Eagles in France from 20-24 February' (£175).
We shall also look for Cranes, Kites and
numerous other species seldom, if ever, seen
in Britain. A longer expedition will be Texas in
Spring from 30 March-20 April (£1,280) for
the most exciting bird-watching in North
America. Both courses will be led by David
Tomlinson; there will be good food and wine,
with hotel or motel accommodation of a high
standard. Full details of these and other Bird
courses overseas from Miss Ros Evans,
Flatford Mill Field Centre (BRF), East
Bergholt, Colchester C07 6UL. (BR194I
JOHN GOODERS • Spring and Autumn in
Andalucia and the Goto Donana: 22nd-29th
March; 26th Oct-2nd Nov: 2nd-9th Nov 1985 •
New! Raptors over Gibraltar: 2nd-9th Sept
1985 — peak period, super hotel. • Weekly
holiday courses April-October 1985. Super
comfort at our 16th C. farmhouse near Sussex
coast. Details: Lattenden’s Farm (BB) Ashburn-
ham, Nr Battle, E. Sussex. Tel: 0323 833245.
(BB106)
ARCTIC BIRDS. Two weeks in the Arctic,
July/August, viewing rare northern birds. Gyr
Falcons, Ivory Gulls, Little Auks, etc. Camping
in North Greenland or boat-based in Spitsbergen.
Expert guides. From £940. Send stamp to:
ERSKINE EXPEDITIONS, 14 Inverleith
Place, Edinburgh. (BB71)
PORTUGAL
Winter to Spring 85
BIRDWATCHING IN PORTUGAL in
Winter to Spring can be fun in the sun.
One week or two weeks inclusive for one
or two persons or the family. Organised
and escorted by a birdwatcher for bird-
watchers.
Free brochure now available
Tel: 0245 356966 (24 hrs.)
Bonvista Travel 245/7 Broomfield Road,
Chelmsford, Essex CM 1 4DP. (BB 1 19)
SPAIN — Birding Spring 1985
Tom Gullick lives in Spain and will show you
the rarest birds in the beautiful and remote
areas. Expect to see 5 eagles, 3 vultures,
bustards, sand grouse, white-headed duck,
galinule, eagle owl, black stork, with many
ducks, waders and passerines on spring
migration. 11, 8 and 5-day tours for 3-4
persons only, by Range Rover. 7 years and
over 460 field days of experience in Spain.
Tom Gullick, c/o Mrs. M. C. Parker,
5 Tile Barn Close, Farnborough,
Hants., GU14 8LS. Tel: 0252 547213.
(BB25)
LLANDUDNO ideal base for coast and
mountain. For accommodation and/or transport
consult 'Kestrel Coaches, Bron-y-Mor, 40
Vicarage Avenue, Llandudno LL30 IPS. Tel:
0492 76009. (BB9)
ISLES OF SCILLY — -join resident birdman
David Hunt for the holiday of a lifetime. 1985
Brochure from Cygnus Wildlife, 96 Fore Street.
Kingsbridge, Devon TQ7 1PY. Phone: (0548)
6178. (BB37)
HOLIDAYS FOR BIRDWATCHERS with
Steve Madge and Ted Griffiths based at the
Talland Bay Hotel on the south Cornish coast in
March, October and November. Special birds
and flowers week in May. Course dates and
brochure from Talland Bay Hotel, Nr Looe,
Cornwall. Tel: Polperro (0503) 72667. (BB97)
ISLE OF COLL, ARGYLL. “Tighnamara”
Bird watching at its best. Over 120 species.
Breeding Arctic Skuas, Little Terns, Kittiwakes,
Divers, Corncrakes, Ravens. 6 resident raptors
including Merlin & Peregrine. Unique island
scenery. Otters, seals. Excellent cuisine.
Brochure. Tel: (08793) 354 (BBI04)
WILDLIFE H OLID A YS
“THE INNER HEBRIDES!” For the very best
in relaxed informative weeks on either Arran,
Islay, Jura, Skye or Mull send stamp to:
HEBRIDEAN WILDLIFE AND WALKING
HOLIDAYS, Strathwhillan (BB), Isle of Arran,
Scotland (tel: 0770 2562) . ( BB 1 07)
BROADLAND
WILDLIFE HOLIDAYS
All year round natural history holidays
based around the Norfolk Broads
* Daily Outings *
* Slide Shows * Talks *
Accommodation is in a
highly recommended, friendly.
PERSONAL
THE HAWK TRUST cares about all birds of
prey. Why not help us with our conservation
projects? For information, contact The Member-
ship Secretary (JB), The Hawk Trust, FREE-
POST, Beckenham, Kent. (BB52)
BIRD ARTISTIC AND PHOTOGRAPHIC
AGENT requires new material. Write for the
relevant set of guidelines to: Birders, 46 Westleigh
Drive, Sonning Common, Reading, RG4 9LB.
(BB57)
xxn
Classified Advertisements 0621 815085
BIRD REPORTS
LONDON BIRD REPORT 1983
Produced by the London National History
Society. Report £3 post paid and membership
details ironi Mrs hi. Housege, 1 10 Meadvale
Road, London W5 1LR. Back numbers
available. (BB89)
NORTHEAST SCOTLAND BIRD
REPORT 1983. £1.85 post paid from Mark
Iasker, NESBR, 17 Rubislaw Terrace,
'Aberdeen. Cheques to NESBR. Back numbers
available. (BB(i4)
BIRDS IN DURHAM 1983 £2.08 (inc. post)
Where to watch birds in Co. Durham £1.47
i(inc. post) from 1). Sowerbutts, 9 Prebends Field,
Cilesgate Moor. Durham, I)H I 11111. (BB108)
1983 BIRDS IN NORTHUMBRIA £3 inc.
p&p. Also new I.indisfarne’s Birds, history,
seasons, illustrations, 68 pages, £2.30 inc. p&p,
both from Mrs. M. Cadwallender, 32 Manners
Gardens, Seaton Deleval, Northumberland.
(BB110)
WILTSHIRE BIRD REPORT 1983 (back
•copies available). £1.75 inch p&p from N. Pleass.
13 Westbrook Road, Swindon, Wiltshire,
"SN2IPA. (BB109)
BOOKS
HENRY SOTHERAN LTD
New. secondhand & Antiquarian
Booksellers.
London's lending Ornithological hook stockists
2, 3, 4 & 5 Sackville Street,
London WIX 2 DP.
Tel: 01-734 1150 and 0308.
Just oil' Piccadilly. (D449)
BOOKS ON BIRDS. New and secondhand,
catalogue 30p. Surplus books urgently sought.
BB bought and sold. Open Monday to Saturday.
Bird Books of Sevenoaks, 67 London Rd, Seven-
oaks. Kent. T el: 0732 455899. (BB3)
BIRDWATCHER'S LOGBOOKS. A lew First
edition (hard back) copies still available, price
£2.50 each (inc. p&p). From Coxton Publica-
tions, 23 West Hill Rd., Foxton, Cambridge
CB26SZ. (BB83)
The £1000 cheque and Zeiss
West 10x40s have been won,
but if you would be intrigued to
see The British Birds' Mystery
Photographs Book (and the lull
solution) you can get it now lor
£ 1 .50 (previous price was £4.80).
Send cheque or PO (payable to
British Birds) to: Nil’ll, foun-
tains, Park Lane. Blunham.
Bedford MK44 IN.) (BBI30)
BIRDS BOOKS 1847-1982. Large SAL lor
catalogue. Crack Books. Sawmill Cottages,
Burton-in-I.onsdale, Carnforth. Lancs.
(BB82)
THE BIRD BOOKSHOP
(S.O.C.)
Excellent range of ornithological and natural
history books.
Other 600 titles in stock.
Write now for a free 30 page booklist from:
Dept 1,21 Regent Terrace,
Edinburgh EH 7 5BT.
Tel: 031-556 6042 (Mon-Fri 9-5).
(BB95)
BOOKS ON Birds, Natural History. Gardening,
Field Sports, etc. Bought and sold. Catalogues
issued. Books on most subjects purchased. Blest,
Wateringbury, Maidstone, Kent. Tel: 0622
812940. ( BB39)
'BIRD BOOKS'. Good secondhand books
bought and sold. Free catalogue from, and oilers
to Briant Books, 94 Quarry Lane, Kelsall,
I arporlev, ( Cheshire ( AV6 ON | I el: 0829 51804.
(BB18)
ST ANN’S BOOKSHOP lor a large selection of
new and secondhand bird books. Please oiler any
unwanted items. Catalogue: 2 St Ann's Road,
Great Malvern, Worts WR14 4RG. l ei: 06845
62818. ( BB3 1 )
BIRD BOOKS. New and secondhand, bought
sold. Catalogues issued. F. J. Whiteside. Iatrna
Doone, Staining Road, Staining, nr Blackpool,
FY30DL. Tel: 0253 895004. (BB51)
FINE NATURAL HISTORY BOOKS bought
and sold. R. Norman. The Book-Squirrel. Hart-
on-the-Hill, Dalton Pierces , Hartlepool. Cleve-
land. (BB14 i
ORNITHOLOGICAL BOOKS. Contact the
international specialists. Overseas enquiries in-
vited. Surplus items purchased. David Evans,
MBOU, Fine Bird Books. Warren Court. West
Tv therlev. Salisburv. Wilts SP5 1LU. Tel: 0980
862366. (BB93)
PROPERTY TO LET
TWO HOUSES TO RENT, NORTH DEVON.
One mile from coast. Lundy and Exmoor within
15 miles, available Autumn and Spring. Rems
from £80.00 per week (3 bedrooms, sleep 6).
£140.00 per week (4 bedrooms, sleep 12). Tel:
Barnstaple (0271) 42187. (BB90)
Classified Advertisements
Telephone: 0621 815085
xxiii
Classified Advertisements 0621 815085
COURSES
STAMPS
BIRDS OF SPEYSIDE
Birdwatching Activity Weeks
26th-3 1st May 1985
and 2nd-7thjune 1985
These new courses comprise conducted visits
and walks with slide-talks, films and social.
Tutors: RSPB wardens, Roy Dennis & D.
Gowans; Resident Guide: Michael Phillips.
Course Fee: £36 per person.
For brochure, SAE please to: Tourist Assoc.
Boat-of-Garten, Inverness-shire.
(BB74)
REPAIRS
BINOCULAR AND TELESCOPE REPAIRS.
Fast efficient service on all makes and types by
expert technicians at L&L Optical, 204 High
Street, Barnet, Herts. Tel: 01-449 1445. ( B B 13)
WE REPAIR BINOCULARS. And cameras.
And projectors. We’ve been at it for thirty years
and we’re very, very good. Perfect? No.
Perfectionists? Yes Burgess Lane & Go. Ltd,
Thornton Works, Thornton Avenue, London W4
1QE. 01-9945752. (BB28)
ARE YOU a cross-eyed birdwatcher? We offer a
cleaning and re-aligning service for any make or
size of hand held binocular or telescope at a
special price of £14.50 including return postage.
Full repair service available. Charles Frank Ltd,
PO Box 5, Saxmundham, Suffolk IP17 2NL.
(BB96)
WANTED
COLLECTOR wishes to purchase early natural
history books and paintings, especially by
Morris, Bannerman, Thorburn, Stonham,
Millais; David Brodie, Hazel Bank, 106 Castle-
main Avenue, Southbourne, Bournemouth,
0202 431997. (BB55)
BIRD STAMPS. 100 = £1,500 = £8. Send lor
12-page bird stamp list. A. Grainger, 42 Lee Lane
East, Horsforth, Leeds. (BB6)
FOR SALE
Breeding Birds of Great Britain
and Ireland
A Fieldguide Companion
A set of 7 laminated cards in a handy
plastic wallet (120 mms X 75 mms)
225 breeding birds covered
• Laying period • No. of Broods • No. of
Eggs • Size and Shape • Incubation days
• Colour • Location of nest.
only IR£2.50/Stg£2
(post free anywhere in U.K. /Ireland) jg
Send cheque, P.O., money order to: Barvane Ltd., CQ
P.O.Box 1458, Dublin 3, Republic of Ireland ®
I SELL AND BUY used binoculars, especially
Zeiss and Leitz. 2 1 Crescent Grove, London SW4
7AF. (BB60)
BB AND OTHER BIRD JOURNAL back
numbers supplied. Morgan, Whitmore, Umber-
leigh, Devon. (BB29)
VIVITAR 800mm/Fl 1 solid cat mirror lens.
Virtually unused. In case with all filters. Canon
Fit (T Mount). £180 ono. Newby Bridge 31633.
(BB121)
HABICHT 10 X 50 Binoculars and case. Superb
condition £155 (cost new £239). Whitstable
275189. (BB125)
NICKEL SUPRA 15-60 X 60 telescope in case,
mint condition. £75. Ross ‘Stepruva’ 9 X 35
binoculars in case. £55. Tel: 062 882 4252.
(BBI29)
BUSHNELL DISCOVERER, mint condition
£145. Also available Canon SLR attachments
plus Cullman Tripod. Offers. 0452 28571
evenings. (BB117)
HERTS
OPTICAL SERVICES
TELESCOPES
KOWA
TS1
£110.50
TS2
£95.00
TS7
£73.50
20x w/a
£32.50
25x
£26.00
40x
£27.50
OPTOLYTH
30x75
£215.00
30x80
£248.00
DISCOVERER
15-60x60
£193.00
TELEMASTER
15-60x60
£224.25
SPACEMASTER
Body only
£122.00
+ zoom
£171.50
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BINOCULARS
OPTOLYTH ALPIN
10x40
8x40
8x30
ZEISS WEST
8x 20B
....£122.00
.... £1 19.00
....£10900
£152 50
10x40BGA
£345.00
LEITZ
8x20
£169.40
lOx 40B
£362.50
SWIFT AUDUBON
£141.50
OSPREY
£111.50
HABICHT
WSL/M7 x 42
£225.00
WSL/M 10x40
£255.00
WRAY
6x30
£55.00
1 • HERTS
(D420)
XXIV
The OPTICRQN difference is
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Because this is an Opticron binocular, the combined optical
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never surpassed. It is small and compact. The weight is only
24 oz. and has a wide field of view of 375 ft. at 1000 yds. Will
focus down to approximately 12 ft. Fitted with fold-down rubber
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and is guaranteed for life against any manufacturing defects.
And the price is only £157.00. Sent to you for 14 days approval,
upon receipt of full remittance. Access, send or phone details.
Leaflets and price list on all other high quality Opticron
products and others, available upon request.
Should you, however, wish to judge for yourself and compare
this binocular with other makes, thus seeing how all binoculars
should be, our showroom is open Tuesdays to Saturdays 8.30 to
5.30 pm inclusive. Closed for annual holiday from 2nd to 16th
TELESCOPES July mclus,vc*
Tor those, whose interest is in zoom telescopes only, we are now able to offer the
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OPTICRON
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25 Lattirnore Road, St. Albans, Herts. AL1 3NT
Telephone: St. Albans (0727) 56516
(D369)
British Birds
Volume 78 Number 1 January 1985
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Editorial
Birdwatching for Palearcdc migrants in Thailand Dr Boonsong Lekagul,
Philip D. Round and Kamol Komolphalin
Mystery photographs 97 hybrid Tufted Duck X Pochard Ken Osborne
PhotoSpot 9 Dunn’s Lark P. D. Round
Notes
Hybrid resembling Ring-necked Duck S.J. M. Gantlett
Grey Plovers associating with inland flocks of Golden Plovers Bernard King
Aggression of albino Dunlin towards other waders C. W. Slone
Aberrant Gurlew in Gwent and South Glamorgan Nigel Odin
Redshank feeding on paved area Frederick J. Watson
Swift catching oak-eggar moths David Sneap
Dunnock singing at night Eric Hardy, N. E. Gammon
Cutaneous diseases in a ringed Dunnock population Dr Barbara K. Snow
Goldcrest imitating other species’ calls Trevor J. James
Spotted Flycatcher attacking grey squirrel Neil P. Dummigan
Great Tit unhooking nut-bag David G. P. Chatfield
Call of Great Grey Shrike David Kramer
Behaviour of Magpies feeding on backs of large mammals David Wilkinson
Magpies apparently taking food from cattle P.J. Oliver
Citril Finches and Crossbills eating minerals M. P. Frost
Seventy-five years ago . . .
Letters
How many bird species in the world? 5. N. Adams
Possible passage route of Fair Isle Yellow-browed Bunting Norman Elkins
Ship-assisted passage Steve N. G. Howell
Announcements
Special Thailand ‘package’ for ‘BB’ readers
Extra baggage allowance on Thai Airways International
'Mystery Photographs Book’
‘The “British Birds” List of Birds of the Western Palearctic’
Custom-printed, personal 'British Birds’ indexes 1946-83
Front covers for sale
Bird Photograph of the Year
Best recent black-and-white bird-photographs
Bird Illustrator of the Year
The Richard Richardson Award
‘BB’ badges
Collins Publishers
Request
Please use 'British BirdShop’
News and comment Robin Prytherch and Mike Everett
Recent reports Keith Allsopp and lan Dawson
Reviews
Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan. Compact edition by Salim Ali and S. Dillon Ripley
Dr J. T. R. Sharrock
The Birds of the Malay Peninsula, Singapore and Penang by A. G. Glenister P. D. Round
The Birds of the Wetlands by James Hancock Tim biskipp
Line-drawings: 8 Siberian Blue Robin ( Kamol Komolphalin ); 14 Red-flanked Bluetail (Killian Mullamey); 25
Eye-browed Thrush (Kamol Komolphalin ); 27 Black-browed Reed Warbler (Killian Mullamey); 29 Brown
Flycatcher and Dark-sided Flycatcher (Kamol Komolphalin)', 61 Barnacle Geese (Darren Rees); 62 Semi-
palmated Sandpiper (D. Daly); 63 Forster’s Tern (Philip Snow)
Front cover: Smews (Darren Rees): the original drawing of this month’s cover (18.5 X 20.6 cm) is for sale in a
postal auction (see page 56 for procedure)
British Birds
MUSEti*
•o>J
♦wt*.
■: for.
British Birds
Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock
Personal Assistant Sheila D. Cobban Assistant Editors David Christie 8c P. J. Grant
Editorial Board Stanley Cramp, P. J. Grant, Dr M. A. Ogilvie 8c DrJ. T. R. Sharrock
Photographic Consultants Dr R. J. Chandler 8c Don Smith
Rarities Committee P. J. Grant (Chairman), D. J. Britton, A. R. Dean, R. H. Dennis,
D. J. Holman, T. P. Inskipp, P. G. Lansdown, S. C. Madge, R. F. Porter 8c K. E.
Vinicombe; Michael J. Rogers (Honorary Secretary)
Notes Panels behaviour Dr C. J. Bibby, Dr J. J. M. Flegg, Dr C. H. Fry,
Derek Goodwin, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, DrJ. T. R. Sharrock 8c Dr K. E. L. Simmons;
identification P. J. Grant, S. C. Madge, Dr M. A. Ogilvie 8c DrJ. T. R. Sharrock
© British Birds Ltd 1985
Copyright of photographs remains with
photographers. British Birds is
published monthly by British Birds Ltd,
93 High Street, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire
ISSN 0007-0335
Publishing Manager,
Production & Promotion
DrJ. T. R. Sharrock
Circulation Manager
Erika Sharrock
Design
Deborah Cartwright
Advertising
Sandra Barnes
Addresses
Please keep correspondence on different items separate. Please address your
envelope correctly. Please supply SAP, if reply required.
Papers, notes, letters, drawings & photographs for publication DrJ. T. R. Sharrock, Fountains,
Park Lane, B1 unham, Bedford mk44 3nj
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Advertising Mrs Sandra Barnes, BB Advertising, c/o Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham,
Bedford mk44 3nj. Phone'. Tiptree (0621 ) 815085
Bird news Jor ‘ Recent reports ’Ian Dawson & Keith Allsopp, c/o RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy,
Bedfordshire SG 19 2dl. Phone (outside office hours): Huntingdon (0480) 214186.
News items Jor ‘News and commend Mike Everett & Robin Prytherch, 7 Burlington Way,
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Rarity descriptions M. J. Rogers, Flat 4, Pentland Flats, St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly
tr21 Ohy
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British Birds publishes material dealing with original observations on the birds of the west Palearctie. Except lor
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whole or in part to any other journal. Photographs and sketches are welcomed. All contributions should be sub-
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150 00
HABICHT
Diana 1 0 x 40 B
239.00
WSL/M 7 x 42
239.00
WSL/M 10x40
269.00
HARTMANN
Compact 8 x 30
197.60
Compact 8 x 40
234.79
Compact 10x40
234.79
1 BUSHNELL
Explorer 7 x 35
105 00
Explorer 8 x 40
110.00
We also stock: Swift. Kowa. Bresser.
Greenkat, B&L, Mirador, Pentax. etc.
Kowa Observation 35 x 150
and Stand 5,945
TELESCOPES
Spacemaster Zoom
£
Phone
Spacemaster 22 x 60
for price
Eye Pieces 15x to 60x
29 00
Camera Adaptor
22.00
Case for Spacemaster
15.00
Mirador 15x-60 x 60
174 95
Case for Mirador
1500
Kowa TS-1 Body
119 00
Kowa TS-2 Body
96 60
Eye Pieces 15x to 60x from 26 45
Case for TS-1
60.00
Case for TS-2
15.00
Kowa TSN-1 Body
Phone
Kowa TSN-2 Body
for price
Eye Pieces 20x 25x 40x
and 20x-60x Zoom
Optolyth 22 x 60
145.00
Optolyth 30 x 75
239 00
Optolyth 30 x 80
273 00
Habicht 30 x 75 C/F
339 00
Mirador 30x75
139 00
Steiner 24 x 80
212.95
Bauch & Lomb
420.00
Criterion 4000
Mirror Scope 40x
For top quality high
power
observation the Criterion can be used
with Kowa Eye Pieces, eg Kowa
20 x WA gives approx. 65x
TELESCOPE AND TRIPOD
OUTFITS
If you purchase a Telescope and
Tripod at the same time we can offer
you a very special price
Phone for a quote1
TRIPODS & ACCESSORIES
Slik Gazelle
28.95
Slik 35S
34 95
Slik 35D
38 95
Slik Master D2
49.95
Slik SL67
74.95
Slik Tripod Strap
495
Slik Tripod Case
876
Car Window Mount
17 00
Universal Mount
17.50
Binocular Lanyards, leather
2.00
Rainguards from
100
CAMERA LENSES
We have in stock a number of
catadioptic long focal length lenses,
e.g. Sigma & Tamron AV in most
fittings.
Phone for details.
All equipment sent on
14 days
approval upon receipt
remittance.
of full
BUY A SCOPE AND WIN A ZEISS!
Order a Telescope from us value £100 or over and you will be auto-
matically entered in our April Draw, the lucky winner receiving a West
Zeiss 10 x 40 BGAT. ABSOLUTELY FREE This offer is exclusive to "BB"
readers and you will only enter the draw if this portion of our advert
accompanies your order (photo copy accepted).
Offer runs January 1st to March 31st. Siee May issue for winner
Please add £2.00 P&P if ordering by mail.
Prices correct 5.12 84
(D445)
vrj 4
BINOCULARS AND TELESCOPES
o
■Hi
REPAIRED ON THE PREMISES
i
TELESCOPES
Optolyth, Kowa, Bushnell, Swift,
Mirador, Opticron, Televari
BINOCULARS
Zeiss Jena, AJpin, Swift, Panorama,
Opticron, Helios, Mirador
Fast mail order service.
Easy access to M6 & M62.
14 day approval.
Callers welcome.
COMPETITIVE PRICES
Phone or write for details now:
FIRECREST
8 Chapelcross Road, Fearnhead,
Warrington, Cheshire WA2 OPP
Phone: Padgate (0925) 817874
(D293)
Direct from
Importers
Century Optical Co. Ltd.,
3 Manor House Drive,
London NW6 7DE.
Tel: 01-451 1351.
No House Calls.
The famous telescopes made in
West Germany
B. Nickel 1 5-60x w. case
£143.75
Televari 25-60x w. case
£149.50
Suitable for telephotography
and astronomy. (D460)
i i
EXPLOR ACION ESPANA
THE SPANISH WILDLIFE TOUR 1985
Enjoy 12 days of Central and Southern Spain led by professional Spanish
Naturalists. The small party vvill have privileged access to private sanctuaries
and estates. It will visit DONANA and enjoy comfortable accommodation in
private hunting lodges.
U.K. Consultant: Tony Soper
Exploracion Espana, 18 Bromley Gardens, Tel: 0582-864540
Houghton Regis, Dunstable, Beds. Telex: 826314 BUSAID G.
(D430)
u
KAY OPTICAL SERVICING
for
BINOCULARS and TELESCOPES
REPAIRS to all types of instruments carried out on the premises. Service
to the Naturalist for over 23 years ensures you of a high standard.
Estimates free.
SALES (some examples). Prices correct at 5/1 /85.
BINOCULARS (with cases)
Habicht 10x40 WM
£239.00
Zeiss 1 0x40 BGAT
Zeiss 8x20 B
£350.00
£153.00
Magnon8x20RP
£69.00
Zeiss 10x25 B
£165.00
TELESCOPES
Zeiss 7x42 BGAT
£365.00
Optolyth 30x75 GA with case
£239.00
Zeiss 8x30 BGAT
£305.00
Optolyth 30x80 GA with case
Optima Super 60 (eg 30x60)
Piccolo (eg 40x60)
£273.00
£135.00
£90.00
Part Exchange possible. Mail/Phone Order service (Access and Visa)
Add £2.50 p&p. 01 -648 8822 (24 hr answering)
89B, London Road*, Morden, Surrey
*The A24. We are opposite the Midland Bank. ,n4(-4
Founded 1758
COX & KINGS
SPECIAL INTEREST
HOLIDAYS
TUNISIA FOR BIRDS
Tunisia, with its rich and varied birdlife, natural beauty and fascinating
history, is an ideal birdwatching holiday destination. The northern area is
typically Mediterranean with fertile arable land, oak forests, maquis, lakes
and a superb coastline. Here we shall visit the internationally important
LAKE ICHKEUL, the CAP BON PENINSULA for migrants and the
impressive mountain at ZAQHOUAN. The semi-desert and desert areas
of the south are home to a wide variety of birds and mammals and we will
visit several different parts in search of them.
Join Mike Kendall from 20th APRIL-4th MAY on this exciting tour.
For further information and brochure, please contact:
Cox & Kings Special Interest Holidays Ltd
46 Marshall Street, London W1 V 2PA. Telephone: 01-439 3380
For general information on Tunisia, please contact the Tunisian Tourist Office,
7a Stafford Street, London W1 . Tel: 01 -499 2234.
Agent of Cox & Kings Travel, ATOL 484 D456
iii
CYGNUS WILDLIFE HOLIDAYS
Malaysia March 17-31 - £1700
Including a visit to Taman Negara, the most magnificent jungle habitat in Southeast Asia.
Jordan April 14-30 £890
A spring visit to this fascinating country which promises a wide range of Desert species
and palearctic migrants during a tour which includes Azraq Oasis, Petra and almost a
week on the Red Sea coast at Aqaba.
Eastern Turkey May 4-19 £745
Bald Ibis, White-headed Duck, Lammergeyer, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, White-throated
Robin and Cinereous Bunting are just a few of the species likely to be seen on this
exciting tour of the lakes, mountains and marshes of Central and Eastern Turkey.
Turkey Botanical Tour May 4-19 £710
A tour designed for amateur botanists and photographers visiting the flower-filled
hillsides and meadows of Cappadocia, the Taurus mountains, Mediterranean Coast
and Istanbul.
Other Cygnus departures during 1985 include Camargue, Soviet Central Asia &
Siberia, Spanish Pyrenees, Swiss Alps, Kenya and Gambia plus:
David Hunt’s Scilly Isles Holidays April-September — one week
Wildlife safaris on the fabulous Isles of Scilly led by the island’s resident natural history
expert.
For further details contact: PAUL DUKES, Cygnus Wildlife Holidays
96 Fore Street, Kingsbridge, Devon TQ7 1PY. Telephone: 0548 6178
(D458)
Talk to A. R. Hawkins
about Binoculars!
BRITAINS BINOCULAR SPECIALISTS FOR THE
WORLDS TOP MAKES— ORDER BY POST OR
PHONE FROM US IN COMPLETE CONFIDENCE.
PHONE US FOR
Best Makes
Largest Stocks
Fastest Service
By return
Despatch and
^Free Advice
ZEISS WEST THE
WORLD S FINEST!
YOU’VE JUST GOT
TO OWN ONE!
NEW close locus
ZEISS 10 x 40BGA
in stock NOW at
only C3S9.
10x40 BDialvt £3537)0
10x40 BGA Dialyt
£359.00
7x42 BGA Dialyl
£369.00
8 x 30 B Dialyl
£308.00
8x30 BGA Dialyl
£313.00
8x56 BGA Dialyt
£441.00
8 x20 B Minl-Dialyl
£1 56.00
10 x 25 B Mmi-Dlalyt
£171.00
7 x 50 BGA Pea
£455.00
15 x 60 GAT Porro
£675.00
All Zeiss West supplied wilh case.
ZEISS JENA
8x30Jenoplem
£46.95
8 x 30 Deltrinlem ...
£55.95
7x50Jenoplem
£73.95
10x50 Jenoptem
£78.95
10x50Dekarem
£88.95
OPTOLYTH ALPIN
Superb Lightweight
from W. Germany at
Prices.
8x30 BGAAIpin
6 x 40 BGA A pm
tO x 40 BGA
10 x 50 BGA Alpin
12 x 50 BGA Alpin.
7 x 42 BGA Alpin
SWIFT
Audubon 8.5 x 44
Osprey 7.5 x 42 R/A ,
Trilyte 10 x 40 B
HAWK
Models
Sensible
£118
£129
£132
£150
£153
£135
£139.95
£112.90
£109.53
I
Exclusive to A, R. Hawkins, a top
quality high resolution 20-45 x 60
zoom telescope complete with
quality leather case. Only £140.
LEITZ
ALL MODELS STOCKED
8 x 40 B T rmovid £305.00
7 x 42 B Trinovid . £397.00
10 x 40 B Irinovid £399.00
*** TELESCOPES
,
TELESCOPES!
Optolylh 30x80 £273.00
Optolyth 30 x 75 £239.00
Oplolyth 22-60x70 £255.00
Optolyth 30x60 £145.00
Optolyth 22 x 70 £210.00
Spacemasler 20-45 x 60. £1 79.95
Spacemasler 22 x WA 60 £149.95
Bushnell Trophy 16-36 x 50 Rubber Body
Close Focus 20lt £174.95
KowaTSI £125.00
Kowa TS2. £108.00
Kowa Leather Case £24.95
Habichl 25-40 x 75S £385.00
Mirador 30 x 75 R/A £139.95
Habichl 30 x 75 close locus £340.00
Oplocron 20-45 x 60. £120.00
Tamron Zoom 20-60x65 £247.95
15-60x60 Mirador £179.95
Discoverer 15-60x60 £187.95
KowatsN2bOdy £199.95
You can buy In complete confidence.
SLICK D2 TRIPOD
THE tinest tripod lor your
telescope! Extends to a lull 5tt 9in.
weighs only 41b 12oz!
Our Special Price £54.95
Post and Insurance £2.75.
ORDER NOW lor "By Return"
Dispatch, Binoculars and
Telescopes £2.25p post and
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Stamps (50p). For illustrated
Discount Price List and Coloured
Brochures on over 200 Models.
CALLERS WELCOME!
Our Showrooms are only
7 minutes from Ml Exit 15 or 16
and 2 min walk trom railway stn.
Early closing Thursday 1 pm
Prices correct 7th Jan 85
subject to change availability. EAOE
AR HAWKINS
N’PTON
LTD
9 MAREFAIR
NORTHAMPTON NN1 1SR
TELEPHONE 0604/39674 (D461)
IV
( BRANTA iOvDFDS
TRAVEL v WITH v_v SEAWAYS
LIMITED f
BRANTA 1985 BIRDWATCHING HOLIDAYS IN SWEDEN AND THE NORTH SEA
Travel in style by DFDS Seaways and luxury coach for exceptional birding in southern Sweden and
seabird watching in the North Sea. Enjoy seeing birds under expert guidance both at sea and through
the unrivalled Swedish landscape with its lakes, forests and islands. Combine this with delightful
country inns and delicious local food specialities.
15-day Spring Tour (April 14)
See the unique Crane dancing courtship at Hornborgasjon and visit a variety of forest, lake, marsh and island
habitats at a time when returning migrants flood through Scandinavia and breeding gets under way.
Our autumn holidays all include a Seawatch on board in the company ot Peter Harrison, the foremost seabird expert
and author ot the unrivalled field guide.
15-day Autumn Migration Tours with Seawatch (September 1 & 15)
A comprehensive tour of southern Sweden covering the most important migration areas and in particular the
outstanding migrating stages at Falsterbo, at the country's southernmost lip, and on the Baltic island of Oland.
Seawatch in the North Sea when seabird migration is at its peak
8-day Seawatch with Falsterbo Migration Tour (September 15)
The exciting Seawatch in the North Sea with a four day stay at Falsterbo when raptor migration is at its height
And a special short sea birdwatch for both beginner and expert -
3-day Seawatch Cruise with Peter Harrison (September 13)
A short break on board a DFDS Seaways liner to Gothenberg under trie guidance of Peter Harrison, who will give two
talks on identification problems. A most interesting and economical way to study a variety of shearwaters, skuas,
auks and other seabirds.
At all times on land we are guided by local experts with close knowledge of current bird movements.
Send for detailed programme to: Branta Travel Ltd., 20-24 Uxbridge St., London W8 7TA (D448)
BOOKS FOR BIRDWATCHERS
THE HERONS HANDBOOK
James Hancock and James Kushlan.
Paintings by Robert Gillmor and Peter Hay man
The Herons Handbook is an updated and
restructured version of The Herons of the World
first published in 1978. Fully revised both in
content and style, it is more readable and
accurate than its predecessor. The book
contains more information on the behaviour
and habits of herons and includes four new
plates by Robert Gillmor which aid the
identification of the white species around the
world. The species descriptions have been
updated and are accompanied by black and
white distribution maps making The Herons
Handbook an indispensable guide to worldwide
heron watching.
'The Herons Handbook is more likely to achieve
popularity than its forerunner, due not only to
its more attractive pnce, but also to the fact
that it is the direct descendant of the earlier
work. The initial impression on the prospective
reader is very favourable, created by the eye-
catching paintings. Both artists have set a very
high standard with their portrayals of each
species in its natural habitat and it might be
suggested that some of Robert Gillmor's plates
may never be bettered ... All of the world's
herons, 60 species according to the authors'
classification, are both illustrated and covered
in the text, and numerous subspecies are also
discussed in depth . . . The Herons Handbook is
superbly illustrated, with a scholarly text
containing the very latest information on the
heron family. It is, in evert- wav, a fine book,
and will enjoy a wide appeal. Peter Lansdown,
British Birds
' ... no ornithologist could fail to appreciate
the regiments of white herons that Robert
Gillmor has painted, . . . The Herons Handbook
will probably tempt even the most penny
will probably tempt even t
pincning of professionals.'
Stephen Mills, New Scientist
£16.95 0-7099-3816-4
228 pages
Available from British
BtrdShop and all good
booksellers.
Croom^pHelm
Birdwatcher’s
Logbook
New Edition
The second edition of the Birdwatcher’s
Logbook contains a list of 762 species
with their scientific names and new
sections for garden birds and dates ol
migrants. 36 pages of monthly columns,
plus columns for holidays, annual and
life lists and 1 59 pages for daily records.
208 pages in attractively bound cover
22 X 14cms. Price £4.95 including
postage and packing. From:
Coxton Publications,
23 West Hill Rd,
Foxton, Cambridge CB2 6SZ.
(D373)
BINOCULARS
and
TELESCOPES
FREE Information Pack on request.
Deal with birdwatchers who
understand your requirements.
All major products from stock,
at discount prices.
77 mm Kowa’s now again in stock.
TONY & ENID MURPHY
FOCALPOINT
14 Cogshall Lane, Comberbach,
Northwich, Cheshire CW9 6BS
Telephone: 0606 891098
CLOSED (except for brochure distribution)
from 20th February to 7th March inc.
Gone Binding!
D459
\
EXPLORE TWICKERS WORLD OF BIRDS
Zimbabwe Bird Tour — Departure August 1985. Escorted by Rhett Butler, the only
licensed ornithological guide in Zimbabwe. We have extended the tour to 19 days and
reduced the price from £1,870 to £1,590.
Madagascar, Mauritius and Reunion — Departures 18th November 1985 and 17th
November 1986 (20 days). Under the auspices of the World Wildlife Fund. Tour escort
Quentin Bloxham from the Jersey Zoo. Price £2,250.
Wildlife of India and Nepal — Departures 26th January and 14th December 1985.
Our tour may not manage all 2,000 species of birds but will try (22 days). Price £1,695.
Costa Rica Natural History Tour — Departures on
Thursdays throughout the year offering an expedition in
an unsually unspoilt and beautiful country at a realistic
price (13 days) £997.
Sri Lanka Wildlife and Cultural Tour — Departures
10th February and 21st July 1985. Escorted (16 days).
Price £1,245.
Join Tony Pym in search of the Birds of Paradise in
Papua New Guinea departures 27th July 1985 and 26th
July 1986 (18 days) Price £3,295.
Write or telephone Jor our worldwide 1985/86 brochure.
Twickers World
•WILDLIFE, CULTURAL & WILDERNESS JOURNEYS-
Twickers World Brochure — 01-892 8164,
22 Church Street. Twickenham TW1 3NW. Tel: 01-892 7606. Telex: 25780
A Field Guide to the
of British and European
BIRDS
Colin Harrison
A Field Guide
to the Nests,
Eggs and
Nestlings of
British and
European Birds
COLIN HARRISON
1 985 impression with
new information on
over 1 30 species
Nowin limpback at
only £5.95
A book for bird-
lovers, not for
egg-collectors
This field guide gives an account of all the birds that
breed in Britain and Europe, the Middle East and North
Africa. For each species the text describes the habitat
and nest site, the nest itself, the egg and the nestling,
the breeding season, clutch size, incubation and
nestling periods, the development of the young and
the care it is given by its parents.
Sixteen colour plates by
* Philip Burton show the
, * young of 145 species, and there are 48 plates
of colour photographs of eggs.
V/ . . the overall effect is excellent.'
Dr. Malcolm Ogilvie, British Birds
'A remarkably fine achievement. Both text and
illustrations are instructive, accurate and
stimulating.' Professor K. H. Voous
'This book teaches us about one of the most fascinating
aspects of bird life . . Professor Jean Dorst
432pp, 64 colour plates, numerous line-drawings
A This book is available through British BirdShop
,A
♦
( D+6.
Collins
Ml
Mirador 1560
(Made in Japan)
15-60 x zoom £195.00 rrp
Case £ 17.16 rrp
Camera Adapter £ 10.35 rrp
► Mordant Definition
► Intense Luminosity
^ Unalloyed Pleasure
For a full description of the photographic and
other applications of this remarkable instrument,
apply to:
lUlirorlsw
■ win UVIV/I
Tokyo London Pans Los Angeles
Purveyors of fine optics to the world since 1947
55-61 Brewery Road, London N7 9QU Telephone 01 -609 3013
(D41 6)
viii
British Birds
VOLUME 78 NUMBER 2 FEBRUARY 1985
MUSEUM
‘NAZI :{M Hisrom
4 FEB 1985
Rare breeding
birds in the
United
Kingdom
in 1982
Compiled by Robert Spencer and the Rare Breeding Birds Panel
This report continues the sequence begun in 1973. It is based on the same
working methods and follows the same conventions. The preparation of
it would not have been possible without the unstinting co-operation of
numerous county recorders, and the Panel acknowledges with gratitude its
deep indebtedness to them. It is hoped that this report, one function of
which is to place each county’s records in a national context, will provide
some small reward lor their labour.
Throughout Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the response from
recorders has been almost total. W ith but one exception, the Panel believes
that those counties for which no breeding records are listed here had no
records to report. The exception referred to is Sussex, the recording com-
mittee of which county being what might be described, by analogy, as
conscientious objectors. The Panel ventures to hope that it will eventually
win their confidence, and hence their co-operation. It should perhaps be
mentioned that some counties do, from time to time, withhold information
relating to some particular species. This is. in fact, the consistent policy of
the Devon Bird Watching and Preservation Society which, whilst co-oper-
ating lovally with the Panel in all other respects, thinks it desirable to
withhold all information which might reveal how many Hobbies Falco
subbuteo breed in its county. Although it is the policy of the Panel to publish
as much information as seems consistent with the well-being of the birds
[Bnt. Buds 78: 69-92. February 1 985;
69
70
Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1982
concerned, the Panel has always been — and remains — ready to accept
records on the basis that they should not be published (whether in detail or
at all) until authorised to do so by the county concerned.
It is obvious from correspondence which the Panel has been having with
county recorders that there is widespread concern for the safety of rare
breeding birds, and not just because they are so obviously at risk from
egg-collectors and people taking young from the nest. Several recorders
have expressed anxiety about the growing numbers of birdwatchers who,
apparently, ‘clo the rounds’ of rare breeding species to get them on their
year lists. The Panel members do not decry twitching and recognise that it
can be an exciting and at times very skilful field sport. But if ever, or
whenever, it jeopardises the breeding of those birds, the Panel believes that
to be totally unacceptable to the large but unvociferous majority of caring,
thinking birdwatchers.
Phis report highlights, as perhaps no other one has done, the ever-
present and totally reprehensible persecution of birds of prey. The theft of
Peregrines Falco peregrinus, a species not covered by the Panel, is well known,
but surely must never become accepted through custom. In this report, the
reader is referred to the entries for Osprey Pandion haliaetus, lor Red Kite
Milvus milvus and, above all. for Goshawk Accipiter gentilis. Some people are
evidently pursuing their illegal interests with a ruthlessness more charac-
teristic of the worst excesses of the Victorian era: we use the word ‘ruthless-
ness' from the conviction that it cannot be mere thoughtlessness. It is partly
with conservation in mind that the report sometimes uses the modern,
larger administrative units rather than the old counties (e.g. ‘Highland
Region’ rather than 'Inverness’). This practice may have to be extended in
the interests of security, and the Panel anticipates that there will be changes
in the style of presentation of its eleventh report, for 1983, now in prep-
aration.
During 1982, the membership of the Panel was unchanged from 1981.
being Dr L. A. Batten, R. H. Dennis, Ian Prestt, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock (Hon.
Secretary) and Robert Spencer. Whilst its work is supported, both finan-
cially and in other respects, by the NCC, the RSPB, the B I'O and British
Birds, the Panel is autonomous. Members are appointed as individuals,
albeit with a special knowledge of, but not directly responsible to, the
sponsoring bodies.
Brief comments on the year 1982
In a year with many encouraging features, the most novel was the first
known breeding of a pair of Scarlet Rosefinches Carpodacus erythrinus. Black-
necked Grebes Podiceps nigricollis were reported from more sites than ever
before in recent times, and the Garganey Anas querquedula had by far its best
year since the species was added to the Panel’s list. Marsh Harriers Circus
aeruginosas and Ospreys Pandion haliaetus continued the steady consolidation
of their position. On paper. Redwings Turdus iliacus had their best year since
the Panel was formed, but the increased numbers may be partly attri-
butable to detailed fieldwork, especially in Sutherland. Getti’s Warblers
Cettia cetti seem to have survived well in a winter with a severer than average
71
Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1982
cold spell. In contrast, at least locally, the Dartford W arbler Sylvia undata
s tillered considerable depletion. For the first time in recent years, there w as
reasonably comprehensive cover ol potential Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus
pal us his terrain, with not discouraging results. A verv thorough survev of
the Carl Bunting Emberiza cir/us provided an invaluable new datum line lor
future comparisons, but served to emphasise the extent of the species’
contraction of range. I his is, alas!, a long-term and well documented trend.
For many species, the Panel s work tends to reveal the considerable extent
to which population levels may fluctuate from year to vear. The value of
such information is self-evident, given a need to 'keep a finger on the pulse’
of national populations. Indeed, the EEC Directive on \\ i Id Birds correctlv
regards many of these populations as being European, and requires
member states to monitor their numbers, ft is for this reason that the Panel
is seeking the advice of various experts about the problems of monitoring
such difficult species as Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnernus ail'd Dotterel
Charadrius monnellus, the data submitted for these in 1982 being fragmentary
Systematic list
W e have received no relevant 1982 records for the following species:
Great Northern Diver Gavia immer
Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus
Pink-footed Goose . 1 user brachvrhvnchus
Scaup Aythya marila
King Kider Somateria spectabilis
Smew Mergus albellus
Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus
Sanderling Ca/idris alba
Pectoral Sandpiper (.. melanotos
Jack Snipe L ymnooyptes minimus
Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
Spotted Sandpiper Ac til is macularia
Turnstone A return a interpres
Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus
Black 1 ern Chlidomas niger
\ loopoe i piipci epops
Bee-eater Merops apiaster
Shore Lark Eremophila alpestris
Citrine W agtail Motacilla citreola
Bluet liroat Luscinia svecica
Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus
( ireat Grey Shrike Lanins excubitor
\\ oodchat Shrike L. senator
Lapland Bunting Calcarius lapponicus
Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena
Two sites, invok ing two individuals.
Essex One site: one individual summered.
County B One site: adult, in breeding plumage, 12th April to 8th June.
1981 Northamptonshire One site: adult in breeding plumage and displaying, 4th Max to
24th May.
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
Sites
0
1
*)
5
0
1
3
3
2
Pairs
Individuals in
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
summer
0
1
*)
5
2
0
1
4
2
2
Presence in breeding plumage well into the summer suggests that
breeding may yet occur in Britain.
Slavonian Grebe Podiceps aunt us
25 sites: 51-59 pairs breeding.
Inverness-shire 18 sites: (l)-( 18) a total of 42- fit) pairs, rearing 14-19 young. Some regular
sites were not visited.
Kent One site: male in breeding plumage 19th to 20th April.
72 Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1982
Perthshire Four sites: (1) pair first noted 9th June, one apparently sitting 1 1 th July; (2) pair
9th June; (3) one 9th April; (4) one pair.
Strathspey Two sites: four pairs reared 2-5 young.
County A One site: about four pairs reared seven young.
1975 Inverness-shire addition 11 sites: 23 pairs present, of which 15, and probably 18,
nested. Six pairs certainly successful, probably 1 1. Eight young known to have hedged, and
probably 13.
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
Sites
22
25
23
23
15
18
27
36
35
25
Pairs proved
breeding
52
58
54
70
42
37
58
53
52
51
Pairs possibly
breeding
53
63
66
75
51
55
77
80
71
59
Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis
Twelve sites: 11-21 pairs breeding.
Central Scotland Two sites: (1) three pairs,
with five young, 7th August; (2) pair in
August, but no young seen.
Gwynedd One site: adult 30th April to 5th
August.
Northumberland One site: five pairs bred,
with broods of two, three, four and five on 31st
May.
County A One site: adult with one juvenile on
4th and 1 1 th September.
County B One site: two pairs bred, broods of
one and three seen.
County J Six sites: ( 1 ) adult in breeding
plumage 8th August, two moulting adults 30th
September, last seen 18th October; (2) single
adult in breeding plumage on 15th August; (3)
pair in breeding plumage 14th March; (4) single 13th June, three adults on 20th June, 23rd
June and 16th July (two displaying on first date) with moulting adult on 27th July; (5) one
from 27th July to 8th August, when moulting; (6) moulting adult on 14th August.
County K One site: single adult on several dates between 25th April and 24th Julv, two adults
24th to 28th July, then single adult until 2nd August.
1981 County A 1 wo sites: ( 1 ) at least two pairs with well-grown young on 25th August; (2)
pair and an immature on 15th April.
1981 County J One site: two adults in breeding plumage 5th August, staying to moult and
last seen on 1 1 th October.
1981 County K One site: one pair seen regularly displaying, with three adults present 9th to
27 th June.
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
Sites
4
2
4
2
7
6
6
9
7
12
Pairs proved
breeding
18
15
2
10
11
13
12
1 1
5
1 1
Pairs possibly
breeding
19
18
1 1
1 1
16
15
14
21
12
21
The largest number of sites ever reported to the Panel and at least 25
73
Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1982
young hatched. I he year 1981 now stands out as poor in an otherwise stable
sequence.
Black-browed Albatross Diomedea melanophris
One site: one again summered with Gannets Sula bassana.
Shetland One site: adult from 14th February to l Oth September.
I his was an exceptionally long stay, Oth February being a week earlier
than the previous earliest return.
Bittern Bo taurus stellaris
15 sites: 1-35 pairs breeding.
Glamorgan, West One site: single on 18th July.
Kent One site: single booming briefly 16th May and 2nd June.
Lancashire One site: 12 booming.
Norfolk Seven sites: ten booming, but only lor two were there sufficient indications of
breeding to classify them as ‘probable’.
Suffolk Four sites: 10-1 I booming, one pair known to have bred.
County D One site: one booming in May.
1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982
Sites 18 17 21 19 16 15
Pairs proved breeding 0 2 14 1 1
Booming males 43 47 51 48 47 35
Two recorders attributed the fall in numbers to severe weather in winter
1981/82.
Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus
1980 Hertfordshire correction The record published (Brit. Birds 75: 157) was for 1979. not
1980.
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
One site: one summered.
Glamorgan One site: adult present 30th May to 10th August.
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus
One site: two feral pairs breeding.
Dunbartonshire One site: two feral pairs nested, one raising two young.
American Black Duck Anas rubnpes
Two sites: single male and single female, both breeding with Mallards Anas
platyrhynchos .
Gwynedd One site: male all year, six American Black Duck X Mallard hybrids on 19th
November, breeding considered possible as only three hybrids were located in 1981.
Scilly One site: female paired with male Mallard, four young seen in July. In addition two
apparent hybrids, one male and one female, were present in spring.
The reports suggest that a small hybrid population is becoming
established at each site, but, without in-breeding, the American Black
Duck genes will become increasingly diluted.
Pintail Anas acuta
18 sites: 7-32 pairs breeding.
74 Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1982
Caithness I luce sites: ( I) female on seven eggs on 3rd May; (2) female and three young in
June; (3) pair present 14th August.
Cambridgeshire One site: eight males and one female on" 18th May, one pair only on 27th
April, breeding not suspected.
Humberside One site: pair present 14th May to 17th June, then female only to 29th July.
Kent Three sites: ( 1 ) up to three during May, two in June, four in July, three in August; (2)
pair on 22nd April and 5th May . male on 20th May; (3) female on 15th April.
Lancashire 4 wo sites: ( 1) two males and one female in late May, three birds in June, one to
three in July; (2) nine males and two females on 14th June.
Northamptonshire One site: pair from 15th April to 13th May . then one bird to 16th May .
Orkney Four sites: ( 1 ) female with five young, female with two young, probable brood of four,
all on 16th July ; (2) female with four y oung on 20th J une; (3) nest w ith eight eggs on 6th May;
(4) two females giving vigorous distraction display on 24th June.
Suffolk: Two sites: (1) pair until 18th May ; (2) pair until 23rd May .
Wigtownshire One site: three pairs probably bred.
1981 Northamptonshire One site: one pair 10th May and 16th June.
1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982
Sites
3
7
1 1
10
15
10
19
15
16
18
Pairs proved
breeding
3
10
12
6
10
7
10
9
8
7
Pairs possibly
breeding
5
1 1
25
16
26
23
41
25
31
32
Temporary occupation of a breeding site, often for only one year, seems
characteristic of the species in its present stage of colonisation.
Garganey Anas querquedula
66 sites: 10-94 jjairs breeding.
Avon One site: three pairs in late April, at least one pair present throughout the breeding
season.
Bedfordshire 1 wo sites: ( 1 ) one pair present from 27th March to 20th April; (2) a pair from
29th March to 9th April and a single on 27th and 28th June.
Buckinghamshire 1 wo sites: ( 1 ) pair from 26th March to 4th May . then male only until 4th
J une, and male from 5th July to 21st September; (2) four males and three females on 2nd April,
pair 1 9th April to 12th May, then male only until 2 1st May, three birds on 19th August. Single
males at two other localities, on 23rd April and 27th May, were regarded as migrants.
Cambridgeshire three sites: (1) two pairs present throughout April and male on 3rd June;
(2) ten males on 18th May, one brood in June; (3) a pair on 19th April.
Cheshire Five sites: (1) pair on 27th March; (2) male and two females on 12th April; (3)
probable pair on 1.3th April; (4) male on 1 0th July; (5) two immatures on 15th Jul\ .
Cornwall One site: one pair raised at least fiv e young.
Derbyshire One site: pair arrived 27 th April, female often absent, male last seen in late June.
Devon Four sites: ( 1 ) present from 4th April to 8th May, at least two males and two females
involved; (2) up to seven, including five males, present from 25th March to 17th April; (3) pair
present 27th March to 20th April; (4) pair(s) present on 1st and I 1th April, thought to be
passage birds.
Dorset Two sites: (1) pair reared four young; (2) two males and one female, with three
juveniles, on 15th June.
Essex Two sites: (1) male on 22nd May; (2) male on 1st June.
Glamorgan, Mid One site: male on 13th June.
Gloucestershire One site: pair present 19th to 28th April.
Kent I 'wo sites: (1) single male(s) on dates between 28th March and 28th May; (2) single
male(s) 15th May to 24th July, two males on 3 1st July.
Lancashire 1 wo sites: ( I ) two pairs 6th to 10th April, one pair remaining until 13th May, two
males and one female on 17th May, reverting to single pair until 16th June; (2) male 28th to
3 1st May.
75
Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1982
Lothians One site: male 2nd to 5th June.
Norfolk 1 7 sites: ( 1 )-( 17) one to four individuals at each on various dates, one pair know n to
have raised four young.
Northamptonshire Nine sites: (l)-(9) one to three individuals at each, including seven
apparent pairs, but no evidence of breeding.
Nottinghamshire Number of sites not reported. About eight assumed passage birds, of
whidi one or two may have summered.
Staffordshire ( )ne site: pair present 28th March to 23rd Mav. believed to have attempted
breeding but failed.
Suf folk Six sites: ( 1 ) nest with six eggs, outcome tin know n; (2) pair present; ( 7 1 pair bred; i f )
two pairs bred; ( .)) two pairs thought to have bred; ( (i) male present on 23rd May.
Worcestershire 1 wo sites: (1)(2) two birds at each throughout the breeding season, but
evidence of breeding lacking.
1981 Cheshire Six sites: ( 1 )-(6) only at one site was a pair present, and displav ing in June, no
further evidence of breeding.
1981 Lincolnshire/South Humberside I liree sites: ( 1 )-(3) thought probable that one pair
bred at each.
1981 Northamptonshire One site: pair in eclipse plumage on lltli June.
1981 Yorkshire, West One site: pair present Kith April to flth May. Almost eertainlv
attempted to breed but thought to have failed.
1980
1981
1982
Sites
34
48
66
Pairs proved breeding
4
8
10
Pairs possibly breeding
34
38
94
I lie Garganey is prone to occasional 'good' y ears and 1982 was obviously
one of them, with the highest totals so far recorded.
Common Scoter Me/anitta nigra
1 7 sites: 4-1 12 pairs breeding.
Argyll ( )ne site: female and two voting in August.
Caithness 1 wo sites: ( 1 ) two females on 2 1th July, female with brood ol five on 20th Julv: ( 2)
female with brood of three on 20th July.
Dunbartonshire/Stirlingshire ( )nc site: two pairs and additional male on 27th May . three
pairs on 19th to 20th June, but no young located.
Co. Fermanagh fwo sites: (1) two pairs; (2) 72 pairs, six broods seen totalling 22 voung.
earliest and latest known broods being 1 0th July and 27th Julv
Inverness-shire Seven sites: ( 1 ) -( 7) five pairs prov ed breeding, with broods of two. three,
five, seven and seven; in all. 18 ‘possibles’.
Perthshire C )ne site: five males and six females on 2 1st May . but none seen on 20th Julv.
Ross-shire fwo sites: (1) female on 2nd June, male and female on 9th June; (2) three pairs
display ing on 3th June.
Shetland t )ne site: three males and two females, but no young seen.
1973
1974
1973
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
Sites
13
13
12
14
13
9
17
10
6
17
Pairs proved
breeding
4
10
32
22
24
16
98
7
5
14
Pairs possiblv
breeding
133
142
159
159
156
141
128
1 13
82
1 12
As two localities were reported to have been inadequately covered, the
improvement on the 1981 figure, both in sites and numbers, would appear
to be genuine.
76
Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1982
Goldeneye Bucephala clangula
1 1 sites: 27-57 pairs breeding.
Cumbria Four sites: (1) male 23rd May to 1st August; (2) male and female on 6th June; (3)
female 1 1th June to 10th August; (4) two females on 2nd May.
Essex Four sites: ( 1 ) two males and one female summered; (2) one injured male summered;
(3) female on 2nd June; (4) male on 5th June.
Lancashire One site: a female summered.
Perthshire Two sites: (1) tw o on 8th May; (2) one on 3rd June.
County B Eggs laid in 44 nests, all but two in nest-boxes. Only 27 clutches were incubated,
possible because of inclement weather; 26 nests were successful with 2204- young. In a census
attempted in late July, 76 fledged young were located, indicating good survival.
1981 Cheshire One site: female summered.
1981 Northamptonshire One site: female present 27th June and 2nd July.
1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982
Sites
1
5
3
8
12
18
17
1 1
13
1
Pairs prov ed
breeding
3
3
3
5
6
12
22
26
29
27
Pairs possibly
breeding
3
7
6
12
14
27
43
37
54
0/
Young hatched
22
19
10
46
1 1
40
1 10
165
286
220
Although late spring/early summer occurrences are noted for English
counties it would be unwise to attach too much significance to them. In
Scotland, owing to the number of suitable localities, the difficulty of the
terrain and a different attitude towards recording casual observations,
many comparable occurrences must go undetected or unreported.
Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus
Two sites: 10-14 pairs present in breeding season.
Southern England The population of the main area is reported to hav e been stable for some
years at 10-12 pairs.
Nottinghamshire One site: four birds, one pair attempting to breed. Failure was attributed
to wet weather.
Excluding the main population referred to above, the position is as
follows:
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978 1979 1980
1981
1982
Sites
1
3
2
7
8
8 J
1 3
8
2
Pairs proved
breeding
0
1
0
0
2
1 1
2
2
1
Pairs possibly
breeding
1
3
2
7
8
8 •
1 4
9
2
A marked decline in the number of counties, but whether this represents
fewer birds or a failure to report is not known.
Red Kite Milvus milvus
47 or 48 pairs: 23 young reared by 19 pairs.
Central Wales A total of 47 pairs (possibly 48 if one nest was not a repeat after failure) of
which 38 (or 39) laid eggs. A total of 19 pairs bred successfully, Hedging 23 young. An
additional 22 unmated birds, so minimum April population in breeding area was 1 16.
Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1982
77
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
198:
Total pairs
26
32
32
36
34
39
42
42
46
47
Breeding pairs
26
27
28
29
28
32
30
29
32
38
Successful pairs
10
9
15
15
12
13
14
21
18
19
\ oung reared
14
12
24
18
17
22
18
27
21
23
The figures suggest a very small reduction from the 120 recorded in 1981,
following a severe winter. 1 fie number ol breeding pairs was, however, the
highest this century. Three nests were robbed bv egg-collectors.
Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus
32 sites: 63 young reared.
Dyfed One site: pair seen on severa occasions
from end of April to first week in May; one
female nearby on 15th May.
Essex: Three sites: (1) female most of the
summer; (2) female 9th June; (3) female 12th
June.
Glamorgan, Mid One site: immature male
23rd March, female on 12 dates from 12th
April to 18th May.
Glamorgan, West Two sites: (1) immature
femalejanuary to March, lemale 29th April to
14th August, immature male 18th October to
end of year; (2) immature 8th April to 21st
/C/U///KI U _ — / June, two immature females 10th April,
2- , immature male occasional from 12th May to
end of y<^r, two 10th September.
Humberside One site: pair reared two young.
Huntingdonshire 1 wo sites: ( 1 ) singles 1 8th May. 2nd and 6th June; (2) female on six dates
15th to 26th June.
Kent 1 wo sites: (1) female 30th-3 1st May; (2) male and female on several dates in April, three
females in May, single male and three females all June, male and three females on 4th Julv.
three males and one female on 25th July.
Lincolnshire/South Humberside One site: pair possibh bred, two juveniles/immatures
present July to September.
Norfolk I wel\ e sites: ( 1 )-( 1 2) 14 males and 19 females nested or attempted nesting, rearing
42 young to flying stage.
Perthshire One site: one 13th and 14th May.
Suffolk Six sites: (1) two males and three females reared six young; (2) pair reared three
young; (3) three nests produced two. three and five young; (4) pair present throughout
breeding season; (5) pair present 13th May only; (6) hunting female and juvenile 26th and
27th June.
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
Total sites
4
4
8
1 1
14
12
19
32
22
32
Sites with suc-
cessful nests
4
4
3
6
9
9
8
1 1
10
12
Breeding males
4
5
5
13
15
15
24
21
18
20
Breeding females
6
6
7
13
16
16
26
23
22
24
Nests
5
6
/
1 1
15
15
15
22
20
24
Successful nests
5
4
5
9
13
12
12
14
16
24
Voting reared
16
10
18
25
44
34
39
40
49
63
The steady increase in the breeding population, coupled with good
breeding success, must gratify the conservation bodies concerned.
78
Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1982
Montagu’s Harrier Circus py gar gus
Seven sites: 3-8 pairs breeding, at least four young reared.
Derbyshire One site: immature male present Kith June to mid-August.
Huntingdonshire One site: female on three dates injuh and August.
Kent One site: adult female on 18th and 25th May, male in June.
Norfolk One site: male and two females reared four flying young.
Suffolk One site: ‘ring-tail' carrying food on 1 2th July .
County D One site: one pair bred successfulK (number of young not reported).
County M One site: female seen 28th July, unconfirmed reports of more than one bird.
1978 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982
Sites
5
i)
o
4
2
7
4
8
8
7
Pairs proved
breeding
2
0
0
3
i
9
2
2
2
3
Pairs possibly
breeding
5
• >
j
3
5
2
7
4
8
9
8
Young reared
(minimum)
0
0
0
6
0
3
7
4
4
4
The situation seems to be stable, with the potential for a small increase in
the breeding population. Larger modern fields may help the species, but the
early harvesting of silage and hay may well hinder successful breeding.
Goshawk Accipiter gent il is
39 sites: 23-41 jjairs.
Carmarthenshire One site: one pair bred successfulK .
Cheshire One site: sev eral sightings in spring and autumn, but no evidence of attempted
breeding.
Cumbria 1 hree sites: ( 1 ) male, March to May; (2) male on 15th May; (3) male on several
dates in June.
Gwent One site: immature on 31st August.
Lancashire Four sites: ( 1 ) six records of singles in April and one on 13th June; (2) pair seen
displaying in spring; (3) one, possibly two, present in May; (4) evidence of nesting, and pair
with one juvenile in August.
Pembrokeshire ( )nc site: female on 2 1st March and pair displaying in late April.
Somerset Two sites: (1) pair on 16th May; (2) single on 23rd April.
Staffordshire One site: one pair reared young.
Suffolk I wo sites: ( 1 ) male on several occasions in June; (2) pair, said to be nesting.
County C One site: four pairs said to have reared young.
County D Fight sites: (1) female incubating clutch of two eggs, deserted; (2) clutch of four
eggs, from which three young fledged; (3) clutch of four eggs, from which two young fledged;
(4) two or three nests built and lined, but not used, female found dead later; (5) pair present,
but no evidence of nesting; (6) female incubating, but eggs stolen in May; (7) clutch of four
eggs, from which two young fledged; (8) clutch of four eggs, from which two young fledged.
County G Two sites: ( 1 ) pair reared three young, flying 14th July; (2) pair built new nest, but
no eggs laid.
County Q One site: clutch of three eggs, three young fledged.
County W Ten sites: ( 1) at least one bird present, 1981 nest repaired, but probably not used;
(2) clutch of four eggs all hatched, one young died, three young stolen; (3) pair built up nest,
but female died, male moved and remated, new female incubating bv mid-May, but eggs
stolen; (4) pair built and deserted twice, but laid clutch of four eggs in third nest and reared
three young; (5) clutch of four eggs stolen; (6) nest from previous year repaired, but not used;
(7) eggs stolen during incubation; (8) female laid twice, first clutch deserted, second clutch (in
replacement nest) stolen; (9) pair displaying in April, but nest destroyed by person(s)
unknown; ( 10) no evidence of nesting, but female carrying food in latejune.
County Y One site: pair reported to have reared young.
County II One site: one, possibly two, birds summered.
79
Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1982
1980 County D Eight sites: (1) pair hatched young, which were subsequent stolen; (2)
birds present; (3) dutch of lour eggs deserted, female believed shot; ( 4) brood of four reared;
(:>) dutch ol lour eggs, deserted; (6) clutch of four eggs, from w hich two young reared; (7)
c lutc h ol four eggs, from which three young reared; (8) eggs apparently stolen.
1980 County W Seven sites: ( 1) pair had part-completed nest which was not used; (2) eggs,
laid in tefui bished Sparrowhawk nest, stolen; (3) partly incubated eggs stolen; (4) clutch of
two eggs stolen, replacement clutch ol two eggs laid and two voting Hedged; (.”)) first clutch
be lie \ ed taken, repeat clutch ol one successfully incubated, but the voting was taken by a
la It onei , ( b ) nest built, but no eggs laid; (7) clutch ol lour eggs, from which two young reared.
1981 County D Eight sites: (1) new nest apparently not used; (2) clutch ol three eggs stolen;
(•9 Lggs bid but stolen; details ol a repeat nest not known; ( I) clutch ol lour eggs eventually
deserted due to heavy snow; (.)) female sitting, but eggs stolen; |b) c lutc h ol three eggs stolen;
(7) nest found at end ol season, outcome unknow n; (8) pair present, but no nest located.
1981 Cheshire One site: nest robbed of large voting.
1981 County JJ ( )ne site: one bird, believed immature male, on 21st April.
198 1 County P Six sites: ( I ) clutch ol three eggs stolen; (2) c lutc h ol four eggs, from which
l" o young Hedged; (3) partly incubated eggs stolen; (4) clutch ol live eggs stolen; (5) clutch of
two eggs stolen, replacement clutch successfully inc ubated In another nest, .bu t voung later
stolen; (6) clutch of three eggs deserted after a period of bad weather.
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
( lounties
b
10
14
10
15
18
20
20
25
16
Sites
12
20
32
28
33
37
36
II
48
39
Pairs proved
breeding
t>
9
5
12
15
14
21
17
14
23
Pairs possibly
breeding
12
21
34
28
37
to
43
17
49
41
Detailed and very time-consuming checking of nests under licence
reveals a truly shameful degree ol persecution. I he circumstances suggest
that gamekeepers and irresponsible people invoked with illegal trade in
birds of prey for falconry or keeping in captivity are chiefly implicated. But
for their activities, there seems little doubt that the species could quickly
colonise most suitable sites in the country.
Osprey Pandion haliaetus
30 sites: 27 pairs reared a total of 45
young; four, possibly five, clutches
stolen by egg-collectors.
Inverness-shire Loch Garten: pair reared
two young from three eggs.
Perthshire Loch of Lowes: pair reared three
young.
Elsewhere in Scotland 28 pairs: 25 laid eggs
and 19 bred successfully, rearing 40 young.
Known broods Hedging: nine of 3, three of 2,
and seven of 1 .
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
Pairs
16
14
14
14
20
22
25
25
25
30
Successful pairs
10
10
7
10
/
1 1
16
19
20
21
Voting reared
21
20
16
20
13
19
30
41
42
45
80
Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1982
The build-up in numbers continues, but, as with the Goshawk, it is cause
for serious concern that nests are still being robbed.
Hobby Falco subbuteo
202 sites: 97-203 pairs breeding.
Avon Four sites: (1) one pair probably
breeding, adults seen carrying food July/
August; (2) singles on 20th June, 24thjuly and
20th August; (3) one on 3 1st July; (4) singles on
3rd July and 14th August.
Bedfordshire Four sites: (1) pair raised two
young; (2) pair, female seen on old nest; (3)
singles present on several dates to 29th July;
displaying pair on 1st May; (4) one or two seen
on several dates from 22nd April to 8th
September.
Berkshire Five sites: (1) one on 4th July; (2)
one on several dates to 31st July; (3) two seen
. v..:- - on 28th May; (4) one on 29th May; (5) one in
summer.
Buckinghamshire 13 sites: ( 1 )-( 1 3) evidence indicative of successful breeding in five or six
sites, pairs present at two localities (16th May to 7th June and July to August), sightings late
May to early July in five other localities.
Cambridgeshire Three sites: ( 1 ) pair nested; (2) three sightings during June; (3) one on 28th
June.
Cheshire Four sites: ( 1) one on 1st June; (2) two on 29th July; (3) one preying on Swallows
Hirundo rustica at roost for two weeks in late July and early August; (4) one at Swallow roost on
8th September.
Derbyshire One site: seen in each month from May to September, three together in late
August, breeding thought probable.
Dorset 15 sites: (1)-(15) 15 pairs, of which 12 reared a total of about 20 young; one, possibly
two nests failed.
Essex One site: one pair reared three young.
Gloucestershire Two sites: ( 1 ) pair fledged one, possibly two young; (2) breeding suspected.
The species is said to be under-recorded in the county.
Hampshire 48-49 sites: (l)-(49) 32 pairs bred in the county; an additional 16-17 sites were
frequented by Hobbies on dates indicative of possible breeding; known broods fledging from
nests in northeast: one of 3, three of 2 and one of 1 .
Hertfordshire Ten sites: (1) pair bred, two juveniles seen 25th August; (2) pair with three
young in nest in July; (3) pair from 7th May to 3rd June, with at least one juvenile on 29th
August; (4) single on 11th May and family party of four on 4th September; (5) singles on 2nd
and 3rd May and 10th August to 21st September, with adult and immature present on 15th
September; (6) single on 30th May; (7) single on 10th June; (8) single on 27th June; (9) single
on 3rd July; (10) single, calling anxiously, on 1st August.
Huntingdonshire Five sites: ( 1) one pair, family party seen on several occasions in August
and September; (2) pair displaying on 15th June; (3) male chasing Carrion Crow Corvus corone
on 7th June; (4) two or three on 16th July, including one juvenile; (5) pair fledged two young
about 14th August.
Kent Seven sites: (1) one, possibly immature, on 13thjune; (2) one on 13thjune; (3) singles
on 30th June and 22nd July; (4) one on 20th June; (5) one 25th August; (6) pair reared two
young; (7) two singles, one in June and one in July.
Leicestershire Three sites: ( 1 ) pair, three immatures observed 1 4th August; (2) pair fledged
three juveniles on 17th August; (3) adult feeding well grown young on 22nd August.
Northamptonshire 1 4 sites: ( 1 ) pair fledged three young; ( 2 ) - ( 3 ) pairs fledged two or three
young; (4) adult ‘teaching’ juveniles on 16th August; (5) family party of two adults and two
juveniles on 4th September in area where Hobbies seen all summer; (6) pair displaying during
3rd May to 8th May, three in August and September; (7)-( 1 4) regular sightings during
81
Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1982
breeding season in eight other areas, but some could have been ol hunting birds from other
breeding sites.
Nottinghamshire Perhaps six sites, in three or lour ol which Hobbies were regularlv present,
but no evidence of breeding.
Oxfordshire 14-20 sites: breeding proved at seven sites and possible at two others; casual
sightings suggest an Oxfordshire population double that number.
Somerset 16 sites: (1) pair reared two young; (2) adult on 4th June and juvenile on 25th
August; (3)-( 1 1 ) singles on single dates between 3rd J une and 9th August; (12) singles on 1 4th
May, 1 1th J une and 30th August; ( 13) numerous reports of singles, with pair displacing 9th
May; (1 1) singles on 6th May and 18th June; (15) singles on 22nd and 29th August; (16)
singles during 29th August to 5th September.
Suffolk Two sites: (1) regular sightings between 16th May and 1 1th June; (2) pair said to
have reared lour young, a juvenile with crude jesses found in the area was thought ter have been
taken from this nest.
Surrey 1 1 sites: ( 1 ) two pairs Hedged three and two young respectively; (2) pair Hedged three
young; (3)-(5) single pairs each had nests with three young and Hedged at least two; (6) pair
Hedged two young; (7) pair with three young from which at least one fledged; (8) pair with two
young, ;it least one Hedging; (9)( 10) pairs Hedged at least one young; (II) nest, probable two
young Hedged; (12) very late nest, probably one young Hedged; (13) nest w ith clutch of two
eggs failed, four adults seen at this site on one occasion and could have represented two
breeding pairs; ( 14) one seen on several occasions in traditional site.
Warwickshire One site: the adults occupied the site, but left prematureh and are presumed
to have failed to breed.
Wiltshire 16 sites: ( 1 )-(3) pairs reared two young each; (4) pair hatched young, but outcome
unknown; (5)-(9) pairs present throughout breeding season, probable bred; ( 1 0)-( 13) pairs
possibly bred; ( 14)-( 16) singles present during breeding season, but no evidence of breeding.
Worcestershire One site: pair bred successfully.
1981 Cheshire flue e sites: (l)-(3) singles on 25th April, 12th July and 31st July, respec-
tively.
1981 Northamptonshire Six sites: ( I) eggs being incubated, but deserted, probably due to
tree-felling; (2)-(6) breeding suspected due to the volume of sightings, birds seen earn ing
prey, and presence of family parties.
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
Pairs proved
breeding
24
47
38
59
51
70
80
64
51
97
Pairs possibly
breeding
65
96
133
143
119
156
132
155
160
203
Young reared
(minimum)
24
51
42
69
78
96
72
86
89
63
No reports were received from Cornwall, Devon and Sussex, in which
counties there are generally thought to be important breeding populations
of this species. Even without them, we are mov ing slowly towards a more
realistic estimate of the total population. We particularly appreciate the
detailed information which some observers have been able to supply.
s Spotted Crake Por~ana por~ana
Two sites: 0-4 breeding pairs.
Cambridgeshire Two sites: ( 1) single singing during 24th to 26th April, 27th to 31st May,
5th and 26th Julv, immature seen 4th and 5th September; (2) two singing during May and
June, three during 28th May and 1st June, one (probably juvenile) seen 3rd September.
1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982
0402464342
0 5 02768494
Sites
Singing males
82
Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1982
Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta
Nine sites: successful breeding at seven sites, 190+ pairs rearing 150+
young.
Essex One site: adults, not counted, present all summer; two or three young in June.
Lancashire One site: one on 12th and 13th May, calling agitatedly.
Norfolk Three sites: ( 1 ) one pair reared three young; (2) one pair reared one young; (3) 26
pairs reared 55 young.
Suffolk Three sites: (1)1 10 pairs reared 41 young; (2) 49 pairs reared 47 young; (3) two pairs
bred, but success not known.
County C One site: two on 8th May and 12th June.
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
Breeding sites
4
4
6
5
6
3
3
5
5
9
Breeding pairs
(minimum)
149
125
158
151
146
145
147
168
201
190
Young reared
(minimum)
115
64
142
68
14
92
99
101
155
150
The number of sites was the highest ever. Since, at present, the breeding
success tends to be greater away from the main site, it may augur well for
the population provided that disturbance, from whatever source, can be
kept to a minimum at the new sites.
Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus
44-46 sites: 8-67 pairs breeding.
Berkshire Four sites: (1) one or more calling on 18th May; (2) one or two on 14th April, 18th
May and 18th September; (3) (4) present in summer, no indication of numbers.
Cambridgeshire Ten to 12 sites: calling individuals at each detected during nocturnal
survey.
Dorset Two sites: ( 1 ) (2) single pairs bred.
Essex One site: three adults present for most of summer.
Hertfordshire Three sites: (1) pair on 25th April, with singles on 1st and 4th May; (2) pair
from 15th April, with three on 14th May; (3) one or two calling.
Norfolk Two sites: (1) three pairs; (2) 14 pairs. The recorder warns that this information
gives a falsely pessimistic picture of the Stone-curlew’s status and numbers in Norfolk.
Oxfordshire One site: one or two pairs present all season, breeding behaviour seen, but no
nest or young located.
Suffolk Eight sites: (1) present; (2) pair present; (3) at least four pairs; (4)(5) single pairs;
(6) (7) two pairs at each; (8) three pairs. Part of the county was described as ‘grossly
under- recorded'.
Wiltshire 1 3 sites: ( 1 ) (2) pairs each raised two young; (3) (4) pairs each raised one young; (5)
young present; (6) agitated adults, suggesting that young were present; (7)-( 12) single pairs
present; ( 13) one unmated male present early in the season.
1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982
Pairs proved
breeding 26 28 47 16 4 20 34 8 10 8
Pairs possibly
breeding 90 67 72 109 27 34 81 45 53 67
The behaviour of the Stone-curlew is such that its status can not be
determined reliably by random observations. The most valuable results are
achieved, as for example in Wiltshire, when observer(s) commit themselves
to a special study.
83
Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1982
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus
One site: singles only.
Kent One site: singles on 26th May and 18thjune.
At present, it seems likely that the breeding record in 1979 (Brit. Birds 74:
28) was an isolated event rather than part of a process of recolonisation.
Dotterel Charadrius morinellus
()1 the three report forms submitted, only one related to Scotland. Until
more information is received, the Panel is not in a position to make
meaningful comments about this species. We hope to be able to publish a
statement in the next report.
Temminck’s Stint Calidris temminckii
Three sites: one pair proved breeding.
County B 1 wo sites: ( 1 ) two adults displaying from 14th May onwards, tour young hatched
1st July; (2) one, considered to be migrant, 3rd July.
County E One site: one displaying 16th May to 1 1th June, no proof of nesting.
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
Sites
1
2
1
2
3
3
4
5
1
3
Pairs proved
breeding
0
0
0
1
0
1
2
1
0
1
Pairs possibly
breeding
o
3
2
4
5
6
6
6
1
3
Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima
One site: one pair bred.
Scotland One site: nest with four eggs on 24th June, one chick seen in July, possibly a second
nesting attempt.
W ith, apparently, still only one breeding pair, the species remains highly
vulnerable as a British breeding bird.
Ruff Philomachus pugnax
13 sites: 1-23 females breeding.
Cambridgeshire Two sites: ( 1 ) 87 males, main in breeding plumage, and 34 females on 20th
April, declining rapidly to three males and one female bv 18th May; (2) four males on 19th
May.
Essex One site: 12 engaged in communal display on 27th April, not seen subsequently .
Huntingdonshire One site: two females in earlv May, believed to be non-breeders.
Lancashire Four sites: (1) clutch of four eggs, of which two hatched; (2) 19 in breeding
plumage on 9th May. only one by 27th May; (3) up to five males and three females present, lek
behaviour and copulation observed; (4) present mid May to mid June with a maximum of six
males and three females.
Lincolnshire/South Humberside Two sites: 23 present on 24th April with seven males
lekking; (2) single females on 15th and 18th May. and 4th and 8th June: two different birds.
Norfolk One site: lek often or more males and four females.
County F Two sites: (1) present all May with a maximum of 21. occasional in June; (2)
present all May and June.
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
s Sites
2
2
5
6
6
4
12
10
10
13
Nests
0
2
2
4
0
0
3
3
0
1
Max. no. females
breeding
8
12
27
17
16
4
22
13
13
23
84
Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1982
In lekking species, breeding is often difficult to prove. The table (above)
shows a steady trend towards more sites, and-it is possible that there are
now several nests annually.
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa
13 sites: 58-69 breeding pairs.
Cambridgeshire Two sites: ( 1 ) 25 pairs, 1 7 of them with young, on 1 8th May; (2) seven pairs
and two single birds on 19th May.
Humberside One site: one pair summered, and up to five seen in early autumn.
Lancashire One site: one on 31st May rose to a passing Herring Gull Larus argentatus as il on
territory.
Norfolk One site: 20 pairs, 15 with young.
Somerset One site: seven present and at least one pair nested.
Suffolk Th ree sites: ( 1 ) pair bred; (2) two pairs bred; (3) pair holding territory in spring, site
not visited later.
Shetland One site: pair reared two young.
County I Three sites: (1) single seen 30th April, behaviour suggestive of breeding; (2) one
displaying in April, field subsequently ploughed; (3) perhaps 40 summered, including three
pairs displaying, at least one nest, but destroyed by predator before hatching.
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
Sites
9
12
10
13
11
13
13
1 1
5
13
Fairs proved
breeding
55
51
63
72
37
50
39
52
22
38
Fairs possibly
breeding
61
58
71
87
70
68
64
77
26
69
The year 1981 was singularly poor for this species and, as the table
shows, the improvement in 1982 represented no more than a return towards
what might be regarded as normal.
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola
Four sites: three pairs bred.
Caithness One site: adult in site suitable for breeding on 27th May.
Inverness-shire One site: three nests, brood of four seen on 10th June and brood of one on
30th June.
Ross-shire One site: adult in suitable locality.
Scotland, West Central One site: one singing during 9th to 26th June.
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976 1977
1978
1979
1980 1981
1982
Sites
5
3
4
5
3 4
7
3
4 1
4
Pairs proved
breeding
5
0
1
2
1 2
4
2
7 1
3
Fairs possibly
breeding
8
3
5
6
3 5
10
4
12 1
6
A better year, in which some of the ‘possibles’ might be thought
‘probable’.
Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus
One site; one pair.
County B One site: male from 24th May, a pair in June to 7th July, no proof of nesting, but
rumours of egg-collectors.
No reports were received from the Western Isles or from Shetland, but
will be included in the next report, if available.
85
Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1982
Mediterranean Gull Lams melanocephalus
1 wo sites: two pairs attempted breeding.
Hampshire ( )ne site: eggs laid, but washed out by high tide.
County B ( )ne site: one pair attempted to breed, but tailed; second pair present on 2nd j une.
1973
1974
1975
1976 1977
1978
1979 1980
1981
1982
Sites
0
0
0
1 2
1
3 5
4
2
Pairs proved
breeding
0
0
0
1 1
0
2 1
3
2
Max. no. pairs
or singles
0
0
0
1 2
1
3 5
6
3
Colonisation is unlikely to prosper until the birds start to breed here
successfully.
Little Gull L arus minutus
1 hree sites, but no suggestion of breeding.
Essex I hree sites: ( 1 ) up to tour present all summer; (2) three on 6th June; (3 ) the species was
present most of the summer.
With successful colonies in the Netherlands, and the increasing
frequency with which the species occurs in the Irish Sea. it would seem to be
only a matter of time before the Little Gull becomes an established breeder
in Britain.
Snowy Owl Nyctea scandiaca
One site: three females, two of them laying single, unfertilised eggs.
Shetland One site: on Fetlar, three females throughout the summer and lour on 26th May.
two of them laying single unfertilised eggs; no males.
Wry neck Jynx torquilla
Nine sites: 0-10 pairs breeding.
Huntingdonshire One site: one singing for 15-20 minutes on 12th April.
Northamptonshire One site: one singing for at least 20 minutes on 1 1th April.
Perthshire One site: one, probably two, singing in wood on 27th June.
County D One site: one singing during 7th to 26th May.
County E Five sites: (1) one singing on 30th May; (2) one singing on 26th April: (3) one
singing during 9th May to 14th Jpne; (4) singles on 30th May. 1st to 4th June and 2nd July:
may have nested locally; (5) one seen during 13th to 16th June.
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
Sites
3
6
10
7
17
22
7
1 1
2
9
Pairs proved
breeding
2
1
3
1
7
4
i
1
0
0
Pairs possibly
breeding
3
6
10
7
19
23
9
14
2
10
A rather more promising year than 1981, but with no proof of breeding.
The English birds seem likely to have been on passage, but if pairing occurs
soon alter arrival, they do become silent and secretive almost at once.
Fieldfare Turdus pilaris
Seven sites: 2-7 pairs breeding.
Cumbria One site: single on 3rd May
86
Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1982
Inverness-shire Two sites: ( 1) pair feeding four young about five days old on 12th July; (2)
two adults on 22nd July, but no suggestion of breeding.
Shetland One site: pair with five eggs on 8th July, failed.
Sutherland Two sites: ( 1 ) agitated adult on 6th May; (2) adult on 20th July.
Yorkshire, West One site: adult feeding with flock of Mistle Thrushes T. viscivorus on 15th
July, one adult and fivejuveniles feeding with Mistle Thrushes on 16th July.
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980 1981
1982
Sites
Pairs proved
3
8
10
11
6
3
6
5 6
7
breeding
Pairs possibly
2
3
2
3
4
1
1
1 0
2
breeding
3
7
10
12
6
4
6
5 r 6
7
Whilst breeding remains sporadic, the species cannot yet be thought of as
well-established as a British breeding bird.
Redwing Turdus iliacus
42 sites: 30-62 pairs breeding.
Inverness-shire 2 1 sites: ( 1 )-(2 1)12 pairs proved breeding, and further 16 records of singing
males.
Kent One site: present in July and August, possibly breeding.
Ross-shire Five sites: (1) two or three pairs in song from 17th April; (2) pair feeding young on
13th June; (3)-(5) one or two singing at each in May and, in one site, in June.
Shetland One site: pair reared six young.
Sutherland 14 sites: ( 1 )-( 14) 16 pairs reared young, and six other singing males.
1981 Inverness-shire Two sites: (1) three nests, with five, six and six young reared
respectively, and at least four other pairs or singing males; (2) one nest, successful at second
attempt.
1973 Lanarkshire One site: nest found containing four eggs, outcome not known.
1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982
Sites
:>
12 28 2.
5 10 10 12
6 18
6 42
Pairs proved
breeding
12
5 4 1:
3 3 2 3
2 7
4 30
Pairs possibly
breeding
42
13 28 5:
3 15 16 17
9 32
11 62
A much better year than 1981, but the improved figures arise largely
from detailed fieldwork by a small number of observers. The number of
proved breeding records was the highest in the Panel’s history.
Cetti’s Warbler Cettia cetti
63 sites: 29-202 pairs breeding.
Cambridgeshire Two sites: (1) three singing, and four juveniles ringed between 1st July and
25th September; (2) one singing occasionally during the summer.
Cornwall Six sites: ( 1 ) male and two females, one nest with broods of two and three, second
nest with brood of three; (2) pair bred, possibly second pair; (3) male present from 24th May to
at least 2nd July; (4)-(6) maximum of three males, in April.
Devon Nine sites: ( I ) one singing during 3rd January to 22nd April; (2) one singing during
February to December, but two heard during May; (3) one singing throughout the year; (4) up
to 30 singing in April, with an estimated 20-25 breeding pairs; (5) three singing in January, two
in February and May, one in June and one from September to November; (6) three singing on
28th February and 1 0th April, two singing on 24th April; (7) two singing from 15th April into
May, one singing October; (8) two singing on 25th April, 7th and 25th May; (9) one singing in
late May and June.
87
Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1982
Dorset Seven sites: ( 1 )-(7) nine, five, two, one, two. four and one males, respectively: one pair
reported to have bred, but the figure likely to have been much higher.
Essex I wo sites: ( 1 ) pair present from '2 1st April onwards; (2) male from 6th May onwards.
Hampshire I en sites: ( 1 ) nine singing; (2) male on 7th June; (3) male April to Mav; (4) male
in April; (5) male on 3rd May; (6) male during 17th April to 6th June; (7) male present,
juvenile ringed 8th July; (8) one in mid June; (9) three males throughout the summer; (10)
three males, with one pair proved breeding.
Hertfordshire 1 wo sites: (1) male holding territory from 19th May to 7th July ; (2) one
singing 3 1 st May. 1 he species reported to be almost wiped out in the countv bv the hard winter
of 1981/82.
Isle of Wight I wo sites: ( 1 ) one heard on 2 1 st February in a previously occupied site; (2) one
heard on 8th February and 1st October.
Kent 1' ive sites: ( 1 )-(3) 45 singing males, with two pairs w ith young out of the nest at the time
ol the survey ; (4) one or two singing males on five dates between 10th May and 30th June; (5)
two singing males throughout April and May, then one until 26th June. A decline between
1 980 and 1981. and a more pronounced one between 1981 and 1982 considered real rather
than the result of poorer coverage.
Norfolk Fight sites: ( 1 )-(3) single singing birds; (4)-(6) two singing birds at each; (7) three
singing; (8) 12-14 singing.
Somerset I hree sites: (1) two pairs present, the males singing from April to December; (2)
pair with newly fledged young on 25th May. the first prosed breeding lor the counts; (3)
female present from 10th July to end of year.
Suffolk Fight sites: (l)-(5) single singing birds; (6) fisc singing; (7) six singing; (8) seven
singing.
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
Counties
Sites (excluding
2
3
3
8
10
14
14
1 1
16
12
Kent
Pairs proved
1
3
8
14
32
41
33
50
59
58
breeding
Pairs possibly
1
5
8
8
13
30
46
19
56
29
breeding
14
16
75
80
153
174
163
198
162
202
Although there was some decline, the species appears to have survived
the cold period of the 1981/82 winter rather well, and the number of
'possibles' was the highest yet recorded.
Savi’s Warbler Locustella luscinioides
1 1 sites: 0-18 pairs breeding.
Cleveland One site: one during 21st to 28 th May. brief attempt at mating with Reed Warbler
Acrocephalus scirpaceus seen on 28th May.
Cumbria One site: bird singing on many dates between 6th April and 1 7th June.
Dorset One site: two pairs probably bred.
Kent Two sites: ( 1 ) two singing from 13 th and 15th April to 2nd July ; (2) one or two singing
15th to 27th April and one on 3rd July. A known egg-collector was found in the reeds.
Norfolk Four sites: ( 1 ) six pairs; (2)-(4) one singing at each.
Suffolk 1 wo sites: ( 1 ) song heard from 25th April to 6th May: (2) pair present and thought to
have bred.
1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982
Sites
Pairs proved
breeding
Pairs possibly-
breeding
4 5
0 1
13 8
3 8
1 0
3 9
13 15
3 4
26 28
15 14
6 2
30 29
8 11
5 0
15 18
88
Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1982
If the two northern birds represent ‘overshoot’ it is curious that there
were no reports from counties peripheral to the-main breeding areas. It is
doubtful whether any significance should be attached at this stage to the
absence of proved breeding records.
Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus palustris
26 sites: 2-74 pairs breeding.
Dorset Two sites: (1) male from 18th May to
24th July; (2) male from 4th to 30th June.
Gloucestershire Four sites: (l)-(2) singles
singing; (3) pair reared at least one young; (4)
pair present, with two singing birds on one day;
the most records for the county since 1974.
Kent One or two sites: ( 1 ) singing bird on 30th
and 31st May; (2) an adult feeding juveniles on
31st July was thought to be of this species, one
adult was present in the area on 1st August, a
nest, not found until January 1983, was shown
to an expert on the species and judged to be
most likely that of a Marsh Warbler.
Worcestershire 18 sites: ( 1 )-( 1 8) 45 pairs
probably bred, with a further 20 possibles.
Sites
Pairs proved
breeding
Pairs possibly
breeding
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
9
6
3
5
6
15
15
8
3
8
5
0
0
0
2
4
1
2
0
2
15
7
5
5
1 1
15
23
12
3
9
The figures in the table (above) omit the Worcestershire records. If they
are included, the sites increase to 26 and the possible breeding pairs to 74. It
is evident that much careful fieldwork lies behind the valuable Worcester-
shire status survey. Whilst there are no signs of an increase, there is equally
no evidence of a steady decline.
Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata
19 sites (counting the New Forest as one): 8-312 pairs breeding.
Cornwall Six sites ( 1 )-(4) total of four, possibly five, pairs bred, single juveniles seen July to
November; (5) one singing 31st May; (6) three pairs bred, adults carrying food.
Devon Two sites: (1) pair in late May; (2) one singing on 14th April, female and second
singing male nearby on 15th and 16th April.
Dorset Two sites: (1)(2) total of 28 pairs, compared with 46 in 1981.
Hampshire Two sites: (1) 56 pairs or singing males in three main areas, extrapolated to give a
total New Forest population of about 250 pairs, the severe weather of the 1981/82 winter
thought to have had little effect on the population here; (2) three pairs bred (elsewhere in this
part of the county, the species was wiped out by the extensive snow cover in winter 1981/82).
Isle of Wight ( )ne site: one seen 15th May, 1 1 th July, 20th August; this site has been occupied
in most recent years and breeding is considered probable.
Surrey Six sites: (1) one male; (2) five pairs; (3) six or seven pairs; (4) two pairs and one
additional male; (5) one pair; (6) five pairs. The majority of the Surrey pairs are thought to
have bred successfully. In common with northeast Hampshire, a big reduction in the breeding
population, estimated at 60%.
89
Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1982
We are grateful for the detailed information supplied, which makes this
report more complete than usual. The winter losses, although locally
severe, do not appear to have affected the total population too badlv.
Firecrest Regulus ignicapillus
2 1 sites: 4-44 pairs breeding.
Avon ( )ne site: one singing from 2nd April to 1 1 th June.
Buckinghamshire I liree sites: ( 1 ) nine territorial males between 3rd April and 1 lilt August,
of which two reared young (this site held 1 t males in 1981 ); (2) two singing, oncduring 5th to
9th May and one during 9th to 24th May; (3) one singing 1st June, but did not stay. Recorder
commented that detailed mapping revealed that territories can he three or lour times larger
than those ol Goldcrests R. regulus'. this should be borne in mind when assessing numbers
during any census.
Cambridgeshire ( )ne site: male during 4th and 1 1th June (one observer reported a pair).
Cheshire 1 wo sites: ( 1 ) male on 8th May; (2) male on I 4th Mat . two males (considered to be
second and third individuals) on 1 nth May, and one male on 2(ith Mac (thus, three, possibh
tour, males singing within a linear distance ol 3.5 km during 8th to 2(>ih Mav. but note
comment under Buckinghamshire).
Devon 1'hree sites: (1) one during 20th February to 20th March, two on 21st March, male
ringed on 30th May was retrapped on 1 3th J tine; (2) one singing on 30th April; ( 3) one singing
on 27th March.
Essex One site: one singing during I 4th March to 15th August, juvenile on 14th August.
Hampshire four sites: (1) 12 ‘crests' singing 4 irei rest-like songs, three ol which were
definitely Firecrests, but two of which appeared to be Goldcrests R. regulus [we know of
previous records of Firecrests mimicking thesongoftheGoldcrest (Brit. Birds 73: 477-478), but
not vice versa. Eds]; (2) male displaying to female Goldcrest in Mat and June, with possibly a
second male; (3) one singing on 19th May; (4) male on 15th May. presumed a migrant.
Hertfordshire One site: two singing on boundary w ith Buckinghamshire.
Kent One site: eight singing and holding territory on various dates during May to JuK. one
paired (figures lower than for 1981. parth reflecting poorer coverage, but population ciearlv
reduced at main site).
Norfolk ( )ne site: male paired with female Goldcrest and carrying either nest material or lood
on 31st May.
Suffolk One site: two pairs, juveniles seen with one.
Worcestershire Two sites: ( 1 ) male singing during 28th March to 1 3th April, female present
during 1 1 th to 1 3th April; (2) male on 10th May. The recorder comments ‘Colonisation seems
likely before long’.
1981 Cheshire One site: one singing I 7th April.
1973
1974 1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
Sites
5
13 32
15
12
7
25
30
35
21
Fairs proved
breeding
2
1 4
4
9
1
9
7
15
4
Pairs possibly
breeding
18
37 123
28
31
1 1
73
78
102
44
These are t he lowest numbers since 1978, but it would be premature to
see in them a significant decline. Fieldwork during the year emphasised the
difficulties of accurate census work due to the large territories which the
species holds, and re-emphasised the risks of hybridisation with Goldcrests.
now well attested.
Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus
12 sites: 3-21 pairs breeding.
Berkshire One site: one singing at dawn on 6th June, no subsequent record.
Gwent One site: female on 26th May and male on 25th June.
90 Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1982
Hertfordshire Two sites: (1) one singing on 1st and 5th May; (2) male paid brief visit to
garden, date not recorded.
Huntingdonshire One site: male holding territory from mid May to early June.
Kent F our sites: (1) green bird singing on 19th May; (2) green bird singing on 17th May and
yellow one seen on 30th May; (3) one flying west on 19th May; (4) a believed male seen and a
second bird heard on 2nd June.
Suffolk Two sites: (1) ten or more males present, two or three family parties seen; (2) pair
present throughout summer.
County E One site: one pair bred.
1980 Hampshire One site: two. probably three, birds in trees, behaving in a manner
suggestive of breeding.
1979 Huntingdonshire One site: male seen and heard on several dates between Mav and
July.
1980 Huntingdonshire One site: male seen and heard on three dates between early April and
mid June, possible female seen in late May.
1980 County F Two sites: ( 1 ) male seen and heard on 1 5th and 16th May; (2) one present on
8th June.
1973
1974 1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
Sites
Pairs proved
o
3 4
1 1
16
14
17
17
13
12
breeding
Pairs possible
1
2 2
7
6
7
3
9
4
3
breeding
8
4 7
23
21
28
30
28
26
21
A surprisingly inconspicuous, cover-haunting species which can often
remain in an area without showing itself. Breeding is generally hard to
prove without risking disturbance, and the numbers published are
certainly minima.
Red-backed Shrike L anius collurio
Eight sites: 5-8 pairs breeding (but no information from two key areas).
Suffolk Six sites: ( 1 )-((>) single pairs, five known to have bred, one pair rearing two young and
one three.
County A I wo sites: ( 1 ) male on 1 7th May. not seen subsequently; (2) two seen on 1st June,
but not subsequently.
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979 1980
1981
1982
Counties
8
8
7
5
13
1 1
10 5
5
2
Pairs prov ed
breeding
30
30
51
3
48
13
14 23
10
5
Pairs possibly
breeding
48
52
56
25
64
37
52 31
39
8
Unless there are unsubmitted records, 1982 was much the worst year on
record. It should be noted, however, that there was a significant increase in
1977, after the last really poor year of 1976.
Brambling Fringilla montifringilla
Ten sites: 2-10 pairs breeding.
Caithness ( )nc site: one singing during 8th to 22nd June.
Lothians ( )ne site: one singing on 9th May.
Ross-shire One site: male seen on many dates between 20th May and 20th June, calling
frequently, but almost certainly unmated.
Scotland Six sites: (1) pair fledged five young; (2) female feeding three fledged young on 5th
91
Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1982
July, no male seen, but young appeared to be pure-bred; (3) male singing on 22nd May; (4)
pair seen on 27th May, but no song heard; (5) male Hew over, calling, on 17th June; (6) one
singing on 1 1th June.
County C One site; male seen on 1st June.
1981 Northamptonshire ( )ne site: recently Hedged juvenile caught and ringed on 11th Julv.
judged too young to have travelled far.
1981 Inverness-shire One site: moulting female caught on 27th Julv.
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980 1981
1982
Sites
1
0
0
0
2
2
3
3 2
10
Pairs proved
breeding
0
0
0
l)
0
0
1
0 1
2
Pairs possibly
breeding
1
0
0
0
3
2
4
4 2
10
A year showing the kind of success which has been anticipated for almost
a decade.
Serin Serinus sennus
Five sites: 1-7 pairs breeding.
Devon 1’hree sites: (1) singles on 12th May. when singing, and 9th June; (2) present front
22nd March to 22nd August, with three singing males and one female, one pair reared seven
young in two broods; (3) female on 1 1th April and male on 20th June.
Hertfordshire One site: one singing on 26th May. not recorded on further v isits.
Kent ( )nesite: male and female during 28th February to 7th March, female only during 8th to
23rd March, one, probably a male, on 23rd ( )etober, two on 8th November, female during 2 1 si
to 23rd November.
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977 1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
Sites
0
0
0
u
0 4
0
1
3
5
Pairs proved
breeding
0
0
0
0
0 1
0
0
2
i
Pairs possibly
breeding
0
0
0
2
0 4
0
1
6
7
Another satisfactory year, but colonisation remains more potential than
actual.
Scarlet Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus
One site: one pair breeding.
Highland Region One site: nest found on 23rd June, contained two eggs and two nestlings
estimated to be two or three days old on 4th July (Bril. Birds 77: 133-135).
This is the first known breeding record of the Scarlet Rosefinch in
Britain. It had, however, been anticipated for some y ears, since the species
has been extending its range westwards in Scandinavia and eastern
Europe.
Yellow-breasted Bunting Ernberi~a aureola
One site: one in song in June.
Highland Region One site: a male, in song, on 14th June, not located on 16th June, and no
sign of a female.
Fhe bird was probably on passage, but colonisation by northern and
eastern species is often preceded by a series of reports of birds seen in
summer.
92
Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1982
Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus
100 sites: 38-167 breeding pairs.
Buckinghamshire Four sites: (l)-(3) single singing males; (4) three singing males and a
female carrying food.
Cornwall Seven sites: (1) male singing regularly: (2) male singing, pair seen with nesting
material; (3) male seen twice; (4) singing male, seen only once; (5) a pair, the male singing
regularly; (6) male seen; (7) three singing males.
Devon Present in 74 tetrads, which have been counted as sites in assessing the national total
above. There were 35 pairs proved breeding, 99 probable and 1 30 possible. I n 1 974, there were
1 36 possibles, which suggests that, in this key county, the species may be more or less holding
its own.
Hampshire Two sites: ( 1 ) pair, and possibly second female; (2) one singing male.
Somerset Approximately 12 sites, with one pair proved breeding, 11 probable and 19possible.
Surrey One site: singing male, with two on 26th April, but no female or juveniles seen.
Ibis species was the subject of a special survey, organised by Humphrey
Sitters on behalf of the B I O, and all records have been assessed by him to
ensure uniform treatment. Because of the survey, the coverage was
probably more thorough than usual.
Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis
Twelve sites: 6-1 7 pairs breeding.
Argyll One site: three in possible habitat on 6th May (altitude lower than is typical of
breeding birds, so may have been passage migrants).
Grampian Region Two sites: (1) three pairs on 26th May, four broods seen between 23rd
June and early August; (2) at least one pair with young. Judged to be an about average year,
with both hrst and second broods successful.
Inverness-shire Eight sites: (1) female with two juveniles and female with three juveniles
joined two males around summit on 2 1st July; (2) pair on 2 1st July; (3) female on 2 1st July; (4)
male, in song, on 29th July; (5) one in April, but none in late July; (6) pair, male in song, on
29th and 30th June; (7) female on 29th June; (8) male on 1st June, one or two males singing
elsewhere on 6th July.
Ross-shire ( )nc site: one seen on 25th April.
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979 1980
1981
1982
Sites
5
7
13
1
5
3
13 4
2
12
Pairs prov ed
breeding
tj
9
2
4
4
3
7 4
2
6
Pairs possibly
breeding
1 1
13
20
7
15
6
21 10
1 1
17
This report is based on a gratifying number of fairly detailed reports.
There is no reason to supjDose that the 1982 breeding distribution and
numbers were anything but normal.
Unless there is a very special reason for doing otherwise, reports for the Panel should be sent
via the relevant county recorder. Correspondence should be directed to the Panel's current
secretary, Robert Spencer, at the address given below.
Rare Breeding Birds Panel , I redale Place Cottage. Loweswater, Cockermouth,
Cumbria CA130SU
PhotoSpot
8. Grey Hypocolius
34. Male Grey Hypocolius Hypocolius ampelinus , Bahrain, November/December 1982 (Mike
Hill)
I he Grey Hypocolius Hypocolius ampelinus is allied to waxwings (Bomby-
eillidae), but recalls a shrike Lanius , and has a very restricted Middle-
eastern distribution. It breeds in a narrow zone from northern Iraq,
through southern Iran and into southern Pakistan, but not in Arabia as
mapped by Harrison ( 1982, An Atlas of the Birds of the W estern Palaearctic).
Outside the breeding season, from October to April, it may be seen in
central and eastern Arabia, where it winters in varying numbers in quiet
palm groves on the fringes of the least disturbed oases and villages. In some
years, as in 1982/83, it crosses the Gulf in higher numbers, up to 120 having
been recorded in some small areas of palm scrub. It can easily be oxer-
looked, however, since individuals and parties are inclined to be secretixe
and hide for long periods in the middle of impenetrable palm scrub. Once
located, hoxvexer. it can be approached closely on occasions, the birds
flicking and rotating their long tails in a shrike-like manner; but commonly
it dixes into thick cover and waits for danger to pass. Although not very
[Brit. Buds 78: 98-95, Februan 1985)
93
94
PhotoSpot
\
V
*A f
Kr*. »,
V-*
• . V* ' 5
i
m j*> . i 'X!
35. Male Grey Hypocolius Hypocolius ampelinus, Saudi Arabia, November 1981 (6'. Bundy)
36. F emale Grcv Hypocolius Hypocolius ampelinus , Bahrain, November/December 1982
(Afifo //;//)
V
PhotoSpot
r
95
37. Male Grey Hypocolius Hypocolius ampelinus. Bahrain, November/December 1982 (Mike
Hill)
vocal in its winter quarters, its contact notes sometimes betray its presence.
Skulking birds may utter a whistling ‘peeeooo’, recalling Buzzard Buteo
buteo , descending in pitch, with an occasional second note, ‘p-uuu\ which
has an almost fluty quality. The flight notes uttered when small parties take
to the air and circle a wintering area for up to about 20 minutes, seemingly
without purpose, arc weak 'quee' notes, sometimes vaguely disyllabic and
with a reedy quality difficult to commit to paper. The flight is direct, with
rapid, whirring wing-beats and occasional pauses while the wings are
briefly closed.
It is long-tailed, rather short-winged, and about the size of Great Grey
Shrike L. excubitor. The males are rather obvious. Females and immatures.
however, are almost uniform creamy buff, with well-demarcated creamv
throats and whitish wings; they have dark tips to their tawny, graduated
tails, but are rather featureless, and often puzzle people seeing them for the
first time. Graham Bundy
Airu'ork Ltd. PO Box 18929. Salalah. Oman
^rUrntp fibr prats ago...
"A Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) w as put up by my son on the Crumbles, Eastbourne, on December
21st, 1909. Though he had his gun with him he wisely forebore to shoot the bird, which I hope
is still at large. H. P. Moi.inecx.' {Bril. Birds 3: 308. February 1910).
Product reports
Items included in this feature have been submitted by the manufacturers or their agents. The
reviews are the personal opinions of the reviewers; they are not the result of technical tests, but
are assessments made after use in appropriate conditions (e.g. in the field). Neither British
Birds nor the individual reviewers can accept responsibility for any adverse consequences of
opinions stated, and items are accepted for review on this understanding. We aim. however, to
be helpful both to our readers and to the manufacturers of goods used by birdwatchers. Eds
Welt/Safe-Lock PT-3 Pneumatic Tripod
Height 86-208 cm (34-82 in); weight 2.7 kg (6 lb); obtainable from Welt/
Safe-Lock Inc., Hialeah, Florida 33010, USA, price $104.95.
This American-made tripod incorporates some excellent features which
set it apart from all other tripods that I have used or seen. Each of the
extending legs is controlled by a small (3-cm) lever placed at the top of the
leg. Push the lever one way and the outer tube of the two-tube leg slides
smoothly downwards. Push it back again and the leg locks firmly in
position. Thus, simple movements with one hand, all at the same level, will
set up the legs to the required height lor each. Because it is the outer tube,
ending in a stout rubber foot, which is in contact with the ground, no water,
mud or sand can penetrate the legs when they are collapsed.
With the legs fully extended, the eyepiece of my telescope is already at a
height of 133 cm (52.5 in), quite enough for some purposes and beautifully
rigid. The central stem of the tripod is controlled by a good-sized knob and
lifts the telescope to 1 74 cm (68.5 in), a very convenient standing height for
all but the tallest people. For the latter, including my own 192 cm (6 ft 3V2
in), a knurled ring releases an inner section which rises to an amazing 208
cm (82 in) , enabling the would-be birdwatcher or photographer to stand on
a wall or a boulder to get a better view! Obviously, at this full extension,
there is movement in a wind, but less than with some other tripods which I
have used; while, with just the main stem erected, the wdiole tripod is
remarkably stable. The inner stem has an air-cushion effect (the
‘Pneumatic’ part of its name) which prevents it sliding down out of control
under the weight of the telescope. Panning is smooth and steady, released
by a knob, while two small twist-grip handles control fore-and-aft and
side-to-side tilting. In practice, of course, the latter is rarely needed with a
telescope, though useful with a camera.
The tripod is robustly made of aluminium, with a matt-black head, and
hard plastic knobs and levers. The weight of 2.7 kg compares favourably
with the Silk Master D2 at 2.5 kg. There is, however, a penalty associated
with having only two leg tubes, namely a collapsed length of 86 cm (34 in),
although in several months’ use I have found the ease and speed of setting
up more than compensates for this one drawback. It is only when one no
longer has to release or tighten six different knurled rings or catches spaced
down the legs, and when the catches no longer live up to their name by
hooking garments, fences or vegetation, that one really appreciates the
boon of this tripod’s simple extending mechanism. My one grumble con-
cerns the screw attachment for a telescope or camera. Although supplied
with a useful locking ring, the head of the attachment is rather small, and a
96
1 Brit . Birds 78: 96-97, February 1985]
97
Product reports
larger one would have been easier for cold or gloved fingers. On the other
hand, once attached, my telescope and tripod tend to stay as one unit for
days or weeks on end. At present, there is apparently no sales outlet for this
tripod (and others by the same manufacturer) in Britain, though if enough
interest was expressed no doubt this might be remedied, as has happened
with some North American optical products (e.g. Bausch & Lomb/
Bushnell telescopes and binoculars). M. A. Ogilvie
Identification pitfalls and
assessment problems*
8 Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
The Purple Heron is seldom seen away from large reed-beds and
marshland vegetation where it spends much of the day concealed. It is,
therefore, most frequently seen in flight, and then usually soon after dawn
and shortly before dusk. As most species can appear dark-plumaged at
these times, it is important that, without great emphasis on colour, a flying
Purple Heron be clearly distinguished from possible confusion species:
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea and Bittern Botaurus stellaris.
38. juvenile Grey Heron Ardea cinerea, Kent, July 1981 (R.J. Chandler)
* This paper, like those earlier in the series {Brit. Birds 76: 26-28. 78-80. 129-130, 203-206.
304-305, 342-346; 77: 412-415), is a publication of the Rarities Committee, which is sponsored
by Zeiss West Germany.
[tint. Birds 78: 97-102, February 198.il
98
Identification oj Purple Heron
Compared with a Grey Heron, it is smaller, obviously shorter- and
slimmer-winged, narrower-bodied, smaller-headed and both longer- and
thinner-necked. As with Grey Heron, the neck is coiled in flight, but, unlike
that species, its more prominent bulge protrudes well below the line of the
breast and belly, and the base of the neck meets the breast at a sharp angle.
Accentuating the snaky appearance of the head and neck, the bill is very-
slender, proportionately longer than that of Grey Heron, and tapers evenly
to a sharp tip. Although Purple Heron is shorter-legged than Grey Heron, it
is also shorter-tailed and possesses much larger feet due to its extremely
long toes. In flight these features of Purple Heron combine to produce a
greater projection of the legs beyond the tail than on the other species.
Compared with Bittern, Purple Heron is larger, longer- and slimmer-
winged, narrower-bodied, proportionately smaller-headed and both
longer- and thinner-necked. In flight, Bittern, like Grey Heron, lacks the
angled, downwards-protruding, retracted neck of Purple Heron. A
Bittern’s bill is considerably shorter and proportionately thicker than that
of Purple Heron, and its legs, tail and toes are shorter than those of the other
species, combining to give Bittern less projection of the legs beyond the tail
in flight.
The ageing terminology used here for Purple and Grey Heron follows
BWP I: the nestling’s down is followed by juvenile plumage, immature
plumage being gradually acquired during the first autumn and winter and
sub-adult plumage being acquired during the second autumn. A Purple
Heron can reach adult plumage during its third autumn, whilst a Grey
Heron can attain adult plumage during its fourth autumn, though
individuals of both species retain traces of sub-adult plumage for longer.
The plumages of all three species are well described and illustrated in
several books, including BWP I and The Popular Handbook of British Birds. In
all three species, the sexes are alike, and there is little seasonal variation.
The plumage and bare-part coloration differences between juveniles and
adults are minimal in Bittern and fairly subtle in Grey Heron, but marked
39. Adult Purple Heron Ardea purpurea, Kent, April 1981 [David M. Coltridge )
Identification of Purple Heron
99
in Purple Heron. Sub-adult and adult Purple Herons are basically dark
grey and black, thus most confusable with a Grey Heron; and juvenile and
immature Purple Herons are basically brown, thus most confusable with a
Bittern. Given good views, however, all three species are readily
identifiable on colour alone.
The following adult Purple Heron plumage characters separate that
species from adult Grey Heron, whose equivalent characters follow in
brackets: crown dark (white); neck chestnut, striped with black (greyish-
white streaked with black); wing-coverts dark slate-grey, showing com-
paratively little contrast with the primaries and secondaries (pale powder
grey, contrasting with black); area at base of primaries rich buff (w hite);
underwing very dark (blue-grey); centre of breast and belly dark vinaceous
(white); and undertail-coverts black (white). All these features, except the
crown and, to a lesser extent, the wing-coverts, can also be used to separate
adult Purple Heron from juvenile and immature Grey Heron. The crown,
wing-coverts, primary-base and underwing points can be used to separate
40. First-winter Purple Heron Ardea purpurea, Netherlands, December 1973 (P. Munsterman
100
Identification of Purple Heron
41. Adult Purple Heron Ardea purpurea, France, July 1975 ( Pierre Petit )
42. First-winter Grey Heron Ardea cinerea, Kent, January 1983 (R.J. Chandler )
sub-adult Purple Heron from adult Grey Heron, and the latter two features
can be used to separate sub-adult Purple Heron from juvenile and
immature Grey Heron.
The following juvenile and immature Purple Heron plumage characters
separate that species from Bittern, whose equivalent characters follow in
brackets: bill yellow (yellow-green); mantle and scapulars brown, edged
with tawny, but appearing fairly uniform (black boldly edged with bull);
back, rump and uppertail-coverts dark grey (buff with dark spotting);
Identification of Purple Heron
101
43. First-winter Grey Heron Ardea cinerea, Kent, January 1983 (R.f. Chandler)
44. Adult Purple Heron Ardea purpurea , Mallorca, April 1979 ( Brian Thomas )
45. First-winter Purple Heron Ardea purpurea. Romania, September 1979 (Jan Serak)
102
Identification oj Purple Heron
46. Bittern Botaurus stellaris,
Cornwall, September 1981
(5. C. Hutchings)
primaries and secondaries uniform blackish (blackish barred across with
buff); and legs and feet yellow (yellow-green).
The position is unfortunately complicated by the occasional occurrence
of apparently melanistic Grey Herons which superficially resemble juvenile
Purple Herons. Three instances have been published {Brit. Birds 70: 76,
345-346; 71: 416) and unpublished records include one photographed by
R. F. Porter and another observed by D. J. Britton {in litt.). There is also a
published account thought to refer to a hybrid Purple X Grey Heron [Bull.
Brit. Orn. Cl. 88: 1-4).
Structurally, melanistic Grey Herons are invariably of normal size for the
species, and thus larger than Purple Herons, though this may not be helpful
if no other herons are available for comparison. In flight, they lack the large
feet and bulging neck of Purple Herons. Some, however, exhibit minor
structural differences from normal Grey Herons, perhaps due to poor
feather condition associated with the apparent melanism. For example, the
neck may be thinner and the flight heavier, on more bowed wings. Their
plumage is variable, but characteristically is a dirty or oily brown, more
uniform than on any age of Purple Heron, and lacking darker streaks on the
head and neck. Bare-part colour is not exceptional for the species, but some
individuals curiously combine the bright yellow bill of an adult, though
with black upper edge and tip, with the complete, neatly demarcated dark
cap of a juvenile. Such individuals may strongly recall Purple Heron,
especially if the neck is sleek.
Melanistic Grey Herons are undoubtedly rarer in Britain than are Purple
Herons, except perhaps in winter. Thus, the problem needs to be kept in
perspective, but a poorly described brown heron with little supporting
structural evidence, though most likely to be a Purple Heron, is perhaps
best regarded as unproven.
A total of 423 Purple Herons has been accepted as having occurred in
Britain and Ireland (up to the end of 1982), and the species is currently
occurring at the rate of about 20 a year. Almost all have appeared during
April to October, with a peak from late April to late May, and the great
majority have been seen in England and Wales, mostly in the coastal
counties from the Isles ofScilly to Norfolk.
I am grateful to D. J. Britton for supplying the paragraphs concerning
melanistic Grey Herons. Peter Lansdown
197 Springwood, Llanedeym. Cardiff CF26UG
Mystery photographs
47. Bittern Botaurus stellaris, Netherlands. January 1977 (Fritz Hautkamp)
98
It is late in the year and you are sitting alone in a hide overlooking
an area of pools, reedbeds and small bushes. Suddenly, as if by
magic, a large bird materialises at the edge of a nearby reedbed. The
combination of large size, thick, pointed, dagger-like bill, long, thick neck,
stocky body, short tail and medium-length, thick legs immediately
identifies the bird as one of the herons.
The size and the plumage pattern of pale ground colour overlaid with
dark markings indicate that the bird is either a Bittern Botaurus stellaris or an
American Bittern B. lentiginosus. Of all the other herons, the only ones even
vaguely similar are the buff-coloured Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides ,
which, however, except for the lightly streaked immature, is unpatterned
and, incidentally, is much smaller, and the occasionally confused, brown-
[Bril. Birds 78: 103-103, February 1983]
103
104
Mystery photographs
48. Bittern Bolaurus stellaris, Netherlands, December 1977 (P. Munsterman )
coloured immature Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax, which is quite dark
and liberally sprinkled with white spots on its upperparts (not pale with
dark markings), and is also smaller.
The time of year is right for both a cold-weather-dispersed Bittern and a
vagrant American Bittern, and the habitat could suit either. On average,
Bittern is the larger, with the greater wing-span, and American Bittern has
the longer bill; but, in all three measurements, overlap occurs, and size and
structure are of little use in separating the two species when an observer is
confronted by a single bird. The well-known difference between Bittern’s
black flight feathers (thinly and irregularly barred paler) and American
Bittern’s unmarked, dark chocolate flight feathers is readily apparent only
on a flying bird.
On such a fine view as this, the bill is perhaps the easiest point of
difference to check quickly. Bittern possesses a plain-looking, pale (greeny-
yellow) bill, with the culmen ridge darker in a thin line only near the tip;
and American Bittern has a pale (dull yellow to pale straw) bill with a thick,
contrasting dark brown line right down the culmen ridge and broadest
towards the base.
Head pattern is the second major point of separation. Bittern has a
contrasting black forehead and crown, clean-cut against a buffsupercilium;
a pale but dull green or blue gape which extends back to below the rear of
the eye; buff sides to the head and neck, narrowly barred dark brown; and a
dark moustachial stripe which fades gradually into the barring of the head
and neck. American Bittern has a rich rusty brown forehead and crown,
lacking in contrast with the lemon-white supercilium; a bright lemon gape,
which is clean-cut both above and below against blackish, and broader and
more conspicuous than the supercilium; uniform greyish-buff and grey-
brown sides to the head and neck; and a broad, dark moustachial stripe,
which is clean-cut against the uniformity of the sides of the head and neck.
A third important feature is the general upperparts pattern. Bittern has
the mantle and scapulars tawny-buff, blotched with irregular black
Mystery photographs
105
49. American Bittern Rolaurus lentiginosus, Gwent, November 1981 (Nigel R. Jones)
markings, and the innerwing-coverts buffi, strongly mottled and freckled
with tawny and black. There is no real contrast between the scapulars and
wing-coverts on adults and the wing-coverts are only slightly paler than the
mantle and scapulars on first-winter individuals. American Bittern, how-
ever, has the mantle and scapulars dark brown, finely mottled and vermicu-
lated with buffi and black, itself a useful distinction from Bittern, and the
inner-wing-coverts contrastingly lighter, being pale greyish-buffi, finely
vermiculated with brown.
The bird in the photograph displays no dark culmen ridge to the bill; a
sharp-edged dark crown; no obvious pale gape-stripe from the bill to below
the eye; barred sides to the head and neck; no clean contrast between this
and the moustachial stripe; and wing-coverts no paler than the mantle and
scapulars. Thus, the photograph (plate 20, repeated here as plate 47) shows
a Bittern. The American Bittern in the accompanying photograph (plate
49) possesses the opposite characters. Peter Lansdown
50. Mystery photograph 99. Identify the species. Answer next month
Points of view
Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of ‘ British Birds'
12. The taking of bird specimens
A recent trip to Malaysia brought to my attention circumstances when
birds are being killed by naturalists in Southeast Asia to provide specimens.
First, some American ornithologists require specimens (or good photo-
graphs) in order to accept a new record for the area, as they regard sight and
ringing records as insufficient. Obv iously, lesser studied areas, particularly
species-rich ones, require great care with regard to identification. I feel,
however, that the case can be overstated: where full descriptions are taken
by experienced birdwatchers, specimens are surely not necessary.
Secondly, some ringing programmes use inexperienced operatives in-
structed to take specimens when they cannot identify birds. Whilst this
is — debatably — preferable to ringing misidentified birds, it apparently
sometimes leads to several specimens of a species being taken. I accept that
experienced personnel are in short supply in such places, but perhaps
descriptions could be taken, and the birds released unringed. This might
mean that fewer birds would be processed in a project, but that would be
preferable.
Finally, I came across an artist who took specimens to produce bird
paintings. Perhaps this may be thought to be justifiable if local museums
hav e no suitable skins. Even if the birdlife of an area is poorly know n,
however, shouldn't ornithologists always be rather more circumspect? I
daresay that the numbers of birds being taken are not significant, but how
can we be sure? Philip Perry
PO Box 1478 , Mbabane, Swaziland
Notes
Green-backed Heron in Humberside On 27 th
November 1982, together with other observers, including
T. Bell and P. A. Bentley, we were searching for a Great
White Egret Egretta alba that had been reported in the
Thorngumbald area on the north side of the River
Humber {Brit. Birds 76: 100 and 481). Having spent two
hours scouring the area to no avail, we decided, for-
tuitously as it turned out, to make one last check in the
Stone Creek area. We saw two observers (C. Featherstone
and G. Featherstone) waving to us and thought that they
had relocated the Great White Egret. It was with surprise that we learnt
that they had just seen, albeit briefly, ‘a small heron with a rufous neck'.
106
Notes
107
Not quite knowing what to make of it, we proceeded to the ditch where they
had last seen the bird, whereupon it flew up and across in front of us at some
5 m range in late afternoon sunlight. We saw it for some 30 seconds or so in
flight before it took cover again in a dense hawthorn-covered drainage
ditch. At this stage, we considered the bird to have been a Green-backed
Heron Butorides stnatus. We made an effort to summon other observers
before dusk fell, and flushed the heron twice again before the light faded
totally.
1 he following is a resume of our notes taken at the time of these first
sightings:
Very small heron, smaller than both Night
Heron Nycticorax nycticorax and Squacco
Heron Ardeola ralloides. Appeared ‘tail-less’ in
flight. Very broad, rounded wings, with
strong, deep beats. ‘Jerky’ flight. Excep-
tionally dark general appearance.
head Dark ‘cap’ contrasted with lighter
‘cheeks’ and pale eye-ring. Faint paler line
from bill to eye. Bill typical of genus, being
long, ‘dagger-like’, and black in colour except
for paler base, leading to short, pale
moustachial stripe.
upperparts In flight, and only in certain
lights, showed very deep green sheen to
uppersides of coverts and mantle. Primaries
appeared much darker. Uniformly dark
uppersides to rump and tail.
underparts Most striking feature a rich
rufous-brown on whole of neck, extending to
top of breast and contrasting most markedly
with white throat. Legs and feet orangey-
yellow, (especially evident when bird flying
directly away), protruding well beyond tail.
behaviour Exceptionally wary and shy, not
allowing close approach during initial
observations.
These notes, all compiled on flight views, were sufficient for us to identify
the bird in question as a Green-backed Heron of the North American race
B. s. virescens. Its most similar relative is the African race B. s. atricapillus,
which AGR had seen in southern Africa, but this lacks the rufous throat and
breast of its North American counterpart. Indeed, there is no other
similarly sized heron with a rufous neck.
The bird stayed in the area until 6th December and was reported on by-
several national newspapers, as well as becoming the foremost claimant to
the title of ‘most twitched bird of all time'.
This is the second record of Green-backed Heron for Britain and Ireland,
the first having been over 50 years earlier — one shot near St Austell,
Cornwall, in October 1889 — and reinstates the species in Category A of the
British and Irish list. Andrew G. Ross and Peter T. Bell
Flat 4, 13 West Nicolson Street, Edinburgh EH89DA
We have already published photographs of this bird by P. A. Doherty and G. P. Catley (Brit.
Birds 76: plates 40 & 41; 77: plate 219) and drawings of it by Keith Colcombe (Brit. Birds 76:
480). Eds
Communal feeding by Western Reef Herons BWP (1: 288) states that
the Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis feeds alone at all times of the year,
isolated or in scattered groups spaced along the shore, with each individual
maintaining a feeding territory. Since 1977, along the Arabian Gulf littoral,
I have not infrequently seen single herons, but, especially where food in
shore pools is abundant, up to 40 have been noted swarming around in
shallow pools only 5 m wide. Concentrations of these herons in small creeks
108
Notes
and pools are sometimes reminiscent of vultures around a carcase, the birds
jostling and wing-flapping in a growling swarm as they try to exploit a
temporarily abundant food source. This species breeds on offshore islands
from late April, and becomes really numerous on the mainland coasts only
from August to April; feeding concentrations have been noted only outside
the breeding season. Graham Bundy
The Crest, Blythe Shute, Chale, Isle of Wight P0382HJ
Communal winter roosting by Imperial Eagles Communal roosting by
Imperial Eagles Aquila heliaca is not mentioned in BWP (2: 225-233), which
states that the species is solitary and little-known in its winter quarters. In
eastern Saudi Arabia, Imperial Eagles are usually seen singly over the
semi-desert plains in northern districts from November to March. Towards
sunset, they congregate in one locality at the edge of the small village of
Nariya (27° 30'N 47° 30'E), where they roost in a fenced-off compound
lined with tamarisks Tamarix that houses two tall radio masts; the tamarisks
grow in lines, extend for about 250m, and average about 15m in height. L-p
to 14 eagles have been counted at one time, but it is thought that this is an
underestimate; at least 20 are considered regularly to use the compound for
roosting. Up to four sub-adult Steppe Eagles A. rapax have also roosted at
the same locality. Eagles sometimes pitch on the radio masts and perimeter
fence on arrival (up to two hours before sunset), but mostly they seek the
shelter of the tamarisks, with occasionally two in the same tree and up to
eight in a space ofabout 50m. The maximum number of adult or near-adult
Imperial Eagles seen at this locality is two, the remainder being pale
first-winter examples. They usually remain in the roosting area for several
hours after sunrise, unless disturbed. When departing, up to ten have been
seen spiralling away at a time; they then radiate singly over the surrounding
plains.
In February 1981, at Bharatpur, northern India, I located a roost where
up to ten first-winter Imperial Eagles were present on three evenings. Up to
six were also present on one mid afternoon, and four were still there at noon
on the following day. This site was a low grassy bank about 100m long in
flooded fields, and the eagles were usually hunched in the shade of low trees.
Graham Bundy
The Crest, Blythe Shute, Chale, Isle of Wight P0382HJ
Coot feeding by artificial light in urban area during hard weather The
note by A. R. Lowe {Brit. Birds 75: 32-33; 77: 27) concerning hard-weather
scavenging by Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus prompts me to record
the following. At 00.20 gmt on 15th January 1982, in Clifton, Bristol, in air
temperature below — 10°C, I found a Coot Fulica atra attempting to feed in
and beside a busy, snow-covered but unsalted road. It was using the
illumination from orange-mercury-vapour lights and was apparently
oblivious to cars passing at some speed within 1 m. It was seen to pick up,
but immediately discard, several small items, including cigarette ends and
gravel. The Coot was finally flushed into a nearby garden by a dog-walker
Notes
109
and was last seen feeding on scraps beneath a tit-feeder. The nearest
concentrations of Coots are 10km away at the Bristol reservoirs, which had
frozen a few days previously. Two days earlier, K. E. Vinicombe had
reported three Coots in the Clifton Gorge, itself a very unusual occurrence.
PeterJ. Hopkin
31 Kewstoke Road, Stoke Bishop, Bristol BS9 I HA
Kestrel attempting to catch bat in mid air At about 15.45 gmt on 28th
February 1982, at Kirk Loch, Lochmaben, Dumfriesshire, I saw a pipis-
trelle bat Pipistrellus pipistrellus flying over a grass field and an area of
lochside rushes J uncus , apparently in search of insects. A Kestrel Fa Ico
tinnunculus which had earlier been hovering over the rushes settled on the
grass field, at which point the bat was flying about 2.5m above ground and
was about 70m from the falcon. Suddenly, the Kestrel flew towards the
pipistrelle at a height of 30-60cm; as it neared the bat, it rose sharplv and,
with talons extended, approached it from below. It missed capturing the
bat, which fluttered downwards, flew into a beech tree and disappeared.
Paul Shimmings
5 Broornhouse Road, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire IX. 1 1 21. A
We have previously published notes on Swallows Hirundo rustica and Rooks Corvus frugilegus
chasing bats (Brit. Birds 68: 248; 77: 1 19-120). Eds
Skylarks and Yellowhammers roosting under snow At 22.00 gmt on
10th January 1982, at Digswell, Hertfordshire, my wife and 1 were
returning home across a snow-covered field when we disturbed three small
birds which, in the snow-reflected light, were seen to take flight. The field is
an area of well-established grassland which, having been neither cut nor
grazed since 1971, has developed some areas of medium herbage up to 60
cm high. At 1 20 m above sea level on top of one of the highest hills in central
Hertfordshire, it is a particularly exposed site: uninterrupted views to the
east and south exceed 1 1 km. The only significant protection is prov ided by
a narrow belt of deciduous woodland along the western boundary. The
snow cover varied from 30 cm to 38 cm. deeper where drifting had occurred,
and, on the night of 13th/ 14th January, the temperature in my nearby
summer house fell to — 9°C (16°F). In view of the weather conditions and
the situation of the site, the presence of small birds at night seemed
remarkable. On the afternoon of 1 1 th January. I returned and saw 1 1 or 12
Skylarks Alauda arvensis and seven Yellowhammers Emberiza citrinella. five of
which were males, arrive in the field and, with little or no preliminary
activity, enter holes or tunnels in the snow. Three tunnels were close
enough together to permit simultaneous observation at close range; the
occupants were two Skylarks, and a pair of Yellowhammers which entered
one tunnel together. By the time that it was too dark to continue
observations, no birds had emerged, and it seemed reasonable to deduce
that they were roosting under the snow. On my next visit, on 13th January,
seven Skylarks and two pairs of Yellowhammers arrived and entered
tunnels in the snow; the same three tunnels were again occupied by two
110
Notes
Skylarks and a pair of Yellovvhammers. This suggests some loyalty to roost
sites under the snow, and an ability to survive intensely cold weather by
such behaviour. On the evening of 15th January*, a rapid thaw commenced.
On the following evening, no Skylarks appeared and the only pair of
Yellowhammers I saw apparently remained in the nearby woodland.
Examination of the same three tunnels revealed ground-level cav ities or
chambers, all containing several droppings, formed in the snow, but within
the base of clumps of dead herbage. The tunnels measured, respectively,
20.3 cm, 28 cm and 31.8 cm from the entrance to the rear of the chamber;
they were, however, probably sev eral centimetres longer when formed, as
the effects of compacting and the partial thaw must be taken into account.
The tunnels were angled at between 30° and 45° from the ground.
The observations raise a number of interesting questions. In particular,
did the birds tunnel into the snow, or were the chambers established roost
sites which had become snowed in and from which the tunnels were made
as the birds emerged? Neither possibility can be excluded on the evidence
available, as the snow was the result ofa near-continuous fall which started
during the night of 7th/8th January and finished at about 15.00 gmt on 9th.
It might be expected that small birds could obtain some relative benefit, in
terms of energy conservation, warmth and shelter, by roosting under snow
during intensely cold weather. By so doing, however, they would appear to
risk becoming trapped by further overnight falls of snow. T. \V. Gladwin
99 Warren Way, Digswell, near Welwyn , Hertfordshire AL60DI.
Unusual calls at Pied Wagtail roost On 1 1th October 1981, in Stafford-
shire, I visited a roost of Pied Wagtails Motacilla alba in order to make some
sound-recordings of the roosting calls. The roost site, situated in a reed-
filled pool, has some willows Salix which the wagtails seemed to favour. I
lined up my parabolic reflector on a bush containing up to 30 wagtails and
proceeded to record. Through the head-phones I could hear, in addition to
the usual wagtail calls, a crackling noise which I can only describe as like
the crumpling of a piece of cellophane. Thinking this to be coming from my
equipment, I removed my head-phones, but I could still hear the noise; it
was present all the time, but at a low level. Every so often, there was a wave
of increased activity. I can find no reference to this crackling noise in British
Birds, Bird Study or The Handbook, although the late Rodney Jervis (in litt.)
has also noted it. I sent a copy of my recording to Ron Kettle at the British
Library of Wildlife Sounds (BLOWS). He informed me (in litt.) that
BLOWS had a recording similar to mine made by John B. Fisher, who said
that the crackling was due, as I had suspected, to mandible-clicking.
Unfortunately, there does not appear to be any clear explanation for this
noise, and more certain evidence of its origin would seem to be needed.
David W. Emley
127 Harpfield Road, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST4 5LT
Ron Kettle has confirmed that the recordings by David Emley, Rodney Jervis and John B.
Fisher are all held at BLOWS (29 Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AS), and that readers are
most welcome to listen to these and to any other recordings held by the library. Eds
Notes
111
Hovering as feeding strategy of Pied Wagtail On 20th June 1981,
outside the campus library at the University of Exeter, Devon, I observed a
male Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba feeding. After a period of heav ry rain, a
layer of small-winged insects had gathered several centimetres above a
deep, uncut lawn about 30 cm high. The wagtail hovered about 10 cm
above the grass, snapping at these insects; after about five seconds, it would
move 1 m or so and repeat the behaviour at another concentration of
insects. 1 1 continued this for up to half a minute at a time. Presumably, the
usual running and flycatching method of feeding could not be used because
of the length of the grass; prolonged hovering was, therefore, adopted to
exploit this food source. David A. Cope
25 Sandringham Drive , Paignton, Devon
Dr N. B. Davies has commented as follows: ‘I have never seen Pied Wagtails hovering so
persistently as this. Flycatching is an energetically expensive way for a wagtail to feed and is
normally used only for large flies, whereas picking and run-picking are used for smaller prey.
Presumably, the very' high concentration of insects in a small area made persistent hovering
profitable in this case.’ Eds
The Fieldfare as a prey species in East Sussex During the winters of
1980/81 and 1981/82, in the upper Medway valley and adjoining Ashdown
Forest, Sussex, 1 was impressed by the frequency of discoveries, in a variety
of habitats, of the plucked-feather remains of Fieldfares Turdus pilaris
compared with any other bird species. Most finds, at a known roost site of
the species, seemed to indicate that the birds were taken either during the
night or very early in the morning, implying predation by Tawny Owls Strix
aluco and Sparrowhawks Accipiter nisus\ at Ashdown Forest, Hen Harriers
Circus cyaneus cannot be excluded. Fieldfares were also suspected of having
fallen prey to mammals during periods of severe frost, when many took to
foraging among leaf litter in hedgerow bottoms. Peter Friston
61 Hartfield Road, Forest Row, East Sussex RH185BY
Derek Goodwin has commented as follows: ‘If Peter Friston is correct, it does seem that
Fieldfares are more vulnerable in his area. The question of whether some or all predators
prefer certain prey species or simply take those that are easiest to catch is ofinterest and would
repay further study.’ Eds
Nuthatch hovering Ian Ward's note on a Nuthatch Sitta europaea hov ering
around lime trees Tilia (Brit. Birds 75: 537) prompts the following. On 9th
June 1982, at Ringstead Downs, Norfolk. I w atched a pair of Nuthatches
twirling to an excessive degree around the rolled-up leaves of an ash
FraxinuS excelsior, sometimes hovering and sometimes sipping rapidly at the
leaf ends like hummingbirds (Trochilidae). During the entire duration of
my observations, they concentrated on the same tree, hovering tirelessly;
mature oaks Quercus, wych elms Ulmus glabra , beeches Fagus sylvatica and
pines Pinus only metres away were completely ignored. I subsequently
examined several of the contorted leaves and discovered a number of white
aphids, translucent eggs the size of a pin-head, and pale green ‘hoppers’;
unfortunately, I was unable to identify these at the time. This food was also
offered to two juvenile Nuthatches. Margaret Clarke
4 Aslack Way, Holme-next-Sea , Hunstanton , Norfolk
Announcements
‘Young Ornithologists of the Year’ The entrants for this year’s competi-
tion, run by the Young Ornithologists’ Club and sponsored by British Birds,
had to submit their field notebooks for examination, and identify a set of
difficult bird photographs published in the YOC magazine, Bird Life. The
winners and runners-up were:
senior section (13-18 years)
1st Robert Fray (Oadby, Leicestershire)
2nd Moyra Wilson (Worcester)
3rd Paul Chapman (Carlisle, Cumbria)
intermediate section (10-12 years)
1st Helen Parr (Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk)
2nd Mark Eaton (Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire)
junior section (up to 9 years)
1st Imogen Wade (Studley, Warwickshire)
Congratulations are due to the three winners, Robert F ray (14), Helen Parr
(10) and Imogen Wade (9), who will all receive their prizes at a special
award ceremony.
The two second-placed entrants, Moyra Wilson (14) and Mark Eaton
(12), were both very close competitors with the winners in the senior and
intermediate sections. It was pleasing to see the name Paul Chapman (13)
appearing again: he won the junior section in both 1979 and 1980, and
gained second place in the intermediate section last year. The clear winner
of the junior section, Imogen Wade, continues an even more remarkable
sequence: her sisters, Miranda and Rowena, were, respectively, placed first
in the junior section in 1981 and second in the intermediate section in 1981
and 1982. The judges, Peter Holden and Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, were also
especially impressed by Helen Parr’s work: although at the bottom of the
age-range for the intermediate section, her entry was of a higher standard
than many of those submitted for the senior section. A special Consolation
Prize was awarded to Nick Rhodes (13) of Bromsgrove, Worcestershire,
whose artwork was of an exceedingly high standard.
British Birds is delighted to continue to sponsor this annual competition,
aimed at encouraging young birdwatchers to approach their hobby with an
enquiring mind and in a scientific manner. We hope that adult readers of
British Birds will encourage young birdwatchers not only to join the YOC,
but also to enter this competition.
‘A Lighthouse Notebook’ The author, Norman McCanch, writes of his
experiences at various of Britain’s lighthouses when he was employed by
Trinity House, and the book is filled with his sketches and paintings of the
birds. Published by Michael Joseph at £12.95, this book is available post
free (in UK & Eire) through British BirdShop (see page ix).
‘Bird Navigation: the solution of a mystery?’ This book (to be reviewed
by Robert Spencer next month: ‘vastly informative and thoughtfully pro-
vocative’) is for sale post free (in UK & Eire) through British BirdShop (see
page ix) now.
112
Announcements
113
Oriental Bird Club
The Oriental Bird Club has recently been formed in response to
increased interest in the birds of the Oriental Region. Unlike
existing organisations, the Club will embrace the entire
Oriental Region, from Pakistan east to China and south to
Indonesia.
Two bulletins and a journal, The Forktail, will be published annually. The
bulletin will keep members informed of current developments in Oriental
ornithology, and the journal will publish original material on all aspects of
Oriental birds. The Club also aims to operate an up-to-date information
exchange on the birds and birdwatching localities of the region and will
co-operate fully with other Oriental societies.
A committee has been set up to launch the Club, with Richard Grimmett
as Chairman, Carol Inskipp as Secretary, and Nigel Redman as Treasurer.
In addition, a network of overseas correspondents will advise the Club at a
local level.
An inaugural open meeting with illustrated talks is to be held in Norwich
in March or April 1985. Further details and membership application forms
are available from the Secretary, Oriental Bird Club, c/o The Lodge,
Sandy, Bedfordshire SG 19 2DL.
The 19th International Ornithological
Congress will be held in Ottawa, Canada,
from 22nd to 29th June 1986. Its President
is Prof. Dr Klaus Immelmann. The scien-
tific programme has been determined and
comprises plenary lectures, symposia,
contributed papers (oral and posters),
round-table discussions, special-inter-
est-group meetings, and workshops. Pre-
and post-congress excursions and work-
shops are planned, as well as early morning
bird-walks and other activities for members and those accompanying
members.
The deadline for registration and submission of contributed papers is
January 1986. Additional information, the final circular and registration
forms are available from Dr Henri Ouellet, Secretary' General, XIX Con-
gressus Internationalis Ornithologicus, National Museum of Natural
Sciences, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada KlA 0M8.
Reduced price for ‘The Atlas of the Birds of the Western Palaearctic’
This book by Dr Colin Harrison, awarded the title of ‘The “British Birds”
Best Bird Book of the Year in 1982 [Brit. Birds 75: 439, review: 75: 480), is
now available (post free in UK & Eire) through British BirdShop (see page
ix) at £7.95 (the former price was £15.00).
XIX CONGRESSUS
INTERNATIONALIS
ORNITHOLOGICUS
114
Announcements
BWP IV The latest news from Oxford University Press is that the fourth
volume of The Birds of the Western Palearctic will be published early this
spring, probably in late March. It covers terns, sandgrouse, doves and
pigeons, cuckoos, owls, nightjars, swifts, kingfishers, bee-eaters, rollers,
Hoopoe and woodpeckers.
The price will be £60.00. British Birds subscribers can order it now through
British BirdShop, thereby ensuring that they will receive this latest BWP
volume by post immediately that it becomes available.
Handbook of the
Birds
of Europe
the Middle East
and
North Africa
The Birds of the
Western Palearctic
Cramp
Handbook of the
Birds of Europe
the Middle East and
North Africa
Volume IV
Terns to Woodpeckers
The Birds of the Western Palearctic
Stanley Cramp Chief F.ditor
Duncan J Brooks Euan Dunn Robert Gil Imor PADHollom Robert Hudson
EM Nicholson M AOgilvie PJSOIney CSRoselaar K EL Simmons
KHVoous DIM Wallace JanWattel MG Wilson
Volume IV
Terns to Woodpeckers
Special, exclusive ‘BWP’ offer
see next page
Announcements
115
Special, exclusive ‘BWP’ offer
Save £30
Vols. I-IV for £195
Most established BB readers will already have acquired each volume of
The Birds of the Western Palearctic immediately that it was published.
1 here may, however, be some readers who were not dedicated bird-
watchers back in 1977 when volume I appeared.
for the benefit of those whose interest in birds has developed onlv
recently to the level of needing to own BWP, we have arranged a special
offer with Oxford University Press, exclusive to BB readers.
fhe standard prices are £55 each for volumes L-III, and £60 for volume
IV: a total of £225 for the four volumes.
If you want to buy all four volumes, you can now take advantage of this
offer and obtain volumes I-IV for £195. Volumes I- 1 1 1 will be despatched
to you at once (subject to availability of stocks) and volume IV will follow as
• soon as it is available (see announcement headed ‘BWP I \”).
I his is a chance to start collecting the seven volumes of /ill P, at a saving
of £30. We hope that many of our new subscribers will take advantage of
this very generous gesture by Oxford University Press. Orders can be
accepted only if submitted by BB subscribers and addressed to BB Offers,
Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ; if possible, please use
the British BirdShop order form on page ix (or a copy of it).
Reduced prices for some Croom Helm Books Eric Hashing 's Seabirds by
Eric Hosking & Ronald Lockley (reviewed Brit. Birds 76: 602-603), Antarctic
Wildlife by Eric Hosking & Bryan Sage (reviewed Brit. Birds 75: 601) and
the two volumes of The Breeding Birds oj Europe by Manfred Pforr & Alfred
Limbrunner (reviewed Brit. Birds 75: 438) are now available through
British BirdShop at greatly reduced prices (see page ix).
News and comment
Mike Everett and Robin Prytherck
Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of ‘British Birds'
‘Seabird' In October 1984, the Seabird
Group published the first issue of its new
journal Seabird , edited by P. G. H. Evans and
T. R. Birkhead. As the successor to the
Group's former series of Reports (1 1-6), this
was entitled Seabird 7. The new title marked a
significant change in SG policy, broadening
its scope and embracing an international
field of contributors. Thus, while it will con-
tinue to encourage papers from the UK. Sea-
bird will extend the platform for discussion
and appeal to a wider readership. It will
appear on a regular basis, with Seabird 8
appearing to coincide with the Seabird
Group's Conference on ‘Population Studies
and Population Monitoring’ at Denstone
College, Uttoxeter. on 15th- 18th February
1985. Seabird aims to cater for a wide range of
current interests in seabird biology, and Sea-
bird 7 contains 1 1 papers on breeding biology,
status, migration, diet, moult and parasites.
Apart from UK studies by several eminent
116
News and comment
researchers, there are contributions from
Gibraltar and Norway and a world-wide
review of tick-borne viruses. It also includes
(as will its successors) a number of major
book reviews. Copies are available to non-
members for £5 + 50p postage from 'Seabird’
Orders, Seabird Group, c/o RSPB, The
Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL. The
Editor welcomes contributions of original
papers at the same address. ( Contributed by
Euan Dunn )
Little Shearwaters in Wales British readers
of the Dutch journal Ardea may have been
somewhat taken aback to see a note on
'Madeiran Little Shearwater Pujfinus assimilis
baroli prospecting on Skomer Island, U.K..’
{Ardea 72: 236-237). This exciting event was
never reported to the Rarities Committee,
the Rare Breeding Birds Panel or the BOU
Records Committee. We know no reason to
doubt the observations . . . but it does seem
odd that they have not been submitted (or
even mentioned) to the secretaries of the
three organisations which assess claims of
rarity records, and it also seems regrettable
that British observers should choose a Dutch
journal for publication of such an exciting
British event. The observations concerned a
male Little Shearwater found frequenting a
burrow from 26th June and throughout July
1981, and from 21st June and throughout
July 1982. It was not found the next year, but
a female was heard in flight on 3rd May 1983.
BTO in Southampton The 304 who —
ignoring the natural impulse to rush off after
Pallas’s, Radde’s, Dusky, and so on —
attended the one-day joint BTO/Hampshire
Ornithological Society Conference at
Southampton University on 3rd November
1984 enjoyed a treat to rival that of hounding
after the sudden late influx of eastern
rarities. Following the indefatigable Guy
Mountfort’s opening, Dr Stephen Baillie
focused attention on the movement patterns
of waterfowl in severe winters. The obvious
disappointment at Peter Davis’s absence
through illness was compensated for by Chris
Mead’s taking full advantage of his ‘slot’ to
relate his ringing experiences in a north-to-
south journey through Iberia: highly infor-
mative, lucid and humorous (though I’d still
like to know how that Menetries’s Warbler
got down there!). That tireless Hampshire
worker, David Steventon, demonstrated the
problems of interpreting movements of
waders in the county, and Glynne Evans
outlined his and Tony Prater’s studies of
New Forest Wood Warblers (some instruc-
tive nest-site shots here). No more than 25
years ago, we could all delight in the sound of
Stone-curlews on Hampshire downland and
farmland: John Waldon showed how this
beautiful wader has declined (1958, 28 pairs
monitored by John Ash; 1983, only five pairs
in exactly the same study area), owing
mainly to changes in land-use and farming
practices; the population is much smaller
than generally realised, and the three-year
research starting in 1985 merits all support.
The highlight — at least for me — was Peter
Harrison’s eulogy of St Ives Island as the
seawatch point in western Europe, if not the
world! His knowledge of seabirds and their
identification is staggering: yet ‘If you try to
identify skuas at ranges of two or three miles,
you’re a wally!’ sums up beautifully the
greatest current problem in seabird identifi-
cation, although, to quote his six-year-
old daughter, ‘Great Shearwaters are easy-
peazy’. An hour’s talking with Peter will
teach you more about seabird identification
than ten years’ literature study.
At the close of the conference, Mrs Pucker-
ing was presented with a well-deserved
bouquet for all her organising work. All those
who attended will look forward to the next
get-together. {Contributed by D AC)
End of an era In November 1984, the RSPB
said farewell to John Crudass, its Chief
Reserves Officer. For 16 years, John presided
over the Reserves Department, and it is in no
small way due to his enthusiasm, commit-
ment and drive, his wisdom and his foresight,
that the Society owns or manages such an
excellent and valuable network of reserves.
The 100th reserve was notched up not long
before he retired — but he would have cared a
lot less about that than knowing that the
other 99 were secure and being well
managed: they all stand as a fitting tribute to
his efforts. We wish him well in his retirement
in North Norfolk.
Man of mystery Nicholas Pike, the first to
break the code in our Mystery Photographs
Book, received his reward at a special presen-
tation ceremony laid on by Zeiss West
Germany in London in November (plates 51
& 52). Apart from guest presenter Tony
Soper and members of the Press, other guests
included such famous names as Eric Hosking
and Bill Oddie.
News and comment
117
51. Some of those present at the Mystery Photographs Book reception in November 1984: left to
r'ght, J 1 RS (the book’s deviser), D. R. Harris (runner-up), Nicholas Pike (winner), Eileen
Parsons ( Zeiss West Germany ), Tony Soper (special guest), Peter Braim and Renee Koll (both
Zeiss West Germany) (R.J. Chandler)
52. Nicholas Pike (left), the first solver of the secret of The ‘British Birds' Mystery Photographs
Book, being presented with his cheque for £1,000, pair of Zeiss West 10x40 binoculars and
inscribed copy of Chambers Twentieth Century Dictionary by Tony Soper {R.J. Chandler)
116
News and comment
researchers, there are contributions from
Gibraltar and Norway and a world-wide
review of tick-borne viruses. It also includes
(as will its successors) a number of major
book reviews. Copies are available to non-
members for £5 + 50p postage from ‘Seabird’
Orders, Seabird Group, c/o RSPB, The
Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL. The
Editor welcomes contributions of original
papers at the same address. ( Contributed by
Euan Dunn)
Little Shearwaters in Wales British readers
of the Dutch journal Ardea may have been
somewhat taken aback to see a note on
‘Madeiran Little Shearwater Puffinus assunilis
baroli prospecting on Skomer Island, U.K.’
(Ardea 72: 236-237). This exciting event was
never reported to the Rarities Committee,
the Rare Breeding Birds Panel or the BOU
Records Committee. We know no reason to
doubt the observations . . . but it does seem
odd that they have not been submitted (or
even mentioned) to the secretaries of the
three organisations which assess claims of
rarity records, and it also seems regrettable
that British observers should choose a Dutch
journal for publication of such an exciting
British event. The observations concerned a
male Little Shearwater found frequenting a
burrow from 26th June and throughout July
1981, and from 21st June and throughout
July 1982. It was not found the next year, but
a female was heard in flight on 3rd May 1983.
BTO in Southampton The 304 who —
ignoring the natural impulse to rush off after
Pallas’s, Radde’s, Dusky, and so on —
attended the one-day joint BTO/Hampshire
Ornithological Society Conference at
Southampton University on 3rd November
1984 enjoyed a treat to rival that of hounding
after the sudden late influx of eastern
rarities. Following the indefatigable Guy
Mountfort’s opening, Dr Stephen Baillie
focused attention on the movement patterns
of waterfowl in severe winters. The obvious
disappointment at Peter Davis’s absence
through illness was compensated for by Chris
Mead’s taking full advantage of his ‘slot’ to
relate his ringing experiences in a north-to-
south journey through Iberia: highly infor-
mative, lucid and humorous (though I’d still
like to know how that Menetries’s Warbler
got down there!). That tireless Hampshire
worker, David Steventon, demonstrated the
problems of interpreting movements of
waders in the county, and Clynne Evans
outlined his and Tony Prater’s studies of
New Forest Wood Warblers (some instruc-
tive nest-site shots here). No more than 25
years ago, we could all delight in the sound of
Stone-curlews on Hampshire downland and
farmland: John Waldon showed how this
beautiful wader has declined (1958, 28 pairs
monitored by John Ash; 1983, only five pairs
in exactly the same study area), owing
mainly to changes in land-use and farming
practices; the population is much smaller
than generally realised, and the three-year
research starting in 1985 merits all support.
The highlight — at least for me — was Peter
Harrison’s eulogy of St Ives Island as the
seawatch point in western Europe, if not the
world! His knowledge of seabirds and their
identification is staggering: yet ‘If you try to
identify skuas at ranges of two or three miles,
you’re a wally!’ sums up beautifully the
greatest current problem in seabird identifi-
cation, although, to quote his six-year-
old daughter, ‘Great Shearwaters are easy-
peazy’. An hour’s talking with Peter will
teach you more about seabird identification
than ten years’ literature study.
At the close of the conference, Mrs Pucker-
ing was presented with a well-deserved
bouquet for all her organising work. All those
who attended will look forward to the next
get-together. ( Contributed by DAC )
End of an era In November 1984, the RSPB
said farewell to John Crudass, its Chief
Reserves Officer. For 16 years, John presided
over the Reserves Department, and it is in no
small way due to his enthusiasm, commit-
ment and drive, his wisdom and his foresight,
that the Society owns or manages such an
excellent and valuable network of reserv es.
The 100th reserve was notched up not long
before he retired — but he would have cared a
lot less about that than knowing that the
other 99 were secure and being well
managed: they all stand as a fitting tribute to
his efforts. We wish him well in his retirement
in North Norfolk.
Man of mystery Nicholas Pike, the first to
break the code in our Mystery Photographs
Book , received his reward at a special presen-
tation ceremony laid on by Zeiss West
Germany in London in November (plates 51
& 52). Apart from guest presenter Tony
Soper and members of the Press, other guests
included such famous names as Eric Hosking
and Bill Oddie.
News and comment
117
51. Some of those present at the Mystery Photographs Book reception in November 1984: left to
right, JTRS (the book's deviser), D. R. Harris (runner-up), Nicholas Pike (winner), Eileen
Parsons ( Zeiss West Germany ), Tony Soper (special guest), Peter Braim and Renee Roll (both
Zeiss West Germany) ( R.J . C handler)
52. Nicholas Pike (left), the first solver of the secret of The 'British Birds' Mystery Photographs
Book , being presented with his cheque for £1,000, pair of Zeiss West 10X40 binoculars and
inscribed copy of Chambers Twentieth Century Dictionary by Tony Soper {R.J. Chandler)
118
News and comment
Polyrectricyly Jeffery Boswall has drawn
our attention to this one-word title of a paper
in the June 1984 issue of the Bulletin of the
British Ornithologists’ Club. It concerns the
occurrence of more than the normal number
of tail-feathers on a bird. So now you know!
Gong with a difference Despite what some
of his RSPB colleagues insist is more than a
passing facial resemblance to a certain
Middle Eastern religious leader. Bob Scott is
well known, well liked and well respected by
hundreds of birders all over the country. So
we were delighted to hear from one of our
spies that the All Bulgarian Committee for
the Protection of Nature under the National
Council for the Fatherland Front has certi-
fied that Bob has been awarded their Gold
Badge for his active work in nature protec-
tion. The award was made at the Interna-
tional Symposium on the ‘Role of Wetlands
in the Preservation of the Genetic Material
they contain' held at the Srebarna Reserve in
Bulgaria in October 1984.
Berry Head We were pleased to learn in
October 1984 that Berry Head, near
Brixham in South Devon, has been declared
a statutory Bird Sanctuary under Section 3 of
the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. All
credit goes to the local observers whose con-
cern over excessive disturbance at the site
prompted them to seek Area of Special Pro-
tection status for the site, with help from the
RSPB and the NCG; a special mention must
also be made of the firm and enthusiastic
support of the owners, Torbay Borough
Council. A major attraction at this regionally
important site is the largest colony of
Guillemots Uria aalge on the English south
coast.
SOC Conference The theme of the annual
conference held at North Berwick during
2nd-4th November 1984 was Scottish
islands, celebrating the 50th anniversary' of
the founding of the Isle of May Bird Observa-
tory. Prof. Sam Berry gave a scene-setting
introductory' talk, then Ian Munro and
Bernie Zonfrillo successively presented
amusing accounts of the history and present-
day activities of the Observatory. Dr Mike
Harris concluded the Saturday morning with
a fascinating talk on his auk studies on the
island.
The Saturday afternoon is normally set
aside for excursions, but only a (fool)hardy
few braved the torrential rain and ferocious
storm-force winds which battered the hotel
all day. The majority preferred to stay
indoors in the warm, though not, thanks first
to the storm and later to the bar, the dry.
Many attended a seminar on bird recording
in Scotland.
Three short talks, also with Isle of May
links, filled the first part of Sunday morning,
Nicholas Aebischer on breeding Shags,
Hector Galbraith on Kittiwake feeding
behaviour, and Dr Ron Summers on waders
of rocky shores. The concluding event of this
friendliest of meetings was a showing of the
film One Man’s Island , featuring the work of
artist Keith Brockie on the Isle of May.
The BB Mystery Photographs Competi-
tion was well supported, the winner, drawn
from the three correct entries, being Michael
Leven. ( Contributed by MAO)
Night sites sought by Bangkok Swallows
The latest issue of the Bangkok Bird Club
Bulletin reports that the overhead wires in
Silom Road, used nightly by 200,000-300,000
roosting Swallows Hirundo rustica (see last
month’s plate 12), are soon to be removed
and placed underground. M ill this famous
Bangkok spectacle break up, or regroup
elsewhere? When we hear news, we will
report on what happens. ( Contributed by
JTRS)
Rob hitched Our congratulations to Rob
Hume on his marriage last autumn to RSPB
colleague Marcella Sinfield. Not for them a
Scillies honeymoon — but it was an ornitho-
logical one, catching up with the endemics
and other things of interest in the Canaries.
New publications The Sheffield Bird Study
Group has sent us two recent publications —
The Sheffield Bird Report 1983 and the latest
issue (No 3: 1984) of their journal The Magpie.
Unfortunately, it has not given us details of
price or availability of either — but its Secret-
ary, V. Gibson, I 1 Mooroaks Road, Sheffield
S10 1BX, will no doubt be able to advise you
about these. Phis is a good place for us to
mention that we have received several
journals in the past without these vital
details — please be sure to let us have them if
you want us to give your literature a plug! We
have also received Birds in Northumbria — 1983.
the Northumberland Bird Report published
by the Tyneside Bird Club. It is available
News and comment
119
from Mrs M. C’adwallender, 32 Manners
Gardens, Seaton Delaval, Northumberland
NE25 ODW, price £2.75. The Shore-birds of the
Orkney Islands is a useful contribution to
shorebird literature in that it details numbers
and distribution on the Orkney coastline in
the winters of 1982/83 and 1983/84. It costs
£2.50, has been produced by the lay and
Orkney Ringing Groups, and is available
■from M. Martin, Flat 9, Upper Springland,
Isla Road, Perth, Tayside.
New Recorder for Greater London
Andrew V. Moon, Chalk Dell House,
London Road, Rickmansworth, Hertford-
shire tt'Di ijp, has taken over from Peter
Clement as Recorder for Greater London.
Scilly calling ... A cri de coeur from Rarities
Committee Secretary Mike Rogers, now in
his new home on Scilly: please don't ring him
up to ask what’s about. He suggests, quite
rightly, that this could make life quite
impossible for him. He undertakes to feed the
grapevine whenever the need arises. So,
please respect his request!
Calling Southwestern birders! A ‘One-day
South-West Birdwatchers and Ringers Con-
ference’ organised by Chew Valley Ringing
Station will be held in Timsbury, near Bath,
Avon, on 9th March 1985. For details, con-
tact Dorian Bufiery, 36 Carrington Road,
Ashton, Bristol BS3 2AG.
The dates in this report refer to November
1984 unless otherwise stated.
The weather during November was unset-
tled. with a procession of Atlantic frontal
systems crossing Britain and Ireland. Air
temperatures were above average, and
ground frosts rare in lowland areas. Low-
pressure systems over the south of England
during the first week resulted in several days
of easterlies in North Sea areas, followed by a
period of southerlies until the 20th, as pres-
sure rose nearby over the Continent diverting
Recent reports
Keith Allsopp and Ian Dawson
These are largely unchecked reports,
not authenticated records
the depression tracks farther north. This
pressure declined thereafter, and a series of
particularly vigorous depressions brought
very strong westerlies for the remainder of
the month.
Unseasonal migrants
I he mild weather and easterly and southerly
winds resulted in many unseasonal records,
with Swifts Apus apns being seen until 18th.
usually singly, but in pairs at Beccles and
Benacre (Suffolk). Even more surprising
120
Recent reports
53. Isabelline Shrike Lanius isabellinus, Devon,
November 1984 (At. P. Frost)
Bill on 2nd, Blakeney on 3rd, two at Tyne-
mouth (Tyne & Wear) and in Devon on 4th.
A Radde’s Warbler P. schwarzi was found in
Cornwall, and another at Spurn (Humber-
side) on 24th; a Dusky Warbler P.fuscatus at
Marsden (Tyne & YVear) on 8th; and two
Arctic Warblers P. borealis also in northeast
England. This area produced further sur-
prises, with a Lanceolated Warbler
Locustella lanceolata trapped at Tynemouth;
Subalpine Warblers Sylvia cantillans at
Hauxley (Northumberland) on 5th and
YVhitby (North Yorkshire) on 18th; two
Bluethroats Lusdnia svecica on 4th; a Lesser
Grey Shrike Lanius minor at Jarrow (Tyne &
Wear) on 20th; and, at Spurn, a ‘Siberian’
Stonechat Saxicola torquata stejnegen from
10th to 17th, a Little Bunting Embenza
pusilla on 17th, and three Richard’s Pipits
Anthus novaeseelandiae . Farther south, there
was a Nightingale Luscima megarhynchos at
Blakeney on 17th, and, along the south coast,
a Hoopoe Upupa epops on 7th and 10th and a
Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata on 10th at
Dungeness (Kent), a Turtle Dove Strepto-
pelia turtur at Stanpit (Dorset) on 4th, two
Red-breasted Flycatchers Ficedula parva at
Portland on 2nd, an Isabelline Shrike
Lanius isabellinus at Berry Head (Devon) from
4th to 13th (plate 53), Wrynecks Jynx
were four records of Pallid Swifts A . pallidus,
two of these at Portland Bill (Dorset) on 10th,
and singles at Strumble Head (Dyfed) from
10th to 17th and at Warden Point (Kent)
from 14th to 16th. Other aerial insect feeders
still surviving were a Nightjar Capnmulgus
europaeus at Holme (Norfolk) on 10th; another
nightjar picked up on Barnes Common
(London) on 23rd October was found to be a
Nighthawk Chordeiles minor, which unfor-
tunately died on 28th October. House
Martins Delichon urbica , not so unexpectedly,
were quite regularly seen, but ten together at
Kirton (Suffolk) on 28th was unusual. A late
crop of Continental rarities also arrived
mainly in English east coast areas. Pallas’s
Warblers Phylloscopus proregulus were found
at Portland Bill (two on 2nd) and another at
Blakeney (Norfolk) on 10th; and Yellow-
browed Warblers P. inomatus at Portland
torquilla at Noss Mayo (Devon) on 4th and St
Just (Cornwall) on 18th, and a Desert
Wheatear Oenanthe deserti at Porthgwarra
(Cornwall) on 1 7th to 19th. A late report was
of the arrival of a Belted Kingfisher Ceryle
alcyon at Ballyraughan (Co. Clare) which
remained throughout November.
Winter visitors
Following the records last month of Arctic
Redpolls Carduelis homemanm on Fair Isle,
further reports came from Hauxley and
Craster (Northumberland) on 4th, from
Flamborough (Humberside) on 3rd, and one
possible sighted at Wells (Norfolk) on 9th.
These arrived with a general influx of
‘Mealy Redpolls C. flammea flammea. The
only Waxwings Bombycilla garrulus reported
were from Co. Durham and at Blakeney on
18th, and amongst the winter thrushes there
121
I Recent reports
was a Siberian Thrush Z oothera sibinca on
Orkney on 16th. Rough-legged Buzzards
Buteo lagopus were scarce, with two reports
only, from Bempton (Humberside) on 10th
and Copeland Island (Co. Down).
Wildfowl
A staggering 26,000 Wigeons Anas penelope
and 1 , 1 00 Whooper Swans Cygnus cygnus
were estimated at Lough Foyle (Co. Derry)
| on 18th, and the American Wigeon Anas
.amencana reported last month remained on
nearby Lough Beg. Also in Northern Ireland
: were four Surf Scoters Melamtta perspicillata ,
including one male, at Newcastle (Co.
i Down). Inland, reports ofVelvet Scoters M.
fusca were of 1 1 at Farmoor (Oxfordshire)
i and five at Chew Valley Lake (Avon) on
10th, and, among goose flocks, Brent Geese
Branta bemicla of the Nearctic/East Palearctic
race nigricans (known as ‘Black Brants’) were
seen at Staines Reservoir (Surrey) and at
Cley (Norfolk) on 10th. An elusive Pied-
billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps was dis-
j covered during the month on Ogwen Pool,
Bangor (Gwynedd).
Wading birds
'A few Nearctic species stayed into
NNovember, namely a Wilson’s Phalarope
Phalaropus tricolor on the Ouse Washes (Cam-
bridgeshire) until 4th, Lesser Golden
Plovers Plumalis domimca at St Just until 18th
and on St Mary’s (Scilly) (plate 54), and a
Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolo-
paceus at Frampton (Gloucestershire), while a
I SSpotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia found on
the 4th on the River Tavy (Devon) stayed
54. Lesser Golden Plover Pluvialis domimca,
Scilly, November 1984 (David Hunt)
until 25th. Of the European species, a Dot-
terel Charadrius monnellus remained at St Just
until 18th, and the Black-winged Stilt
Himantopus himantopus survived on the Ythan
Estuary (Grampian) into November. There
was a notable disruptive movement of
Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta , with eight
reported inland at Vicarage Farm Pit
(Bedfordshire) on 18th and 32 at Nene-
mouth, Wash (Lincolnshire), on 25th. A rare
report was of a Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis in
Co. Wexford, and a Little Egret Egretta
garzetta stayed on the River Yealan (Devon)
until 1 1th.
Seabirds
Bad weather with easterlies over the North
Sea on 6th pushed many Little Auks Alle alle
onshore; some 2,000 were counted passing
Flamborough, and smaller parties flew along
the Suffolk coast, where 24 were counted in
half an hour. Subsequently, individuals were
found inland as far as Staffordshire the next
day. Earlier, on 3rd, 300 Little Gulls Larus
minutus were seen at Flamborough. with a
Sabine’s Gull L. sabim just to the south at
Easington (Humberside). Late tern reports
w ere of five Black Terns Chlidonias mger and
one Common Tern Sterna himndo at Theale
Gravel-pits (Berkshire) on 1st. The Ross’s
Gull Rhodostethia rosea was still to be found at
Wick (Highland), as was the Laughing Gull
Larus atricilla at Newcastle (Tyne & Wear),
while another was found at Willerby
(Humberside) in mid November. Radipole
Lake (Dorset) continues to provide more
records of Ring-billed Gulls L. delawarensis,
one being present from 13th to 18th. A late
Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomannus passed
Berry Head on 5th, and a Great Skua S. skua
stayed inland at Stewartby Clay-pit (Bed-
fordshire) from 17th.
122
Recent reports
Latest news
The first half of January was very quiet,
apart from a small but widespread influx
of Smews Mergus albellus. Few major rarities
were to be found. The Ring-billed Gull and
the White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia
albicotlis were still to be seen in Belfast early
in the month, and a Gyrfalcon Falco
rusticolus was reported from the Isles of
Scilly, seen mainly on Tresco, for a few
days from 8th.
Review
The Herons Handbook. By James Hancock and James Kushlan.
Groom Helm, London, 1984. 288 pages including 65 colour paintings by
Robert Gillmor and Peter Hayman, 21 line-drawings and 61 distribution
maps. £16.95.
This book's predecessor, The Herons oj the World, by James Hancock and Hugh Elliott with 61
colour paintings by Robert Gillmor and Peter Hayman, was published in 1978 and reviewed in
this magazine by Stanley Cramp (Brit. Birds 72: 234). He described it as ‘superbly produced’
and ‘attractive’, the text as ‘well-written’ and ‘authoritative’, and the paintings as ‘highly
decorative’ and 'superbly printed'. Despite this deserved praise, the book has not found its way
onto a large number of private bookshelves and the reason for this is simply one of price:
£46.00 in 1978.
The Herons Handbook is more likely to achieve popularity than its forerunner, due not only to
its more attractive price, but also to the fact that it is the direct descendant of the earlier work.
The initial impression on the prospective reader is very favourable, created by the eye-
catching paintings. Both artists have set a very high standard with their portrayals of each
species in its natural habitat and it might be suggested that some of Robert Gillmor’s plates
may never be bettered. All of the paintings in the original book are repeated, though reduced in
size from 350mm X 230mm to 234mm X 152mm, and there are four new plates by Robert
Gillmor depicting a total of 60 white herons and egrets of 1 1 species, showing different
subspecies and seasonal plumages and bare-parts coloration. The only criticism of the
paintings, apart from the size reduction, is that the majority show just one bird of each species,
resulting in many distinct plumages not being portrayed.
All of the world’s herons, 60 species according to the authors’ classification, are both
illustrated and covered in the text, and numerous subspecies are also discussed in depth. With
Sir Hugh Elliott unable actively to participate in this book, the widely travelled James i|
Hancock has been joined by James Kushlan, a professional ornithologist of considerable field
experience. After a Foreword by Roger Tory Peterson, and Introduction and Acknow-
ledgements by the authors, there are general chapters on Classification, Courtship, Feeding,
and Identification. These are followed by the individual Species Descriptions, each of which, j
where relevant, contains information under the headings Identification, Distribution and i
Population, Migration, Habitat, Behaviour, Nest, Eggs and Young, and Taxonomy. The text
of the earlier work has been revised and updated, particularly the sections on distribution, I
habitat, behaviour and taxonomy, following substantial recent research by field observers .
including the authors. A criticism of The Herons of the World, that the accounts of well-studied f
species were compressed whilst those of little-known ones were padded out to suit the form of t|
the book, has been rectified, the allocation of text space being more in keeping with the
information known about each species. There is a distribution map for each species, correcting r
a major fault in the earlier book, and there are 2 1 splendid line-drawings by Robert Gillmor.
The hard cover appears well-finished and suitable for a book intended to be used in the field, if
1 1 is also attractive, containing the same illustrations as the dust-cover.
The Herons Handbook is superbly illustrated, with a scholarly text containing the very latest tl
information on the heron family. 1 1 is, in every way, a fine book, and will enjoy a wide appeal. |
Peter Lansdown )
British BirdShop
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Cassette pack 1 Divers to gulls (Price includes postage) GP1 CD J
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IX
Hawkins Walking Boots Possibly
The Finest in the World £39.95
Nomad.
Bronzino, silicone- treated, Analine leather
upper, combines comfort and support with great
strength and durability. New, lightweight, long-
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maximum grip. New, three-pan laminated inner
sole gives lateral rigidity and longitudinal flexibility
with support, stability and unprecedented level of
comfort.
Leather bellows tongue with padding, padded ankle
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footbed for comfort and support, plus lacing with double-
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IN CONTINENTAL SIZES: 37-46.
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102a VICTORIA STREET ■ ST ALBANS ■ HERTS
Telephone: (0727) 59392
(BB155)
Charehwood Vhlley
<§KzJf Catering
Holiday Cabins,
family oMied
and run far your
relaxing holiday.
Ifc
New for 1985 luxury top grade
cabins with English Tourist Board.
• Set in coastal preservation area of
outstanding natural beauty
• Adjoining N.T. land and near several N.T
• Easy reach Historic Plymouth
• Good walking, riding, sailing, fishing and
• Bird-watching and wildlife
• Minimum commercialisation
• Personal attention
• Reasonable charges
• Corporate members R.S.P.B.
Colour brochure from:
CHURCH WOOD ESTATE, WEMBURY.
nr. Plymouth, Devon PL9 0DZ.
Tel: (0752 ) 862382 (24 hours) (BB148)
x
Classified Advertisements 0621 815085
CHINA ’85
Roger Lovegrove in
China (RSPB Wales)
1st -21 st June
Travels in the nature Reserves of
Northern China and Inner
Mongolia — rarely visited new
areas.
Cost: £1,499.00
For details please contact:
SCT-China
Rose Crescent
Cambridge CB2 3LL
24 hour answering service.
ABTA/IATA
(D452)
no one-hour cassettes (138
secies) compiled and edited D)
erry White.
■ublished by the British Library
National Sound Archive
>9 Exhibition Road, London
(y/7 2AS. £10 post free in UK
(Add £1 for overseas).
£S5£S='
nquiries welcome.
Classified Advertisements
All advertisements must be
PREPAID
WILDLIFE HO LID A YS
BODMIN MOOR NATURE OBSERVA-
TORY. Open all year. Flexible accommodation
from lull board to B&B. Regular field trips under
expert guidance to ‘‘discover” birds on the Moor
and north coast sites. Good food. Central heating.
SAE for prospectus and 1984 records summary
to Tony Miller, Bodmin Moor N.O., Ninestones.
Liskeard, Cornwall PL 14 6SD. Tel: 0579 20455.
(BB145)
ALDABRA and other Indian Ocean islands.
Send 2 X 1 7p stamps for preliminary prospectus
of November 1986 trip, to: Caledonian Wildlife
(Aldahra), 30 Culduthel Road. Inverness IY2
4AP, Scotland. (BB160)
“THE INNER HEBRIDES!” For the very best
in relaxed informative weeks on either Arran.
Islay, Jura, Skye or Mull send stamp to:
HEBRiDEAN WILDLIFE AND WALKING
HOLIDAYS, Strathwhillan (BB), Isle of Arran,
Scotland (tel: 07702562). (BBI07)
BROADLAND
WILDLIFE HOLIDAYS
All year round natural history holidays
based around the Norfolk Broads
* Daily Outings *
* Slide Shows * Talks *
Accommodation is in a
highly recommended, friendly.
WILDLIFE SAFARIS
AND EXPEDITIONS
• 3 weeks Zambia with Victoria
Falls.
• 2/3 weeks Kenya Game parks,
beaches. Lake Turkana.
Lamu Island.
Details of this and many
other short & Iona expeditions
in our full colour brochure
from only
£350
* flight
GUERBA EXPEDITIONS LTD
Dept. BB WESTFIELD HOUSE
WESTBURY WILTS BAi 3 3EP UK
TEL (0380)830476(24 HRSl
African adventure
(BB143)
M
Classified Advertisements 0621 815085
HO LI DA Y A CCOMMODA TION
FLINT COTTAGES
In rural surroundings at StifTkey
and Beeston Regis, Norfolk,
recently renovated and centrally heated.
Tel: 0263 822986 for brochure.
(BB22)
NATIONAL TRUST VILLAGE on Exmoor.
Self-catering holiday homes. Centrally heated,
near Porlock. Sea, moors, woods and marshes all
within walking distance. Stamp for brochure.
Sheila V\ right, The Pack Horse, Allerford. Nr.
Minehead. Tel: (0643) 862475. (BB72)
MIGRATION VANTAGE POINT. Sur-
rounded by National Trust land, with breath-
taking views over the Needles — immaculate 2
bedroom luxury flats. Short breaks till April.
Colour brochure: Marion and John Smith,
Headon Hall, Alum Bay, Isle of Wight. Tel: 0983
752123 (24hrs). (BB69)
SIBTON (nr Minsmere), Sulfolk. The White
Horse Inn. A unique and charming 16th century
freehouse in 2 'A acres, en suite accommodation,
bed and breakfast or weekly rates. Ample car
parking. CC location site. Bar snacks or
restaurant meals available. Tel: Peasenhall 337.
(BB68)
NORTH NORFOLK COAST, fishermen’s
cottages. Open all year. Oak beams. Colour TV
and open fires Oct/March, Ray Hewitt, Brig
Square Holiday Cottages, Freeman Street, Wells
next the Sea. Tel: 0328 710440. (BB 1 7)
NEW FOREST. New Park Hotel, Brockenhurst.
260 acres. Stables, etc. Self-catering cottages.
Colour brochures: (0590) 23467.
(BB40)
BED AND BREAKFAST. Mrs D. Crowden,
Rosevilla, Middleton, Saxmundham, Suffolk.
Tel: Westleton 489 between 6-7 pm. (BB50)
SELF-CATERING CHALETS. 4 miles from
Vane Farm, Kinross (Loch Leven). Brochure
from Andrew Sneddon, Stan-ma-lane, Balgedie,
Kin ross. Tel : 059 284 257. ( B B 1 00)
HISTORIC COUNTRY HOUSE overlooking
Derwent Ings. Explore York, the Wolds,
Bempton Cliffs. Enjoy Yorkshire cooking. B/B,
EM from £10.50. Mrs Vincent, Aughton Hall,
Aughton, York Y04 4PG. Bubwith 237.
(BB62)
MANOR BARN COTTAGE. Mudgley, South
Isle of Wedmore, overlooking Somerset Levels.
Fine English cooking, log fires, CH, rooms en
suite, open all year. Brochure: Wedmore 0934
712953. (BB46)
GALLOWAY for coast, Lochs and Hills. Private
Hotel ideally situated for birdwatching and
holidays. Small parties welcome. Comfortable
accommodation and excellent food. Open all
year. Tel: 0556 2173. Merrick Hotel, Castle
Douglas, Kirkcudbrightshire. (BB1 13)
BIRDWATCHERS’ HAVEN: Shore of Fleet
nature reserve, Dorset. Tern nesting site etc.
Rowing boat available. B&B£7.00. E.M. /Packed
lunches if required. Excellent cooking. Home
produced vegetables. Warm welcome, peace and
freedom assured. Telephone: Weymouth 772268.
(BB 1 12)
COME AND SEE the King Eider and many
other rare birds on Loch Fleet and stay with us at
The Park House Hotel, Golspie, Sutherland.
Tel: 040 83 3667 where we promise to make your
stay enjoyable. (BB12)
SELF-CATERING PROPERTIES. All
personally inspected. Brochure: Rural Vacations
Ltd, Pipworth Lane, Eckington, Sheffield S31
9EY. Tel: 0246 432202. ' ( BB54)
SMALL FAMILY RUN HOTEL 300 yards
from the sea in a coastal area well known to
ornithologists. Recommended by Ashley
Courtenay, AA, RAC. Good food, warm
friendly atmosphere. Open all year. The
Lodge Hotel, Old Hunstanton, North
Norfolk. Tel: 048 53 2896. Dogs welcome.
(BB20)
NEWPORT, PEMBS. Coastal cottage, adj. Nat.
Park, 5 mins. Sea and Estuary. Sleeps 8. lei:
0222 752965. ’ (BB70)
HEREFORDSHIRE. Farm holiday bungalow
to let amidst Black Mountains in the lovely
Olchon Valley of Herefordshire. Lovely walks
and bird watching area. Dippers nesting close to
bungalow in Spring. Week-end lets until April.
Probert, Glandwr Farm, Llanvaynoe, I.ongtow n.
Hereford. Tel: Longtown Castle 608. (BB81)
COUNTRY COTTAGES between Alnwick and
Belf'ord. Sleep up to six, fully equipped,
self-catering, available throughout the year. Well
placed for Holy Island and Fame Islands,
Cheviot Hills and many places of natural beauty.
SAE to Mrs P. Foster, Coxons, Craster South
Farm, Alnwick, Northumberland. Tel: (066 576)
640. (BB27)
NEAR MINSMERE, delightful converted barn.
Sleeps 6/7. Fully equipped and linen provided.
Turner, Vine Cottage, The Street, Middleton,
Saxmundham: Tel: Westleton 208 after 6pm.
( BB7)
WARM WELCOME, B&B/EM optional. Close
to marshes. Heritage Coastal Walks. Central for
Clley and Titchwell reserves. Mrs Court,
Eastdene, Northfield Lane, Wells-ncxt-the-Sea,
Norfolk. Tel: (0328) 710381. (BB36)
LUXURY IDYLLIC COTTAGE. Ideal base
Cheviot Hills, Fame Isles and Kielder Forest.
Forster. Pel: 1-904 9107 and 0669 30265.
(BB1 1)
GLANDYFI CASTLE. Machynlleth, Powys.
Flat adjoining Castle, sleeps 2-4. Naturalist
paradise, 40 acres private grounds overlooking
Dovey Estuary and Ynys-hir bird reserve. Tel:
Glandyfi 281. (BB132)
Classified Advertisements 0621 815085
ISLES OF SCILLY. Migrate to Mount Flagon
on St Mary’s and enjoy the friendly atmosphere
and good food provided by Bas and Nan Cons.
Write or ring for brochure 0720 22598. (BB1 14)
IN THE GROUNDS of a beautiful house
surrounded by woodlands and unspoiled
countryside. Ideal for birdwatchers. Send SAE
for brochure: Trelowarren Chateau Camping
and Caravan Park, Mawgan, Helston, Cornwall.
(BB133)
ISLES OF SCILLY, holidav cottage to let, sleeps
5. Tel: 0720 22935. (BB134)
EAST NORFOLK. B&B. Open all year. Also
modernised 1 7 th century fisherman’s cottage.
! Tel: 0493 728374. (BB137)
ISLES OF SCILLY, Mincarlo Guest House. St
Mary’s. Superbly situated in own grounds
overlooking the harbour. Terms from £8.50
(plus VAT) for B&B £12.75 (plus VAT) BB &
EM. Tel: 0720 22513. (BBI40)
ORKNEY ISLANDS— Modern accommoda-
tion self-catering and bed and breakfast, near the
sea, boating, fishing, wide variety migratory
birds, regular bus service and car hire available.
For more details write or phone South Ronaldsay
and Burray Tourist ( )rganisation, St. Margaret's
Hope, South Ronaldsay. Orkney Islands 085 683
309. (BB150)
BROCKENHURST, New Forest. Spend a few
days with Mike Read watching local wildlife.
Fascinating 2/4 day programmes in April/
October 1985. Details: Whitley Ridge Restaurant
and Country House Hotel, 0590 22354.
( BB 1 54)
SOUTH LINGS. 18th century farmhouse B&B
£9, optional EM. Anne Thompson. Guv Wells
Farm, Whaplode. Spalding. Tel: 0406 22239.
(BB 156)
GARE MILL, Slapton. Comfortable, warm self-
catering Cedar Lodges carefully sited in 4 acres
overlooking river and woods. 2 CH flats in 16th C
cornmill available all year. Sleep 2-6. Dogs
welcome. For coloured brochure ring Stoke
Fleming 770295. (BB157)
EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK— Dunster.
Beautiful Georgian residence — a 'listed' build-
ing. in lawns, walled garden and orchard.
Exceptionally well appointed self-contained flats.
Spacious views of parkland and sea coast.
Historic village with castle. Resident owners to
ensure vour comfort. File Archer Flouse, Dunster
Steep. Dunster TA24 6SD. Tel: 0643 821448.
( BB 158)
KELLING, NR. CLEY. Situated in 4 acres of
own wooded grounds. Double room £11.95 per
person. En suite £13.45. Winter two-day breaks
£27.50 per person. B&B & evening meal.
Applchill Hotel, kelling. Tel: Wevbourne (026
370)382. (BB159)
AN OUTSTANDING RANGE of self-catering
holiday homes and cottages in the glorious
Scottish highlands. Send for illustrated brochure:
Lorna Lumsden, Scottish Highland Holiday
Homes, Wester Altourie. Abriachan. Inverness
Tel: 0463 86247. (BB5)
NORTH NORFOLK. The George & Dragon
Hotel. Accommodation, bars & meals. Over-
looking the marshes at Cley, towards Blakeney
Point. Tel: Cley (0263) 740652. (BB94)
ISLE OF MULL, I orosay Castle, Craignure.
Golden eagles often seen in the area. 20 species in
the garden and over 200 recorded on the island.
Mull is a paradise. Gardens open year-round.
Castle: 1 May-30 Sept, I flat and gardener’s
cottage to let. Flach sleeps 4 plus camp beds.
Special monthly winter terms. For terms apply:
The Secretary. Tel: 06802421. (BB15)
BARGAIN BREAKS
Small, recommended, coastal, licensed hotel
facing open countryside. National Trust
cliff walks nearby. All bedrooms with baths/
shower/wc, central heating, colour TV and
tea maker, en suite. Four poster bed. Heated
indoor swimming pool. Dinner choice from
extensive menu. 2/5/7 night Bargain Breaks
from £20 including dinner, breakfast and
VAT. Brochure/reservations: GLENCOE
HOTEL, Gwithian Village (St Ives Bav)
1R27 5BX. Tel: 0736 752216.
(BB42)
POLPERRO. Delightful harbourside cottage
Sleeps 6. Fully furnished and in easy reach of
lovely cliff walks. From £110pw . Lawrence, 63
Elm Park Mansions. Park Walk, London SWI0.
Tel: 0483 232230. (BB87i
MOST ATTRACTIVE choice of selfcatering
cottages, isolated and in beautiful surroundings
overlooking the sea on a Westhighland Estate.
Scotland’s natural beauty at its best. The ideal
holiday for the true country lover w ith wild life in
abundance. For full colour brochure please write
to: The Booking Office. Ellary 7, Lochgilphead.
Argy II. Tel: 08803 232/209 or 054685 223.
( BB 101 )
THE OSPREY VILLAGE’: Beautiful Boat-of-
Garten in the central Scottish Highlands close by
the RSPB Loch Garten Reserve. Year-round
Highland hospitality. For details of 150 local
bird species, walks/activities, SAE please:
Tourist Assoc. Boat-of-Garien. Inverness-shire.
(BB75)
CAIRNGORMS — Nethybridge near
Aviemore. Choice of unique converted smithy,
hay loft, cottages and bungalows. Very comfor-
table. well furnished, central heating and col. TV
from £65-£'250 pw. Mrs B. Patrick. Chapelton
Place, Forres. Tel: 0309 72505. (BB76)
4-BERTH CARAVAN individual rural site,
edge Minsmere. Meg/Terry James, Charitv
Farm, Westleton. Phone Westleton 314.
(BB79)
BARN HOUSE, Bempton. Pleasantly situated,
comfortable farmhouse style B&B. Schofield, 5
New-sham Hill Lane, Bempton, Bridlington. Tel:
0262850523. (BB73)
MINSMERE. Accommodation at the Eight
Bells. Kelsale A12, B&B. Real Ale. good lood.
Tel: Saxmundham 2975. (BB59)
Classified Advertisements 0621 815085
YORKSHIRE’S HERITAGE COAST
Varied and spectacular bird watching on the 350 ft
cliffs around Flamborough and Bempton. A coast
that’s rich in history and wildlife. Discover fossils,
see the seals, explore the nature trails at Danes Dyke
and South Landing.
Send for details and Bridlington Colour Guide to:
Publicity Dept., 103 The Spa, Bridlington,
East Yorkshire Y015 3JH.
A contribution towards postage appreciated
(BB144)
IN EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK, 2 semi
detached cottages, Winsford. Also comfortable
farmhouse, Wheddon Cross. All sleep 6, plus cot.
Colour TV. Open fires. Sheets provided. Sorry no
pets. SAE please to: Mrs D. Jack, c/o Mrs A.
Webber, Steadway Farm, Wheddon Cross,
Minehead TA24 7EB. Tel: Timberscombe 492.
(BB66)
ISLE OF ISLAY— Hebrides— our S/C C/H
cottages are beautifully situated on the shores of
Loch Indaal, home of wintering geese, with
superb views to the hills. A peaceful five minutes
stroll to the village where you can enjoy an
evening’s entertainment among friendly people.
From £50 per week. Full details and brochure —
Mrs James Roy, Lorgba Holiday Cottages, Port
Charlotte, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire PA48 7UD.
Tel: 049 685 208. (BB34)
15th CENTURY COACHING INN midway
Ross/Hereford amidst gentle wooded hills, 2
fields from River Wye. A comfortable and in-
formal place, with proper emphasis on real food,
real ales, civilised prices. Log fire, ch, fourposter.
Egon Ronay, Relais Routier. Green Man Inn,
Fownhope, Hereford. Tel: Fownhope (043 277)
243. (BB21)
SOUTHWOLD AA** HOTEL. Ensuite bed-
rooms, good food and wines. Ideal base for
Minsmere and surrounding area. Open all year.
Reduced terms for party bookings. Write or tel:
Pier Avenue Hotel, Southwold. Tel: 722632.
(BB32)
NORTH WEST HIGHLANDS, Dundonnell
Hotel, just south of Ullapool, ideal location for
hill walkers, birdwatchers and those who enjoy
the open spaces. Private bathrooms, Col. TV, full
c.h. Send for col. brochure/tariff giving details of
bargain holidays on selected dates, to Selbie
Florence, Dundonnell Hotel, by Carve, Ross-
shire. Tel: 085 48.3 204. (BB63)
NR MINSMERE, Kings Head, Southwold
723829. B&B, packed lunches, Adnams ales.
(BB19)
EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK. Come and
enjoy the peace of 77 acre wooded nature reserve
and our smallholding. We have 7 camouflaged
caravans on a secluded site, modern toilet
facilities with showers, utility room, children’s
play area. Nature trails and fresh produce. Sea 4
miles. SAE to: Chris and Babs Johnson, Cowley
Wood, Conservation Centre, Parracombe, N.
Devon EX31 4PQ. Tel: Parracombe 200. Day
visitors to centre also welcome. (BB128)
ISLE OF ISLAY, ARGYLL. Port Charlotte
Hotel, fully licensed, -family run, adjacent to
sandy beaches. Situated between Ellister Wild-
fowl Trust and the RSPB’s own Gruinart Nature
Reserve. Special rates for groups. Let us send you
our colour brochure. We also have a centrally
heated, self-catering, seafront chalet. Tel: 049
685 321 or 379. ~ (BB41)
ELIZABETHAN FARMHOUSE set in a
beautiful position near Welsh Border. Enjoy
complete relaxation. Excellent food. Marvellous
walking country. Close to coast and golf course,
and Offa’s Dyke. Ideal place for birdwatching.
Open Easter onwards. Contact Mrs E. Venables,
Rorrington Hall, Chirbury Powys (093 872) 223.
(BB65)
ISLE OF MULL. Small comfortable guest house
on island rich in birdlife. Owners keen
birdwatchers. Pets welcome. Baliscate Guest
House, Tobermory. Tel: 0688 2352. (BB102)
NORTH NORFOLK MARSHES
Self-catering cottage near Holt, 2 bedrooms,
sitting room, fully equipped kitchen, 2 WCs,
shower, 2 wash basins, extra low sink. C.h. &
hot water throughout. Kings Head, with
meals and real ale, 2 mins walk. Cley 5 miles.
J. N. Cozens-Hardy, Glavenside, Lethering-
sett, Holt, Norfolk NR25 7AR. Tel: Holt
(026371) 3181. (BB91 )
BIRDWATCHING IN THE HIGHLANDS.
Cottages in Wild Mountainous beauty area by
Sea-Loch. Botanists and Climbers paradise. Rare
wild life of every kind. Boating fishing, good food
and night life locally. TV aerial and heating
available. SAE Inverlael Cottages, Loch Broom,
by Ullapool, Ross-shire 085 485 262. (BB86)
GREYHOMES HOTEL
Torcross, S. Devon
Holiday Accommodation, S. Devon
SLAPTON SANDS, AA and RAC one star.
Small friendly licensed hotel magnificiently
situated in six acres of mature gardens over-
looking the panorama of Slapton Ley Nature
Reserve and Start Bay. Unspoilt coastline
famous for its variety of birds and wildlife.
Also four self-catering holiday bungalows in
grounds. SAE for brochure: Greyhomes
Hotel, Torcross, Nr. Kingsbridge, S. Devon.
Tel: Kingsbridge (0548) 580220. (BB30)
SOLWAY COAST. B&B, evening meal
optional. CH, ample parking, convenient wild-
fowl reserve. Ideal painting, hill walking. Packed
lunches and vegetarian meals available.
Bardsley, The Rossan, Auchencairn, Castle
Douglas DG7 1QR. Tel: 055 664 269. (BB10)
ISLES OF SCILLY — Seaview Moorings, St.
Mary’s. Home cooking and personal service from
resident proprietors, Tony and Linda. Over-
looking harbour, close to quay and town —
licensed — in-room tea and coffee making facili-
ties— pets welcome. SAE for details or telephone
Tony or Linda Dingley on 0720 22327. (BB35)
Classified Advertisements 0621 815085
SELF-CATERING
WEST HIGHLANDS
Holiday houses to let on a private 35,000
acre Highland Estate. Ideal for birdwatching
with 136 species on check list, also lor fishing,
boating, wildlife & flora with hills, lochs and
sea and woodlands. Accommodation ranges
from 2-8 bedrooms. Apply to: Factor,
Ardtornish Estate Office, Morvern, by Oban,
Argyll. Tel: Morvern (096-784) 288. 24 hours
answering service. (BB88)
FARM COTTAGES between Lindisfarne Re-
serve and The Fames. Comfortable and well
equipped. Sorry no pets. Brochure: Mr J.
McNish, Outchester Farm, Belford, North-
umberland. Tel: 06683 336. (BB45)
NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS National
Park. Coast and country. For the largest selection
of inspected self-catering cottages, farmhouses
etc, contact: Ingrid Flute, White Cottage,
Ravenscar, Scarborough Y013 ONE. Tel:
Scarborough (0723) 870703. (BB67)
MID WALES. Radnor Forest. Self-contained flat
in old chapel. Sleeps 2. Ideal walking,
birdwatching. SAE: Arnott, Zion Cottage, New
Radnor, Powys. Tel: 625. (BB99)
ORCHARD HOUSE, N. W. Norfolk nr. 1 itch-
well Marsh Reserve. Homely Bed and Breakfast
accommodation (E.M. available). Also self-
catering unit in orchard. Tel: Thornham (048
526)259. (BB49)
WARM, COMFORTABLE Lakeland Cottage,
Nr Hawkshead to let all the year round. Low
tariff, November-Easter SAE ‘Allard’. ‘The Old
Vicarage’ Hawkshead, Cumbria LA22 0PD.
(BB6I )
CORNWALL. Y our cottage by the sea for winter
breaks or summer holidays. V ery comfortable,
lovely sea views. Sleeps 4/5. Details: P.
Greenwood, Talland Bay, Looe PI. 13 2JB. Tel:
Polperro 72263. (BBI03)
WELLS, NORFOLK B&B., (Les Routiers
recommended). H. & C., Tea and Coffee facilities
in all rooms. Anne Taylor, The Cobblers (0328
710155). (BB111)
AT THE TIDE’S EDGE between Prawle/Start
Points, Maelcombc House Farm oilers B&B/EM
or s/c flat. Spectacular situation for migrations.
Magnificent coastal walking. Ring Mrs Davies on
C'.hivelstone (054 851 ) 300 for brochure. ( BB48)
CLEY. Attractive house in village, four bed-
rooms, large garden, garage, c.h. Available all
year. Details from Mrs E. Album, 47 Lyndale
Avenue, London NW2. Tel: 01-431 2942. (BB58)
GALLOWAY. Hills, lochs, lorests and sea.
Speciality, birds of prey and waterfowl. High
quality houses, cottages, flats. Details, send 27p
stamp to: G. M. Thomson & Co, 27 King Street,
Castle Douglas. (BB43)
SOUTHWOLD. ‘Avondale’. North Parade,
overlooking sea. B& B/EM. ch, dglazed, licensed.
Open all year. Ideal Minsmere, Havergate,
Walberswick. Good food, friendly atmosphere.
Tel: 0502 722538. (BBS)
ISLE OF MULL. A stable converted into 2 warm
comfortable flats. Frachadi! Farm. Calgary. Tel:
068 84 265 or (0573) 24852. ( BB 1 20)
PEMBROKESHIRE Charming cottage se-
cluded spot close Cleddau River. Sleeps 5.
Available spring/summer. Ideal centre for
exploring lovely area. Tel 0242 524516 for
brochure. (BB122)
CLEY — 6 miles. Flint cottage sleeps 2 Cot
available. SAE: Nl rs Hampshire, Riverbank.
Hunworlh, Melton Constable, Norfolk. T el: Holt
3891. (BBI27)
NORTH LAKES — perfect for Caerlav crock and
South Solway Estuary. Six self-catering lodges
overlooking sheltered 30 acre lake. Woodland site
designated of ‘Special Scientific Interest’. Impor-
tant location for large flocks of water birds,
wintering site for duck, w ide variety of w ildfow l.
Brochure: Lakeshore Lodges, The Lough,
Thurston Field, Carlisle, Cumbria CAS 6HB.
Tel: 0228 76552. (BB38)
BF.DDGELERT. Charmingly furnished cottage.
Superb surroundings. Sleeps 5. Sorry no pets.
SAE Day, White Cottage, Church Lane, Corley,
Coventry CV7 8BA. T el: 0676 40501. (BB85)
DUNWICH. Holiday cottage, sea '/» mile,
overlooking marshes, sleeps 6 plus 2 children.
Ideally situated for Minsmere and surrounding
countryside. Fully furnished and equipped
personally supervised. £18 per day. Reduced
rates for March-October. Dogs allowed, car
parking. Details from R. Green, 53 Albany Road.
West Bergholt, Colchester C06 3I,B. Tel: 0206
241716. ' (BB33)
OSPREY VISITORS to Loch Garten this
Summer? Locheil GH oilers BB: £5.50; DBB:
£9.25; or self-eater Cottage (sleeps 6) rental £15
nightly, and Chalet (sleeps 4) £10 nightly. For
details plus walks, slide-talks, films, local
activities, write; Locheil, Boat of Garten,
Inverness-shire. Tel: 047 983 603. ( BB162)
BIRD WA TCHING HO LI DA YS
JOHN GOODERS • Spring and Autumn in
Andalucia and the Coto Donana: 22nd-29th
March; 26th Oct-2nd Nov: 2nd-9th Nov 1985 •
New! Raptors over Gibraltar: 2nd-9th Sept
1985 — peak period, super hotel. • Weekly
holiday courses April-October 1985. Super
comfort at our 16th C. farmhouse near Sussex
coast. Details: Lattenden's Farm (BB) Ashburn-
ham. Nr Battle. E. Sussex. Tel: 0323 833245.
(BB106)
BIRDWATCHING WEEKENDS DORSET.
Expert leadership. Talk/Slide show. Mini-bus
transport. Excellent accommodation. £37
inclusive. SAE Broadsheet M. E. Garwell, 12
Kirtleton Ave. Weymouth, Dorset. Tel: 783147.
(BB 1 31 )
xv
Classified Advertisements 0621 815085
SUTHERLAND, VALHALLA, CHALETS.
On seashore of Kirkaig Bay and bordering die
largest NNR in Great Britain — Inverpoily
National Nature Reserve, and only one hour’s
drive from Handa Bird Reserve is the ornitholo-
gists paradise. Tel: 05714 382 or details from
Hutchison, Valhalla, Inverkirkaig, Lochinver,
Sutherland 1V27 4LF. (BB105)
TURKEY AND GREECE 1985
Central & Southern Turkey
16 Days April/May £665
North West Turkey & North Greece
1 1 Days May/September £488
Eastern Turkey
16 Days May £665
Central Turkey & Bosphorus Migration
16 Days September £650
Bosphorus Migration
1 1 Days September £460
ICELAND 16 Days July £700
All Inclusive Prices
Details: Chris Slade rC
Turkish & Greek Birdwatching Holidays oa
8 The Grange, Elmdon Park, Solihull
West Midlands B92 9EL.
Tel: 021-742 5420 021-705 5535
BIRDWATCH CORNWALL. 21st-27th
March 1985. £105.00 inclusive; 1 4th-2 1st
September 1985. £105.00 inclusive. Five days of
field trips. Local RSPB leaders. Evening films
and talks. Special help for beginners. Exciting
seabirds, waders, ducks and birds of prey.
Discounts for parties. Two star hotel with
Scandinavian leisure centre. For brochure and
birdlist phone Pauline Boss, 0736 795294,
Karenza Hotel, St Ives, Cornwall. (BB78)
SKOKHOLM AND SKOMER ISLANDS,
Pembrokeshire, Dyfed. Full board accom-
modation; birdwatching/photography courses.
Send s.a.e. to Dept BB, WWTNC, 7 Market
Street, Haverfordwest. (BB 1 16)
OVER 100 SPECIES on our 40 areas, and
Morecambe Bay’s winter visitors close by. Join a
BIRDWATCHER'S HOUSE PARTY, or block
book a group. Castle Head Field Centre,
Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria (04484 4300).
(BB118)
DESERT WHEATEAR? West Cornwall is one
of the best places for birds and underwatched.
Stay at Boswednack Manor, Zennor, St Ives and
help us find the rarities. Also Birdwatching,
Natural History & Photographic courses. SAE
please for brochure. (BB142)
£77: CORNWALL FOR BIRDS. 20-27 April
and 12-19 October 1985, Trevone Hotel,
Newquay. Centrally heated. Excellent food,
talks, films and outings with popular leaders Eric-
Grace and Jack Wright. £77, inclusive price for
the week inc DB&B. New for 1985. 27 April-4
May ‘Cornwall for Wildflowers and Gardens’:
£84. Tel: Pamela Chegwin 063 73 3039. (BB149)
'* PORTUGAL
Winter to Spring 85
BIRDWATCHING IN PORTUGAL in
Winter to Spring can be fun in the sun.
One week or two weeks inclusive for one
or two persons or the family. Organised
and escorted by a birdwatcher for bird-
watchers.
Free brochure now available
Tel: 0245 356966 (24 hrs.)
Bonvista Travel 245/7 Broomfield Road,
Chelmsford, Essex CM 1 4DP. ( BB 1 19)
ISLES OF SCILLY — -join resident birdman
David Hunt for the holiday of a lifetime. 1985
Brochure from Cygnus Wildlife, 96 Fore Street.
Kingsbridge, Devon TQ7 1PY. Phone: (0548)
6178. (BB37)
ISLE OF COLL, ARGYLL. “Tighnamara”
Bird watching at its best. Over 120 species.
Breeding Arctic Skuas, Little Terns, Kittiwakes,
Divers, Corncrakes, Ravens. 6 resident raptors
including Merlin & Peregrine. Unique island
scenery. Otters, seals. Excellent cuisine.
Brochure. Tel: (08793) 354 (BB104)
ARCTIC BIRDS. Two weeks in the Arctic,
July /August, viewing rare northern birds. Gyr
Falcons, Ivory Gulls, Little Auks, etc. Camping
in North Greenland or boat-based in Spitsbergen.
Expert guides. From £940. Send stamp to:
ERSKINE EXPEDITIONS, 14 Inverleith
Place, Edinburgh. (BB71)
LLANDUDNO ideal base for coast and
mountain. For accommodation and/or transport
consult Kestrel Coaches, Bron-y-Mor, 40
Vicarage Avenue, Llandudno LL30 IPS. Tel:
0492 76009. (BB9)
BIRD-WATCHING WORKSHOP
Friday May 24 (evening) to Monday 27. Identifica-
tion, song, calls, censusing, migration, ringing, etc.
E. Kent and Pas de Calais. 127 species seen on last
year’s course. £64.35.
NATURE WORKSHOP, JULY 5-7, birds, insects,
plants incl. orchids, on duneland SSSI. £42.90.
Both full board. Details: Warden, Sandwich Bay
Bird Observatory, Sandwich, Kent CT13 9PF.
(BB139)
NORTH CORNWALL FIELD STUDIES.
Wildwatch holidays. Enjoy a wildlife or Special
Interest break. Brochure from NCFS (BB,
Hellandbridge, Bodmin, Cornwall. Tel:
020884 397. (BB163)
PROPERTY TO LET
rwo HOUSES TO RENT, NORTH DEVON.
One mile from coast, Lundy and Exmoor within
15 miles, available Autumn and Spring. Rents
from £80.00 per week (3 bedrooms, sleep 6).
£140.00 per week (4 bedrooms, sleep 12). Tel:
Barnstaple (0271)42187. (BB90)
Classified Advertisements 0621 815085
BIRD REPORTS
LONDON BIRD REPORT 1983
Produced by the London National History
Society. Report £3 post paid and membership
details from Mrs H. Housege, 1 10 Meadvale
Road, London \V5 1LR. Back numbers
available. (BB89)
BIRDING ABROAD? Site guides and trip
reports on: Kenya, Thailand, Malaysia, India,
' Nepal, Sri Lanka, Israel, Morocco, Canary
Islands, Venezuela, etc. Tel: 0905 54541.
(BB138)
THE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY
OF THE MIDDLE EAST
For anyone interested in the birds of the
Middle East OSME offers an annual journal
(Sandgrouse) and two newsletters a year
containing articles not only on birds,
migration and distribution but also expedi-
tions and conservation projects sponsored by
the society. Sandgrouse 6 out now includes
papers on Djibouti, Azraq and the Green
Warbler in Turkey, price £7. Free to
members, back numbers available at reduced
price. Membership £7.00 p.a. For further
information on the society and its aims write
to the Secretary, c/o RSPB, The Lodge,
Sandy, Beds. SG19 2DE. (BB164)
COURSES
BIRDS OF SPEYSIDE
Birdwatching Activity Weeks
26th-31st May 1985
and 2nd-7th June 1985
These new courses comprise conducted visits
and walks with slide-talks, films and social.
Tutors: RSPB wardens, Roy Dennis & D.
Gowans; Resident Guide: Michael Phillips.
Course Fee: £36 per person.
For brochure, SAE please to: Tourist Assoc.
Boat-of-Garten. Inverness-shire.
(BB74)
BOOKS
HENRY SOTHERAN LTD
New, secondhand & Antiquarian
Booksellers.
London's leading Ornithological book stockists
2, 3, 4 & 5 Sackville Street,
London W1X2DP.
Tel: 01-734 1 150 and 0308.
Just off Piccadilly. (D449)
NATURAL HISTORY BOOKS FOR SALE.
Birds, flowers, insects, ecology. Also British Birds
1962-81, Bird Study. New Naturalist. SAE for
list; 5 Hill Rise. Sealbrd, E. Sussex. i BBI47)
ORNITHOLIDAYS GL IDES in the Let’s look
at . . .’ series. Majorca, SW Spain, The
Camargue, Montenegro. Eastern Austria. South
Morocco, North East Greece. V ancouver and
The Rockies, Sri Lanka, Lapland and Arctic
Norway, The Gambia, and North West Turkey.
£2.80 per copy- Ornitholidays, 1-3 Victoria
Drive, Bognor Regis, Sussex P02I 2PW.
(BB153)
ST ANN’S BOOKSHOP lor a large selection of
new and secondhand bird books. Please olTer any
unwanted items. Catalogue: 2 St Ann’s Road.
Great Malvern. Worcs WR14 4RG. Tel: 06845
62818. (BB31 )
BOOKS ON Birds, Natural History . Gardening,
Field Sports, etc. Bought and sold. Catalogues
issued. Books on most subjects purchased. Blest,
Wateringbury, Maidstone, Kent. Tel: 0622
812940. (BB39)
FINE NATURAL HISTORY BOOKS bought
and sold. R. Norman. The Book-Squirrel. Hart-
on-the-Hill, Dalton Piercey, Hartlepool, Cleve-
land. (BB14)
BIRDS BOOKS 1847-1982. Large SAE lor
catalogue. Crack Books, Sawmill Cottages,
Burton-in-Lonsdale, Carnforth, Lancs.
The £1000 cheque and Zeiss
West 10x40s have been won,
but if you would be intrigued to
see The 'British Birds' Mystery
Photographs Book (and the lull
solution) you can get it now lor
£1.50 (previous price was £4.80).
Send cheque or PO (payable to
British Birds) to: MPB. Foun-
tains. Park Lane, Blunham,
Bedford MK.44 >N). (BB130)
REPAIRS
BINOCULAR AND TELESCOPE REPAIRS.
Fast efficient service on all makes and types by
expert technicians at L&L Optical, 204 High
Street. Barnet. Herts. Tel: 01-449 1445. (BB13)
WE REPAIR BINOCULARS. And cameras.
And projectors. We’ve been at it for thirty years
and we're very, very good. Perfect? No.
Perfectionists? Yes Burgess Lane & Co. Ltd.
Thornton Works, Thornton Avenue, London W4
1QE.0 1-994 5752. (BB28)
ARE YOU a cross-eyed birdwatcher? We offer a
cleaning and re-aligning service for any make or
size of hand held binocular or telescope at a
special price of £15.50 including return postage.
Full repair service available. Charles Frank Ltd..
Repair Division. Office 413/415, 93 Hope Street.
Glasgow G2 6LD. (BB161)
?
XVll
Classified Advertisements 0621 815085
PERSONAL
THE HAWK TRUST cares about all birds of
prey. Why not help us with our conservation
projects? For information, contact The Member-
ship Secretary (JB), The Hawk Trust, FREE-
POST, Beckenham, Kent. (BB52)
STAMPS
BIRD STAMPS. 100 = £1,500 = £8. Send for
12-page bird stamp list. A. Grainger, 42 Lee Lane
East, Horsforth, Leeds. (BB6)
FOR SALE
BB AND OTHER BIRD JOURNAL back
numbers supplied. Morgan, Whitmore, Umber-
leigh, Devon. (BB29)
HAWKINS, Winit, Tecnic, Bogtrotters, walking
boots and shoes. Sprayway waterproofs, SAE for
brochure. B. I irnson, 1 1 1 Hinckley Road, Earl
Shilton, Leicester. (BB135)
THE BIRD-WALKER
A Dictionary of Bird Songs from
Europe and North Africa on three
cassettes
Jean C. Roche
You can hear the songs and major calls of
more than 350 Western Palearctic species for
just £15 (+ p&p).
Available from March 1985.
For more details contact:
Dominic Couzens
31 Richmond Park Road
London SW14 8JU.
Tel: 01-876 6315. (BB 146)
Breeding Birds of Great Britain
and Ireland
A Fieldguide Companion
A set of 7 laminated cards in a handy
plastic wallet (120 mms x 75 mms)
225 breeding birds covered
• Laying period • No. of Broods • No. of
Eggs • Size and Shape • Incubation days
• Colour • Location of nest,
only IR£2.50/Stg£2
(post free anywhere in U.K./Ireland) g
Send cheque, P.O., money order to: Barvane Ltd., 03
P.O. Box 1458, Dublin3, Republic of Ireland
I SELL AND BUY used binoculars, especially
Zeiss and Leitz. 21 Crescent Grove, London SW4
7AF. (BB60)
BWPA. Vols. 1 & 2, as new, £25 each. Tel:
Chorley (02572) 71626 alter 6.30 pm. (BB136)
BRITISH BIRD VOCABULARY. A twelve-
cassette series of a 6 vols. in book/album form
(127 species, 710 examples). Reduced prices for
remaining sets. Also single cassette Sound
Guides. SAE to Lewis, Rosehill House, Lyonshall
HR53HS. ( BB 141)
BINOCULAR AND TELESCOPES. Send for
free colour brochure: Dept Bl, Sherwoods
Binocular Centre, 11-13 Western Arcade,
Birmingham B2 5HU. (BB151)
ANDREW STOCK S.W.L.A. For the first time
a limited edition print is available by this
successful young wildlife artist (winner of the
1980 Richard Richardson Award). For further
details please write to Chantry Farm-House,
Bcaminster, Dorset. Tel: 0308 862955 (day and
evening). (BB152)
COUNTRYSIDE VIEWING
FACILITIES
Unlimited
ing at
Shop
binu ww— ...w . ...wwx*.
| Wide range -Top quality - Discount prices
SWIFT- HABICHT-ZEISS(West)- LEITZ
ALPIN - NIKON -OPTOLYTH - KOWA
OMIYA-ZEISS(East)-MIRADOR
S HARTMA -SLIK TRIPODS
- eg AUDUBON HR £134 50
oa ZEISS 10 X 40 BT £34100
HABICHT SL 10 X 40 £249. 00
PRICES SUBJECT TO ALTERATION WITHOUT NOTICE
Price lists on request
FOCUS OPTICS
Church Lane* Corley
Coventry CV7 8BA
Tel: 0676-40501
Open MON ■ SAT. 10. a m. • 5.p.m.
MAIL ORDER WELCOME
Ins. P&P FREE
The OPTICRQN difference is
QUALITY and PRICE.
Tor those who wish to own the BEST” quality binocular
to obtain greater pleasure and enjoyment from looking at
birds in clearer and sharper detail, we recommend you to
assess and compare our own new 9 x 35 Elite binocular.
Available exclusively from Opticron
Because this is an Opticron binocular, the combined optical
performance of the high resolution and light transmission
coupled with the incredibly large depth of field, contrast and
natural colours may only be equalled by other makes, but
never surpassed. It is small and compact. The weight is only
24 oz. and has a wide field of view of 375 ft. at 1000 yds. Will
focus down to approximately 12 ft. Bitted with fold-down rubber
eyecups for spectacle wearers. Supplied in a de-luxe hard case
and is guaranteed for life against any manufacturing defects.
And the price is only £157.00. Sent to you for 14 days approval,
upon receipt of full remittance. Access, send or phone details.
Leaflets and price list on all other high quality Opticron
products and others, available upon request.
Should you however, wish to judge for yourself and compare
this binocular with other makes, thus seeing how all binoculars
should be, our showroom is open Tuesdays to Saturdays 8.30 to
5.30 pm inclusive.
TELESCOPES
Tor those whose interest is in zoom telescopes only, we are now able to offer the
very best with our guarantee that these out perform all other makes with 60mm
objectives, including most of the popular fixed magnification of other makes.
Just phone or send for details.
OPTICRON
P.O. Box 81, Unit 6, Marlborough Trading Estate
25 Lattimore Road, St. Albans, Herts. AL1 3NT
Telephone: St. Albans (0727) 56516 (0869)
British Birds
Volume 78 Number 2 February 1985
69 Rare breeding birds in the United Kingdom in 1982 Robert ,
and the Rare Breeding Birds Panel
93 PhotoSpot 8 Grey Hypoeolius Graham Bundy
95 Seventy-five years ago
% Product reports Welt/Sale-Lock PT-3 Pneumatic Tripod Dr M
Ogtlvte
97 Identification pitfalls and assessment problems 8 Purple Hero!
Peter Ixtnsdown
1 03 Mystery photographs 98 Bittern Peter Lansdown
106 Points of view 12 The taking of bird specimens Philip Perry
Notes
Green-backed Heron in Humberside Andrew G. Ross and Peter T. Bell
Communal feeding by Western Reef Herons Graham Bundy
Communal winter roosting by Imperial Eagles Graham Bundy
Cool feeding by artificial light in urban area during hard weather Peter J. Hopkin
Kestrel attempting to catch bat in mid air Paul Shimmings
Skylarks and Yellowhammers roosting under snow Rev. T. IV. Gladwin
Unusual calls at Pied Wagtail roost David W. Emley
Hovering as feeding strategy of Pied Wagtail David A. Cope
The Fieldfare as a prey species in East Sussex Peter Frisian
Nuthatch hovering Mrs Margaret Clarke
Announcements
‘Young Ornithologists of the Year’
‘A Lighthouse Notebook’
‘Bird Navigation’
Oriental Bird Club
XIX Congressus Internationale Ornithologicus
Reduced price for ‘The Atlas of the Birds of the Western Palaearctic’
BWP IV
Special, exclusive ‘BWP’ offer
1 1 5 News and comment Mike Everett and Robin Prytherch
'
1 19 Recent reports Keith Allsopp and Ian Dawson
106
107
108
108
109
109
110
111
111
111
Review
1 22 The Herons Handbook by James Hancock and James Kushlan Peter Latudown
Line-drawings: 69 Brambling, 72 Black-necked Grebe, 77 Marsh Harrier, 79 Osprey.
Hobby, and 88 Marsh Warbler ( Norman Arlott)\ 1 19 ‘Siberian’ Stonechat (R. A. Hume 1;
Hoopoe (D. Nurnty ) and I^anceolated Warbler (W. S. Morton ); 121 Belted Kingfisher
Dempsey)
Front cover: Hen Harrier (/ii/ian Smith) : the original drawing of this month’s cover (18.1
20.5 cm) is for sale in a postal auction (see page 56 in the January issue for procedure)
(Ms
British Birds
tifying the smaller shearwaters
hotoSpot • Mystery photographs
Notes • Letters
ws and comment • Recent reports
Reviews
British Birds
Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock
Personal Assistant Sheila D. Cobban Assistant Editors David Christie 8c P. J. Grant
Editorial Board Stanley Cramp, P. J. Grant, Dr M. A. Ogil vie 8c Dr J. T. R. Sharrock
Photographic Consultants Dr R. J. Chandler 8c Don Smith
Rarities Committee P. J. Grant (Chairman), D. J. Britton, A. R. Dean, R. H. Dennis,
D. J. Holman, T. P. Inskipp, P. G. Lansdown, S. C. Madge, R. F. Porter 8c K. E.
Vinicombe; Michael J. Rogers (Honorary Secretary)
Notes Panels behaviour Dr C.J. Bibby, DrJ.J. M. Flegg, DrC. H. Fry,
Derek Goodwin, Dr M. A. Ogil vie, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock 8c Dr K. E. L. Simmons;
identification P. J. Grant, S. C. Madge, Dr M. A. Ogilvie 8c Dr J. T. R. Sharrock
© British Birds Ltd 1985
Copyright of photographs remains with
photographers. British Birds is
published monthly by British Birds Ltd,
93 High Street, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire
ISSN 0007-0335
Publishing Manager,
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Dr J. T. R. Sharrock
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Bird news Jor ‘ Recent reports ’ Ian Dawson & Keith Allsopp, c/o RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy,
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Rarity descriptions M. J. Rogers, Flat 4, Pentland Flats, St Mary’s, Isles of Stilly
tr21 Ohy
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HERON 8x40 BWCF E37.25
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(Hard Case) £376.00
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(Similar lo Discoverer) £179.95
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TAKE FLIGHT
Explore the East and its exotic birdlif'e with experienced escorts. Twickers World takes
you on the Southern India Wildlife and Beaches tour in search of the majestic osprey,
and 250 species of birds. A memorable mixture of lazy days on sandy beaches and
exciting jungle explorations. 15 days, leaving 16 November 1985. £1,800.
Heather Angel leads the Camera in China tour, created especially for photographers.
Capture the beauty of a bird on the wing against an autumn backdrop. Indulge your
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Tony Pym takes you to Papua New Guinea in search of the 33 species of Birds of
Paradise to be found on the island. 18 exotic days, leaving 27 July 1985, £3,295.
Harry Llewellyn is your escort on the India Riding,
Wildlife and Cultural Safari. The beautiful Bharatpur
Bird Sanctuary is one of the many highlights in 1 7 days of
discovery. Departs 29 November 1985 and 31 January
1986. £1,559.
Our ornithologist shows you the sheer concentration of
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11
Books for Birdwatchers
Eric Hosking’s Wildfowl
Photographs by Eric Hosking, text by Dr Janet Kear, Editor, The IBIS
The superb colour black and white photographs in this collection describe every aspect
of wildfowl life from courtship displays to the excitement of migration. The text, by
the eminent ornithologist Dr Janet Kear, provides a highly readable and informative
counterpoint to the life and variety of Eric Hosking’s photographs.
£14.95 160 pages March 85
The Herons Handbook
Text by James Hancock and James Kushlan, paintings by Robert Gillmor and Peter Hayman
'The Herons Handbook is superbly illustrated, with a scholarly text containing the very
latest information on the heron family. It is, in every way, a fine book, and will enjoy a
wide appeal.’ Peter Lansdown, British Birds
£16.95 228 pages 1984
Bird Island
Lars Jonsson
‘It is sadly rare that such sensitivity, perceptiveness of form, and dazzling ability to draw
are combined in one person. There is no doubt in my mind that Lars Jonsson is already
one of the ‘greats’ of bird art . . . This is a large format book, attractively designed and
presented ... of considerable charm and a great deal of soul.’
Hilary Bum, British Birds
£16.95 96 pages 1984
Illustrated in colour and black and white
BOOK BARGAINS Beautiful Books at greatly reduced prices.
Sale ends 31st May 1985
Eric Hosking’s Seabirds
Photographs by Eric Hosking, text by Ronald Lockley
‘A combination of the premier bird-photographer and a writer who has a long
established reputation for producing accurate scientific information in a readable easy-
to-understand manner is a successful formula for a first rate book ... a beautiful book
which at today’s prices is fair value for money. Any birdwatcher would be pleased to
receive it as a present.’ S.E Chapman, Bntish Birds
List Price £13.95: SALE PRICE £7.95
Antarctic Wildlife
Photographs by Eric Hosking, text by Bryan Sage, foreword by Keith Shackleton
‘ . . . They (the photographs) are altogether lovely, given magic by the still undisillusioned
confidence of the Antarctic wild creatures, and by the peculiar radiance of the icy
places themselves’ Jan Morris, The Times
List Price £12.95: SALE PRICE £6.95
The Breeding Birds of Europe: A Photographic Handbook. 2 Volumes
Manfred Pforr and Alfred Librunner
'The species included are illustrated by, usually, one large and three small photographs,
which are excellently chosen and well reproduced; for this alone, the book is well
worth having for reference purposes’ British Birds
List Price £27.40: SALE PRICE £15.95 Boxed Set
All titles are available from British BirdShop and all good booksellers. In case of
difficulty, contact Robert Kirk at Croom Helm Ltd., Provident House, Burrell Row,
Beckenham. Kent BR3 I AT.
(D464)
Croom y Helm
iii
Publication 12th October 1984
The PUFFIN
by M. P. HARRIS
illustrated by Keith Brockie
Dr Mike Harris is an
international authority on
Fratercula arclica and the book
reflects his great knowledge of
the species. His enthusiasm for
this most appealing of seabirds
is equally evident and he
succeeds in that difficult task
of combining readability with
scientific detail and accuracy.
Contents: Introduction; The
auks; The morphology of the
Puffin; Distribution in Britain
and Ireland; Monitoring of
Puffin numbers; The Puffin
outside Britain and Ireland;
Breeding biology; Behaviour;
Puffins in colonies; Food and
feeding; Growth of young;
Predators, pirates and
competitors; Man and Puffins;
Migration, survival and winter
at sea; Factors influencing the
number of Puffins
248 pages, 49 photographs,
£12.60 net
T & A D POYSER
Direct from
Importers
Century Optical Co. Ltd.,
3 Manor House Drive,
London NW6 7DE.
Tel: 01 -451 1351.
No House Calls.
The famous telescopes made in
West Germany
B. Nickel 1 5-60x w. case
£143.75
Televari 25-60x w. case
£149.50
Suitable for telephotography
and astronomy. (D460)
Cygnus Wildlife
Holidays
Escorted birdwatching tours
during 1985 including:
Jordan April 14-30,
Eastern Turkey May 4-19,
Camargue May 18-26,
Eastern Austria May 19-31,
Soviet Central Asia
and Siberia May 26-June 9,
Spanish Pyrenees June 14-28
and Kenya August 6-22.
For further details contact:
Paul Dukes
96 Fore Street, Kingsbridge,
Devon TQ7 1PY.
Tel: 0548 6178.
(D408)
(D466)
S'
V
The world's finest binoculars
from VEB Carl Zeiss JENA
Since the invention o! the prism binocular,
almmt a century ago. Zeiss havv
inanutaiiured the Vtfi »rkl‘s finest
btnrruiars. The promt range
embodies at! th** features that have
made the lunvd Zdss
synonymous with quality -
superb optical and mechanical
perfomwrve. balance, finish and
mmr ulous attention «> detail
CARL ZEISS JENA
DEKAREM 10 x 50
LIFETIME GUARANTEE
POWER
WEIGHT
FIELD OF VIEW
EXIT PUPIL
xIO
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1 28M AT1000M
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BINOCULARS
£
£
Zeiss (West)
10x40 WSL/M*
269
8 x 20B Dialyt
1 KQ
'Xl 10x50 WSL/M*
294
1 0 x 25B Dialyt
8 x 30 BGAT Dialyt
^ Alpin lOx 50 BGA
305 Alpin 10x40 BGA
150
132
1 0 x 40 BGAT Dialyt
Alpin 7x42 BGA
135
7 x 42 BGAT Dialyt
Zeiss (Jena)
365 Magnon8x20RP
Picc°lin° 8 x 21 RP
69
66
8 x 32B Notarem
1 0 x 40B Notarem
.„ Rubber rainguard
1 b5
5
Swift
TELESCOPES
7V2 x 42 Osprey*
110 Optolyth 30x75 BGA
239
8Vt x 44 Audubon
1 45 Optolyth 30 x 80 BGA
273
Leitz
Optima S60 (30 x 60)*
135
8x32BATrinovid
369 Piccolo (e.g. 40x60)*
90
8x40BA Trinovid
408 Piccolo 20-60 x 60*
120
7x42BA Trinovid
4 1 8 Opticron 20-60 x 60*
134
Habicht (Swarovski)
Opticron 20-60 x 60 (45°)*
141
1 0 x 40 WM Diana
239 B&L window mount
24
7 x 42 WSL/M*
239
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tThe A24. We are opposite the Midland Bank. (D467)
COOPER ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Objectives
The observation and cooperative study of birds.
The spread of interest in bird study.
The conservation of birds and wildlife in general
The publication of ornithological knowledge
Incorporated December 6, 1934
Membership (includes THE CONDOR) $18.00 ($12.00 students) Advance payment in US
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PUBLICATIONS — THE CONDOR - A Quarterly Journal of Ornithology Established in 1899
STUDIES IN AVIAN BIOLOGY - Devoted to papers of unusual length
Supersedes Pacific Coast Avifauna Established in 1900
Status and Distribution of Alaska Birds By Brma Kessel and Daniel D Gibson lOOpp SAB No 1 November
1978 $9 00
Shorebirdsm Marine Environments. Edited by Frank A Pitelka 261 pp SAB No 2, June 1979 Out of Print
Bird Community Dynamics in a Ponderosa Pine Forest By Robert C Szaro and Russell P Baida 66 pp SAB
No. 3, October 1979 $6 50
The Avifauna of the South Farallon Islands. California By David F DeSante and David G Ainley 104 pp, SAB
No. 4, April 1980 $10 00
Annual Variation of Daily Energy Expenditure by the Black-billed Magpie A Study of Thermal and Behavioural
Energetics By John N Mugaas and James R King 78 pp SAB No 5. May 1981 $8 00
Estimating Numbers of Terrestrial Birds Edited by C John Ralph and J. Michael Scott 630 pp SAB No 6.
October 1981 Out ot Print
NEW TITLES
Population Ecology ol the Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus) in the Front Range of Colorado By Frank E Price and
Carl E Bock 84 pp SAB No 7, November 1983 $9 00
Tropical Seabird Biology Proceedings ol an International Symposium ol the Pacific Seabird Group Edited by
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Make cheque payable to Cooper Ornithological Society
Cooper Ornithological Society - EA, P.O. Box 368, Lawrence, KS 66044 USA
(0388)
Main St, Empingham,
Nr. Oakham, Leicestershire.
This low traditional stone building
once the village court house, stands in
the middle of Rutland’s most pic-
turesque village. Ideally situated on
the side of Rutland Water offering two
nature reserves with bird watching
huts, guides, binoculars and con-
ducted tours are available by arrange-
ment.
Accommodation Tarriff
Single £15.00
Double/Twin £24.95
including Breakfast & VAT
Bargain Breaks
3 Days £49.50
4 Days £65.00
7 Days £110.00
these include: Breakfast, and 4-course
dinner. All rooms have colour TV and
tea/coffee making facilities. Appetis-
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Ronay recommended, log fires, steak
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always available also packed lunches.
Robert, Helen and Andrew invite
you to have a pleasant and enjoy-
able time sampling our friendly
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answer any enquiries or reserva-
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Tel: Empingham (078086) 221 .
(D475)
ViSiTOUR
SPOONBillS
Dutch Ornithological Tours organises interesting
and well guided birdstudy-holidayweeks in The
Netherlands with full board in hotel or inn. You will
discover our rich and varied btrdworld in an intensive
and instructive way. In our friendly and nice low-
lands we have an avifauna which does not have its
equal in North Western Europe: colonies of
Cormorant and Spoonbill, Bittern, Great White
Egret, Little Bittern, Purple Heron, Red Crested
Pochard, Marsh-, Hen- and Montagu's Harrier,
Avocet, Ruff. Little GuH, Sandwich-, Little- and
Black Tern, Black Woodpecker. Golden Oriole,
Savi's Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Bluethroat,
Bearded Tit. Write or phone DOT, Purmer 70. 8244
AT Lelystad, Holland phone: 01031320061 110
Name
Address
Country
Please send me the interesting use a stamped
and free DOT-brochure envelope please
(D433)
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Easy access to M6 & M62.
Callers welcome.
14 day approval.
For details ring
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~ eg AUDUBON HR £134-50
£ ZEISS 10 X 40 BT £341-00
HABICHT SL 10 X 40 £249-00
PRICES SUBJECT TO ALTERATION WITHOUT NOTICE
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Coventry CV7 8BA
Tel: 0676-40501
Open MON SAT. 10. a m. 5.p.m.
MAIL ORDER WELCOME
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TalktoA.R.Hawkins
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ZEISS WEST THE
WORLD’S FINEST!
YOU’VE JUST GOT
TO OWN ONE!
NEW close locus
ZEISS 10 X 40BGA
In stock NOW at
only £359.
10 x-40 B Dialyt
10x40 BGADialyl
7 x 42 BGA Dialyt
8 x 30 B Dialyt
8x30 BGA Dialyl
8 x 56 BGA Dialyl
8 x 20 B Mini-Dialyl
10 x 25 B Mmi-Dialyt
7 x 50 BGA Porro
15 x 60 GAT Porro ....
All Zeiss Wesl supplied with
ZEISS JENA
Binocular Terrestrial Telescope 80/500
magnilication 20x lo40x complete with
carry case and tripod — a fabulous instru-
ment. £655.00
OPTOLYTH ALPIN
Superb Lightweight
from W. Germany at
Prices.
8 x 30 BGA Alpin
8 x 40 BGA Alpm
10 x 40 BGA
10 x 50 BGA Alpin
12 x 50 BGA Alpin
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SWIFT
Audubon 8 5x44
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Trilyte lOx 40 B
HAWK
Models
Sensible
£118
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£132
£150
£153
£135
£139.95
£112.90
£109.53
Exclusive to A, R. Hawkins, a lop
quality high resolulion 20-60 x 60
zoom telescope complete with
quality leather case Only £145.
NEW FROM HABICHT
The New Habichl Diana 10 x 40 is now
completely waterproof £239.00
Also New Habichl 23 x 70 rubber
covered Telescope ideal in poor lighl
condilions. A price you can altord.
£168.95
TELESCOPES
TELESCOPES!
Optolyth 30 x 80 £273.00
Oplolyth 30 x 75 £239.00
Optolyth 22-60 x 70 £255.00
Optolyth 30 x 60 £145.00
Oplolyth 22 x 70 £210.00
Spacemaster 20-45 x 60 £179.95
Spacemaster 22 x WA 60 £155.95
Bushnell Trophy 16-36 x 50 Rubber Body
Close Focus 2011 £174.95
KowaTSI £125.00
Kowa TS2 £108 00
Kowa Lealher Case £24.95
Habichl 25-40 x 75S £385.00
Mirador 30 x 75 R/A £159.00
Habichl 30 x 75 close locus £340.00
Oplocron 20-45 x 60 £130.00
Tamron Zoom 20-60x65 £247.95
15-60 x 60 Mirador £179.95
Discoverer 15-60x60 £179.95
KowatsN2body £199.95
You can buy in complete confidence
SLICK 02 TRIPOD
THE finest tripod for your
telescopel Extends to a lull 5ft 9in
weighs only 41b 12ozl
Our Special Price £54.95
Post and Insurance £2.75.
ORDER NOW lor By Return
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Brochures on over 200 Models.
CALLERS WELCOME!
Our Showrooms are only
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and 2 min walk from railway stn
Early closing Thursday 1 pm.
Prices correct 6 Feb ’05
subject to change availability.
A R HAWKINS
N’PTON 9MAREFAIR (D471)
NORTHAMPTON NN1 1SR
jTJip TELEPHONE 0604/39674
Birdwatcher’s
Logbook
New Edition
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IX
Ian Sinclair’s
FIELD GUIDE TO
™BIRDS 01
SOUTHERN AFRICA
OVER 850 PHOTOGRAPHS FOR EASY IDENTIFICATION
Ian Sinclair’s
Field Guide to
The Birds of Southern Africa
This is the first book to use full colour photographs to
identify over 900 species ranging from Antarctica to
the Zambezi River.
The text concentrates on identification, detailing
characteristics of appearance, habitat, calls and
measurements. The maps give a clear and instant
statement of a bird’s distribution within the area on
land and at sea.
This Field Guide is the ideal handbook for the
enthusiastic naturalist who wants to know quickly and
accurately the identification of any bird.
£9.95, 850 colour photographs, 60 full colour paintings,
2-colour maps, line drawings and diagrams
Collins
British Birds
VOLUME 78 NUMBER 3 MARCH 1985
Identifying the
smaller
shearwaters
W. F. Curtis , P. A. Lassey and D. I. M. Wallace
Of the six shearwaters that breed in or visit the North Atlantic, three are
distinctly smaller than the others. They are the Manx Shearwater
Pujfinus pujfinus (of which three races are recognised), the Little Shearwater
P. assimilis (two races) and the Audubon's Shearwater P. Iherminieri (one
race). Up to 197 1 , all three were on the British list, but, in that year, the last
finally fell by the way (BOU 1971). Accordingly, most British and Euro-
pean seawatchers look out only for two races of Manx — the North Atlantic
nominate pujfinus and the West Mediterranean mauretanicus (so-called
‘Balearic’) — and one of Little — the Madeira and Canary Islands baroli. No
other form is officially listed for Britain, with the annual appearances of the
Heading drawing: Left to right, Little Shearwaters Pujfinus assimilis of (Jape Verde race boydi
and of Madeira and Canary Islands race baroli ; Manx Shearwaters P. pujfinus of East
Med iterranean race yelkouan and North Atlantic nominate race; and Audubon’s Shearwater P.
Iherminieri (D. /. M. Wallace )
[Bnt. Buds, 78: 123-188, March 1 985 J
123
124
Identifying the smaller shearwaters
East Mediterranean form of the Manx yelkouan (so-called ‘Levantine’)
acceptable to some seawatchers, but unsubstantiated by any specimen (see
below).
The fact remains, however, that shearwaters are prone to exceptional
vagrancy, witness the remarkable journey of a Skokholm-bred Manx to
south Australia in 1961 (Slater 1971), and a few British observers have
continued to note small shearwaters of unusual appearance. Unfor-
tunately, the recent Birds of the Western Palearctic texts and illustrations on
small shearwaters (DIMW and P. J. Hayman, in Cramp & Simmons
1977) appear to have done little to clear up the confusion surrounding their
identification. Hopefully, the expert work of Harrison (1983) will do much
more, and the aim of this paper is to shed some further light on the problem.
Together its three authors have seen all the species, and all but one of the
races concerned, both in offshore and in ocean circumstances.
The challenge in small shearwater identification
Small shearwater identification (and record judgment) demands the hard-
work chain of long seawatching hours — hence held experience (and basic
observational skill) — and skin examination — hence real understanding of
structure and plumage patterns. The challenge demands a thorough
grounding in the Manx Shearwater P. puffinus and its variations of plumage,
size and flight action. There is no escaping this, for the commonest bird is
the major source of confusion, and only when observers have passed its tests
can they expect to begin spotting the other two species.
Typically, all three small shearwaters are black above, white below, and
about as large as or smaller than the Guillemot Uria aalge. Dependent on
wind strength, their sailing, skimming or fluttering flight is as characteristic
as is their well balanced, cruciform silhouette. Unhappily, racial plumage,
size variation and, frequently, poor observing circumstances act to obscure
all the integral characters indicated above. Only flight action remains as a
relatively constant source of diagnosis. For this reason, the treatment of the
held characters that follows is unusually ordered.
Field characters of smaller shearwaters
Flight action
All three small shearwaters vary their flight actions according to their
behavioural purpose, the speed of wind and the resultant state of the sea’s
surface. If the last two are respectively low and calm, they adopt a much
more energetic manner of flight than their supposedly normal shearing, and
the incidence of apparently effortless sails, glides, banks and careens falls
markedly. In high wind-speeds and among waves, the last actions occur
frequently, but both Audubon’s and Little continue to show a greater
frequency and persistence of wingbeats than does Manx. Strict compari-
sons between the three will probably never be drawn, but it is clear that the
former have to ‘work harder’ to fly as fast or far as Manx, the difference in
effort being obvious both in the greater distances covered by active
(flapping) flight and the faster, more regular and less fluid rhythm of the
actual wingbeats. The latter has been long recognised in the group name
125
Identifying the smaller shearwaters
‘fluttering shearwaters’ used for the smallest shearwaters in Australia and
the Pacific. Any small shearwater that persists in fluttering more than
shearing is likely not to be Manx. In our experience, this basic ‘mechanical’
difference in flight action is very striking, and is, if anything, exaggerated at
longer ranges and not suppressed. Hence the many references, in the case of
Little, to an auk-like, Puffin-like and even wader-like flight. It seems also
that the differences in flight action of the smaller, black-and-white shear-
waters is directly related to structure and size, particularly wing-span and
wing-shape. 1 here is a remarkable range of such characters in shearwater
morphology (Kuroda 1954; Brown, Bourne & Wahl 1978), apparently
allied to differences in feeding method. Generally, it appears that the
greater the span and the longer the wing chord, the more effortless (and
lazy-looking) the action of the flying bird, but the less effective (and
propulsive) the wing beat of the immersed swimming bird.
Expert observers now perceive the flight action of the largest race of
Manx, mauretanicus, as different from those of the nominate race and
yelkouan. The difference was first mooted in British observations as long ago
as 1953 (Ash & Rooke 1954) and has been fully confirmed in recent
Portuguese, Mediterranean and British watches from 1976 to 1981 (G. C.
Moore in litt.; A. Grieve in litt.; WFC, PAL, & DIMW personal
observations).
An analysis of the various notes indicates that, compared with the
nominate race and yelkouan , mauretanicus beats its wings slightly more slowly,
and its compound action is noticeably lazier, smoother and freer, with a
more frequent incidence of planing on widely stretched primaries and tail.
It is the only form among the smaller shearwaters to invite, in any way,
direct comparison with Gory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea . whose flight
action is the most effortless (laziest) of all North Atlantic shearwaters. Ihis
is an important point because it assists the separation of the darkest
examples of mauretanicus from Sooty Shearwater P. griseus (their main
confusion species on grounds of plumage colour and pattern, but possessing
the most mechanical, scything wingbeats of all North Atlantic shearwaters
in active flight). So far as we (most notably WFC in the eastern Mediter-
ranean) can ascertain, there is no diff erence in the flight action of nominate
Manx and yelkouan, as would befit two races that are very close in bulk and
wing-span, in spite of their positions at the extremes of the species' range.
It is important to recognise that, while in light w inds all forms of Manx
may spend long periods in low, fairly steady and level flight over the water
surface, it is rare for them not to show' bursts of their typically freer flight. In
wind strengths over force 4, their flight action shows much increased speed
and confidence, w ith the birds ‘attacking the weather' with the same elan as
Fulmars Fulmarus glacialis and Kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla , with marked
lateral twists in body and wing attitudes, decreases in the wing-body angle,
sudden, steep ascents which regularly reach over 20m above sea level, and
long shearing descendant glides.
Audubon’s Shearwater occupies a middle position in the range of bulk
and wing-span shown by the smaller shearwaters, but sports a long tail.
Perceptive observations of flight action of the North Atlantic form by
126
Identifying the smaller shearwaters
observers seeking to establish differences from Manx and Little are rare.
Murphy ( 1936) was content to quote only John James Audubon’s original
notes on feeding individuals, and Palmer (1962) gave only ‘wings flapped
very rapidly in flight, much wheeling and fluttering in calm air, more
gliding in rough weather.’ Loomis (1918) wrote of the smaller Galapagos
race of Audubon’s Shearwater ‘flight . . . usually low and somewhat
undulatory, ascendant during the rapid wing strokes (which vary from 4 or
5 to 8 or 10) and descendant during the short sail. In rough weather they
rise higher and prolong the sailing flight.’ Most recent field guides add no
further details, being content to stress merely the faster wing beat compared
with Manx and other larger shearwaters. Happily, WFC is able to offer
more. Having seen nearly 260 Audubon’s Shearwaters flying in light
breezes over a slight swell in July and August 1981 , he noted that their flight
alternated ‘rapid wing beats with longish horizontal glides’ and occasional
lateral swings. Compared with his extensive experience of Little, the birds
did not give ‘a great impression of whirring wings or great haste’ and their
wing tips drooped at times, in a ‘somewhat similar’ manner to those of
Cory’s. It follows, therefore, that the flight action of Audubon’s is inter-
mediate between those of Manx and Little and (probably) closer to that of
the latter in lower wind speeds.
Apart from VVFC’s comment, we have found no other comparisons
between the wing actions of Audubon’s Shearwater and Little Shearwater,
but there is evidence of a difference in tail use. As originally noted by John
James Audubon himself in 1826, the former has the habit of frequently
spreading its tail during its sails, planes and banks. This tail action also
caught the eye of WFC, but we cannot ascertain whether it stems from the
direct use by Audubon’s Shearwater of its tail as a planing surface or from
the increased visibility of the tail due to its relatively much greater length.
The former is adopted by Manx when in slow, food-searching flight. On the
flight action of Little, Dr W. R. P. Bourne’s note in Palmer (1962) has in our
opinion yet to be bettered: ‘appears very small and short-winged in flight,
with flutter-and-glide type of flight of the diving shearwaters (specifically
the small Pujfinus species), but wings beat very rapidly, almost whirr,
during flutter so that it hurtles through the air almost like a small auk’ (see
fig. L). For Canary Islands birds, R. F. Porter’s notes read: ‘in light winds
up to force 3 or 4, flight low and rather fluttering — almost like Common
Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos — with three to eight fast, fairly shallow wing
beats followed by a short glide with only very slight shearing from side to
Fig. 1. Diagram depicting normal flight actions of Manx Pujfinus pujfinus and Little Shear-
waters P. assirnilis, in wind force 4-5. Note how Little flutters more than Manx, planes for
shorter distances and flies lower (D. I. M. Wallace)
Identifying the smaller shearwaters
127
I'ig. 2. Diagrammatic plan of flight tracks of Manx Puffinus pujfinus and Little Shearwaters P.
assimilis. Note how Little shifts less than Manx, hugging trough lines longer. Manx mav ‘jump"
several wave crests at a time ( D . I. M. Wallace)
side . . . frequently alighted on water . . . patter(ed) off the surface with
wings held above the head.' All this is not to say that Little cannot sustain
flight without rapid wing beats. In observations made respectively in the
Canary Islands and in the South Atlantic, R. F. Porter and P. Harrison (in
lilt.) have seen Littles adopt stiff-winged sailing and gliding attitudes. In
winds of force 4 to 7, such can be sustained for up to three minutes and allow
flight peaks of 10m to 7 m above sea level. Nevertheless, the general flight
action of these birds remained less confident than that of Manx, with
less-steep ascents, less-sharply angled twists, less strength and speed, and
with their wings held more stiffly and more parallel with the water surface,
being only very slightly bowed.
The differences in active flight of the three smaller shearwaters may be
expressed in the form of a loose equation. If the wings of Manx ‘flex' and
‘flap’, those of Audubon’s ‘flap quickly’ and ‘flutter’, and those of Little
‘flutter’ and even ‘whirr’. It is important to recognise that the differences
are evident in the rhythm of the respective flight actions. Thus, Manx is the
freest flier with its bursts of wing beats, steep ascents and glides or banks
having a distinctively variable rhythm. All three races have a marked
capability to continue progress by tilts or shifts in attitude or plane.
Audubon’s and Little both fly less freely, and their longer and more rapid
bursts of wing beats give a much more regular rhythm to their action.
sStiff-winged, they tilt far less than Manx, and their ascents and sailing
ability are less dramatic.
Flight tracks are noticeably varied by behaviour. On passage, Manx
frequently wanders between troughs, and careens high over wave crests;
when feeding or loafing, it may circle widely or indulge in long zig-zag
manoeuvres. On passage, Audubon’s and Little wander less from a direct
line, and the latter, if not both, prefers the shelter of troughs to the
turbulence of crests (see fig. 2.). When feeding, they are very active in
128
Identifying the smaller shearwaters
defined spaces — tacking and fluttering rather than circling or wandering —
and dive (from both flight and swimming positions) with astonishing
agility, recalling penguins, auks, and even butterflies to various eyes
(Brown, Bourne & Wahl 1978; also, in case of Little, PAL and DIMW, who
have seen one escape the attention of a pursuing Great Skua Ster cor arius skua
by flying straight into a high wave). As just implied, both Audubon’s and
Little fly closer to the sea surface than does Manx, and this appears to be so
whatever the wind speed.
Size and structure
Size of the small black-and-white shearwaters decreases markedly from
mauretanicus , nominate Manx and yelkouan, through Audubon’s to Little
boydi (Cape Verdes) and baroli (Madeira and Canary Islands). Between full
species in normal-sized birds, overlaps of measurement do not occur in bill-
and wing-lengths, but they do in tail-length. Unhappily, runt Manx further
confuses the issue. 'Fable 1 sets out the customary measurements and figs. 3,
5 and 6 all display scaled flight forms.
Table 1. Measurements of small shearwaters Puffinus (in mm)
Sources: Audubon’s — Witherby el at. (1940), DIMW unpublished; all others — Cramp &
Simmons ( 1977)
Sixth
Outer
Total
Wing
Longest
primary’s
Species & races
Bill
wing
Tail
length
span
primary
shortfall
MANX
P. puffinus puffinus
P. puffinus yelkouan
31- 38
32- 38
226-242
224-244
70-791
64-76)
300-380
760-890
2nd
36-50
audubon’s
P. Iherminieri
Iherminieri
29-30
198-206
85-96
275-330
645-745\
LITTLE
P. assimilis boydi
23-28
180-193
7 1-84 \
250-300
580-670/
> 2nd, often
l also 3rd
25-32
P. assimilis baroli
24-28
170-190
67-787
Structure also varies. The most externally visible differences are: (1) in
the case of Manx, a long, noticeably hooked and tubed bill, and long and
relatively narrow wings (with the tip of the longest primary often visible as a
sharp point) which set off a well balanced cruciform silhouette, (2) in the
case of Audubon’s, a shorter but relatively robust bill and head, slightly
shorter wings, and a noticeably longer tail, which combine in a fairly
compact but relatively long rear-bodied appearance, and, (3) in the case of
Little, a shorter, much finer, hardly tubed bill, a smaller head, much
shorter and rounded, invariably rather paddle-shaped wings which give it a
compact but not short-tailed look. In general and at similar distance,
full-sized Manx looks noticeably larger, more loosely built and less compact
than either Audubon’s or Little. Runt Manx may approach the latter two in
size, but retains the general structural character of the species. Audubon’s
looks larger, heavier and less compact than Little. Little looks noticeably
compact, and its small bill shows only in close views (see again figs. 3, 5 and
6).
Identifying the smaller shearwaters
129
Fig. 3. Flight forms of, top to bottom, Manx Pu/Jinus pujfinus, Audubon’s P. Iherminieri and (two)
Little Shearwaters P. assimilis. Note particularly compactness and rounded wing tip of Little,
obvious long tail of Audubon’s, and least-rounded wing point of Manx. L’pper three figures
based on flight photograph of Manx, with wings fully extended on downbeat; lowest from
flight photograph of (West Australian) Little, showing position of legs and feet (though these
only rarely visible at sea) ( D . I. M. Wallace)
Plumage patterns and colours
Apart from the Balearic race of Manx, mauretanicus , all three species exhibit
boldly contrasting upper- and underparts and, at long range, this divide
may be the only pattern to show. At close range or at middle distance in
good diffused light, however, differences are visible on head, neck,
shoulders, flanks, vent, undertail and underwing. Particularly in the grey
lights that enhance subtle tones, these can be surprisingly obvious. Fig. 4
emphasises this point. Table 2 summarises all visible characters, and figs. 5
and 6 display them at a scale compatible with optimum seawatch range.
Fig. 7 shows the topography of a Manx Shearwater.
The effect of extreme wear or moult on the appearance of the small
black-and-white shearwaters is incompletely known. In general, all black
130
Identifying the smaller shearwaters
Table 2. Specific and non-specific plumage characters of small shearwaters Pujfinus
Forms Characters
MANX
P. pujfinus
P. p. yelkouan
P. p. pujfinus
audubon's &
LITTLE
P. Ihemiinieri
& P. ass ini it is
audubon’s
P. therminieri
LITTLE
P. ass im it is
P. a. boydi
P. a. baroli
Head cap complete, reaching below eye and often extended by dusky lace,
throat and loreneck, making head appear large and slightly drooping. Shoul-
der patch large and dusky, extending obviously downwards before wing.
These features characteristic o [ yelkouan and at least sub-adult nominate
Manx, but absent from most Audubon’s and all Little. Feet marked with pale
grey-pink or flesh.
Dusky-brown to brown-black above, dull white below. Black outer primaries
form obvious dark end to upperwing throughout year, and white to cream
ground colour to underwing contrasts little with grey-brown leading edge
and under surface of flight feathers. Flanks dusky, appearing mottled on some.
Vent and undertail blonde to dusky-brown, darker than belly.
Dusky-black to black above, white below. Upperwing when fresh is uniform
w ith rest of upperparts, but when worn obviously browner over inner half
(suggesting yelkouan ), underwing variably mottled dusky on leading edge, on
axillaries and on longest coverts, but white under surface of underwing-
coverts still contrasts markedly with leaden under surface of flight feathers.
Flanks clean on most. Vent and undertail noticeably white.
Lower foreneck clean, not increasing apparent size of head as on yelkouan
and nominate Manx.
Brown-black to black above; white but black-ended below. Upperwing when
fresh uniform with rest of upperparts, but when worn browner over inner half,
while pale cream-brown primary shafts may show at any time. Underwing
obviously mottled dusky on leading edge and in wing pit, with contrast
between white lining and dusky-brown under surface of flight feathers less
distinct than on Manx and Madeiran and Canary Islands Little baroli. Flanks
washed or mottled dusky, and undertail black, forming quite square-cut and
obvious dark end to underbody. Head cap complete, reaching below eye and
over lores, but not sharply defined. Shoulder pateh dusky but variable, on
some as marked as Manx. Feet marked pink or yellow-white.
Shoulder patch dusky or grey, but small, not extending obviously downwards
as on Manx and some Audubon’s.
Dusky-black to black above, white below. Upperwing appearance not studied
in field. Underwing mottled dusky along leading edge and dusky-brown along
under surface of secondaries and primary tips, with contrast between these
areas and white lining not so distinct as on Manx and baroli Little, and
extension of lining towards wing tip by white to pale brown bases of primaries
much less marked than on baroli. Flanks virtually clean. Vent and
undertail centrally white, but laterally dusky to black. Head cap almost
complete, breaking up around eye and on lores, and, thus, noticeably deeper
and less sharply defined than on baroli. Feet marked blue, with dusky webs.
Bluish-black to black, apparently never brown-toned above, pure white
below. Sides ol hindneck tinged grey-blue on many. Upperwing when fresh
uniform with rest of upperparts, but, when much worn, with greyer coverts
and silvery secondaries forming distinctly pale panel on inner trailing edge
(discussed more fully in text). Underwing little mottled on leading edge,
but with noticeably black undersurface of secondaries and short primary tips,
contrasting very distinctly with white lining and extension of last towards
wing tip by long white bases of primaries much more marked than on
Audubon’s, Manx and boydi Little. Flanks clean, with rear feathers obvious
behind wing base, and even encroaching onto sides of rump. Vent and
undertail white. Feet marked blue, with yellow webs.
Identifying the smaller shearwaters
131
Fig. 4. Effect ol different backgrounds on visibility of plumage patterns. Note how subtler tones
and fuller markings ol Manx Shearwater Puffinus pujfinus become apparent against uniform
grey ground (right). Against strongly contrasted one (left), plumage reliefs are much reduced.
Both effects may be seen on single pass when broken sky and different light intensities create
variably illuminated bird, sea and horizon (D. I. M. Wallace)
plumage shows a velvety bloom when fresh. On baroli Little, this is strong
enough to produce a blue tinge, visible even at middle distances, but on the
other species and forms it leads only to variations in density or ‘jetness’.
These are visible on Manx from July, with, first, the complete loss of bloom
and, secondly, the abrasion of feather webs, producing increasingly brown
hues, which become most noticeable over the inner halves of the wings and
across the back. On Manx, this loss of uniform black upperparts may last
through autumn and winter; on Audubon’s and Little, it may be restricted
to autumn. Certainly some Canary Islands Littles seen in August show
noticeably variegated wings, with black-grey coverts and silvery second-
aries contrasting with black primaries and back. The effect is sufficiently
marked to recall the wing pattern of Redshank Tringa totanus (see fig. 6).
Examination of a photograph of one so marked, taken by R. F. Porter,
suggests that it is a heavily abraded adult. What evidence that there is of the
normal breeding season and moult period of Little (Cramp & Simmons
1977) accords with this conclusion. Thus, any Littles off the Canaries in
August probably constitute the worn, unmoulted, tardy remnants of a
population usually dispersed at sea by that month. It would seem unlikely
that such a group would send any vagrants to northern waters.
We have excluded mauretaniens from our treatment. To our eyes, most
appearing off Britain look much darker than most textbook and field-guild
plates indicate (see Harrison 1983 for proper treatment and illustration)
and are more likely to be confused with Sooty Shearwater than with any
smaller shearwater except their racial cousin, yelkouan. We are unsure quite
Fig. 5. Appearance at sea of Manx Shearwaters Pujfinus pujfinus of nominate and yelkouan races.
Left to right above, typical nominate Manx, ‘pal e' yelkouan and ‘dark ' yelkouan', left to right
below, typical nominate Manx (showing dark-headed look of some), yelkouan and runt
nominate Manx (banking with tail spread and briefly appearing as compact as Little). (See
text and table 2 for further discussion) (D. I. At. Wallace)
where to draw the line between pale mauretanicus and dark yelkouan on
plumage characters, unless it be that the former shows uniform upperwings
and no clear divide between upper and lower surfaces.
Settled appearances of small shearwaters
On the water, small shearwaters appear as rather unbuoyant, attenuated
birds, vaguely recalling a larger auk or (when feeding) a strange kind of
Identifying the smaller shearwaters
Identifying the smaller shearwaters
133
Fig. 6. Appearance at sea of Audubon’s Pujfinus therminieri and Little Shearwaters P. assimilis.
Left to right above, Little of Madeira and Canary Islands race baroli, worn adult of same race
baroli (in August per R. F. Porter) and Little of Cape Verde race boydi. Left and right centre.
Little of Madeira and Canary Islands race baroli and of Cape Verde race boydi. Left and right
below, Audubon’s. (See text and table 2 for further discussion) (D. I. M. Wallace)
duck (see fig. 8). Their attenuation is partly illusory, since their usually
black uppcrparts are more striking than their white underparts, but is most
striking in the extension of bill and the backwards projection of usually
raised wing tips and tail. The relative position ofthe last two is helpful in the
separation of settled birds. On Little, the wing tips meet the tail end; on
Manx, they extend just past, but on the long-tailed Audubon’s they fall well
1 34 Identifying the smaller shearwaters
hind neck scapulars "*
Fig. 7. Topography of Manx Shearwater Pujfinus puffinus . Note pattern of head, neck and chest
marks, and tracts of underwing, upon which most visible characters are displayed (D. I. M.
Wallace)
short. When bill shapes are evident, the proportionately heavier and more
robust bill of Audubon’s is obvious and gives it a heavier-headed appear-
ance than either Manx or the hne-billed Little.
135
Identifying the smaller shearwaters
Sea ranges of small shearwaters
Cramp & Simmons ( 1977) for the whole marine surround, and Wallace &
Bourne (1981) for the east coast, have recently restated the marine distri-
bution of Manx and Little around Britain. The general pattern of the
former’s occurrences is well established, needing no repetition here for the
nominate race of Manx and for mauretanicus. As stated in the introduction,
the observations of yelkouan remain open to debate — with only one claim
published in detail (Cade 1983) — but, since 1976 off Flamborough Head,
North Humberside, their pattern of occurrence has followed that of maure-
tanicus, with 12 records of 15 individuals spread from May to December
(seven records from 28th August to 26th September) and their general
incidence being about on t yelkouan to nine mauretanicus. The mean date of the
July to October yelkouan off Flamborough Head is 14 days later than that of
mauretanicus and from three to 12 weeks later than the (erratically timed)
peak passages of nominate Manx (Flamborough Ornithological Group).
The latter difference in timing seems quite incompatible with the view that
British 'yelkouan ’ are merely faded adult Manx among fresh plumaged
juveniles (per P. J. Grant). Thus, there seems to be no reason to doubt that
individuals of the rac eyelkouan reach British waters. They are long known to
reach the western Mediterranean (Cramp & Simmons 1977; also A. M.
Allport in lilt., who has seen them off Tunisia in January, and DIMW, who
has seen them mixed with nominate Manx off northern Morocco in
December) and some reached the Portuguese coast in mid October 1980
and again in January and February 1981 (C. C. Moore in litt; see also
Harrison 1983). Thus, the Strait of Gibraltar does not stop up this race’s
bottle and, with the proven over-sea speed of Manx remembered, vagrancy
to the North Sea is no great journey for it.
The occurrences of Little and, as yet may be proved, Audubon’s off
Britain and Ireland are not well established, and additional comment is
required. Both are adapted to warm water around their breeding stations,
and, in the southern section of the North Atlantic, they occupy opposing
positions. Audubon’s is scattered through the outer Caribbean archipe-
lagos, having nested no nearer to Britain than Bermuda. Little is
concentrated around the oceanic outcrops of the East Atlantic from the
Azores and Salvages south to the Cape Verdes, nesting no nearer than Sao
Miquel.
Audubon’s is supposed to be a sedentary bird, but there is evidence of
occasional far-flung dispersal, with the occurrences long known from
latitudes as far north as 37° (Murphy 1936). How much farther north or
east Audubon’s strayed was not known until August 1981, when WFC was
lucky enough to sail along the track of the tropical storm Dennis and witness
a dramatic displacement of that species over 4,200 km. Daily records of up
to 20 Audubon’s (34 in all) stretched ENE and northeast from 38°10'N
65°53'W to 48°30'N 39° 10'W and lasted from 22nd to 26th August. The
last three individuals were almost halfway across the North Atlantic. It is
also clear from VVFC’s observations that Audubon’s frequently strays north
to at least 39°N offthe southeast coasts of North America and that it does so
in the company of Cory’s Shearwater, Great Shearwater Puffinus gravis,
136
Identifying the smaller shearwaters
Fig. 8. Form of Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffmus settled on sea. Note position of wing points,
which differs from both Audubon’s P. Iherminieri and Little P. assimilis (D. I. At. Wallace )
Sooty Shearwater, Leach’s Petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa, and three more
supposedly tropical species, the Capped Petrel Pterodroma hasitata, the
Bridled Tern Sterna anaethetus and the Sooty 'Pern S.fuscata. We feel that it is
wrong to exclude Audubon’s Shearwater from the list of potential trans-
atlantic vagrants. It may well be that the removal of the 1936 Sussex bird
from the British list ( Ibis 120: 411) was over-hasty.
The Little Shearwater is also supposed to lack definite migrations, but
there is much evidence of amazingly far-flung dispersal from its normal
northern range of up to 44°N and 35° and 10°W. From that area, it has
radiated west across the Atlantic to South Carolina, WNW to Nova Scotia,
north to near Rockall, and north to NNE to Ireland and Britain, northeast
to the Federal German Republic (inland at Bodensee) and east to Italy
(Cramp & Simmons 1977; Sea Swallow 25: 16). The fan ofknown vagrancy
exceeds 180°; the northern limit is 58°N; and the species has even reached
the Skaggerack, off Denmark. WFC has seen Little Shearwaters two-thirds
of the way west across the Atlantic, at 42°30'N 48°45'W on 9th August
1966, and halfway up the Bay of Biscay, at 46°09'N 08°05'W on 11th
September 1981. Both these records fall in the fan already described.
I ncreasingly, it looks as though Little may well circulate in British waters as
does Cory’s (Wallace & Bourne 1981). Certainly, it is wrong to regard it as
occurring mainly off southwest Ireland (BOU 1971), where it has recently
become scarce (K. Preston in litt.) while British east coast observations
have mounted. It should be noted, however, that Little breeds earlier than
Cory’s (eggs in February and March, not May to July) and, thus, adults
and juveniles are free to wander from late May onwards. Certainly, most
are absent from Madeira from July to November and from the Canaries
from July to February (Bannerman 1963). Either Audubon’s or Little (or
both) also appear in the northwest Atlantic north to56°N and westto49°W,
in July, August, November and December (Cramp & Simmons 1977;
DIMYV, personal observation). WFC’s observations of August 1981
suggest that they could come in sight of each other in this region, as they do
along the North American east coast.
One further point may be made here. Manx does not normally pair and
breed until it is five or six years old. Many of those seen off British coasts
away from breeding colonies are considered to be immatures. The age of
maturity of Audubon’s and Little is not yet known, but it seems unlikely to
137
Identifying the smaller shearwaters
be less than three years. I hus, the chances of most vagrant tubenoses being
inexperienced, highly dispersive immatures seem great. Our understand-
ing of the farthest-flung behaviour of such birds is limited, but news has
recently broken of dramatic events in a Welsh colony of Manx Shearwaters.
In 1981 and 1982 a male and in 1983 a female Little Shearwater have been
heard in or over burrows from May to July (James & Alexander 1984). The
former was examined in the hand and photographed, but the Rarities
Committee has yet to pass judgment on any of these records. If they are
accepted, sights will undoubtedly be raised by many birdwatchers, but
future records will still have to pass the tests in observation discussed in this
paper.
Advice on observation
With the passage of small shearwaters past seawatch points usually lasting
less than two minutes and often being at awkward light angles, it is
important to adopt a disciplined approach to observation and note-taking.
In our experience, differences in flight action and size strike the eye first,
and it makes sense to begin with assessing these fully, leaving plumage
examination to the closest or best-lit stage of the pass, and then returning
smartly to a further check of flight action, structure and size. With current
record reviewers likely to favour well-noted plumage characters before
those that can be fully learnt only with years of experience, it is essential not
to fuss over plumage tones or foot colour, and concentrate most upon head
and neck, underwing and undertail patterns. When a small shearwater
passes a group of observers, it is helpful ifone forsakes the use of a telescope
and continues to observe the bird through binoculars in order to increase
the direct chances of flight action and size comparison with other seabirds.
Once a small shearwater has disappeared, it also makes sense to wait for
another tubenose (hopefully the widespread Manx) to cover its tracks and
provide close-timed comparison of action and appearance for the final
notebook entry. Again, if a group of observers is concerned, it is also
important ( 1 ) not to suppress discussion of the bird when in sight, but (2) to
have the individual descriptions written as separately as possible, since
differing perceptions of characters will almost certainly add to a greater
total record of the bird. After all, it is crucial not to approach the finding and
identification of small shearwaters without a full commitment to seawatch-
ing: that most challenging and most rewarding pursuit for birdwatchers.
Conclusions
s Small-shearwater identification demands a long apprenticeship. It should
begin with study of Manx Shearwater, and the identification of Little or
Audubon’s Shearwater will always require remarkable perception. At all
ranges, the separation of Manx from Audubon's and Little is best based on
flight action, structure and size. At closer ranges and in lights revealing true
plumage patterns and colours, other characters are available to the expert
eye, but most are subject to specific and subspecific overlap. Notation of
head-, underwing- and undertail-patterns are particularly important.
138
Identifying the smaller shearwaters
A review of the thin but growing record of the non-breeding distribution
of Audubon’s and Little Shearwaters demonstrates respective dispersal or
vagrancy of at least 4,200km and 5,600km. The former may well be
displaced into the temperate west North Atlantic by tropical storms. The
latter has ranged north to the latitudes of north Scotland and may well
reach every temperate part of the North Atlantic. Hopefully, this paper will
assist seawatchers and then reviewers not to give up on small, fluttering
shearwaters. They are not Manx!
Acknowledgments
YV e are grateful to the members of the Flamborough Ornithological Group for sustaining our
morale while clarifying a vexed subject; especially to Peter Harrison, who has given the paper
an almost unqualified blessing; and to Richard Porter, who added important information; and
to Andrew Allport for assisting with the typing of the text.
Summary
The field identification of Manx Pujfinus puffinus , Little P. assimihs and Audubon’s Shearwaters
P. therminieri, using flight action, size, structure and plumage patterns and colours, is
discussed and their at-sea distributions summarised.
References
Ash, |., & Rooke, K. B. 1954. Balearic Shearwaters off the Dorset Coast in 1953. Brit. Birds 4:1 :
285-296.
Bannerman, D. A. 1963. Birds of the Atlantic Islands, vol. 1. Edinburgh.
British Ornithologists’ Union. 1971. The Status of Buds in Britain and Ireland. Oxford.
Brown, R. G. B., Bourne, YV. R. P., & YVahl, T. R. 1978. Diving by shearwaters. Condor 80:
123-125.
Cade, M. 1983. The possibility of east Mediterranean Manx Shearwaters occurring in British
waters. Brit. Birds 76: 413.
Cramp, S., & Simmons, K. E. L. (eds.) 1977. The Birds of the Western Palearctic. vol. 1 . Oxford.
Harrison, P. 1983. Seabirds: an identification guide . Beckenham.
James, P. C., & Alexander, M. 1984. Madeiran Little Shearwater Pujfinus assimilis baroli
prospecting on Skomer Island, UK. Ardea 72: 236-237.
Loomis, L. M. 1918. A review of the albatrosses, petrels and diving petrels. Proc. Calif. Acad.
Sci., Series 4, 2: 1-187.
Kuroda, N. 1 954. On the classification and phylogeny of the order Tubinares particularly the
shearwaters {Pujfinus). Tokyo.
Murphy, R. C. 1936. Oceanic Birds of South America. New York.
Palmer, R. S. 1962. The Handbook of North American Birds, vol. 1 . New Haven.
Slater, P. 197 1 . A Field Guide to Australian Birds: Non-passerines. Edinburgh.
YVallace, D. I. M., & Bourne, YV. R. P. 1981. Seabird movements along the east coast of
Britain. Brit. Birds 74: 417-426.
Witherby, H. F., Jourdain, F. C. R., Ticehurst, N. F., & Tucker, B. YV. 1940. The Handbook
oj British Birds, vol. 4. London.
W. F. Curtis, Farm Cottage, Church Lane, Atwick, Driffield , North Humberside
P. A. Lassey, 21 Southsea Avenue, Flamborough, North Humberside
D. I. M. Wallace, 68 Selby Road, Holme upon Spalding Moor, by York, North
Humberside Y04 4 EH
PhotoSpot
9. Knot
55. Juvenile Knot Calidns canutus, Cornwall, September 1981 (S. C. Hutchings)
Adult Knots Calidris canutus normally spend a British September in dense,
wary, moulting flocks on our largest estuaries. In contrast, juveniles fresh
from Greenland or Arctic Canada may appear in habitats shunned by the
adults, and may be extremely tame. The dark subterminal lines obvious on
the wing-coverts and larger scapulars confirm that this is a juvenile: winter-
plumage feathers are almost plain grey, with a narrow dark shaft-streak.
John Marchant
BTC), Beech Grove, Tring, Hertfordshire HP235NR
££>ebnitp-fit)f peats ago...
‘A Bittern ( Botaurus stellaris) was shot at Newhythe. near Aylesford, Kent, on November ‘25th,
1909. I am pleased to say that a police prosecution followed, but the defendant, who pleaded
ignorance of the identity of the bird, was let off with the payment of th^costs of the hearing.
J. H. Allchin.’ [Brit. Birds 3: 338, March 1910).
139
Mystery photographs
56. Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus, Sri Lanka, January 1977 ( Peder Weibull)
A A The combination of comparatively large head, large eye, slender legs
and short bill clearly shows last month’s mystery bird (plates 50 &
56) to be a plover. Furthermore, the single breast band (albeit broken in the
middle) coupled with otherwise white underparts and prominent facial
pattern narrows the field a little, to eight species of Charadrius on the
Western Palearctic list.
The white collar clearly does not encircle the nape, although the nape is a
shade paler than the crown, upperparts and breast band. This feature alone
rules out all thoughts of Little Ringed C. dubius, Ringed C. hiaticula and
57. Lesser Charadrius mongolus (left) and Greater Sand Plover C. leschenaullii (right), Kenya,
October 1981 (I. S. Robertson)
140
Mystery photographs
141
Semipalmated Plovers C. semipalmatus , all three of which also have legs
which are paler and shorter than those of the mystery bird. Caspian Plover
C. asiaticus can also be dismissed, as, although it has very long legs and a
brownish nape, the legs are usually pale, it has a broader and more diffuse
breast band, and it is a far more elegant bird, with whiter lores.
In fact, the dark legs and broken breast band immediately suggest
Kentish Plover C. alexandrinus. Kentish, however, has a complete white
collar, and legs not quite so long as those of the mystery plover.
Some juvenile Kittlitz’s Sand Plovers C. pecuarius are very plain-looking
birds ( Dutch Birding 4: 1 13-130), but differ from the mystery bird in having
still longer legs, a more elegant appearance, only small diffuse breast
patches, and a whitish nape band.
It must, therefore, be either a Lesser C. mongolus or a Greater Sand Plover
C. leschenaultii. Deciding between the two can be tricky, whether in or out of
breeding plumage, and, although specific differences have been confused,
many of the problems have at last been more or less resolved (Brit. Birds 75:
94-95). The pointers to look for are leg length (Greater has considerably
more of the tibial length exposed), leg colour (palish greenish-grey to fleshy
grey on Greater, dark grey to dark grey-green on Lesser), shape of head
(Lesser tends to show a steeper forehead and a more rounded crown), bill
structure (Greater usually has a stouter bill) and shape of supercilium
(Greater tends to have a less conspicuous supercilium, which is also more
diffuse behind the eye).
Head shape is difficult to judge on lone birds such as this, but the mystery
plover has a very thin bill, a prominent supercilium reaching well behind
the eye, very dark legs, and little tibial length exposed: all features which
show it to be a Lesser Sand Plover. The very weak bill is clearly that of a
58. Mystery photograph 100. Identify the species. Answer next month
142
Mystery photographs
Lesser in this case, but fairly stout-billed Lessers and quite weak-billed
Greaters do occur, so care is needed. This Lesser Sand Plover was
photographed in Sri Lanka in January 1977 by Peder YVeibull.
S. C. Madge
Notes
Aberrant Slavonian Grebe A thick-billed and un-
familiarly plumaged Slavonian Grebe Podiceps auritus
appeared on the open marine bathing-pool at Penzance,
Cornwall, on 28th December 1981. It was distinctly odd-
looking: rather bulky, with a relatively thick bill, and a
generally rather drab, smudgy grey appearance, quite
unlike the immaculate black-and-white Slavonians
normally encountered in winter. The grebe remained
until 14thjanuary 1982, enabling me to note the following
details:
Crown blackish-grey, rather flat with a greyish black collar, banded by greyish
semblance of tippets. Lores smudgy dark white. Upperparts dull grey to black, a little
grey. Sides of head dirty white. Streak down white area in wings apparent when stretched
hind-neck blackish grey, narrowing towards or flapped. Rear end mottled smudgy white,
mantle. Sides of neck blotched and smudgy extending to ventral region. Flanks heavily
in appearance, created by lighter and darker mottled dark grey to black. Underwing pale
grey areas; below this, a wide but ill-defined or whitish. Iris ruby-red. Bill dark and thick.
Fjeldsa (1973) recognised three races of Slavonian Grebe, with the
thicker-billed populations (‘ arcticus') being the breeding form of Iceland,
northern Norway and Scotland. BWP ( 1 : 105) states, however, that, in view
of differences being slight and partly clinal, naming of subspecies is
unnecessary. Details of the Penzance grebe were forwarded to Dr K. E. L.
Simmons, who commented ‘The bird should have been in adult winter or
first-winter plumage . . . and should have been matched by specimens
amongst the small-billed birds (there being no important plumage
differences between the forms). So the question really is: was it an
aberrantly plumaged, large-billed Slavonian Grebe or a hybrid —
presumably with a Red-necked Grebe P. grisegena ?’ Bernard King
Gull Cry, 9 Park Road, Newlyn, Penzance, Cornwall TR185DZ
REFERENCE
Fjeldsa, J. 1973. Distribution and geographical variation in the Horned Grebe. Omis Scand. 4:
55-86.
Although it was seen by other observers, neither we nor Mr King have been able to track
down any photographs of this bird. We hope that any similar individual will be described,
sketched and photographed; we shall welcome details. Eds
Notes
143
‘Natural’ hazard causing death of Sparrowhawk On 4th April 1982, at
lophill Low, Humberside, I found an adult male Sparrowhawk Accipiter
nisus entangled in a hedge of privet Ligustrum with some hawthorn Crataegus
monogyna about 2m high. The hedge runs along the side ofa wide dyke. D. E.
Glue and D. N. Weir { Bird Study 18: 137-146, 147-154) stressed the
proneness to accidents implicit in the Sparrowhawk’s way oflife; they listed
collisions with netting, fences or windows, but implied that ‘natural’
obstacles do not present a hazard. It is, however, possible, or even likelv,
that collisions while hunting form a significant proportion of deaths of this
raptor. R. A. Reese
The Computer Centre , The University of Hull, Cottingham Road , Hull HC6 7RX
Shell-dropping by Ospreys Hard-shelled food items are dropped and
broken open by some birds of prey. Bearded Vultures (Lammergeiers)
Gypaetus barbatus drop mammal bones and tortoises Testudo (e.g. Boswall &
Crook 1968; Leshcm 1980), Egyptian Vultures Neophron perenopterus drop
tortoises and dabb-tailed lizards Uromastix aegyptius (llany 1982), and
Golden Eagles Aquila chrysaetos drop tortoises (Fischer et al. 1975; Eeshem
1979). Indeed, Golden Eagles near Har Gilo, Jerusalem, Israel, cracked
open 107 tortoises during the 1979 breeding season. Similar behaviour by
Ospreys Pandion haliaetus, involving the dropping of the shells of the large
conch Lambis truncatus , was seen by V. Levi (in litt.) in 1974 on Tiran off the
southeast coast of Sinai.
Tiran is a treeless island holding 25-30 pairs of ground-nesting Ospreys,
which feed mainly on fish caught around the offshore coral reefs. W hether
one or more individual Ospreys were involved is unknown, but the
behaviour was always the same. The raptor would position itself, holding
the conch in its talons, 30-40 m above a large 200-litre drum filled with
concrete; the conch was then dropped, shattering on impact when it hit the
drum. This behaviour was observed several times and the drum was
surrounded by the remains of dozens of shells, all of the same species of
conch. Lambis truncatus reaches a size of 30cm and is found in shallow
lagoons in the reef area. It is also eaten by the local Bedouins. This appears
to be the first recorded instance of such behaviour by Ospreys.
Yossi Leshem
Israel Raptor Information Centre, Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel, Har
Gilo Field Study Centre , Doar na Harei, Jerusalem 91076 , Israel
references
Boswall, J., & Crook, J. H. 1968. Bone-dropping behaviour of the Lammergeyer (Gypaetus
barbatus). Abstracts XIV Congr. Int. Om.: 43.
Fischer, W\, Zenker, D.. & Baumgart, \V. 1975. Ein Beitrag zum Bestand und zur
ErnahrungdesSteinadlers (A. chiysaetos) aufder Balkanhalbinsel. Beitr. Vogelk. 21: 275-287.
Ilany, G. 1982. Egy ptian Vultures and dabb lizards. Israel ImtuI and Nature 8: 37.
Leshem, Y. 1979. Golden Eagles in our backyard. Israel Land and Nature 5: 70-75.
1980. [The bearded vulture — prince of the cliff's.] Israel Land and Nature 23: 22-28. (In
Hebrew)
144
Notes
Role of male Kestrel during incubation TheTole of male Kestrels Falco
tinnunculus in incubation is unclear. Richmond ( 1959) stated that there is no
fixed rule, but that some males are ‘assiduous sitters’ while others take no
part at all; Newton (1979) that they will sit while the female is feeding;
Brown ( 1976) that they will take a small part in incubation; and Cramp &
Simmons ( 1980) that they occasionally incubate for a brief period only. At
14.50 GMT on 10th June 1978, near Owslebury, Hampshire, 1 visited an
active Kestrel’s nest at the edge of a mixed woodland adjoining pasture and
fields and directly opposite an electricity pylon. On my arriv al, the female
appeared over the field about 200m from the nest tree, giving a food call.
She was joined by the male, who had come off the nest, crying loudly, and
both alighted 3-4m from the nest; there, the male snatched the prey in a
noisy encounter, whereupon the female flew straight to the nest and began
to incubate; the male devoured a small mammal, before flying oil at 14.55
hours. No more activity ensued until 16. 16 hours, when the male reappeared
and sat silently on the pylon until 16.29 hours. During this period, I could
clearly see large and well-developed brood patches on his underside. He
returned at 16.41 hours and flew into the nest tree, where he was joined by
the female, who had just left the nest to receive the prey. The male then
proceeded to the nest, and after about two minutes began to incubate. 4'he
female ate the prey and flew off a little later. T his pattern of incubation
alternating between the sexes was observed on two subsequent visits,
during which the sequence was broken only once, when the female
remained on the nest for two sittings. Such observations offer clear evidence
of shared incubation, and, indeed, rigid alternation at the nest by both male
and female. In addition, it is evident that this extended to a level where both
sexes brought prey to their incubating partner at nest relief. On 2nd July,
the nest was found abandoned, and, on 5th, desertion was confirmed; no
reason for this was established.
During 1975-78, I observed a total of 36 active Kestrels’ nests, and on no
other occasion was there any evidence of a male incubating. The benefits of
the female alone incubating have been stated by Newton ( 1979) as: ( 1 ) total
food needs of the pair are reduced, (2) allowing the female to accumulate
larger body reserves for breeding, if the male feeds her, and (3) the larger
female being always present to defend the nest, flic male Merlin F.
columbarius may take up to one-third of incubation duties during daylight
hours (Brown 1976; Newton etal. 1978); the male Kestrel is equally capable
of covering the eggs, as shown by the case in captivity (Haigh 1973) in
which a male incubated, brooded and reared a family after the female had
escaped. Sexual differences in degree of aggressiveness in Kestrels arc
small; for nest defence, therefore, each sex is equally suited and each will
participate (Petersen 1956). In areas where high prey density occurs, the
reduction in food needs may be unimportant as the male could provide
easily enough prey. (4'he pair 1 observed was part of a population with a
density of one pair per 394 ha, the third largest on record, suggesting that
prey density was high.) The most essential factor in the benefit of female
Kestrels incubating seems, therefore, to be the maintenance of their body
reserves during this period. This is facilitated by the male providing the
Notes
145
prey, since male Kestrels do not acquire their reserves before egg-laving. In
species where males have an equal share in incubation and brooding (e.g.
vultures Gyps), males, too, acquire such reserves (Newton 1979).
I should like to thank Dr Rory Putman for advice on the preparation of
this note. C. G. Packham
10 Cleveland Road, Alidanbury, Southampton S022AX
REFERENCES
Brown, I,. 1976. British Birds of Prey. London.
Cramp, S., & Simmons, K. L. L. (eds.) 1980. The Birds oj the Western Palearctic. vol. 2. Oxford.
Haigh, R. 1978. Captive Breeding of Diurnal Birds of Prey 1 (4): 13.
Newton, I. 1 979. Population Ecology of Raptors. Berkhamsted.
. Mf.ek, h., & Little, B. 1978. Breeding ecology of the Merlin in Northumberland. Brit.
Birds 7 1 : 376-398.
Petersen, C. M. 1956. Ynglebiologiske studier over Tdmfalken (Falco tinnunculus L). i Kobenhavti
[Studies of the breeding biology oj the Kestrel in Copenhagen] . Dansk Orn. Foren. Tidsskr. 50: 1 34- 1 59.
Richmond. \\ . K. 1959. British Birds of Prey. London.
Identification of a first-winter Sora I w as interested to read the note by
P. J. Roberts {Brit. Birds 77: 108-1 12) on the identification and ageing of a
first-winter Sora Porzana Carolina which was trapped on Bardsey, Gwynedd,
on 5th August 1981. Neither this bird, being trapped, nor the previous one
on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, from 26th September to 9th October 1973
(Wallace 1980), allowed prolonged field views, so it seems worth recording
the details of a first-winter Sora which was present on the Great Pool,
Tresco, Isles of Scilly, on 19th and 20th October 1983. It must be remem-
bered, however, that this individual was seen much later in the autumn
than the preceding two.
1 1 was watched initially sneaking along the edge of the reeds at a distance
of about 150m. At this range, the conspicuous white undertail-coverts
immediately attracted attention and separated it from Spotted Grake P.
porzana, but these were accentuated by an erect and continuously flicked
tail. When moving through thicker reeds, it could sometimes be followed
only by watching for the flicking white undertail-coverts. The tail itself
looked long and pointed, recalling Water Rail Rallus aquaticus rather than
Spotted Crake. Wallace also noted an apparently longer tail on the St
Agnes individual, but it is not known to what extent this may be an illusion
accentuated by the whiter undertail-coverts.
The Tresco Sora showed obvious black lores, forming a solid patch
between the eye and the bill, and this, coupled with a thick-based, heavy,
lime-green bill, gave it a distinctive facial appearance even when viewed at
a distance. It was, therefore, the combination of the undertail-coverts/tail and
the facial colour/bill which facilitated the initial identification.
A little later, a number of birders were able to obtain confirmatory views
down to 10- 15m from the seclusion of a shooting butt. The black lores were
again conspicuous and they extended below the bill to form a narrow-
connecting ‘chin strap’. Unlike the previous two, the throat was essentially
grey (only slightly paler than the grey breast) and lacked a dark central
furrow. The heavy-based bill was entirely lime-green, lacking the orange
base of Spotted Crake as well as the yellow base show n by the previous two
146
Notes
first-years. Other head markings were also distinctly different from Spotted
Crake: it showed a thin, but distinct, black central crown stripe and a small,
but noticeable, white rear ‘eyebrow’. There was no white head spotting
typical of Spotted Crake. The base of the undertail-coverts was seen to be
rich buff, similar in shade to that of a Spotted Crake, but the outer and
central feathers were conspicuously creamy white (fig. 1). Without any
comparisons, it was difficult to evaluate its size, although it looked bulkier
and probably longer-necked than Spotted Crake.
Fig. 1. Undertail of Sora Porzana Carolina, Scilly, October 1983, showing rich buff base and
white sides and tip (sides crossed by faint black flecks) (K. E. Vinicombe )
Wallace emphasised the importance of the plain tawny-brown wing-
coverts on the St Agnes bird. Although a diagnostic difference from Spotted
Crake, this was practically valueless as a field character on the Tresco bird.
This area certainly was not visible at any distance, the reason being that the
coverts were almost completely hidden by the overlying scapulars and the
fluffed-up flank feathers. The plain coverts were, however, occasionally
visible as a narrow, unmarked wedge, blunt and pointing backwards, when
the overlying feathers sometimes became separated.
A feature which we were unable to test was the obviousness of the white
along the leading edge of the open wing. Spotted Crake shows a thick white
leading edge to the lesser wing-coverts (extending around the front of the
wing from the leading lesser underwing-coverts) and this is usually con-
spicuous in flight. The photograph of the Bardsey Sora (Brit. Birds 77: plate
38) fails to show white leading lesser coverts, and Wallace did not mention
it in his paper. I am very grateful to Peter Colston, who inspected skins of
both species at the British Museum (Nat. Hist.). He found that, while both
show white, it is broader and more prominent on Spotted Crake. While this
difference cannot be regarded as a cast-iron field character, a flushed crake
failing to show an obvious white leading edge to the wing would clearly be
worth following up. K. E. Vinicombe
49 Trelawney Road, Cotham, Bristol BS66DY
REFERENCE
Wallace, D. I. M. 1980. Sora Rail in Scilly and the identification of immature small crakes. In
Sharrock,J. T. R. (ed.) The Frontiers of Bird Identification, pp. 231-236. London.
Foraging and hunting efficiency of Caspian Tern During September
and October 1981, in the Gulf of Suez close to Adabiya, Egypt, 1 watched
the foraging behaviour of Caspian Terns Sterna caspia. This is a resident
breeding species in the Red Sea and along the eastern coast of Sinai
(Meininger & Mullie 1981); during the autumn and winter, there is an
influx from the Baltic (Staav 1977) and the Crimea (Moreau 1972). The
status of those I observed is not known. Up to six adults could be seen
Notes
147
fishing together, usually within 100m of the shore. From a height of
10-30 m, they searched the water below in leisurely flight. When prey was
spotted, they performed a nearly vertical swoop with half-folded wings
which were partly spread just before reaching the surface, resulting in a big
splash; the tern sometimes submerged completely, and laborious wing-
flapping was needed to gain height again, while the feathers were
vigorously shaken. Quite often, the dive was not completed, but checked
and converted into a swerve on stiff, outstretched wings just over the water
for 5-25 m, followed by powerful wingstrokes to gain height. During a total
of 160 minutes’ observation on nine days, I recorded 61 diving attempts: 25
were completed, of which 1 6 resulted in a visible catch. When seen, the prey
was always fishes of about 5-12 cm, but very small prey may have been
swallowed immediately after catching. 1 1 seemed that a dive was completed
only when the tern was pretty certain of a successful strike, thereby saving
itself the trouble of taking off from the water after having lost speed.
Another hunting method was observed on receding tides when small pools,
sometimes containing fishes, were left on the beach. The terns searched the
shore in low, leisurely flight, landed, and picked up and swallowed edible
objects. Sometimes they hunted the shore by walking short distances (cf.
Bent 1963), but this hunting method was comparatively rarely ob-
served. Rob G. Bijlsma
Bovenweg 36 , 6721 HZ Bennekom , The Netherlands
REFERENCES
Bent, A. C. 1963. Life Histories of North American Culls amt Terris. New York.
Meininger, P. L., & Mulue, \V. C. 1981. Significance of Egyptian Wetlands as Wintering Areas for
Waterbirds. Holy Land Conservation Fund. New York.
Moreau, R. E. 1972. The Palaearctic-AJrican Bird Migration Systems. London & New York.
Staav, R. 1977. Etude du passage de la Sterne caspienne Hydroprogne caspia en Mediterranee a
partir des reprises d’oiseaux bagues en Suede. Alauda 45: 265-270.
Dr Euan K. Dunn has commented as follows: "I think that the concept of the “intention
dive” and whether or not it should be considered a failed.dive are of interest. If the tern was
forced to dive from quite high, it did the right thing, in terms of conserving energy, in being
conservative about committing itself to entering the water unless catching success was more or
less certain ( 16 successful dives out of 25 is a high rate). The ground foraging by this species is
especially interesting, and apparently not recorded before in the literature. Unfortunately, this
note was received too late for details to be included in the forthcoming volume 4 of fill P.' Eds
Several ‘adult’ Common Terns attempting to feed juvenile K. V.
Cooper ( Brit. Birds 76: 348) described from one to four ‘adult' Common
Terns Sterna hirundo presenting fish to a begging juvenile, and Dr E. K.
Dunn commented that he had frequently seen this behaviour by Sandwich
Terns S. sandvicensis. Since 1967, under the direction of Helen Hays of the
American Museum of Natural History, I have participated in studies of
tern biology on Great Gull Island, in Long Island Sound, New 5 ork, and
have many times seen the behaviour described by Mr Cooper. Dr Dunn
‘assumed that the strange “adults” attempting to feed were either failed
breeders or immatures, deduced from their general hesitancy and tentative
behaviour in the colony area.’ A large majority of the Common Terns on
Great Gull Island have been colour-ringed with individually unique
148
Notes
combinations, both as adults trapped on the nest and as pre-flying
juveniles. Each year there is an influx of pre-breeding terns relatively late in
the season; three-year-olds frequently, and two-vear-olds occasionally, nest
or attempt to nest; those that do not will hang about in the colony, and it is
these that present fish to downy young or juveniles. Even if not colour-
ringed, many (but not all) two-year-olds can be recognised as such by their
white foreheads and dark carpal bars. The reaction by the young when
approached is variable. Downy chicks and younger juveniles tend to flatten
down and 'freeze’, whereas older juveniles, as Dr Dunn states, may act
aggressively towards the intruder. It is, however, difficult to distinguish
between this aggressive behaviour and the normal enthusiastic open-billed
begging by large juveniles that rush to meet an incoming parent. In any
case, the intruder flies off, or at least backs away; should one of the parents
arrive, it will dash at the intruder and often chase it for some distance. 1
agree that the sight of the young seems to trigger a feeding reaction by the
pre-breeding terns, but this reaction is poorly developed: as if the intruder
'knew enough’ to present a fish to the chick, but not to try actually to feed it.
I he tern is easily frightened off, even if the chick continues to beg, but
typically it circles the colony once or twice, lands in the identical spot and
proffers the fish again. Occasionally, after several presentations, the pre-
breeding tern will swallow the fish itself; more frequently, it disappears
from the area of the colony visible to the observer.
Mr Cooper’s observation of as many as four terns simultaneously
attempting to feed a juvenile is rather unusual. He implied that one or two
of these were the parents, in which case it is surprising that no hostility to
the non-parents was exhibited. 1 have seen three non-parents surrounding
a juvenile, but a single individual is most frequent.
My observations, like those of Dr Dunn, have been in, rather than away
from, the colony, but this may be because the observation towers on Great
Gull Island are situated for optimum visibility of nesting areas.
This is contribution no. 66 from the Great Gull Island Project, American
Museum of Natural History. Kenneth G. Parkes
Carnegie Museum oj Natural History, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA
House Martins’ nests on ships W ith reference to Dr Cox’s note on the
nest of a House Martin Delichon urbica on a Scandinavian ferry (Brit. Birds
76: 232-233), on 26th August 1980, on board the same ferry, I photo-
graphed an incomplete House Martin's nest in a location similar to but not
identical with that in Dr Cox’s photograph (76: plate 92). At the time, I
presumed that it was an uncompleted 1980 nest: the construction appeared
to be new, but there were no droppings and rjo sign of the building birds.
I . G . J OHNSON
3 Woodlea Crave . Northwood, Middlesex HA(i2D\V
Three fairly large car ferries sail between Spodsbjerg (Langeland) and I ars
(Lolland), a Danish internal route of 14 km and a journey of 45 minutes (a
round trip of two hours). During July 1983, under the roof of the car deck of
one ferry, I noticed one House Martin's nest containing young and.
Notes
149
adjacent to it, an old, apparently disused nest The adults fed the young
while at the harbour at Spodsbjerg, but I did not notice any activity once
the boat was out of port. F. Guldbrandsen, the Master of the vessel Taars,
informed me (in lilt.) of the following. In 1983, there were seven or eight
nests, all with young; he believed that all but one young fledged. This
particular ferry is used only during the peak season, and is otherwise
docked at Spodsbjerg. It has been used by House Martins since 1973, and
the nests usually contain young when it is brought into service. The adults
v isit the boat only at Spodsbjerg, but will fly out to it before it comes into
port and enter the boat as soon as the bow-gate is opened. Hr Guldbrand-
sen’s letter implied that the ferry company deliberately does not use this
boat at the beginning of the season because of the existence of the nests.
David B. Gollinge
Department oj Genetics , l diversity oj Newcastle-upon-Tyne,
Ridley Building, Claremont Place, Newcastle-upon-Tyne XEt 7Rt
The Sussex Ornithological Society’s files for 1973 contain a record of three
pairs of 1 louse Martins nesting on the cross-channel ferry MY Senlac while
it was berthed at Newhaven. Two nests were on pipes under the wing of the
bridge and another in a similar position on ‘A’ deck at the stern. The adults
did not make the trip of 120km to Dieppe, but left the v icinity of the ship
when it reached the Newhaven breakwater and awaited its return nine
hours later. At least one of the nests was known to have been successf ul.
S. \V. M . Hughes
6' 1 1 est 1 1 ay, Slinfold, Horsham. 1 1 est Sussex
On 2nd June 1973, 1 observed a pair of House Martins building a nest
(about two-thirds completed) on a ferry berthed at Newhaven. When the
ferry sailed for Dieppe, one of the martins stayed with it for about 20
minutes before returning to land. David S. Melville
do 44 The Ridgeway. Tonbridge. Kent TXIO-tXJ
Full details of similar records will be welcomed. These will not be published separately, but
w ill be filed for possible ev entual summary. Eds
Territorial behaviour of Ring Ouzels The behaviour of two male Ring
Ouzels Turdus torquatus described by R. P. S. Wolsev (Brit. Birds 75: 382) is
not uncommon, but I do not accept the assumption that they were necess-
arily migrants. In North and West Yorkshire, the first Ring Ouzels arrive
within a few days of 15th March, and by the date of the observation ( 19th
April) most are well established. During an ongoing study since 1979,
involving over 140 pairs of this species in Yorkshire. I have observed similar
aggressive behaviour between males on numerous occasions. In 1982. an
area of about 2 km X 1 km supported three pairs, two on one side of a
steep-sided valley with a major road in the bottom and one (the aggressor)
on the other. On a number of occasions on 6th June, the aggressor flew
across the valley into the area occupied principally by one of the other
ouzels, which it harassed for periods of up to 15 minutes before being chased
back to its own side. Ring Ouzels are much more colonial when nesting
150
Notes
than is generally supposed, and are not strictly territorial. In 1982, an area
of approximately 4 km X 1 km supported ten pairs, which continually over-
flew and fed in the areas of each other’s nests; two nests were only 100m
apart. Ring Ouzels centre their activity around their own nesting sites, and
the male usually sings from the nearest prominent feature; two or more
individuals will often ’sing against each other’. 1 an Appleyard
Pine Court, Sharow Cross, Ripon, North Yorkshire HG4 5BQ
Orphean Warbler in Scilly From 16th to 22nd October 1981, an adult
male Orphean Warbler Sylvia hortensis was present in the Higher Moors/
Holy Vale area of St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly.
We first saw the warbler about 15.10 gmt on 16th as it flew across the
path between Higher Moors and Holy Vale. Even in flight, the large size,
white outer tail feathers and black head made us pretty sure it was a male
Orphean Warbler, a species we had both seen on the Continent.
Brief views were had as it dropped into a bramble patch. As is usual in
October on Scilly, a number of birders were close by, and were quickly
shown where the bird had landed. Fortunately, it gave excellent views as it
fed sluggishly on the outside of the bramble bush at a distance of about
10 m.
During its stay, it spent most of its time in large bramble patches and was
eventually seen by about 400 birders. It was photographed by Peter
Basterfleld {Brit. Birds 75: plate 212). The last sighting was near Holy V ale
on 22nd October.
We noted the following details:
Large Sylvia warbler, larger than Blackcap S.
atricapilla, being closer in size to Barred
Warbler S. nisoria. Head rounded, sooty
black, fading into grey on hind crown, nape
and behind ear-coverts. Mantle, rump and
uppertail-coverts dull, pale grey. Primaries
and secondaries with grey-brown tinge.
Secondaries tipped pale. Tail long, grey,
with white outer tail feathers prominent in
flight. Underside of tail plain blue-grey.
Underparts creamy, washed grey on flanks,
becoming bufly on undertail-coverts. Promi-
nently demarcated white throat. Bill large
for a warbler; upper mandible dark, lower
mandible blue-grey. Legs grey, strong-
looking. Eye brown, with thin white ring on
outside edge of iris.
This is the fifth accepted record of Orphean Warbler in Britain and
Ireland, the previous ones being at Wetherby, Yorkshire, on 6th July 1848;
at Portland, Dorset, on 20th September 1955 {Brit. Birds 49: 180); at
Porthgwarra, Cornwall, on 22nd October 1967 {Bril. Birds 63: 178-179);
and at Stiffkey, Norfolk, on 17th August 1981 {Brit. Birds 75: 522).
J. M. Turton and P. K. Greaves
119 Hough Lane, Wombwell, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S730EG
Carrion Crow taking seabird eggs During June 1980, while carrying out
a population census of Guillemots Una aalge on Hermaness, Unst,
Shetland, I observed Carrion Crows Corvus corone of the race comix taking
seabird eggs on three occasions: twice from Guillemots and once from
Fulmars Fulmarus glacialis. I can find only one reference to similar behaviour
(T. R. Birkhead, 1977, /. Anim. Ecol. 46: 751-764). In the case of the
Guillemots, the crow alighted on the cliff close to an incubating adult; this
Notes
151
caused much anxiety among incubating auks for some distance on each side
of the crow, and many were seen to ‘alarm bow’ (see Birkhead 1977). For
several seconds alter landing, the crow appeared to pay no attention to the
Guillemot, while the latter alarm bowed continuously. When the crow did
lace the Guillemot, the auk attempted to withdraw its head and neck as far
from the crow as possible while still covering the egg; the two remained in
this position for a second or two before the crow suddenly lunged forward,
seized the Guillemot by the wing and threw it off the ledge. The crow broke
open the egg and began to devour the contents in situ. In the case of the
Fulmar, the crow alighted beside one of a group of incubating birds nesting
on a grassy slope close to the cliff where the Guillemots had been attacked.
1 1 behaved in the same manner as towards the Guillemot. 1 1 is interesting to
note that the Fulmar did not attempt to ‘oil’ its attacker. Again, the crow
consumed the egg contents on the spot.
To what extent this behaviour by crows is common in Shetland is not
known. At one time, piles of egg shells (mostly of Guillemot) found on the
tops of the Flermaness cliffs (J. D. Okill in lilt.) were accounted for by
suggesting that scavenging birds (gulls Larus, crows, Ravens C. corax) had
found eggs at the base of the cliffs or taken deserted eggs to the cliff tops and
eaten the contents. The present observations may point to an alternative
explanation. T. R. Birkhead (in lilt.) has seen crows on Skomer, Dyfed,
attempting, without success, to rob Guillemot nests. He also described a
particular pair of Carrion Crows of the race corone which co-operated in
robbing Razorbills Alca torda of their eggs: they landed beside a Razorbill’s
nest crevice and began ‘taunting’ the occupant until it lunged at them,
whereupon one crow grabbed the auk by the breast feathers while the other
began to pull it from the crevice; as soon as the Razorbill had been put to
flight, the crows consumed the contents of the egg.
Guillemots breeding in low densities are in greater danger of losing eggs
to predators than are those which nest in areas of high breeding-bird
density (Birkhead 1977). My observations accord with this generalisation:
although the Guillemots which had their eggs taken were part of very dense
colonies, they were occupying peripheral sites along the edge of the nesting
ledge. I should welcome details of any similar observations, especially notes
on known cases of increase in the incidence of this behaviour in a given
locality. John McKee
12 North Park , Symbister, Whalsay, Shetland ZE29AF
Feeding methods of coastal Carrion Crows During 1978-82. at Filey
Brigg, North Yorkshire, I noted various feeding methods by a pair (the
same?) of Carrion Crows Corvus corone which regularly frequented the
seashore. By far the most common method was the taking of fish offal
washed up along the beach, for which they competed with gulls Larus , but
they also opened molluscs around the rocks (cf. Brit. Birds 72: 553) and
occasionally robbed Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus of their already-
opened molluscs. On 6th May 1982, however, I saw a Carrion Crow-
standing up to its belly in water in a rock pool. 1 1 was jumping up and dow n,
stabbing with its bill into the water, its head going well under the surface. 1 1
continued this behaviour for about two minutes, wading across the pool,
152
Notes
when the water at times reached above its folded wings. With one of the
stabs under water, the crow emerged with a fish about 7 cm long in its bill
and flew to a nearby rock; the fish was still alive and was curling around the
crow’s bill. The crow placed the prey, probably a species of blenny (Blen-
niidae), under its left foot and repeatedly hammered it with its bill until the
fish stopped moving; it then tore off and ate pieces. Carrion Crows have
previously been noted taking food from water {Brit. Birds 40: 158, 245; 41:
278; 44: 323; 49: 91) and diving feet-first into water after fish (69: 273), but
the crow at Filey seemed to be driving the fish across the rock pool until it
was in a position to be caught. The crow’s repeated unsuccessful stabs into
the water could indicate that it had not made allowances for the refraction
of light and therefore could not estimate the position of the fish until it was
restricted to a small area. P. J . Dunn
16 Southwold Rise, Southwold, Scarborough, North Yorkshire Y0113RB
Letters
A possible reason why pigeons and other birds sometimes swim The
note by D. E. Ladhams on the infrequency of observations of pigeons
(Columbidae) swimming, and his comment that the reason for this
behaviour is puzzling {Brit. Birds 74: 265), prompts the following.
I have already recorded an instance of a Stock Dove Cotumba oenas
alighting on water {Brit. Birds 40: 254). Although I had no proof, the
dove(s) may well have had eggs. More interestingly, on 9th July 1945, at
Giza, Egypt, an adult Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax left its nest in the top
of a large tree and settled in the centre of the lake, where it stayed for about
one minute before flying back to its nest. From the heron’s behaviour. I am
almost certain that its nest contained eggs, rather than young. It is possible
that the moisture carried back to the nest was beneficial in cooling the eggs:
the day was very hot, with maximum recorded shade temperature of 102°F
(38°C). The late C . A. White
Dr C. H. Fry has commented as follows: ‘It is possible that, in hot weather, incubating birds
may feel the need for greater relief in cooling the brood patch, with its highly vascularised skin,
than the clutch can provide.’ Eds
Call of Pallid Swift Several published sources (mostly German) were
consulted in the course of preparing the ‘Voice’ account of Pallid Swift Apus
pallidus for volume 4 o {BWP. These sources agree in describing the so-called
‘scream’ of Pallid as lower pitched and not as shrill as that of Swift A. apus\
this is contra the suggestion of D. J. Burges {Brit. Birds 76: 350), but
supports that made more recently by D. Ladbrook and J. Smart {Brit. Birds
77: 217). A number of the descriptions do, however, support D. J. Burges’s
claim that the call of Pallid tends to be disyllabic. Renderings include
‘srieh’, ‘tschriih’ (rasping and nasal), ‘seeyrr’ and, from P. A. I). Hollom,
‘see-yer’. Particularly valuable for clarifying the comparison with Swift is
the account of Bergmann & Helb (1982), whose sonagrams clearly show
the difference in pitch between the two species.
Bergmann & Helb’s excellent book, for which there is neither English
Letters
153
translation, nor British equivalent, deserves the attention of ornithologists
interested in resolving similar questions of how closely related species may
differ in their vocalisations. E. K. Dunn and M. G. W ilson
8 Green Street , Oxford 0X4 1YB
reference
Bergmann, H.-H., & Hei.b. I l.-W . I9M2. Stimmen der Viigel Europas. Munich.
\\ e have also received a note from 1). Brown and J . Brown concerning their observation in
Mallorca that a Pallid Swift gave distinctly lower and more disyllabic calls than had three
Swilts heard immediately before. 1 his difference now seems to be established. Eds
Requests for reprints May I reply to the letter from P. Marsh (Brit. Birds
77: 216)? 1 he use of printed postcards has become standard usage for
requesting reprints on the Continent. Most of us welcome these cards,
because we appreciate the time saved through their use.
1 he mere publication of a paper, note or other contribution does not lead
to requests for copies. This happens only after reviews in one of the
abstracting services. I trust that anyone making such requests is seriously
interested in some aspect of the publication, and I believe that the author of
any published report should be quite happy to supply a copy, whether this
is a reprint, a photocopy or even a copy of the whole publication.
Of course P. Marsh can expect all serious British ornithologists and
birders to be subscribers to British Birds , but can you truly expect all
Europeans to subscribe to BB? Even all institutions cannot subscribe to all
publications. Whether or not they take BB will depend on how close the
work of the institute is to ornithology. Most of the requests from institute
addresses are not from permanent workers, but from ‘poor’ students.
I support your statement about helping the Eastern Europeans: because
of currency restrictions, swapping is the only way for them to obtain
Western material. But even in the West, bartering and swapping is the only
way to obtain a broad literature coverage. When British ornithologists
learn to use this possibility of obtaining papers we may well find that they
will quote European papers much more often than they do at present. I
hope that the majority of the people who write in BB are willing to fulfil
requests for copies in the future. Alistair Hill
Albrecht-Haushofer-Str. 10 , 3200 Hildesheim, Federal Republic oj Germany
As one of Britain’s most prolific authors, P. J. Grant gives a differing viewpoint on behalf of
the Editorial Board:
I have now had over 70 requests for reprints of the paper on stint identifica-
tion (Brit. Birds 77: 293-315). I am given only a few free authors’ copies, but
can purchase further copies (at a reduced authors' rate). Currently, it
would cost me at least £1 .30 (Europe) or £2.07 (USA) to send each reprint.
1 do not think that British Birds should recommend to authors that requests
are fulfilled, or imply it, unless it is also w illing to supply all the free copies.
It is a very difficult area; I have personally, however, never written to an
author for a reprint, probably because I know the trouble and expense this
can entail. Instead, I go to a specialist library (or occasionally write to one,
if it offers a photocopy service). With British Birds it is easy: a back issue can
be purchased, so no one need ever request a reprint from the author.
154
Letters
Alistair Hill has recommended, perhaps tongue in cheek, that we in Britain
should request reprints more often. 1 would rather that someone was
suggesting that the habit be banned, and that researchers should be
encouraged to use their own initiatives — and cash — to obtain copies. 1 hat
would cut the demand down to those who really cannot obtain copies in any
other way (e.g. those in Eastern Europe). P. J. Grant
14 Heathfield Road, Ashford, Kent TN24 8QD
Announcements
Christmas Whisky Puzzle We received 46 correct solutions to the
competition set on page xv of the December 1984 issue.
1 he correct answers to the puzzle were:
Whitethroat
(‘what’ surrounding ‘it or the’ jumbled)
Avocet
(‘ova’ turned, followed by ‘CET’)
Linnet
(‘let’ with ‘inn’ inside)
Dipper
(‘pp’ with rearranged ‘ride’ outside)
Robin
(‘RN’ around ‘Obi’, from Obi-Wan Kenobi of Star Wars)
Aquatic Warbler
(far too easy)
Pintail
(‘ail’ after ‘pint’)
Pheasant
(‘peasant’ with ‘H’ inserted)
The first letters spell WALDRAPP, the old name for the Bald Ibis, which
nests in Morocco and Turkey.
The winner, who provided the first correct answer opened on 10th
January, was J. M. Pinder of Huddersfield. He will by now have received
his prize: a bottle oi'The Famous Grouse Scotch whisky, donated by Matthew
Gloag & Son Ltd, the sponsors of the annual ‘Bird Photograph of the Year’
competition.
Birds of southern Africa in colour A new book, Ian Sinclair’s Field Guide to
the Birds of Southern Africa, is due to be published by Collins later this month.
This 360-page guide includes over 850 colour photographs (usually six to a
page), with a few colour paintings to fill in the gaps of species for which good
photographs are unavailable. It covers the whole of Africa south of the
Zambesi (and the islands south to Antarctica). As a photo-reference, this
book will also be much-valued outside the area covered, for it includes
many species that are migrants or vagrants elsewhere, including Europe.
British Birds subscribers can obtain it (post free in UK & Eire) from British
BirdShop. Books ordered now will be despatched immediately that stocks
become available.
Sponsored by
Announcements
155
‘BWP’ reminder Volume IV of Birds of the Western Palearctic is still
available, price £60, post free to subscribers in the UK & Eire, through
British BirdShop (see page xiii).
£30 off ‘BWP I-IV\ An exclusive offer to ‘BB’ SUBSCRIBERS. The
usual cost of the first four volumes of B WP is £55 + £55 + £55 + £60 = £225.
As well as receiving them post free (in UK & Eire), BB subscribers can ob-
tain these four volumes for £195, saving a total of £30, if ordered through
British BirdShop (see page xiii).
Requests
Colour-marked and wing-tagged Eiders The Shetland Oil Terminal Environmental
Advisory Group is studying the local and long-distance movements of Eiders Somateria
mollissima by marking the males: the white plumage is dyed yellow, a yellow darvic tag is fixed
on the right wing, with a code of either one or two black letters. The yellow dye should persist
until June. Anybody seeing a ‘yellow’ Eider is asked to note the location, date, time of day,
number and sex of any accompanying Eiders, the letter code on the right wing and, if
applicable, the direction of flight taken. Information should be sent to Martin Heubeck, 3
Lighthouse Buildings, Breiwick Road, Lerwick, Shetland; telephone Lerwick (0595) 4028.
Colour-marked birds: a reminder In general, we do not publish separate requests on this
subject (there are too many local studies to include them all). Ifyou see a bird marked in some
way (other than with ordinary BTO rings), please report it as follows:
waders: Wader Study Group, Dr Dave Townshend, Zoology Department, Durham
University, South Road, Durham DHl 3LE.
gulls: Gull Study Group, Dr John Coulson, Zoology Department, Durham University, South
Road, Durham dhi 3LE.
swans and geese (except Canada Geese): Dr Malcolm Ogilvie, Wildfowl Trust, Slimbridge,
Gloucestershire GL2 7BT.
all other species: Kevin Baker, BTO, Beech Grove, Station Road, Tring, Hertfordshire HP23
5NR.
Although colour marking may be used in purely local studies (e.g. of behaviour), in the
majority of cases studies of marked populations depend upon co-operation from all observers
who sight the marked individuals.
‘Why hasn’t my January issue arrived?’ The majority of BB subscribers start their
subscription with the January issue. Processing each resubscription takes a long time (even in
these days of computers, envelopes still have to be opened, the contents read, addresses
checked, payments entered, and so on). For this reason, we ask subscribers to resubscribe
before the end of the year, and many do so in August and September, which is an enormous
help to us. Direct Debit payments are also a great help, for the paperwork can be done in
advance.
We usually produce address labels in the middle of the previous month, ready for despatch
on the last Thursday of the month or the first Thursday of the month of the issue. To allow as
many subscribers as possible to be entered on the computer list for thejanuary issue, however,
we do not start to print thejanuary labels until about 7th January, for despatch (this year) on
10th January.
Every year, several hundred subscribers do not send in their resubscriptions until the very
end of December or in early January. We trust that the details set out above will explain to
them why their January issue arrived in a hand-written envelope at the end of the month
instead of in a computer-addressed envelope in mid month.
We do try to give a good and efficient service, but do need co-operation to assist us to achieve
this. We thank you in advance for your help next year.
156
Requests
Birds of Upper Volta Bird records from Upper Volta (Burkina since August 1984) will be
welcomed for a summary of current knowledge. Names of correspondents will be
acknowledged in the published text. Please send details to Yves Thonnerieux, Centre
Ornithologique Rhone-Alpes, Biologie Animale et Zoologle, Universite Lyon 1, 43 Bd du 11
novembre 1918, 69 622 Villeurbanne Cedex, France.
Readership survey What do you dislike about BB? What do you like? We need to find out
readers’ wishes so that we can adjust the contents of the journal to maintain or improve its
popularity and value. Please help us to give you the journal that you want. Please fill in the
questionnaire on page xi and send to the editorial office by 30th March 1985. Thank you.
News and comment
Robin Prytherch and Mike Everett
Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of ‘British Birds’
Gambian tragedy Three Midlands bird-
watchers were among four people who died
when a river-boat hit a sand bank in the
Gambia River and overturned in early
December. They were John Baldwin, who
was honorary warden of the Brandon Marsh
reserve near Coventry, and Brian and Janet
Wright, who were organisers of many RSPB
activities in the Midlands. Brian had served
as a member of RSPB Council, and was one
of the innovators of the highly successful
network of RSPB local members’ groups,
forming and leading the Coventry group
which was only the second in the country.
This tragedy has robbed birdwatching in the
Midlands of three of its keenest workers, and
we offer our condolences to their relatives
and many friends.
In recent years, the Gambia has become
an increasingly popular destination for
British birdwatchers, and the 300-km, four-
day trip up the river aboard the Lady Child
Jawara was undoubtedly the highlight of any
visit. Among the 100 passengers on this ill-
fated journey were about another 20 British
birdwatchers, including such well-known
names as Dave Farrow, Tim and Carol
Inskipp, Carl Nicholson (RSPB Midlands
Regional Officer), Mick and Win Rogers
(Portland Bird Observatory) and Ray and
Janet Turley. The survivors sat on the
upturned hull for 6V2 hours before rescue
came, and we are thankful that so many came
safely through this enormous ordeal. {Con-
tributed by PJG )
National status for Gib Point In
November 1984, the NCC declared Gibraltar
Point — over 400 ha of seashore, sand-dunes
and fresh and salt water marshes on the
Lincolnshire side of the Wash — as a National
Nature Reserve. The reserve is leased by the
Lincolnshire and South Flumberside Trust
for Nature Conservation, principally from
Lincolnshire County Council and East
Lindsey District Council, who have wel-
comed this initiative. Gibraltar Point is an
internationally important site for wildlife and
was the first statutory Local Nature Reserve
in Britain, originally established in 1952.
The reserve has a thriving visitor centre,
with an exhibition and classrooms, resi-
dential field station and bird observatory
managed by the Trust. Almost the whole
area is open to access by the public. Im-
portant research on coastal physiography,
sand-dune and saltmarsh vegetation and
bird migration have been in progress since
1948. The sandy beaches are one of the few
regular nesting places on the Lincolnshire
coast for Little Terns Sterna albifrons and
Ringed Plovers Charadrius hiaticula, whilst the
marshes and scrub — mostly sea-buckthorn
Hippophae rhamnoides — hold a high breeding
population of small birds. The spring and
autumn migrations bring in great numbers of
birds on passage, including many rarities,
and in winter Shore Larks Eremophila alpestris ,
Fieldfares Turdus pilaris , Redwings
T. iliacus, Twites Carduelis Jtavirostris, Snow
Buntings Pleclrophenax nivalis and other
News and comment
157
northern migrants feed within the reserve.
I he sand-pits and dune ridges provide a
roost at high tide for many thousands of
waders which fly in from the Wash.
Swanwick ’84 It almost goes without saying
that the BTO Annual Conference, held in
1984, as usual, at the Hayes Conference
Centre, Swanwick, Derbyshire, from 30th
November to 2nd December, was a roaring
success. The varied programme kept all
enthralled, and socialising between sessions
and into the night made it a thoroughly
enjoyable weekend for all. On Friday
evening, John Mather gave an entertaining
and very amusing description of a bird-
watching journey through India, ‘Bharatpur
to Barun’, illustrated by many excellent
slides. Saturday started with Dr Stephen
Baillie detailing some of the information
gained from ringing seabirds throughout
Europe, revealing that many populations
have discrete breeding and wintering or
dispersal areas; the significance of this for
understanding the effects of sea pollution
being underlined. James Hancock (the BTO’s
new President) then described his impres-
sions and reminiscences of the birds of three
wetland areas, in Florida, Indonesia and
China, emphasising the rapid and drastic
reductions to these and other such areas
worldwide and the consequent elfects on
birds. The 16th Witherby Memorial Lecture,
on ‘Imprinting in young birds’, was given by
Dr Patrick Bateson. He showed that im-
printing can go beyond the stage of knowing
a parent to the recognition of siblings too.
This results in siblings not being chosen as
mates; mates are, however, usually similar to
siblings. In the afternoon, films were
followed by BTO progress reports on the Birds
of Estuaries Enquiry, Nest Record Scheme
and a new project, jointly run with the Game
Conservancy, on Song Birds and Cereals.
Conversation, drinking and dancing at the
disco into the small hours may have caused a
few to miss the first talks on Sunday morning.
If so, they missed a treat, for there were two
superb presentations. The first was a
brilliant set of photographs taken, and wittily-
commented upon, by Mike \\ ilkes, and the
second a series of quite exceptional sound
recordings made and described by Richard
Margoschis. The conference ended with a
splendid report on birdwatching in the
Scottish Highlands by Rov Dennis. He out-
lined the problems and delights ol bird-
watching in a superb and rugged part ol
Britain. Forty people entered the BB
Mystery Photographs Competition, but only
one correctly identified all the birds: Dorian
Buflery won the applause of all present, as
well as the bottle of champagne.
National bird for Denmark An election
organised by Danish Television, attracting
233,635 voters, has chosen the Mute Swan
Cygnus olor as Denmark’s national bird. No
doubt Hans Anderson’s well-known fairy
tale, The Ugly Duckling, had a determining
influence. The Mute Swan has been pro-
tected since 1926 in Denmark. Some orni-
thologists would have preferred the Lapwing
Vanellus vanellus, as it is seriously threatened
in Denmark. ( Council of Europe Newsletter no.
84-10).
Another Big Bird Race We have just
received from Clive Viney details of Hong
Kong’s own Big Bird Race. It appears to
have been a resounding success, since over
£3,000 was raised by the event, the proceeds
going towards the construction of a new hide
overlooking a tidal mangrove- fringed bay on
the WWF reserve at Mai Po. Two teams,
each of four observers, represented WWF
Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Bird
Watching Society. The race was run on 7th
April 1984, between 00.00 and 21.00 hours.
Apart from winning, each team was very
keen to beat the one-day record of 110
species. This they both did. and most hand-
somely. The winners, WWF HK. ended the
day with 124, and the HK Bird Watchers
with 1 18. The list of birds seen makes in-
teresting reading, as many species well
known to us, such as Little Grebe Tachybaptus
rujicollis , Wigeon Anas penelope. Curlew
Numenius arquata, Grey Wagtail Motacilla
cinerea and Jay Garrulus glandarius, are mixed
with others, such as Chinese Pond Heron
Ardeola bacchus , White-breasted Waterhen
Amauromis phoenicurus, Sulphur-crested Cock-
atoo Cacatua galerita. Scarlet-backed Flower-
pecker Dicaeum cruentaturn and so on . . .!
Hong Kong s Own Big Bird Race is a booklet giving
a lively account of the event, including an
interesting introduction, full checklists and
illustrations, and blow-by-blow descriptions of
the day’s events from the respective viewpoints
of the two team captains. It can be obtained
(price HKS50, including postage, which is just
over £5) from WWF HK Office, 1005 W ing on
Life Building, 22A Des Voeux Road C, Hong
Kong.
158
News and comment
59. Watching a Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica, Tresco, Stilly, October 1984 ( Royston K. Coles)
60. About 150 birders looking for the Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis, St Mary’s, Scilly,
October 1984 (note the observers on the skyline as well as those in the foreground) ( Royston K.
Coles)
Images of Scilly For those who do not visit
the Isles of Scilly in autumn, we present here
a picture of the social events at various sites of
rare birds; for those who do visit Scilly, we
hope that plates 59-62 will bring back happy
memories of autumn 1984.
Beware: vultures! VVe have received the
following note by K. W. Sanderson, origi-
nally written for the summer/autumn 1984
Newsletter of the Gibraltar Ornithological and
Natural History Society. No further com-
ment is necessary.
‘On 7th April, 1982, I was bird-watching
on a coastal road near Zahara de los Atunes,
to the west of Tarifa on the Straits of
Gibraltar. Shortly before noon, I drove
round a bend and saw a Griffon V'ulture
[ Gyps fulvus ] lying on the road. It was fully
grown but still in its beautiful brown juvenile
plumage. Its breast was on the road with its
wings stretched backwards and I thought it
had a broken wing. I stopped the car some
twenty yards away and took a photograph. It
got to its feet and approached me. I realised it
must be a tame bird. It came right up to me
and took hold of the leather tongue of my
shoe giving it a good tug. With the tip of its
beak it pulled at my sock but did not like it. 1 1
tried to put its head and neck up my trouser
leg. I felt this was going too far and retreated
to my car. It followed me. It took the front
number plate in its beak and gave it a good
shake, breaking one of the plastic bolts
News and comment
159
61. N ew to the St illy scene in 1984: the use of
tCB radio ensures that as many as possible
learn as soon as possible of the discovery of a
rarity. David Hunt, Scilly, October 1984
( David Hunt)
holding it on. It put its head under the car
into the heart (or guts?) of the engine. Again,
this seemed to be going too far, so 1 put my
foot gently on its back and pushed. It stood
its ground and pushed me back, catching me
oil balance on one leg. Clearly, it had in-
herited instincts to fend for itself when at a
carcass.
‘I retreated and put my camera in the back
of the car. My umbrella was there, so I seized
it and, with a cry of “On guard!”, I advanced
in a military manner. It retreated a few
yards, allowing me to jump into the driver’s
seat and turn the ignition key. No ignition!
Opening the bonnet I saw gleaming copper
where the insulation had been torn off, and
several broken wires. While I was bending
over the engine wondering which ends
matched, the vulture sidled up behind me
but was kept at bay by several backward
kic ks. A car arrived and stopped to watch this
ridiculous sight. In broken Spanish I ex-
plained to the driver that the vulture had put
my car out of action. This was accepted
without question as a natural event, and he
remarked that the vulture belonged to a
nearby villa. Together we joined carious
wires until we got a combination which
allowed the engine to start.
62. Looking for the Olivaceous W arbler Hippolais pallida , St Mary’s, Scilly, October 1984
( David Hunt )
( $821
fag* > «
IW i 1
BEL
Ijs i
160
News and comment
‘The following morning I noticed a small
leak from my radiator. Eventually I returned
to Scotland, topping up the radiator at
intervals. My local garage found that the
brazing of a small pipe at the bottom of the
radiator was cracked and replaced the
radiator.
‘You are hereby warned to watch for car-
wrecking tame vultures!’
RSPCA as a source of bird records Need-
ing to him storm-driven seabirds, I asked the
RSPCA to alert their inspectors and phone
me should any waifs turn up. Within a week
(in September 1984), I was advised of a
Manx Shearwater Puffinus pujfinus in Kid-
derminster (19th), a young Puffin Fratercula
arctica near Sloane Square (22nd) and a dead
Leach’s Petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa from
Purley (deep frozen since 1983!). My ad. in
BB (September p. xx) brought only one bird
to light, a Manx Shearwater at Rhandirm-
wyn, Dyfed, on 17th. Do county bird
recorders keep regularly in touch with their
local RSPCA inspectors? The Society’s head-
quarters’ phone number is Horsham (0403)
64181. ( Contributed by Jeffery Boswall )
We don’t like to brag, but . . . The BB office
was telephoned today (3rd December) by a
BB subscriber asking ‘Why hasn’t my
December issue arrived yet?’ At the time, we
were opening the day’s mail, including the
latest number of a national journal that shall
remain nameless. The issue in question was
for May-June 1984!
Bird names explained
Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala ( Brett
Westwood)
Third international identification meet-
ing Following the successful get-togethers in
Eilat, Israel, and Falsterbo, Sweden, in
October-November 1981 and August-
September 1982 (Brit. Birds 76: 96-97, plates
35 & 36), a third meeting was held, in Santa
Barbara, California, USA, in January 1983
(plate 63). The increasing co-operation
which now takes place between identification
experts is proving to be a great help in
resolving many problems: the rare bird in
one country is the commonplace in another.
New Swiss checklist Part 1 (Passeri-
formes) of the first ‘official’ checklist for
Switzerland, compiled by Raffael Winkler,
has just been published as supplement 5 to
Orn. Beob. In German, with a French
summary of the introduction, it is based on
data to the end of 1983, plus some from 1984.
Sequence and nomenclature follow Voous.
Particularly useful are the general comments
on status, distribution and movements
(altitudinal included, naturally!), numbers
and dates, and migration peaks (with some
histograms). The emphasis is on migrants
and winter visitors, though additional
breeding developments since the Swiss atlas
(1980) are also noted. Rarity occurrences are
detailed in full. If you haven’t been to
Switzerland, you should go — with this list.
Part 2, covering non-passerines, is expected
at the end of 1986. Avifauna der Schweiz, eine
kommentierte Artenliste. 1. Passeriformes is
available, price Swiss FR 15.00, from Sch-
weizerische Vogelwarte, CH-6204 Sempach,
Switzerland. (Contributed by DAC)
The things they say! Andrew Middleton
has sent us this account of a conversation
which occurred on a visit to watch the
evening roost of Whimbrels Numenius phaeopus
on Steart Island, Somerset.
The first bird was located feeding in a
meadow. The birder who found it ‘scoped it
up’ and gave the rest of us directions. 'It’s just
behind the rear legs of that cow' . We searched the
field, but could find no cows, only horses. On
pointing this out to him, the finder looked
over his scope and was forced to agree with
us. ‘ I’m sorry,' he said, 'I’m not very good on
mammals’ .
Congratulations to Peter (YOG) and Sue
(formerly British BirdShop) Holden on the
birth in November of their second son,
James. Their other son, Andrew (aged 26
months), is now up to the level of Pied
Wagtail identification.
News and comment
161
63. International identification meeting, California, USA, January 1983. Left to right: Kenn
Kaufman and Davis YV. Finch (USA), Lasse I.aine (Finland), P. J. Grant (UK), Will Russell
and Jon Dunn (USA), Killian Mullarney (Republic of Ireland), Stuart Tingley (Canada),
Arnoud van den Berg (Netherlands), Lars Jonsson (Sweden) and Gerald Oreel
(Netherlands). (Guy McCaskie and Joe Morlan, both USA, had departed before this
photograph was taken) (Arnoud van den Berg)
Recent
reports
Ian Dawson and Keith Allsopp
These are largely unchecked reports, not authenticated records
The dates in this report refer to December
1984 unless otherwise stated. The month
began with mild, unsettled, westerly-
weather, followed after 8th by a settled
period as pressure rose to the south and east.
Foggy and dull conditions persisted with
lower temperatures until 19th, when the
westerlies returned. Colder northerly air
arriving on 26th brought a sprinkling of snow
and a small hard-weather movement of
Lapwings Vanellus vanellus over Hilton
(Cambridgeshire), with 675 an hour west on
29th. Settled, mainly dull, cool days finished
the year.
162
Wildfowl
An adult Red-breasted Goose Branta
ruficollis found with Brent Geese B. bemicla at
Grainthorpe (Lincolnshire) on 25th
November, and again at Saltfleet (Lincoln-
shire) from 27th to 30th November, might
perhaps be last winter’s Norfolk bird
returned, but where is it lurking now? An
adult dark-bellied Brent Goose B. b. bemicla
at Echnaloch (Orkney) on 23rd was unusual
there. Brent Geese of the Nearctic/Siberian
race nigricans, known as ‘Black Brants’,
occurred throughout the month at Cley
(Norfolk) and on Jersey (Channel Islands).
A small Canada Goose B. canadensis found
late in the month with Greenland White-
fronted Geese Anser albifrons Jlavirostris near
Stranraer (Dumfries & Galloway) was pro-
bably a genuine vagrant. Also of interest was
a flock of seven Greenland White-fronted
Geese seen on Walney Island (Cumbria)
sporadically through the month. All the
reported Surf Scoters Melanitta perspicillata
were in Scotland, with four at Embo (High-
land), a male in Sinclairs Bay, north of Wick
(Highland), and a first-winter male in St
Andrews Bay (Fife) on 9th. The usual King
Eider Somateria spectabilis was at Embo/Loch
fleet. Male American Wigeons Anas
americana returned to Ringstead (Northamp-
tonshire) from November, and the Avon
Valley (Hampshire), as did the Ring-
necked Duck Aylhya collaris to Loch Insh
(Highland); there was also one at Tamar
Lake (Cornwall). A female Red-crested
Pochard Netta rufina visited Loch of Harray
(Orkney) from 23rd November to at least
mid month, and two males were present all
month at Rutland Water (Leicestershire).
This reservoir held the highest-ever British
count of Gadwalls A. strepera in November,
with 1,059, and 65 Goosanders Mergus
merganser there on 4th were also notable. A
good scattering of Smews M. albellus
included one at Echnaloch from November
to 23rd, and one observer had the good
fortune to have redhead Smew, Goosander
and Red-breasted Merganser M. serralor in
his scope together at Chew Valley Lake
(Avon) on 2nd. A count of2,620 Pintails A.
acuta at Grange-over- Sands (Cumbria) on
10th was a record for that locality. Five
Ferruginous Ducks A. nyroca reported were
all in the west, including a female in Ireland,
on Strangford Lough (Co. Down) on 30th.
Seabirds
Filey (North Yorkshire) had a number of
Recent reports
unseasonal visitors passing, with a Great
Shearwater Pufjinus gravis south on 1st, a
Sooty Shearwater P. griseus the next day,
and Manx Shearwaters P. pujfinus of the race
mauretanicus, known as ‘Balearic Shearwater’,
on 1st and 17th; on the last date, 1,138
Fulmars Fulmarus glacialis flew south. Bird of
the month, however, must be the Capped
Petrel Pterodroma hasitata picked up dead
south of Bridlington (Humberside), the only
previous British record being as long ago as
March or April 1850, and thus the longest
unrecorded extant British bird!
White-billed Divers Gama adamsii were
seen of! Burray (Orkney) on 18th and 19th,
and, oiled, in Sinclairs Bay. The usual scatter
of inland divers were mostly Great
Northern G. immer, Red-necked Grebes
Podiceps grisegena also showed well, and there
were the usual Black-necked Grebes P.
nigricol/is. The Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus
podiceps was still elusive but present at Ogwen
Pool (Gwynedd) to at least 8th. A scattering
of Little Auks Alle alle included one on
Christmas Day on Blakeney Point (Norfolk).
Perhaps more unusual at this season was a
Puffin Fralercula arctica on Walney Island on
8th.
Wading birds
A long-staying White Stork Ciconia ciconia in
the Skipton (West Yorkshire) area was still
around, as was the River Yealm (Devon)
Little Egret Egretta garzetta, at least one
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis in Co. Wexford,
and a Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia in Norfolk.
A Crane Grus grus was seen at Bridlington,
and seven adults passed over North Slob (Co.
Wexford) on 24th November.
A Curlew Sandpiper Calidris Jerruginea at
Chew Valley Lake on 1st and 2nd was late, as
were claimed Wilson’s Phalaropes
Phalaropus tricolor at Davidstow (Cornwall)
around 20th November, and on the Isle of
Wight. Less unusual were two Grey
Phalaropes P.fulicarius on the Isle of Wight,
and singletons at Grange-over-Sands from
9th to at least 29th, Jersey from 8th to 10th,
Filey on ‘24th, and Ogston Reservoir (Derby-
shire) on 1st. A movement of Avocets
Recurvirostra avosetta took place on 2nd, when
13 appeared at Staines Reservoir (Surrey),
and 19 spent the day on Newtown Marsh
(Isle of Wight). A count of 17 Green Sand-
pipers Tringa oc/iropus near Basingstoke
(Hampshire) on 8th was high, and Jack
Snipes Lymnocryptes minimus were reported to
be more widespread than usual in Cumbria.
163
Recent reports
Nearctic waders which had clearly settled
down lor the winter were Long-billed
Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus at
Frampton and Slirnhridge (Gloucestershire),
and Spotted Sandpiper Actilis macutaria near
Plymouth (Devon).
Gulls, terns and skuas
The Thurso (Highland) Ross’s Gull
Rhodostethia rosea also seems set for the winter,
being present into the New' Year. The lack of
cold weather perhaps accounted, however,
for very few reports of white-winged gulls,
though the faithful New Brighton (Mersey-
side) Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides re-
appeared for yet another winter. It was
joined by a Mediterranean Gull /.. rnelano-
cephalus; others, all adults, appeared inland at
Stanton Harcourt (Oxfordshire) on 2nd,
Wrecclesham (Surrey) on 3rd and Little
Paxton (Cambridgeshire) on With. The
Laughing Gulls L. atricilla at Newcastle
(Tyne & Wear) and Hull (Humberside)
(plate 66) prolonged their stays, but a fresh
individual, a first-winter bird, put in a brief
appearance at Rostherne Mere (Cheshire)
on 9th. Six reports of Ring-billed Gulls L.
delawarensis were all in the west except for
Jersey’s first record on 30th November.
A Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis on
Jersey on 12th was not too surprising: not so
the Black Tern Chlidonias niger which graced
Eyebrook Reservoir (Leicestershire) on 8th.
The Great Skua Slercorarius skua reported last
month from Stewartby (Bedfordshire) left
there on 30th November and was seen later
that same day at both Sywell and Pitsford
Reservoirs (Northamptonshire). A juvenile
Pomarine Skua S. pomarinus was watched at
rest and in flight at Glevedon (Avon) on 2nd.
Birds of prey
There were a few more reports ol Rough-
legged Buzzards Buteo lagopus this month.
including an adult and juvenile together in
Derwent Dale (Derbyshire), and, on 1st, one
near Newtown (Isle of Wight). Also on the
Isle of Wight were Goshawks Accipiter gentilis
on 2nd and again on 15th and 16th, while a
Red Kite Milvus milvus passed over Ampthill
(Bedfordshire) on 1 7th. The biggest surprise,
however, was a Hobby Falco subbuteo near
Evesham (Hereford & Worcester) on 4th.
Passerines
Unseasonal summer migrants continued to
straggle into December. In Shetland, Olive-
backed Pipits Anthus hodgsoni appeared on
Fair Isle on 12th November, and at Kergord
on 20th November. There were Yellow-
browed Warblers Phylloscopus inornatus in
Humberside and in Lancashire (plates 67 &
68) . A Willow Warbler P. trochilus with a
roving tit flock at Billinge (Greater Man-
chester) on 24th and 25th November must
have thought it was a Chiffchaff P. collybita ,
for good numbers of this latter species were
encouraged by the weather to stay through
the month in Central England. There were
Yellow Wagtails Motacilla JIaia at Benacre
(Suffolk) and Buckenham (Norfolk) at the
start of the month, and two House Martins
Delicbon urbica at Titchwell (Norfolk) on 1st.
Less unexpected were Swallows Hnundo
rustica at Hod bar row (Cumbria) on 1st and
St Andrews on 7th, but quite exceptional
were Swifts Apus apus at Portland (Dorset)
on 3rd and New Maldon (Surrey) on 7th and
9th, in addition to three further November
reports.
Winter visitors were generally in lower
numbers than usual, although 150 Lapland
Buntings Calcarius lapponicus at Burnham
Norton (Norfolk), and high numbers of
Snow Buntings Pleclrophenax nivalis (plate
69) on both east and west coasts of Britain are
worthy of note. The largest gathering of
Waxwings Bombycilla garrulus reported was
nine at Thurso, and there were odd birds
down the east side of Britain. A Dartford
Warbler Sylvia undata in Bush\ Park (Greater
London) was a turn-up, but the only long-
distance vagrants were a White-throated
Sparrow Zonotrichia albicolhs at Duncrue
Street Marsh, Belfast, all month (plates 64 &
65) suspiciously close to Belfast Docks? — and a
male Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti at
Freswick Bay (Highland) from 26th into
January; though a belated report of a Lesser
Short-toed Lark Calandrella rufescens at
Spurn (Humberside) on 14th November
would, if accepted, be the first for Britain
rather than Ireland.
164
Recent reports
fp
t-y
64 & 65. VV hite-throatcd Sparrow Zonotrichia
albicollis, Northern Ireland, December 1984
{Andrew V. Moon)
66. Laughing Gull Larus atricilla, Humber-
side, November/December 1984 {Paul Hi/I)
67 & 68. Yellow-browed Warbler Phyllo-
scopus inomatus , Lancashire, December 1984
{Steve Young)
69. Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis ,
Merseyside, December 1984 {Steve Young)
VAT on books?
We sincerely hope that it is unfounded, but the rumour is that VAT will be
applied to hooks (and probably also periodicals) in the next Budget.
Readers contemplating buying an expensive book (or several books) might
be advised to do so before Budget Day, ‘just in case’. IfVAT is applied, it
may prove to be necessary for us to ask for this additional payment for books
not paid for by Budget Day.
Reviews
Bird Navigation: the solution of a mystery? By R. Robin Baker.
Hodder & Stoughton, London, 1984. 256 pages. Paperback, £9.75.
This book fills for the birdwatcher of the 1980s the niche which G.V.T. Matthews’s pioneer
Bird Navigation filled in the 1950s and 1960s. It is vastly informative and thoughtfully
provocative. It is also a little daunting, for the number of jigsaw pieces to be fitted together
seems to have quadrupled in the last two decades.
One of the largest conceptual advances has been that of ‘redundancy of information', first
put forward by Professor Keeton in 1972. In short, migrating birds have at their disposal a
range of back-up navigational systems. Thus, in addition to their ability to determine direction
from sun and stars, we now know that some species can make use of scent patterns, of
infrasound, and particulary of elements of the earth’s magnetic field. Some can also detect
polarised light patterns and may use these and/or a sensitivity to ultra-violet light during
daylight hours.
The research summarised is almost all based on experimentation, it being difficult at
present to see any alternative approach. Yet to prove that a pigeon (by lar the most commonly
used experimental animal) can detect some subtle environmental variant is not to establish
that it exploits its ability to any significant extent. Twenty-five years ago, radar workers were
recording migrants completely disoriented by cloud or fog, and the author cites a similar event
(p. 218). On such occasions, why cannot the birds use their back-up system? We must be
grateful to the experimenters, who have made virtually all the discoveries of the last two
decades. Yet, in connection with the way that they interpret some of their results, I find myself
wondering how many of them have that degree of experience of w ild migrating birds as would
come with two mid-autumn weeks at almost any bird observatory .
In chapters 10 and 11, the author offers his interpretation of how birds find the way: by-
means of ‘a familiar area map based on a rich and varied landscape . . . and a variety of efficient
compasses’. I accept that a mosaic of familiar areas plays a role, but suspect that Robin Baker
exaggerates, or attaches too much importance to, the role of pre-migratory juvenile
wandering. In this, perhaps he has been too much influenced by his interest in the Lesser
Black-backed Gull and the Sand Martin. I do not think that there is much comparable
evidence for the typical long-haul passerine night-migrants.
This reasonably-priced book takes us nearer than ever to an understanding of how birds find
their way. If you are intrigued by bird migration, do read it. It cannot fail to stimulate you.
Robert Spencer
(Bird Island: pictures from a shoal of sand. By Lars Jonsson. Groom
Helm, London, 1984. 96 pages; over 60 colour illustrations. £16.95.
During the last few years, Lars Jonsson has had quite an impact on the bird world. His series of
five field guides to European birds, which first appeared in his native Sweden, have been
enthusiastically received in this country and worldwide. His reputation as an artist is now
international, and his work in the field of bird identification has gained him considerable
respect from the ornithological establishment and birdwatchers alike. Indeed. I believe he has
set new standards in bird illustration.
‘Bird Island' strikes a different note. It is essentially a scries of personal impressions
resulting from two months’ observations in the summer of 1981. His island is an ephemeral
thing a ‘shoal of sand’ rising from the sea off the coast of Sweden for a few brief summer
months. During its ‘life’, it provides a home for breeding terns, plovers, Avocets and
165
166
Reviews
Oystercatchers, and feeding and resting places for many other birds. Watching the pattern of
life in this small community, Lars Jonsson became inspired by the whole essence of the place.
Indeed, he confesses ‘it took on almost religious values for me!’ His emotional involvement is
evident in his writing, which in the earlier chapters I Ibund flowery and rather difficult to take.
As I read on, however, I found that my initial reservations were largely lost: maybe I too was
becoming ‘bew itched’ — under the spell of this little place and its birds.
But this is essentially a book of pictures, pencil and watercolour sketches, large, evocative
and full of life. I came to this book a confirmed fan, and I remain so. The character of most of
the drawings is more free and washy than his more familiar illustrative style, but this suits the
mood of the book well. His facility for capturing the ‘jizz’ of his birds is to be envied: his
portrayal of the quintessential Ringed Plover fills me with admiration. There is always light in
his pictures, whether it is the pinkish back-lighting on the water’s edge where the birds feed at
dusk, or the hot white haze rising from the surface of the sand in the July day, making the birds
look ethereal and ghostly. If you half shut your eyes, you can feel the heat . . .
It is sadly rare that such sensitivity, perceptiveness of form, and dazzling ability to draw are
combined in one person. There is no doubt in my mind that Lars Jonsson is already one of the
‘greats’ of bird art, and his career still stretches ahead of him. This is a large-format book,
attractively designed and presented. Many of the pictures are, to my mind, reproduced a little
too large to be easy on the eye in book form: I found myself holding the book at arm’s length, or
standing back, in order to appreciate some of the paintings. Several of those occupying
double-page spreads have birds crossing the gutter, splitting them in half, and very much
detracting from one’s enjoyment of the picture. But this is a minor irritation in a book of
considerable charm and a great deal of soul. Hilary Burn
Ocean Birds: their breeding, biology and behaviour. By Lars
Lofgren. Groom Helm, Beckenham, 1984. 240 pages; 4 watercolour
paintings; 200 colour photographs; numerous line-drawings. £16.95.
This is an extremely attractive book. The Pacific Gull in close-up is one of the most impressive
recent covers I have seen, and the photography inside is even better. Indeed, the selection of
photographs, all by the author, can rarely have been equalled and never bettered. I
particularly liked the flight shots, especially a Leach’s Petrel at sea, a close up of a Franklin’s
Gull, and two Irigatebirds chasing a screaming tropiebird. Still my favourite was a Kittiwake
colony on a Swedish navigation marker. Oh to study such a group of birds nesting f rom the
basal stones to the top of the pole! The book is worth the price for the plates alone.
The text is divided into eight chapters, covering most aspects of seabirds (and the title is a
complete misnomer) — evolution, classification, ‘properties of seabirds’, species, migration,
ecology, behaviour, and interactions with man. These are illustrated with many maps and
diagrams, many of which are needlessly complicated. The line-drawings and paintings lose
out badly to the photos. The author is well read, up-to-date and obviously understands seabird
ecology and theory. Like some other recent books, sources of material are not given, so that the
text cannot live up to two of its publicity claims: to be authoritative and an invaluable addition
to the literature. When will such writers realise the folly in this approach: they get little credit,
and yet suffer from the published mistakes of others. I think I found some errors — or were
they? Do Gape Gannets and Guillemots really start breeding when two years old? I doubt it;
still, maybe they do. Have many crowded gannetries remained, as claimed, at the same size lor
decades, despite the enormous increase in the total population? I cannot just accept such
statements when I see that the Rhinoceros Auklet is classified with the smaller auklets, and not
with the puffins where it undoubtedly belongs. I want to check interesting possibilities, but
without a lead reference I cannot. In general, however, the standard of accuracy is
commendably high.
In places the text is awkward and hideous jargon appears. For instance, ‘Given the fact that
seabirds need land for breeding, their choice of a place can be divided into three stages. The
first involves selection of an ecological habitat and of some position in an ecosystem during
breeding. Secondly, a macroscopical location must be found such as an island, steep cliff or
mountain top.’ A more direct approach would have been better. Some difficulties may be a
result of translation. 1 1 is a shame that this text was not vetted by a seabird biologist whose first
language was English. Despite this, the book is a useful addition to my bookshelf.
Mike H arris
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HO LI DA Y A CCOMMODA TIPS
NEWPORT, PEMBS. Coastal cottage, adj. Nat.
Park, 5 mins. Sea and Estuary. Sleeps 8. Tel:
0222 752965. (BB70)
HEREFORDSHIRE. Farm holiday bungalow
to let amidst Black Mountains in the lovely
Olchon Valley of Herefordshire. Lovely walks
and bird watching area. Dippers nesting close to
bungalow in Spring. Week-end lets until April.
Probert, Glandwr Farm, Llanvaynoe, Longtown,
Hereford. Tel: Longtown Castle 608. (BB81)
COUNTRY COTTAGES between Alnwick and
Belford. Sleep up to six, fully equipped,
self-catering, available throughout the year. Well
placed for Holy Island and Fame Islands,
Cheviot Hills and many places of natural beauty.
SAE to Mrs P. Foster, Coxons, Craster South
Farm, Alnwick, Northumberland. Tel: (066 576)
640. (BB27)
NEAR MINSMERE, delightful converted barn.
Sleeps 6/7. Fully equipped and linen provided.
Turner, Vine Cottage, The Street, Middleton,
Saxmundham: Tel: Westleton 208 after 6pm.
(BB7)
WARM WELCOME, B&B/EM optional. Close
to marshes. Heritage Coastal Walks. Central for
Cley and Titchwell reserves. Mrs Court,
Eastdene, Northfield Lane, Wells-next-the-Sea,
Norfolk. Tel: (0328) 710381. (BB36)
LUXURY IDYLLIC COTTAGE. Ideal base
Cheviot Hills, Fame Isles and Kicider Forest.
Forster. Tel: 1-904 9107 and 0669 30265.
(BB1 1)
GLANDYFI CASTLE. Machynlleth. Powys.
Flat adjoining Castle, sleeps 2-4. Naturalist
paradise, 40 acres private grounds overlooking
Dovey Estuary and Ynys-hir bird reserve. Tel:
Glandyfi 281. (BB132)
SIBTON (nr Minsmere), Suffolk. I he White
Horse Inn. A unique and charming 16th century
freehousc in 2Vi acres, ^n suite accommodation,
bed and breakfast or weekly rates. Ample car
parking. CC location site. Bar snacks or
restaurant meals available. Tel: Peasenhall 337.
(BB68)
NORTH NORFOLK COAST, fishermens
cottages. Open all year. Oak beams. Colour TV
and open fires Oct/March. Ray Hewitt, Brig
Square Holiday Cottages, Freeman Street, Wells
next the Sea. Tel: 0328 710440. (BB17)
NEW FOREST. New Park Hotel, Brockcnhurst.
260 acres. Stables, etc. Self-catering cottages.
Colour brochures: (0590) 23467.
(BB40)
BED AND BREAKFAST. Mrs D. Crowden,
Rosevilla, Middleton. Saxmundham, Suffolk.
Tel: Westleton 489 between 6-7 pm. (BB50)
SELF-CATERING CHALETS. 4 miles from
Vane Farm. Kinross (Loch Levett). Brochure
from Andrew Sneddon, Stan-ma-lane, Balgedie.
Kinross. Tel: 059 284 257. (BB100)
xv
ISLE OF ISLAY — Hebrides — our S/C C/H
cottages are beautifully situated on the shores of
Loch Indaal, home of wintering geese, with
superb views to the hills. A peaceful five minutes
stroll to the village where you can enjoy an
evening’s entertainment among friendly people.
From £50 per week. Full details and brochure —
Mrs James Roy, Lorgba Holiday Cottages, Port
Charlotte, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire PA48 7LID.
Tel: 049 685 208. ' (BB34)
15th CENTURY COACHING INN midway
Ross/Hereford amidst gentle wooded hills, 2
fields from River Wye. A comfortable and in-
formal place, with proper emphasis on real food,
real ales, civilised prices. Log fire, ch, fourposter.
Egon Ronay, Relais Routier. Green Man Inn,
Fownhope, Hereford. Tel: Fownhope (043 277)
243. (BB21)
SOUTHWOLD AA** HOTEL. Ensuite bed-
rooms, good food and wines. Ideal base lor
Minsmere and surrounding area. Open all year.
Reduced terms for party bookings. Write or tel:
Pier Avenue Hotel, Southwold. Tel: 722632.
(BB32)
NORTH WEST HIGHLANDS, Dundonnell
Hotel, just south of Ullapool, ideal location for
hill walkers, birdwatchers and those who enjoy
the open spaces. Private bathrooms, Col. TV, full
c.h. Send for col. brochure/ tariff giving details of
bargain holidays on selected dates, to Selbie
Florence, Dundonnell Hotel, by Carve, Ross-
shire. Tel: 085 483 204. ' (BB63)
NR MINSMERE, Kings Head, Southwold
723829. B&B, packed lunches, Adnams ales.
(BB19)
EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK. Come and
enjoy the peace of 77 acre wooded nature reserve
and our smallholding. We have 7 camouflaged
caravans on a secluded site, modern toilet
facilities with showers, utility room, children’s
play area. Nature trails and fresh produce. Sea 4
miles. SAE to: Chris and Babs Johnson, Cowley
Wood, Conservation Centre, Parracombe, N.
Devon EX31 4PQ. Tel: Parracombe 200. Day
visitors to centre also welcome. ( BB 1 28)
NATIONAL TRUST VILLAGE on Exmoor.
Self-catering holiday homes. Centrally heated,
near Porlock. Sea, moors, woods and marshes all
within walking distance. Stamp for brochure.
Sheila Wright, The Pack Horse, Allerford. Nr.
Minehead. Tel: (0643) 862475. (BB72)
BIRDWATCHERS’ HAVEN: Shore of Fleet
nature reserve, Dorset. Tern nesting site etc.
Rowing boat available. B&BE7.00. E.M. /Packed
lunches if required. Excellent cooking. Home
produced vegetables. Warm welcome, peace and
freedom assured. Telephone: Weymouth 772268.
(BB1 12)
COME AND SEE the King Eider and many
other rare birds on Loch Fleet and stay with us at
The Park House Hotel, Golspie, Sutherland,
l ei: 040 83 3667 where we promise to make your
stay enjoyable. (BB12)
FARM COTTAGES between Lindisfarne Re-
serve and The Fames. Comfortable and well
equipped. Sorry no pets. Brochure: Mr J.
McNish, Outchester Farm, Belford, North-
umberland. Tel: 06683 336. (BB45)
NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS National
Park. Coast and country. For the largest selection
of inspected self-catering cottages, farmhouses
etc, contact: Ingrid Flute, White Cottage,
Ravenscar, Scarborough Y013 ONE. Tel:
Scarborough (0723) 870703. (BB67)
MID WALES. Radnor Forest. Self-contained flat
in old chapel. Sleeps 2. Ideal walking,
birdwatching. SAE: Arnott, Zion Cottage, New
Radnor, Powys. Tel: 625. (BB99)
ORCHARD HOUSE, N. W. Norfolk nr. Titch-
well Marsh Reserve. Homely Bed and Breakfast
accommodation (E.M. available). Also self-
catering unit in orchard. Tel: Thornham (048
526) 259. (BB49)
BARGAIN BREAKS
Small, recommended, coastal, licensed hotel
facing open countryside. National Trust
cliff walks nearby. All bedrooms with baths/
shower/wc, central heating, colour TV and
tea maker, en suite. Four poster bed. Heated
indoor swimming pool. Dinner choice from
extensive menu. 2/5/7 night Bargain Breaks
from £20 including dinner, breakfast and
VAT. Brochure/reservations: GLENCOE
HOTEL, Gwithian Village (St Ives Bay)
TR27 5BX. Tel: 0736 752216.
(BB42)
ISLE OF MULL, 1 orosay Castle, Craignure.
Golden eagles often seen in the area. 20 species in
the garden and over 200 recorded on the island.
Mull is a paradise. Gardens open year-round.
Castle: 1 May-30 Sept, 1 flat and gardener’s
cottage to let. Each sleeps 4 plus camp beds.
Special monthly winter terms. For terms apply:
The Secretary, Tel: 06802 421. (BB15)
IN THE GROUNDS of a beautiful house
surrounded by woodlands and unspoiled
countryside. Ideal for birdwatchers. Send SAE
for brochure: Trelowarren Chateau Camping
and Caravan Park, Mawgan, Helston, Cornwall.
(BB133)
EAST NORFOLK. B&B. Open all year. Also
modernised 17th century fisherman’s cottage.
Tel: 0493 728374. (BB137)
ISLES OF SCILLY, Mincarlo Guest House, St
Mary s. Superbly situated in own grounds
overlooking the harbour. Terms from £8.50
(plus VAT) for B&B £12.75 (plus VAT) BB &
EM. Tel: 0720 22513. (B15I40)
ORKNEY ISLANDS— M odern accommoda-
tion self-catering and bed and breakfast, near the
sea, boating, fishing, wide variety migratory
birds, regular bus service and car hire available,
for more details write or phone South Ronaldsay
and Burray Tourist Organisation, St. Margaret’s
Hope. South Ronaldsay, Orkney Islands 085 683
309. (BB150)
xvi
■ SOUTHWOLD. ‘Avondale’. North Parade,
overlooking sea. B& B/EM, eh, dglazed, licensed.
Open all year. Ideal Minsinere, Havergate,
VValberswick. Good food, friendly atmosphere.
Tel: 0502 722538. (BB8)
ISLE OF MULL. A stable converted into 2 warm
comfortable flats. Frachadil Farm, Calgary. Tel:
068 84 265 or (0573) 24852. (BBI20)
PEMBROKESHIRE Charming cottage se-
cluded spot close Cleddau River. Sleeps 5.
Available spring/summer. Ideal centre for
exploring lovely area. Tel 0242 524516 tor
brochure. (BB122)
i CLEY — 6 miles. Flint cottage sleeps 2. Cot
available. SAE: Mrs Hampshire, Riverbank,
Hunworth, Melton Constable, Norfolk. Tel: Holt
3801. (BB127)
' NORTH LAKES — perfect for Caerlaverock and
'South Solway Estuary. Six self-catering lodges
overlooking sheltered 30 acre lake. Woodland site
designated of ‘Special Scientific Interest’. Impor-
tant location for large flocks of water birds,
wintering site for duck, wide variety of wildfowl.
Brochure: Lakeshore Lodges, The Lough,
1 Thurston Field, Carlisle, Cumbria CAS 6HB.
Tel: 0228 76552. (BB33)
ARGYLL COAST. Self-catering cottages on
isolated private nature reserve. Sorry no dogs.
' SAE for brochure please to Ardpatrick Cottages,
Tarbert, Argyll. Tel: 08802 608. ( BB 1 87)
WEST SUSSEX. Black Mill House Hotel,
EBognor Regis 2 mins sea, Marine Gardens,
Games Room, Cocktail Bar, enclosed Garden,
Car Park. Visit Arundel Wildfowl trust. AA.
-RAC, Member SEE Tourist Board. Minibreaks
from £37.50 2 days. Brochure. Tel: (0243)
821945. , (BB199)
ELERKEY HOUSE HOTEL
Veryan, near St Mawes, Truro,
Cornwall TR2 5QA.
Telephone: Truro (0872) 501261
Exclusive Hotel renowned lor its comfortable
elegance located on the Roseland Peninsula amidst
National Trust countryside with magnificent coastal
walks. Accommodation comprises nine tastefully-
appointed bedrooms w ith private shower or bath and
toilet. Exceptional standards maintained on quality
of food, w ine and service. Restaurant and Residential
Licence. I'erms: Inclusive of VAT and Serv7ce
Dinner, Bed and Breakfast per person from £130.00
to £ 1 53.00 weekly.
Bed and Breakfast per person from £14.00 to £17.50
daily.
Write or 'phone Jor Illustrated Brochure Jrom:
Mrs. Heather Greene, Resident Proprietor.
( BB 198)
MOST ATTRACTIVE choice of selfcatering
cottages, isolated and in beautiful surroundings
overlooking the sea on a Westhighland Estate.
Scotland’s natural beauty at its best. The ideal
holiday for the true country lover with wild life in
abundance. For full colour brochure please write
to: I he Booking Office, Hilary 7, Lochgilphead,
Argyll. Tel: 08803 232/209 or 05 4685 223.
(BB101)
CAIRNGORMS — Ncthybridge near
Aviemore. Choice of unique converted smithy,
hay loft, cottages and bungalows. Very comfor-
table, well furnished, central heating and col. TV
from £65-£250 pw. Mrs B. Patrick. Chapelton
Place, Forres. Tel: 0309 72505. ( BB76)
BARN HOUSE, Bempton. Pleasantly situated,
comfortable farmhouse style B&B. Schofield, 5
Newsham Hill Lane, Bempton, Bridlington. Tel:
0262850523. (BB73)
MINSMERE. Accommodation at the Eight
Bells, Kclsale A12. B&B. Real Ale. good food.
Tel: Saxmundham 2975. (BB59)
Churehwood Vklley
<§>elf Catering
Holiday Cabins,
family o^^ned
and ran far your
relaxing holiday.
New for 1985 luxury cabins with
English Tourist Board top grade.
• Set in coastal preserv ation area of
outstanding natural beauty
• Adjoining N.T. land and near several N T.
• Easy reach Historic Plymouth
• Good walking, riding, sailing, fishing and
• Bird-watching and wildlife
• Minimum commercialisation
• Personal attention
• Reasonable charges
• Corporate members R.S.P.B.
Colour brochure from:
CHURCH WOOD ESTATE, WEMBURY.
nr. Plymouth, Devon PL9 0DZ.
Tel: (0752 ) 8623 82 (24 hours) (BB148)
xvit
ISLE OF ISLAY, ARGYLL. Port Charlotte
Hotel, fully licensed, family rqn, adjacent to
sandy beaches. Situated between Ellister Wild-
fowl Trust and the RSPB’s own Gruinart Nature
Reserve. Special rates for groups. Let us send you
our colour brochure. We also have a centrally
heated, self-catering, seafront chalet. Tel: 049
685 321 or 379. (BB41)
ELIZABETHAN FARMHOUSE set in a
beautiful position near Welsh Border. Enjoy
complete relaxation. Excellent food. Marvellous
walking country. Close to coast and golf course,
and Offa’s Dyke. Ideal place for birdwatching.
Open Easter onwards. Contact Mrs E. Venables,
Rorrington Hall, Chirbury Powys (093 872) 223.
( BB65)
ISLE OF MULL. Small comfortable guest house
on island rich in birdlife. Owners keen
birdwatchers. Pets welcome. Baliscate Guest
House, Tobermory. Tel: 0688 2352. (BB102)
BIRDWATCHING IN THE HIGHLANDS.
Cottages in Wild Mountainous beauty area by
Sea-Loch. Botanists and Climbers paradise. Rare
wild life of every kind. Boating fishing, good food
and night life locally. TV aerial and heating
available. SAE Inverlael Cottages, Loch Broom,
by Ullapool, Ross-shire 085 485 262. (BB86)
GREYHOMES HOTEL
Torcross, S. Devon
Holiday Accommodation, S. Devon
SLAPTON SANDS, AA and RAC one star.
Small friendly licensed hotel magnificiently
situated in six acres of mature gardens over-
looking the panorama of Slapton Ley Nature
Reserve and Start Bay. Unspoilt coastline
famous for its variety of birds and wildlife.
Also four self-catering holiday bungalows in
grounds. SAE for brochure: Greyhomes
Hotel, Torcross, Nr. Kingsbridge, S. Devon.
Tel: Kingsbridge (0548) 580220^ (BB30)
SOLWAY COAST. B&B, evening meal
optional. CH, ample parking, convenient wild-
fowl reserve. Ideal painting, hill walking. Packed
lunches and vegetarian meals available.
Bardsley, The Rossan, Auchencairn, Castle
Douglas DG7 1QR. Tel: 055 664 269. (BB10)
ISLES OF SCILLY — Seaview Moorings, St.
Mary’s. Home cooking and personal service from
resident proprietors, Tony and Linda. Over-
looking harbour, close to quay and town —
licensed — in-room tea and coffee making facili-
ties— pets welcome. SAE for details or telephone
Tony or Linda Dingley on 0720 22327. (BB35)
SOUTH LINCS. 18th century farmhouse B&B
£9, optional EM. Anne Thompson, Guy Wells
Farm, Whaplode, Spalding. Tel: 0406 22239.
(BB156)
GARE MILL, Slapton. Comfortable, warm self-
catering Cedar Lodges carefully sited in 4 acres
overlooking river and woods. 2 CH flats in 16th C
cornmill available all year. Sleep 2-6. Dogs
welcome. For coloured brochure ring Stoke
Fleming 770295. (BBI57)
CORNWALL. Your cottage by the sea for winter
breaks or summer holidays. Very comfortable,
lovely sea views. Sleeps 4/5. Details: P.
Greenwood, Talland Bay, Looe PI.13 2JB. Tel:
Polperro 72263. (BB103)
WELLS, NORFOLK B&B., (Les Routiers
recommended). H. & C., Tea and Coffee facilities
in all rooms. Anne Taylor, The Cobblers (0328
710155). (BB11D
AT THE TIDE’S EDGE between Prawle/Start
Points, Maelcombe House Farm offers B&B/EM
or s/c flat. Spectacular situation for migrations.
Magnificent coastal walking. Ring Mrs Davies on
Chivelstone (054 85 1 ) 300 for brochure. ( BB48)
CLEY. Attractive house in village, four bed-
rooms, large garden, garage, c.h. Available all
year. Details from Mrs E. Album, 47 Lyndale
Avenue, London NW2. Tel: 01-431 2942. (BB58)
GALLOWAY. Hills, lochs, forests and sea.
Speciality, birds of prey and waterfowl. High
quality houses, cottages, flats. Details, send 27p
stamp to: G. M. Thomson & Co, 27 King Street,
Castle Douglas. (BB43)
DUNWICH. Holiday cottage, sea Va mile,
overlooking marshes, sleeps 6 plus 2 children.
Ideally situated for Minsmere and surrounding
countryside. Fully furnished and equipped
personally supervised. £18 per day. Reduced
rates for March-October. Dogs allowed, car
parking. Details from R. Green, 53 Albany Road,
West Bergholt, Colchester C06 3LB. Tel: 0206
241716. (BB33)
OSPREY VISITORS to Loch Garten this
Summer? Locheil GH offers BB: £5.50; DBB:
£9.25; or self-eater Cottage (sleeps 6) rental £15
nightly, and Chalet (sleeps 4) £10 nightly. For
details plus walks, slide-talks, films, local
activities, write: Locheil, Boat of Garten,
Inverness-shire. Tel: 047 983 603. (BB162)
EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK— Dunster,
Beautiful Georgian residence — a ‘listed’ build-
ing, in lawns, walled garden and orchard.
Exceptionally well appointed self-contained flats.
Spacious views of parkland and sea coast.
Historic village with castle. Resident owners to
ensure your comfort. The Archer House, Dunster
Steep, Dunster TA24 6SD. Tel: 0643 821448.
(BB158)
KELLING, NR. CLEY. Situated in 4 acres of
own wooded grounds. Double room £11.95 per
person. En suite £13.45. Winter two-day breaks
£27.50 per person, B&B & evening meal.
Applehill Hotel, Kelling. Tel: Weybourne (026
370)382. (BBI59)
PERSONAL ATTENTION to your holiday
needs in Orkney, wildlife paradise north of
Scotland. Breathtaking scenery, quiet pace,
friendly people, make Orkney a must for 1985.
For info. Pack send large 53p SAE to Orkney ’85
(BB), Whiston, Sandwick, Stromness, Orkney
KW16 3LW (S&WMO Tourist Assn). (BB197)
xviii
COTTAGES GALORE. We have some 200 de-
lightful cottages in all parts of Britain. A great
variety of individual properties, all inspected.
Prices £19 to £50 per person per week. Get our
free colour brochure: Amaro Cottage Holidays,
22 High Street, Alton, Hampshire GU34 1BN.
Tel: 0420 88892. (BB178)
' NORFOLK BROADS. West Somerton
Modernised cottage to let on village green. Sleeps
6. Adjacent Martham Broad, Horsey, Winterton;
close Waxham, Hickling. Phone 0622 52062.
(BB207)
SOMEWHERE SPECIAL for your bird-
watching in the Dyfi V alley, Mid Wales. 17th
century manor house hotel in 9 acres of peaceful,
unspoilt and finely timbered valley, in secluded
location. Licensed bar and restaurant. Tradi-
tional and vegetarian/whole food fare. Brochure:
Eileen and David Brown, Plas Dolguog Hotel,
Machynlleth, Powys. Tel: 0654 2244. (BB169)
VISIT BEMPTON RESERVE. Stay for two
days BB/ED from £28 pp inc. VAT. At the
Flaneburg Hotel, Flamborough. The Hotel on
The Heritage Coast — Full Details phone (0262)
850284. (BB168)
i COASTAL COTTAGES OF PEMBROKE-
SHIRE, Abercastle, Pembrokeshire National
Park. 75 warm and well equipped owners’
cottages, mostly within sight and sound of sea and
seals on Britain’s most beautiful and natural
coastline. Available all year from £60 per week.
Tel: 03483 742. (BB185)
HEBRIDES. The Hotel, Isle of Coll, Argyll
PA 78 6SZ. Tel: 087 93 334. AA* RAC. Open all
year, central heating. Over 100 species to be seen
including skuas, raptors, water rail, etc. May we
send you our brochure? (BB194)
ISLES OF SCILLY. Derek and Mary Scofield
welcome you to their comfortable family guest
house, situated on the shore with unrivalled
views. We offer a happy atmosphere, home
cooking and a select wine list. Ideal for spring and
autumn birdwatching. Send stamp for brochure
to Beachfield House, St. Mary’s. Book Now for
October. Tel: 0720 22463. (BB92)
CUMBRIA LEIGHTON MOSS 4 miles ideal
touring base. Homely accom. in traditional
cottage. Home made bread, log fires, B/B £7. EM
£4 optional. Details Ellison, Spout House,
Heversham Cumbria LA7 7EE. (BB184)
COTSWOLD AREA. Fully equipped luxury
holiday flat. Mrs Rowe, Coombe Mount,
Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire. Tel: 0453
843584. (BB182)
AUTHENTIC GYPSY CARAVAN. Beauti-
fully sited on private (Lake District) nature
reserve. Frahm, Haybridge, Bouth, Ulverston,
Cumbria (022 986) 412. " (BB’205)
ISLE OF WIGHT, BEMBRIDGE. Lovely cot-
tage, sleeps 4, overlooks private lake. Ideal
birdwatchers, artists or those wanting a quiet
holiday. Close harbour and beaches. Available
holidays all year. 098 387 4680. (BB2 14)
DOWER HOUSE HOTEL
Isle of Islay, Inner Hebrides
Small, warm & comfortable Hotel situated
5 miles East of Port Ellen.
Unique seaside location ideal for bird & seal
watching (boats available).
For brochure, tariff & package deals, apply to:
Sally Taylor, Dower House Hotel,
Kildalton, Port Ellen, Argyll PA42 7EF.
Tel: 0496 2425
(BB204)
MID WALES. Clean comfortable farmhouse,
sleeps 7. Open fire (logs provided), central
heating, colour TV and all amenities. Ideal
birdwatching, walking, shooting, fishing and
exploring Mid and North Wales. For brochure
write or telephone Williams, Wern, Foel,
Welshpool, Powys. Tel: 093 888 240. ( BB20 1 )
SILVERDALE. Comfortable fully equipped flat.
Sleeps 2-4. Leighton Moss 1 mile. Owner
maintained. Tel: 04482 2395/0468 61400.
(BBI72)
BEDDGELERT. Charmingly furnished cottage.
Superb surroundings. Sleeps 5. Regret no pets.
SAE Day, White Cottage, Church Lane, Corley,
Coventry CU7 8BA. Tel: 0676 4050 1 . ( BB209)
NORTH NORFOLK. Attractive comfortable
cottage. 4 miles Blakcney. Sleeps 4. Tel: 032875
366. (BB183)
CLEY. 3 Quality cottages (sleep 4, 6 and 8).
Quiet. Comfortable. Excellent value. Brochure:
(0353)740770. (BB17I)
USK VALLEY. A remote 16th century Welsh
Longhouse on the Gwent Ridgeway retaining
many original features but with every modern
comforts. Fourposter beds. Bathrooms cn-suite.
Magnificent views. Varied birdlife. Ideal
Naturalists/Ornithologists. B&B/E.M. SAE for
brochure, Mrs Armitage, Ty’rywen Fach Farm,
Mamhilad, Pontypool. Tel: Little Mill 200.
(BB215)
DUNVEGAN. Mobile home. Sleeps 4. Farm
site. MacDonald, Uiginish Farm, Dunvegan, Isle
ofSkye. (BB216)
NORTH NORFOLK. The George & Dragon
Hotel. Accommodation, bars & meals. Over-
looking the marshes at Clev, towards Blakenev
Point. Tel: Cley (0263) 740652. (BB219)
IN EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK, 2 semi-
detached cottages, Winsford. Also comfortable
farmhouse, Wheddon Cross. All sleep 6, plus cot.
Colour TV. Open fires. Sheets provided. Sorry- no
pets. SAE please to: Mrs D. Jack, c/o Mrs A.
Webber, Steadway Farm, Wheddon Cross,
Minehead TA24 7EB. Tel: Timberscombe 492.
(BB221)
WEST DORSET. Bungalow, sleeps 4. Fourie,
Larks Hey, Duck Street, Chideock. Tel: 573.
(BB228)
LIZARD. Beautiful sea views, close to coves and
coastal path. Good food, comfort, reasonable
rates. Dogs welcome. Treglow House, The Lizard
TR 1 2 7NP. Tel: 0326 290472. (BB181)
XIX
YORKSHIRE’S HERITAGE COAST
V aried and spectacular bird watching on the 350 ft
cliffs around Flamborough and Bempton. A coast
that’s rich in history and wildlife. Discover fossils,
see the seals, explore the nature trails at Danes Dyke
and South Landing.
Send for details and Bridlington Colour Guide to:
Publicity Dept., 104 The Spa, Bridlington,
East Yorkshire Y015 3JH.
.4 contribution towards postage appreciated
(BBI44)
OLD HUNSTANTON. The White Cottage
guest house, beautifully situated. Overlooking
Wash. Ideal birdwatching. B&B/EM. Special
rates OAPs. Mrs U. Burton, 19 Wodehouse
Road, Old Hunstanton, Norfolk. Tel: 048 53
2380. (BB170)
SOUTHWOLD. ‘Avondale’, North Parade,
overlooking sea. B&b/em, CH, dglazed, licensed.
Open all year. Ideal Minsmere, Havergate,
Walberswick. Good food, friendly atmosphere.
Tel: 0502 722538. (BB179)
MANOR BARN COTTAGE. Mudgley, South
Isle of Wedmore, overlooking Somerset Levels.
Fine English cooking, log fires, CH, rooms en
suite, open all year. Brochure: Wedmore 0934
712953. (BB46)
NORTH NORFOLK MARSHES
Self-catering cottage near Holt, 2 bedrooms,
sitting room, fully equipped kitchen, 2 WCs,
shower, 2 wash basins, extra low sink. C.h. &
hot water throughout. Kings Head, with
meals and real ale, 2 mins walk. Cley 5 miles.
J. N. Gozens-hardy, Glavenside, Lethering-
sett, Holt, Norfolk NR25 7AR. Tel: Holt
(026371) 3181. (BB218)
SPEY VALLEY — home of the osprey, cross-
bill and crested tit. Impressive Victorian house.
Superb views. CH, log fires. Home cooking. Tel:
0479 2201 or write Rossmor, Grantown on Spey,
Moray. (BB190)
ORKNEY. Our Island Hotel, ideal for ornitholo-
gists, habitat, moorland, shore, cliffs,
lochs, attracts 70 breeding species. Excellent
migration, good walking. Brochure: Taversoe
Hotel, Rousay, Orkney. Tel: 085 682 325.
(BB191)
HISTORIC COUNTRY HOUSE overlooking
Derwent Ings. Explore York, the Wolds,
Bempton Cliffs. Enjoy Yorkshire cooking. B/B,
EM from £10.50. Mrs Vincent, Aughton Hall,
Aughton, York Y04 4PG. Bubwith 237. (BB62)
SELF-CATERING PROPERTIES. All
personally inspected. Brochure: Rural Vacations
Ltd, Pipworth Lane, Eckington, Sheffield S31
9E Y. Tel: 0246 432202. ( BB54)
MINSMERE 4m. B&B in comfortable private
house, edge ofvillage. Brochure/terms, Hills, Old
Mill House, Yoxford, Suffolk. Tel: 536. (BBI75)
WELLS NEXT THE SEA, close harbour. CH,
garage, 5+ cot. Stevens, 4 Bell’s Court, Castle
Street, Cambridge.Tel: Cambridge 660 1 4. ( BB 1 89)
YOU WILL FIND A WARM WELCOME and
every comfort in this attractively situated and
secluded country hotel. Excellent bird watching
amidst moorland, forest and river. Home
cooking, liome produce. Full central heating, h&c
and electric blankets in all bedrooms. Terms £84
db&b for week. Brochure from Old Manse Hotel,
Duthill, Carrbridge, Inverness-shire PH23 3ND.
Tel: (047 984). (BB230)
BIRD WA TCHING HO LI DA YS
JOHN GOODERS • Spring and Autumn in
Andalucia and the Goto Donana: 2‘2nd-29th
March; 26th Oct-2nd Nov: 2nd-9th Nov 1985 0
New! Raptors over Gibraltar: 2nd-9th Sept
1985 — peak period, super hotel. • Weekly
holiday courses April-October 1985. Super
comfort at our 16th C. farmhouse near Sussex
coast. Details: Lattenden’s Farm (BB) Ashburn-
ham, Nr Battle, E. Sussex. Tel: 0323 833245.
(BB106)
SUTHERLAND, VALHALLA, CHALETS.
On seashore of Kirkaig Bay and bordering the
largest NNR in Great Britain — Inverpolly
National Nature Reserve, and only one hour’s
drive from Handa Bird Reserve is the ornitholo-
gists paradise. Tel: 05714 382 or details from
Hutchison, Valhalla, Inverkirkaig, Lochinver,
Sutherland IV274LF. (BB105)
WEST COUNTRY WILDLIFE. Birdwatching
wildlife holidays, in Devon. Small parties, expert
leadership. Excellent food/accommodation,
talks, slides, trips out each day. Beginners
welcome. April-October one week holidays,
November-March 2, 3 or 4 day week-ends.
Birdwatching on the Exe. Brochure from
Courtlans, Colebrooke, Crediton, Devon EX 17
5JH. (BB208)
MIGRANTS, WADERS, SEABIRDS and
much more. Self-catering birdwatching holidays
in Purbeck. Advice and help freely available from
local experts and wardens. Tel: Swanage 424442
for details and free monthly guide (nearly 300
species). (BB213)
BIRDWATCH CORNWALL. March 21st-
27th 1985. £105.00 inclusive; Sept 28th-Oct 4th
1985. £105.00 inclusive. Five days of field trips.
Local RSPB leaders. Evening films and talks.
Special help for beginners. Exciting seabirds,
waders, ducks and birds of prey. Discounts for
parties. Two star hotel with Scandinavian leisure
centre. For brochure and birdlist phone Pauline
Boss, 0736 795294, Karenza Hotel, St Ives,
Cornwall. (BB225)
SKOKHOLM AND SKOMER ISLANDS,
Pembrokeshire, Dyfed. Full board accom-
modation; birdwatching/photography courses.
Send s.a.e. to Dept BB, WWTNC, 7 Market
Street, Haverfordwest. (BB 1 16)
xx
TURKEY AND GREECE 1985
Central &. Southern Turkey
16 Days April/May £665
North West Turkey & North Greece
1 1 Days May/Septcmber £488
Eastern Turkey
16 Days May £665
Central Turkey & Bosphorus Migration
16 Days September £650
Bosphorus Migration
1 1 Days September £460
ICELAND 16 Days July £700
All Inclusive Prices
Details: Chris Slade iC
Turkish & Greek Birdwatching Holidays cc
8 The Grange, Elmdon Park, Solihull ®
VVest Midlands B92 9EL.
Tel: 021-742 5420 021-705 5535
DESERT WHEATEAR? West Cornwall is one
of the best places for birds and underwatched.
Stay at Boswednack Manor, Zennor, St Ives and
help us find the rarities. Also Birdwatching,
Natural History & Photographic courses. SAE
please for brochure. (BB142)
£77: CORNWALL FOR BIRDS. 20-27 April
and 12-19 October 1985, Trevone Hotel,
Newquay. Centrally heated. Excellent food,
talks, films and outings with popular leaders Eric
Grace and Jack Wright. £77, inclusive price for
the week inc DB&B. New Ibr 1985. 27 April-4
May ‘Cornwall for Wildflowers and Gardens':
£84. Tel: Pamela Chegwin 063 73 3039. (BB149)
BIRDWATCHING WEEKENDS DORSET.
Expert leadership. Talk/Slide show. Mini-bus
transport. Excellent accommodation. £37
inclusive. SAE Broadsheet M. E. Garwell, 12
kirtleton Ave, Weymouth, Dorset. Tel: 783147.
(BB13I )
CALF OF MAN BIRD OBSERVATORY.
Hostel type accommodation from April to
October. Details from: I'he Secretary, The Manx
Museum, Douglas, Isle of Man. Tel: (0624)
75522. (BB176)
LLANDUDNO ideal base for coast and
mountain. For accommodation and/or transport
consult Kestrel Coaches, Bron-y-Mor, 40
Vicarage Avenue, Llandudno LL30 IPS. Pel:
0492 76009. (BB9)
BIRD-WATCHING WORKSHOP
Friday May 24 (evening) to Monday 27. Identifica-
tion, song, calls, censusing. migration, ringing, etc.
E. Kent and Pas de Calais. 127 species seen on last
year's course. £64.35.
NATURE WORKSHOP, JULY .">-7. birds, insects,
plants ind. orchids, on duncland SSSi £42.90.
Both full board. Details: Warden, Sandwich Ba\
Bird Observatorv, Sandwich. Kent CTI3 9PF.
(BBI39)
PORTUGAL
Winter to Spring 85
BIRDWATCHING IN PORTUGAL in
Winter to Spring can be fun in the sun.
One week or two weeks inclusive for one
or two persons or the family. Organised
and escorted by a birdwatcher for bird-
watchers.
Free brochure now available
Tel: 0245 356966 (24 hrs.)
Bon vista Travel 245/7 Broomfield Road,
Chelmsford, Essex CM 1 4DP. (BB119)
ISLES OF SCILLY — -join resident birdman
David Hunt for the holiday of a lifetime. 1985
Brochure from Cvgnus Wildlife, 96 Fore Street.
Kingsbridge, Devon TQ7 1P5. Phone: (0548)
6178. (BB37)
ISLE OF COLL, ARGYLL. "Tighnamara"
Bird watching at its best. Over 120 species.
Breeding Arctic Skuas, Little Terns. Kittiwakes.
Divers, Corncrakes, Ravens. 6 resident raptors
including Merlin & Peregrine. Unique island
scenery. Otters, seals. Excellent cuisine.
Brochure. Tel: (08793) 354 (BBI04)
ARCTIC BIRDS. I wo weeks iil the Arctic .
July/August, viewing rare northern birds. Gyr
Falcons, Ivory Gulls. Little Auks, etc. Camping
in North Greenland or boat-based in Spitsbergen.
Expert guides. From £940. Send stamp to:
ERSKINE EXPEDITIONS. 14 Inverleith
Place. Edinburgh. (BB71 )
NORTH CORNWALL FIELD STUDIES.
Wildwatch holidays. Enjoy a wildlife or Special
Interest break. Brochure from NCFS (BB.
Hellandbridge, Bodmin, Cornwall. Tel:
020884397. (BB163)
WILDLIFE HOLIDAYS
BODMIN MOOR NATURE OBSERVA-
TORY. Open all year. Flexible accommodation
from full board to B&B. Regular field trips under
expert guidance to “discover" birds on the Moor
and north coast sites. Good food. Central heating.
SAE for prospectus and 1984 records summary
to Tony Miller. Bodmin Moor N.O.. Ninestones.
Liskeard, Cornwall PL 1 4 6SD. Tel: 0579 20455.
(BB 145)
ALDABRA and other Indian Ocean islands.
Send 2 X 17p stamps for preliminary prospectus
of November 1986 trip, to: Caledonian Wildlife
(Aldabra), 30 Culduthcl Road. Inverness IY2
4AP, Scotland. (BB160)
“THE INNER HEBRIDES!” For the very best
in relaxed informative weeks on either Arran.
Islay, jura. Skve or Mull send stamp to:
HEBRIDEAN WILDLIFE AND WALKING
HOLIDAYS, Strathwhillan (BB). Isle of Arran.
Scotland (tel: 0770 2562). ( BB 107)
XXI
EXPLORACION ESPANA
The Spanish Wildlife Tour 1985
Enjoy 12 days of Central and Southern Spain
led by professional Spanish Naturalists. The
small party will have privileged access to
private sanctuaries and estates. It will visit
DONANA and enjoy comfortable accommo-
dation in private hunting lodges.
U.K. Consultant: Tony Soper
U.K. Representative: Alison Kefford
Exploracion Espaha,
18 Bromley Cardens, Houghton Regis,
Dunstable, Beds.
Tel: 0582 864540
Telex: 826314 BUSAID G.
(BB231)
ZAMBIA. Personally escorted 21 -day camping
Safari departing 18th May visiting Kariba, the
Victoria Falls, Kafue Flats, Lochinvar and
Luangwa Valley National Parks. All inclusive,
£1,450. Adventure Agency. The Square, Rams-
bury, Wiltshire. (0672 20569).
(BB196)
WILDLIFE SAFARIS
AND EXPEDITIONS
• 3 weeks Zambia with Victoria
Falls.
• 2/3 weeks Kenya. Game parks,
beaches, Lake Turkana,
Lamu Island.
Details of this and many
other shorl & long expeditions
in our full colour brochure
GUERBA EXPEDITIONS LTD
' [Dept BB WESTFIELD HOUSE.
WLSTBURY, WILTS BA1 3 3EP, UK
I W TEL (0380)830476 (24 HRS )
^African adventure
from only
£350
+ FLIGHT
(BB143)
CRUISES
VISIT SCOTTISH ISLES— even (weather
permitting) St Kilda — abroad comfortable 8-
berth motor sailing yacht with qualified
skipper/guide. Details: Seabird Cruises, High-
minton, Hillside, Cromer NR27 0HY. (BB186)
CHICHESTER HARBOUR WATER
TOURS. Now you can see superlative bird life on
17 miles Chichester waters. Special tailored trips
for birdwatchers throughout the year. Soup,
coffee, hot snacks in winter. Scheduled trips
throughout year announced on message phone.
Tel: 0243 786418. Charter bookings Peter
Adams, 4 Cleveland Road, Chichester, West
Sussex POl 9 2HF. (BB195)
VISIT BULGARIA IN 1985
ORNITHOLOGY TOUR from April
27th-May 11th PRICE £365 Leader:
Graham Elliott, Bird Habitats,
National Parks and Reserves in Black
Sea and Danube regions. Charters from
Gatwick.
NATURE LOVERS EXTENSIVE
TOUR August 5th-17th PRICE £395
Leader: Prof. E. J. Shellard, Seven
National Parks, Nature Reserves,
Mountains, Lakes and Valleys.
Scheduled flights from Heathrow.
Details from: The British-Bulgarian
Friendship Society, jF
69 Upper Street, London N1 0NY. §5
(Tel: 01-359 0507 or 01-673 2931). ®
PROPERTY TO LET
ON SEASHORE, Pett Level, Sussex. 6m Rye.
Ideal location for birdwatching and family
holidays. Comfortable modern house. G.H., T.V.
3 bedrooms sleep 6. Mrs Le Fevre. Tel: 0797
222075. (BB167)
COURSES
BIRD STUDY W/E 17/ 19th May and Bird-
watch Cumbria 21-25 October. Details:
Warden, Low Gillerthwaite Field Centre,
Ennerdale, Cleator. Cumbria. Tel: (0946)
861229. (BB174)
BIRD REPORTS
Norfolk Ornithologists Association
1984 annual report out now covers migration
Norfolk coast.
Price £2.00 post paid. Visitors welcome at our
coastal reserves inc.
Holme Bird Observatory, open daily non-
members 10.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Permit fee on
arrival. Advance booking for parties. 284
species listed.
Walsey Hills Migration Watch Point,
Salthouse. Open 6 days weekly. Closed
Mondays except Bank Holidays. Call in for
migration news. New & s/hand books, bird
photos/slides, selected binoculars/telescopes.
Both Reserves full-time wardened. Mini-
mum subscription (includes access reserves,
N.O.A.s and Norfolk Bird & Mammal
Reports) Family £10, Husband/Wife £9,
Single £6- N.O.A. Office, Aslack Way,
Holme next Sea, Hunstanton, Norfolk.
(BB222)
BIRDS OF OXFORDSHIRE, 1983 Report of
the Oxford Ornithological Society. £2. inch p&p
from R. Overall, 30 Hunsdon Rd, lffley, Oxford,
OX4 4JE. Some back copies to 1915 still
available. (BB188)
XXII
BIRDING ABROAD? Site guides and irip
reports on: Kenya, Thailand, Malaysia, India,
Nepal, Sri Lanka, Israel, Morocco, Canary
Islands, Venezuela, etc. Tel: 0905 54541.
(BB138)
SCOTTISH BIRD REPORT 1983. £2.50
(inc. p&p) from SOC, 21 Regent Terrace,
Edinburgh EH 7 5BT. Back issues (1978-82) also
available. (BB200)
LOTHIAN BIRD REPORT 1983. 106pp inch
Birds of Barns Ness, Surveys and Rarities
descriptions. £2.50 post paid from E. Leven, 13
Henderson Row, Edinburgh. Back numbers
available — 1982, £2.20; 1980 and 1981, £1.50
each. (BB211)
BOOKS
HENRY SOTHERAN TD
London Lading Ornithological hook stockists
Norman McCanch-Lighthouse Notebook
£12.95
signed copies
Handbook of Birds of
Western Palearctic Vol. 4
£60.00
due March 29th
2, 3, 4 & 5 Sackville Street,
London W1X 2DP.
Tel: 01-734 1 150 and 0308. just ofTPiccadilly.
[ Mon-Fri 9.00-5,30 (D473)
‘BIRD BOOKS’. Good secondhand books
bought and sold. Free catalogue from, and offers
to Briant Books, 94 Quarry Lane, Kelsall,
Tarporley, Cheshire CW6 0NJ. Tel: 0829 51804.
(BB18)
BIRDWATCHING GUIDE BOOKS. Essential
1 for holiday birding. What birds to see and where,
when to go, where to stay, etc. Richly illustrated
with maps. Mallorca by Eddie Watkinson
(second edition) £3. The Isles of Scilly by David
Hunt £3. The Gambia by Etienne Edberg £4.
Denmark by J. Sanders £3. Prices include post
and packing From J. Sanders, PO Box 24,
Alderney, Channel Islands. (BB166)
ORNITHOLIDAYS GUIDES in the Let s look
at . . .’ series. Majorca, SW Spain, The
Camargue, Montenegro, Eastern Austria, South
Morocco, North East Greece, Vancouver and
The Rockies, Sri Lanka, Lapland and Arctic
Norway, The Gambia, and North West Turkey.
£2.80 per copy- Ornitholidays, 1-3 Victoria
Drive, Bognor Regis, Sussex PQ21 2PW
(BB153)
THE BIRD BOOKSHOP
(S.O.C.)
Excellent range of ornithological and natural
history books.
Other 600 titles in stock.
Write now' for a free 30 page booklist from:
Dept I, 21 Regent Terrace.
Edinburgh EH7 5B1
Tel: 031-556 6042 (Mon-Fri 9-5).
(BB95)
JUST PUBLISHED
The Birds of Orkney, by Chris Booth,
Mildred Cuthbert and Peter Reynolds. The
most comprehensive book ever to be
published on the rich bird-life of the Orkney
Islands. 298 pp, with b/w photos by Arthur
Gilpin and vignettes by John Holloway. £12
from bookshops, or, in case of difficulty,
direct from The Orkney Press, 72 Victoria
Street, Stromness, Orkney, Scotland (add £1
p&p). ' (BB206)
BOOKS ON Birds, Natural History, Gardening,
Field Sports, etc. Bought and sold. Catalogues
issued. Books on most subjects purchased. Blest,
Wateringburv, Maidstone, Kent. Tel: 0622
812940.' (BB39)
FINE NATURAL HISTORY BOOKS bought
and sold. R. Norman. The Book-Squirrel, Hart-
on-the-Hiil, Dalton Piercey, Hartlepool, Cleve-
land. (BB14)
The £1000 cheque and Zeiss ?
West 10x40s have been won,
but if you would be intrigued to
see The 'British Birds' Mystery \
Photographs Book (and the full e -r- J
solution) you ran get it now for B A\
£1 .50 (previous price was £4.80). 1 fx\
Send cheque or PO (payable to \ V
British Birds) to: MPB, Eoun-
tains, Park Lane. Blunham, _/_ /
Bedford MK44 3NJ. (BB130) 7^ >
PERSONAL
THE HAWK TRUST cares about all birds of
prey. Why not help us with our conservation
projects? For information, contact The Member-
ship Secretary (JB), The Hawk Trust, FREE-
POST, Beckenham, Kent. (BB52)
WANTED
WANTED. Birdland Magazines and Oologists
Record. Singles or volumes, reply Box No. 64 c/o
Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham. Bedford MK44
3NJ. (BB202)
BINOCULARS WANTED. W Zeiss or Leitz
Roof Prism — 2 1 Crescent Grove. London SW 4.
(BB220)
COLLECTOR SEEKS PRINTS or paintings by
Alan W. Seaby and Eric Ennion. N. R. Griffiths,
Robin Lane, High Bentham Lancaster.
046861724. (BB180)
COLLECTOR wishes to purchase Morris's
Birds, Bannerman’s Birds, and any other
interesting Natural History Books or Paintings.
David Brodie, Hazel Bank, 106 Castlemain
Avenue, Southbourne, Bournemouth, Dorset
0202431997. (BB173)
BIRDS OF SEA LOCHS. Author writing re-
view'. Do you have published or unpublished
research results which might be included?
Contact Dr J. C. A. Craik. SMBA, PO Box 3,
Oban, Argyll by end of March. (BB193)
BINOCULARS ) X 42 to 10 X 40. Beginner.
Chris Pratt (Uxbridge) 0895 37441. (BB192)
xxiii
STAMPS
BIRDS SEEN IN BRITAIN. 100 = £4.00. Send
for 14 page bird stamp list. A. Grainger, 42 Lee
Lane East, Horsforth, Leeds. (BB2 1 7)
REPAIRS
BINOCULAR AND TELESCOPE REPAIRS.
Fast efficient service on all makes and types by
expert technicians at L&L Optical, 204 High
Street. Barnet, Herts. Tel: 01-449 1445. .( B B 1 3 )
WE REPAIR BINOCULARS. And cameras.
And projectors. We’ve been at it for thirty years
and we’re very, very good. Perfect? No.
Perfectionilts? Yes. Burgess Lane & Co. Ltd,
Thornton Works, Thornton Avenue, London W4
1QE. 01-9945752. (BB223)
FOR SALE
8 VOLUMES Morris’s ‘Cabinet Edition’ British
Birds 1863/67. Over 350 colour illustrations.
Reasonable condition considering age. Box No.
65 c/o Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford
MK44 3NJ. (BB203)
BIRD PAINTINGS. Originals from £15.
Illustrated catalogue from: BIRDERS, 46
Westleigh Drive, Sonning Common, Reading,
RG4 9LB. (BB210)
NICKEL SUPRA 15-60 X 60 telescope plus case
£85.0736 2907. (BB212)
BIRD JOURNAL BACKNUMBERS SUP-
PLIED. (BB, Bird Study, County Reports etc)
Morgan, Whitmore, Umberleigh, Devon.
(BB226)
HERTEL & REUSS tele-variabel telescope
25-60 X 60. Good condition £60 ono. Tel: (0733)
23 13 15 evenings. (BB227)
BUSHNELL DISCOVERER. Mint condition.
£120. Plus Canon SLR fittings offers. 0452 28571
evenings. (BB229)
BRITISH WARBLERS & GARDEN BIRDS
are two, hour-long stereo cassettes in a series of 5
titles. Only £3.25 each inch p&p. SAE details. i
Also, Parabolic Reflector specially designed for
recording birdsong. Hand or tripod mounting.
£26 incl p&p. SAE details. Richard Margoschis,
80 Mancetter Rd, Atherstone CV9 1NH.
(BB 1 77)
HABICHT 10 X 40 Binoculars and case. Superb
condition £155 (cost new £239). Whitstable
275189. (BB125)
HAWKINS, Winit, Tecnic, Bogtrotters, walking
boots and shoes. Sprayway waterproofs, SAE for
brochure. B. Timson, 1 1 1 Hinckley Road, Earl :l
Shilton, Leicester. (BB135)
Breeding Birds of Great Britain
and Ireland
A Fieldguide Companion
A set of 7 laminated cards in a handy
plastic wallet (120 mms X 75 mms)
225 breeding birds covered
• Laying period • No. of Broods • No. of
Eggs *Size and Shape • Incubation days
• Colour • Location of nest.
only IR£2.50/Stg£2
(post free anywhere in U.K. /Ireland)
Send cheque, P.O., money order to: Barvane Ltd.,
2 Cloughcarrigeen, Kilsheelan, Clonmel,
Co. Tipperary, Ireland.
BINOCULAR AND TELESCOPES. Send for
free colour brochure: Dept Bl, Sherwoods
Binocular Centre, 11-13 Western Arcade,
Birmingham B2 5HU. (BB151)
BRITISH BIRD VOCABULARY. A twelve-
cassette series of a 6 vois. in book/album form
(127 species, 710 examples). Reduced prices for
remaining sets. Also single cassette Sound
Guides. SAE to Lewis, Rosehill House, Lvonshall
HR5 3HS. ( BB 141)
HERTS
TELESCOPES
KOWA
TS1
TS2
TSN1
£219.00
20x w/a
25x
£26.00
40x
OPTOLYTH
30 x 75
£229.00
30x80
£263.00
DISCOVERER
15-60x60
£193.00
TELEMASTER
15-60x60
£224.25
SPACEMASTER
Body only
£122.00
+ zoom
£171.50
BINOCULARS
OPTOLYTH ALPIN
!0x40 £122.00
8x40 £119.00
8x30 £109.00
ZEISS WEST
8x20B £152.50
10x40BGA £345.00
LEITZ
8x20 £199.85
lOx 40B £412.93
SWIFT AUDUBON £141 50
OSPREY £111.50
HABICHT
WSL/M7 x 42 £225.00
WSL/M 10x40 £255 00
WRAY
6x30 £55.oo
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XXIV
The OPTICROM difference is
QUALITY and PRICE.
For those who wish to own the "BEST'' quality binocular,
to obtain greater pleasure and enjoyment from looking at
birds in clearer and sharper detail, we recommend you to
assess and compare our own new 9 x 35 Elite binocular.
Auailable exclusively from Opticron
Because this is an Opticron binocular, the combined optical
performance of the high resolution and light transmission,
coupled with the incredibly large depth of field, contrast and
natural colours may only be equalled by other makes, but
never surpassed. It is small and compact. The weight is only
24 oz. and has a wide field of view of 375 ft. at 1000 yds. Will
focus down to approximately 12 ft. Fitted with fold-down rubber
eyecups for spectacle wearers. Supplied in a de-luxe hard case
and is guaranteed for life against any manufacturing defects.
And the price is only £157.00. Sent to you for 14 days approval,
upon receipt of full remittance. Access, send or phone details.
Leaflets and price list on all other high quality Opticron
products and others, available upon request.
Should you, however, wish to judge for yourself and compare
this binocular with other makes, thus seeing how all binoculars
should be, our showroom is open Tuesdays to Saturdays 8.30 to
5.30 pm inclusive.
TELESCOPES
For those, whose interest is in zoom telescopes only we are now able to offer the
very best, with our guarantee that these out perform all other makes with 60mm
objectives, including most of the popular fixed magnification of other makes.
Just phone or send for details.
OPTICRON
P.O. Box 81, Unit 6, Marlborough Trading Estate
25 Lattimore Road, St. Albans, Herts. ALI 3NT
I Telephone: St. Albans (0727) 56516 (D369)
British Birds
Volume 78 Number 3 March 1985
123
139
139
140
142
143
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
150
152
Identifying the smaller shearwaters W. F. Curtis , P. A. Lassey
D. I. M. Wallace
PhotoSpot 9 Knot John Marchant
Seventy-five years ago . . .
Mystery photographs 99 Lesser Sand Plover S. C. Madge
Notes
Aberrant Slavonian Grebe Bernard King
‘Natural* hazard causing death of Sparrowhawk R. A. Reese
Shell-dropping by Ospreys Yossi Leshem
Role of male Kestrel during incubation C. G. Packham
Identification of a first-winter Sora K.E. Vinicombe
Foraging and hunting efficiency ofCaspian Tern Rob G. Bijlsma
Several ‘adult* Common Terns attempting to feed juvenile Dr Kenneth C. Parkes
House Martins’ nests on ships I. G. Johnson; David B. Collinge; David S. Melville
Territorial behaviour of Ring Ouzels Ian Appleyard
Orphean Warbler in Stilly J. M. Turton and P. K. Greaves
Carrion Crow taking seabird eggs John McKee
Feeding methods of coastal Carrion Crows P.J. Dunn
Letters
1 52 A possible reason why pigeons and other birds sometimes swim The late C. A. Whitt
152 Call of Pallid Swift Dr E. K. Dunn and M. G. Wilson
1 53 Requests for reprints Alistair Hill; P.J. Grant
Announcements
154 Christmas Whisky Puzzle
1 54 Birds of southern Africa in colour
155 ‘BWP’ reminder
155 £30 off‘BWP I-IV*. An exclusive offer to ‘BB’ subscribers
Requests
155 Colour-marked and wing-tagged Eiders Martin Heubeck
1 55 Colour-marked birds: a reminder
1 55 ‘Why hasn't my January issue arrived?’
156 Birds of Upper Volta Yves Thormerieux
1 56 Readership Survey
1 56 News and comment Robin Prytherch and Mike Everett
1 6 1 Recent reports Ian Dawson and Keith Allsopp
Reviews
1 65 Bird Navigation: the solution of a mystery? by R. Robin Baker Robert Spencer
165 Bird Island: pictures from a skoal of sand by Lars Jonsson Hilary Bum
1 66 Ocean Birds: their breeding, biology and behaviour by Lars Lofgrcn Dr Mike Harris
Line-drawings: 123 shearwaters (D. I M. Wallace); 161 Black- necked Grebe {David Daly)
163 Desert Whcatear {D Nurruy )
Front cover: Wintering thrushes (D. R. Powell): the original drawing of this month's cc
( 1 8.2 X 20.5 cm) is for sale in a postal auction (see page 56 in the January issue for procedure)
British Birds
Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock
Personal Assistant Sheila D. Cobban Assistant Editors David Christie & P. J. Grant
Editorial /ftwr/ Stanley Cramp, P. J. Grant, Dr M. A. Ogilvie & Dr J. T. R. Sharrock
Photographic Consultants Dr R. J. Chandler & Don Smith
Rarities Committee P. J. Grant (Chairman), D. J. Britton, A. R. Dean, R. H. Dennis,
D. J. Holman, T. P. Inskipp, P. G. Lansdown, S. C. Madge, R. F. Porter & K. E.
Vinicombe; Michael J. Rogers (Honorary Secretary)
Notes Panels behaviour Dr C. J. Bibby, Dr J. J. M. Flegg, Dr C. H. Fry,
Derek Goodwin, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock & Dr K. E. L. Simmons;
identification P. J. Grant, S. C. Madge, Dr M. A. Ogilvie & Dr J. T. R. Sharrock
© British Birds Ltd 1985
Copyright of photographs remains with
photographers. British Birds is
published monthly by British Birds Ltd,
93 High Street, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire
ISSN 0007-0335
Publishing Manager,
Production & Promotion
Dr J. T. R. Sharrock
Circulation Manager
Erika Sharrock
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Advertising Mrs Sandra Barnes, BB Advertising, c/o Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham,
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Bird news Jor 'Recent reports ’Ian Dawson & Keith Allsopp, c/o RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy,
Bedfordshire self) 2dl. Phone (outside office hours): Huntingdon (0480) 214186.
News items for ‘ News and comment' Mike Everett & Robin Prytherch, 7 Burlington Way,
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Rarity descriptions M. J. Rogers, Flat 4, Pentland Flats, St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly
tr21 Ohy
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£
Dialyt 8 x 20 B
155.00
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Phone
Standard or close focus
for price
Dialyt 7x42 BGAT
369.00
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410.00
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Trinovid 10x40 BA
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CARL ZEISS JENA
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57.95
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88.95
OPTQLYTH
Alpin 8 x 30
119.00
Alpin 8 x 40
129.00
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150.00
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239.00
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269.00
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197.60
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Explorer 7 x 35
105.00
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We also stock Swift, Kowa, Bresser,
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TELESCOPES
Spacemaster Zoom
£
179.00
Spacemaster 22 x 60
154 95
Eye Pieces 15x to 60x
2900
Camera Adaptor
22.00
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Mirador 15x-60 x 60
174.95
(Discoverer)
174.95
Camera Adaptor
14.00
Case for Mirador
15.00
Kowa TS-1 Body
119 00
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99.00
New27xWA
33.95
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16.00
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Optolyth 30 x 75
239.00
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273.00
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179.00
Habicht 30x75
339.00
Mirador 30x75
139.00
Steiner 24x80
212.95
Bausch & Lomb
Criterion 4000
Mirror Scope Body only
399.00
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TRIPODS & ACCESSORIES
£
Slik Gazelle 28.95
Slik 35S 34 95
Slik 35D 38 95
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Slik Tripod Case 876
Car Window Mount 17.00
Universal Mount 17.50
Binocular Lanyards, leather 2.00
Rainguards from 1.00
SECOND HAND INSTRUMENTS
Swift T elemaster 1 5x60x60 1 39.00
Televari 25x60x60 69 00
Schimdt & Bender 15x60x60 99.00
Leitz 8x42B 229.00
West Zeiss 8x50B 259.00
West Zeiss 8x56 BGA 359.00
Leitz 10x22 99 00
All equipment sent on 14 days
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We are 10 mins walk from High Barnet
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For top quality high power observation the Criterion can be used with
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Prices correct 5.3.85
Please add £2.00 if ordering by mail.
BINOCULARS AND TELESCOPES
REPAIRED ON THE PREMISES
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Dram 3
( A member of the Field &Trek Grou£ '
I
Compare our prices . . .
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BINOCULARS
Please addC2.00
p&p on all orders
HERON 8x40 BWCF £37.25
CARL ZEISS 10x40 B DIAL YT
(Hard Case) £358.80
CARL ZEISS 10x40 BGA
(Soft Case) Close Focus £364.35
LEITZ 10x40B
(Hard Case) £376.00
OPTOLYTH 8x40GA
(Soft Case) £129.00
OPTOLYTH 10x40GA
(Soft Case) £132.00
HABICHT DIANA
10x40 „
£239.95^<5\C£
]
MIRADOR 8x40BCF £46.55
SWIFT TRILYTE 10x40 Roof
Prism £106.95
SWIFT AUDOBON 8 5 x 44 £145.30
SWIFT GRAND PRIX 8x40 Mkll
£86.10
ZEISS JENOPTEM 8x30 £48.75
ZEISS JENOPTEM 10x50 £80.40
■^►-TELESCOPES
SCHMIDT & BENDER 15x60x60
£149.95
-
iS wo.pri'enl^ Adv,ce
\^^S^ep0S'0r'°
MIRADOR 15 x 60x 60"
(Similar to Discoverer) £179.95
BUSHNELL DISCOVERER"
15-60x60 £194.95
OPTOLYTH 30 x 75 £239.00
BUSHNELL SPACEMASTER with
ZOOM" £179.00
"no case
_
1
[A
HERON OPTICAL COMPANY
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Tel. (0277) 233122 (Mail Order) 222230 (Showroom)
TAKE FLIGHT
Explore the East and its exotic birdlife with experienced escorts. Twickers World takes
you on the Southern India Wildlife and Beaches tour in search of the majestic osprey,
and 250 species of birds. A memorable mixture of lazy days on sandy beaches and
exciting jungle explorations. 15 days, leaving 16 November 1985. £1,800.
Heather Angel leads the Camera in China tour, created especially for photographers.
Capture the beauty of a bird on the wing against an autumn backdrop. Indulge your
cultural and aesthetic sensibilities for 22 days, leaving 29 September 1985. £2,385.
Tony Pym takes you to Papua New Guinea in search of the 33 species of Birds of
Paradise to be found on the island. 18 exotic days, leaving 27 July 1985, £3,295.
Harry Llewellyn is your escort on the India Riding,
Wildlife and Cultural Safari. The beautiful Bharatpur
Bird Sanctuary is one of the many highlights in 1 7 days of
discovery. Departs 29 November 1985 and 31 January
1986. £1,559.
Our ornithologist shows you the sheer concentration of
birdlife on the Sri Lanka Wildlife and Cultural 'Lour. 16
days in paradise, leaving 21 July 1985. £1,245.
Phone Jor our worldwide brochure.
Twickers World
•WILDLIFE, CULTURAL & WILDERNESS JOURNEYS-
Twickers World Brochure — 01-892 8164.
22 Church Street. Twickenham TW1 3NW. Tel: 01-892 7606. Telex: 25780
11
iinoculars & Telescopes
from Charles Frank
^ the optical experts
iRLES
NK
DCULARS
CHARLES
FRANK
TELESCOPES
X
Bushnell
BINOCULARS
7 x 26 Custom
Compact, lloz 109.95
to our own specifics
nd bearing our name,
line instruments offer
inding value All are
ed with case and carry
:ar guarantee.
DARD RANGE
7CF
32.95
7CF
36.95
7CF
39.95
)ZCF
42.95
N LABEL
wide angle.
Multi-
1 lenses. Close locus-
3WCF
79.95
)BWCF
82.95
JBWCF
89.95
PRISM
mini
69.95
Tnew
94.50
[wide angle
97.50
) J models
99.50
armoured
92.50
RIER
rw high quality roof
n binocular. Cow hide
0 139.50
40 149.50
RIES
angle. Fully coated
71.00
0 71.00
RVATION
noculars for use on a
0BCF - super bright
160.00
0BCF - hiqh power
137.50
1-clamp 3.95
14-45x50 73.45
20-60 x 60 99.95
30x75 169.95
7.5 x 42 Osprey armoured
(no case). 109.50
8.5 x 44 Audubon HR 141.50
All otherSwift models
available.
UIU
Quite simply, the best Roof
prism binoculars that give
crystal clear vision Guar-
anteed for 30 years.
8 x 20B
miniature, 6oz. 155.00
10 x 25B
miniature, 6. 7oz. 171.50
8 x 30B Dialyt 316.50
8 x 30BGA/CF
Dialyt armoured 319.50
7 x 42BGAT"
Dialyt'armoured 369.50
8 x 56BGAT"
Dialyt armoured 449.50
10 x40BT’ Dialyt 358.00
10 x 40BGAT* Dialyt
armoured (standard or
short focus model) 364.00
OPTOLYTH
>4LP1N
TELESCOPES
Spacemaster Zoom
20-45x60 194.00
Spacemaster
22x60wideangle 162.00
Spacemaster case 18.50
Discoverer
15-60x60 198.00
Discoverer case 16.50
□
■ HIM
HELIOS(Russian)
Difficult to fault at the price.
8 x 30ZCF 21.95
7 x 50ZCF 29.95
10 x 50ZCF 39.95
12 x 40ZCF 32.95
8 x 30 monocular 11.95
Case (extra) 3.25
20 x 50 telescope 24.50
(Nikon)
Binoculars to match the high
reputation of their cameras.
8 x 30wideangle 167.50
10 x 35wideangle 189.50
9 x 30 roof prism 204.50
8x35Action' 121.00
10 x 50 Action' 151.50
Habicht
Precision made in the Aus-
trian Tyrol. Highly recom-
mended
10 x 40 WM Diana 239.00
SL range.
Rubber cushioned. No case.
7 X 42 WSL/M 245.00
10 x 40WSL/M 275.00
Light as a feather- well al-
most. West German made
armoured binoculars.
Ideal for spectacle wearers
8 x 40 - 17oz. 129.00
10 x 40 wide-17oz. 132.00
10 x 50 - 23oz. 150.00
All other sizes available.
TELESCOPES
30 x 75 239.00
30 x 80 273.00
TELESCOPES
30 x 75NZG Focusing range
8m - °° 325.00
30 x 75G Focusing range
20m - °° 249.00
20-60 x 65. 264.95
(©Charles Frank
The Optical Experts
r .] t n a~j
Wide angle binoculars with a
lifetime guarantee.
8 x 30Deltrintem 57.50
7 x 50 Jenoptem 76.50
10 x 50Jenoptem 79.95
10x50Dekarem 95.50
Nobilem8x50B 187.75
8 x 30 Deltrintmo
monocular 51.95
OTHER MONOCULARS
Tohyoh 8 x 30 19.95
Tohyoh 7 x 50 25.95
Tohyoh 10x50 26.95
Lumex 8 x 20
roof prism 52.95
Lumex 8 x 24
'Miniscope' 34.95
ACCESSORIES
A good telescope deserves a
good tripod This one is
super
Silk Master D2 full height
One action pan/tilt Weighs
only2.5kg 59.50
Car window mount 24.95
Table top tripods, binocular
/tripod adaptors, always
available
Binocular & telescope brief-
ing pack available - just
send 35p stamps
Charles Frank Service Dept.
Binocular cleaning &
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All prices include VAT Post-
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1/9/84 but liable to altera-
tions.
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HEAD OFFICE
PO Box 5, Ronald Lane,
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IP17 2NL. Tel: 0728 3506.
Norwich Camera Centre
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Norwich. Tel: 0603 621704
Kay Gee Cameras
13 The Poultry,
Nottingham.
Tel: 0602 506323
Edinburgh Cameras
57 Lothian Rd, Edinburgh.
Tel: 031 229 3363 (D479j
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Importers
BOOKS
Century Optical Co. Ltd.,
3 Manor House Drive,
ON BIRDS
London NW6 7DE.
Tel: 01-451 1351.
No House Calls.
Catalogue on request
The famous telescopes made in
West Germany
WHELDON &
WESLEY LIMITED
LYTTON LODGE
B. Nickel 15-60x w. case
CODICOTE
£143.75
Nr. HITCHIN
HERTS. SG4 8TE
Televari 25-60x w. case
•
£149.50
Tel. Stevenage (0438) 820370
Suitable for telephotography
(D269)
and astronomy. (D460)
WHY
WILDLIFE
WARMS
TO
ICELAND
Despite its name, most*
of Iceland has a
temporate climate. ^
Hence the 100,000 square kilometres 'V'Y" k * '
of green orchids and hot springs, ringed seals and smoking volcanoes,
arctic foxes and harlequin ducks, geysers and gyrfalcons, killer whales
and waterfalls - and 10 million pairs of puffins.
Iceland is nature’s meeting place.
But for humans, there are comfortable hotels, good camp sites
and plenty of self-drive hire cars.
For FREE Information Kit, please ring or write to the Iceland
Tourist Information Bureau, 73 Grosvenor Street, London
W1X9DD. Tel: 01-499 9971.
20 Million Puffins can’t be wrong.
(D484)
ICELANDAIR
IV
“Very balanced, comfortable to hold
and superb optical performance.
One of the finest binoculars for
hunting and
ve have come
* COUNTRY SPORT November 1983
ornithology,
general use
Swift Osprey 7.5 x 42 Binoculars
tdenbridge, Ke..*,
Telephone: Edenbridge
864111 (8 lines)
“Optically these
binoculars are
superb. Resolv
fine details as
well as any
binoculars I have
used. There is no
indication of
colour fringes
or any other
distortion at
the edge of the
field of view ,
nor is there
any colour
cast ”
BRITISH BIRDS 1984
v
Cygnus Wildlife
Holidays
Escorted birdwatching tours
to 18 exciting destinations
in 1985:
A few places still available on our
superb Kenya Tour 6-22 Aug. We have
designed this tour as an ideal intro-
duction to East Africa but the inclusion
of Mount Kenya, Samburu, Lake
Baringo, Masai Mara and Lake
Naivasha in the itinerary should ensure
that there will be plenty of new birds in
store even if you have already been
lucky enough to visit Kenya before.
For further details contact:
Paul Dukes
96 Fore Street, Kingsbridge,
Devon TQ7 1PY.
Tel: 0548 6178. (D486)
FIRECREST
TELESCOPES AND
BINOCULARS
Choose from 20 scopes and over
40 binoculars
From Alpin, Bushnell, Helios,
Kowa, Mirador, Opticron,
Optolyth, Panorama, Swift,
Televari, Zeiss Jena
Fast mail order service.
Easy access to M6 & M62.
Callers welcome.
14 day approval.
N.B. Closed for holidays from 17.5.85
to 31.5.85 inclusive.
For details ring
Pam or Cliff Gibson on
(0925) 81 7874 or write to:
FIRECREST
8 Chapelcross Road, Fearnhead,
Warrington, Cheshire WA2 OPP.
(D465)
KAY OPTICAL SERVICING
FOR BINOCULARS AND TELESCOPES
Service to the Naturalist for over 23 years
SALES (some examples). Prices correct 1 .3.85
BINOCULARS
£
10x40 WSL/M*
269
Zeiss (West)
10x50 WSL/M*
294
8x20BDialyt
153
Hartmann
10x25B Dialyt
165
Compact 8 x 30
197
8x30BGATDialyt
305
Compact 8 x 40
234
lOx 40 BGAT Dialyt
340
Compact 10x40
234
7x42BGATDialyt
365
Compact 7x42
247
Zeiss (Jena)
Magnon8x20RP
69
1 0 x 40B Notarem
139
Piccolino8x21 RP
66
Swift
TELESCOPES
7Vz x42 Osprey*
110
Optolyth 30 x 75 BGA
239
8V2 x 44 Audubon
145
Optolyth 30 x 80 BGA
273
Leitz
Optima S60 (30 x 60)*
135
8x32BA Trinovid
369
Piccolo (eg: 40x60)*
90
8x40BA Trinovid
408
Piccolo 20-60 x 60*
120
7 x42BA Trinovid
418
Opticron 20-60 x 60*
134
Habicht (Swarovski)
Opticron 20-60 x 60 (450°)*
141
10x40 WM Diana
239
Mirador 15-60x60
175
7x42 WSL/M*
239
Kowa TSN-1 (25x77)
250
MAIL/PHONE ORDER SERVICE (Access and Visa). Add £2.50 pp. N° case/Pouch
REPAIRS to all types of instruments carried out on the premises. Estimates free. Px possible.
89B London Roadf, Morden, Surrey. Telephone: 01-648 8822 (24 Hour).
fThe A24. We are opposite the Midland Bank.
(D483)
NOW
FULLY
WATER
RESISTANT
The new Habicht 10 x 40 WM
(formerly the “Diana”) is the latest
in the line of thoroughbred
WM binoculars which have proved so
popular with bird watchers, and which
gained the “Excellent” rating from
British Birds magazine. Other models
in this range are the Habicht 8 x 30
and 7 x 42, all individually tested
for optical performance, mechanical
excellence and moisture proofing by
total immersion in 1 meter of water.
Sole UK Distributor:
Pyser Ltd, Fircroft
Way Edenbridge,
Kent, TN8 6HA
Ttelephone:
Edenbridge
(0732) 864111
(8 lines)
VI 1
ViSiTOUR
SPOONBillS
Dutch Ornithological Tours organises interesting
and well guided birdstudy-holidayweeks in The
Netherlands with full board in hotel or inn. You will
discover our rich and varied turdworld in an intensive
and instructive way. In our friendly and nice low-
lands we have an avifauna which does not have its
equal in North Western Europe: colonies of
Cormorant and Spoonbill, Bittern, Great White
Egret, Little Bittern, Purple Heron, Red Crested
Pochard, Marsh-, Hen- and Montagu's Harrier,
Avocet, Ruff, Little GuM, Sandwich-, Little- and
Black Tern, Black Woodpecker. Golden Oriole,
Savi’s Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Bluethroat,
Bearded Tit. Write or phone DOT, Purmer 70, 8244
AT Lelystad, Holland, phone: 01031320061 110.
Name
Address
Country
Please send me the interesting use a stamped
and free DOT-brochure envelope please
(D433)
Birdwatcher’s
Logbook
New Edition
The second edition of the Birdwatcher’s
Logbook contains a list of 762 species
with their scientific names and new
sections for garden birds and dates of
migrants. 36 pages of monthly columns,
plus columns for holidays, annual and
life lists and 1 59 pages for daily records.
208 pages in attractively bound cover
22 X 14cms. Price £4.95 including
postage and packing. From:
Coxton Publications ,
23 West Hill Rd,
Foxton, Cambridge CB2 6SZ.
(D373)
QUALITY FIRST
FREE FIELD TRIAL
Send no money — just your name, address and phone No.
and we ll send you the "Super 60" with any eyepiece.
Compare it with any other instrument and if it doesn’t
outperform all others — send it back. But. it you agree it's the
best then simply send us your remittance.
OPTIMA "SUPER 60” BIRD WATCHER S SCOPE
Guaranteed to have better resolution than any other scope
available selling up to £200.00 Lifetime guarantee.
★ WITH INTERCHANGEABLE EYEPIECES
★ YOU CHOOSE THE MAGNIFICATION
£135.00 INCL. CHOICE OF
ONE EYEPIECE
15x, 20x, 30x, 40x, 50x, or 60x . Supplied with one
eyepiece of your choosing. Any other available as oplional extra.
Only £15.00 each
★ FOCUSES DOWN TO AN INCREDIBLE 5m-
at any magnification
Objective lens diameter: 60mm Focus range: 5 metres to infinity.
Overall length 345mm (with eyepiece). Net weight: 1.280kgs.
(21b 13oz). Finish: Rubber armoured cover. SLR Camera adaptor
kit (specify model) to be used with 15x eyepiece £23.45
Pouch for Super 60 £9.50
T-mounl adaptor £5.95
Floor Tripod £35.00
Car window suction mount .... £15.99
Deferred Payment
terms available
Please write tor details
and application form
MON-FRI 10am-5pm SAT 9am-12 noon.
PERSONAL CALLERS WELCOME
All optical components fully coaled. Mail Order or personal
callers welcome Prices fully inclusive of VAT & p&p. ins. etc. All
fully guaranteed. Immediate Despatch. Full refund if not delighted
upon receipt. Send cheque/PO with order to Dept WF9/84
THE COMPACT LIGHTWEIGHT ALPIN RANGE
10 x 50BGA ALPIN
10 x 40BGA ALPIN
8 x 40BGA ALPIN
8 x 30BGA ALPIN
12 x 50BGA ALPIN
Our price: £150.00, incl soft case.
Our price: £132.00, Incl. soft case.
Our price: £129.00, incl. soft case.
Our price: £119.00 incl. soft case.
Our price: £153.00, incl soft case.
Should you prefer hard case, please add £12.50 for Black
Texon (available only for 7 x 42, 8 x 40 and 10 x 40) or
£25 for brown leather.
Optplyth case included 30 x 75GA £239.00
Case included 30 x 80 GA £273.00
Bushnell Discoverer 15-60 x 60 £185.00
Bushnell Spacemaster 20-45 x 60 £180.00
Additional Eyepieces 15, 20, 22WA, 25, 40 £37.50
Osprey Bird Watcher’s Coat, made from strong wax cotton
Field olive. Sizes. Gents 36-44in Ladies 34-42in £55.00
BINOCULARS
ZEISS WEST
8 x 20B Dialyt with pouch
1 0 x 25B Dialyt with pouch ,
8 x 30B Dialyt with case
8 x 30BGA Dialyt with pouch ..
7 x 42BGA Dialyt with case
8 x 56BGA Dialyt with case
10 x 40B Dialyt with case
10 x 40BGA Dialyt with pouch
15 x 60 Porro
£153.50
£170.00
£312.00
£310.00
£369.50
£453.00
£353.00
£360.00
£660.00
LEITZ — Models available.
OPTIMA LEISURE PRODUCTS Ltd Gilnow Mill Spa Road
Bolton Lancs BL1 4LF Tel: (0204) 386899 Telex: 63114
FOCALPOINT
Specialists in the finest binoculars and
telescopes for birdwatchers
Telephone Northwich (0606) 891 098 1 4 Cogshall Lane
Comberbach
Northwich
Cheshire, CW9 6BS
77mm TSN Telescopes from Kowa
These superb new telescopes from Kowa combine a unique selection of outstanding features.
• Dust and water resistant.
• The first top quality large objective glass (77mm) telescope with interchangeable eyepieces.
• Image 60% brighter than on the already excellent 60mm TS1 & TS2 models.
• Unique bayonet fit high resolution eyepieces with long eye-relief and fold down rubber eye-
cup for the spectacle wearer.
• Extra close minimum focus of 20 feet.
• Built in sliding lenshood.
• Choice of straight through (TSN-2) or 45° angled (TSN-1 ) body types.
• Optical photo-attachment (any 35mm S.L.R. camera)
Full details can be obtained from FOCALPOINT, but due to the incredible demand the whole
system is in short supply until May.
Prices are within the £200-£300 range.
60mm Kowa TS Telescopes
The original value for money telescopes. The number one choice in fixed magnification, high
quality instruments at a budget price. Renown throughout the world for quality.
BODIES
TS1 (45° angled, length 1 7 ins. weight 48 ozs) 1 25.00
TS2 (straight length 1 7 ins, weight 41 ozs) 1 08.00
TS6 (compact straight length 1 0.25 ins, weight 33 ozs) 1 25.00
(A case is included in these prices!)
EYEPIECES
15x
32.00
25 x
26.00
40 x
30.25
20 x W/A
32.50
25 x H R.
29.50
60 x
33.75
20 x H R.
35.50
27 x W/A
35.50
105x
35.75
(NEW)
The Kowa range of optics are imported by Arthur E. S. Matthews Ltd. The whole range of 77mm
and 60mm telescopes and binoculars can be field tested at FOCALPOINT, 14 Cogshall Lane
Comberbach, Northwich, Cheshire CW9 6BS. (To whom all enquiries should be directed).
Telephone Tony or Enid Murphy on 0606 891 098 for further details. (D480)
i\
Outstandi;
Built li
Bushnell and Bausch & Lomb are
names synonymous with quality optics
and dependable performance. From a
wide range of models you’ll find
the ideal telescope or binoculars
to suit your bird watching needs.
Here are just a few:
Bushnell Explorer® II
8 x 40 Wide Angle Insta-Focus
Precision polished optics
provide a clear, bright image
'‘field of
across a very wide
view with excellent depth of
field and good performance
in low light conditions.
( '. . . optically this Bushnell is a
super instrument’. British Birds,
May 1984). INSTA-FOCUS® is a quick,
easy way of focusing, ideal in cold
conditions when gloves need to be
worn, ( ... a very fine method of focusing feifc
British Birds, May 1984). SQUINT-PRUF ■
filters cut through haze and early
morning fog.
Bushnell Custom Compact 7X26 Centre Focus
The perfect binocular for people on the move. Miniaturised to make every ouna
count but offering the same power and clarity as
standard sizes.
Designed to prevent eyestrain,
compensate for differing eye strengtl
and to adjust for wide-set eyes.
As with the Bushnell Explorer, /
the Custom Compact has It
SQUINT-PRUF filters and roll
down rubber eye cups which
are ideal for spectacle weare:1
Focuses down to 12 feet. Just
one of a range of Bushnell
compacts.
Height 33/s'. Weight 11 oz.
Field of view 368 tt at 1000 yards
Exit pupil 3.7mm
lg Optics
i Last
hnell Space master® Prismatic
•scope
standard thread tripod mount. ( ‘The
Bushnell Spacemaster is excellent value
for money’ British Birds, April 1985).
36oz
' finest
our-
rected, fully coated
ics for clarity, brilliance
I eye comfort. Easy to handle and
heavier than some binoculars. Six
d power and one zoom inter-
ngeable eyepieces together with
y adaptation to an SLR telephoto
5 make this an excellent partner for
i watching and photography,
iitional features include SQUINT-
JF filters, fast fingertip focusing and
20 year Guarantee
As an expression of our confidence in
the materials and mechanical
workmanship of our products, Bushnell
binoculars and telescopes are
unquestionably guaranteed to be free
from defects in material and
workmanship for a period of 20 years
under original ownership.
BUSHHELL
division of BAUSCH & LOMB
i
For details of the Bushnell and Bausch & Lomb range, and the
address of your nearest stockist, complete and return this slip.
Name:
Address:
Postcode
Send to: Bausch & Lomb UK Ltd., 74 Oldfield Road,
Hampton, Middx. TW12 2HR.
I
#l
Zeiss 10X40B/GAT*
The closer focusing Dialyt.
^ ^v/ A truly short-focusing binocular,
£SH with a minimum focusing distance of
only 5j metres and special ‘B’ eyepieces
lifting unrestricted viewing with or without spectacles,
le multi-layer anti-reflection Tcoating gives excellent image
'ast and superior light transmission at dawn and dusk,
jd to these features the easy-grip rubber armour (complete
rainguard), light-weight, sturdiness and dependability, and
lave a binocular unsurpassed in quality and performance.
idard 10X40B/GAT* and 10X40B T* models also available.
The name makes the difference
The difference made the name
Ask for the birdwatchers’ popul
choice. . .9901
Carl Zeiss
(Oberkochen) Ltd
PO Box 78
Woodfield Road
Welwyn Garden City
Herts. AL7 1LU
Telephone
(0707)331144
ZEIS
West Germc
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British Birds
VOLUME 78 NUMBER 4 APRIL 1985
Binoculars and
telescopes survey
m
1-
n '
/
' u
=L
19,
i
!1
P.J. Grant and J. T. R. Sharrock
This is our third survey of British Birds readers' usage of binoculars and
telescopes (previous surveys were in 1978 and 1982: Brit. Birds 71:
429-439; 76: 155-161). On this occasion, a total of 1,338 birdwatchers
completed the questionnaire in our August 1 984 issue, giving details of their
1,362 pairs of binoculars, and the 1,146 telescope-owners gave details of
their 1,148 telescopes.
All birdwatchers own at least one pair of binoculars. Among the more
experienced and dedicated birdwatchers (those likely to be British Birds
readers), telescope ownership has been increasing very greatly. In 1978,
64% of British Birds readers owned a telescope; this had risen to 81% by
1982; and to 86% by 1984. The habit of owning and constantly using a
telescope will also have been taken up by a smaller but probably very
significant proportion of less dedicated birdwatchers. This has not been the
only change. Indeed, we have been very surprised to discover how many
changes there have been in only two years. It is clear that birdwatchers not
only demand very high standards from their optical equipment, but are also
prepared to spend a lot of money changing to what they consider will be a
superior model.
Thus, there will clearly be a lot of band-wagon-jumping or follow ing of
current fashions: an already popular binocular or telescope will tend to
become more popular, provided that its current owners like it and praise it
when they meet fellow birdwatchers in the field. This is not to be depre-
cated, since it makes obvious common sense for any purchaser to buy what
is already widespread and tried-and-tested. It is, however, also clear that
fashions can change rather quickly, and that a new' model can, by word-of-
[Hru. Birds 78: 167-175. April 1985]
167
168
Binoculars and telescopes survey 1985
Table 1. Most popular binoculars
The binoculars most frequently owned by knowledgeable birdwatchers in 1984
Position
(1982
position) Make & model
1982
(%)
Now
(%)
1st
(1)
ZEISS WEST Dialyt 10X40B
15.4
20.7
2nd
(2)
ZEISS JENA Jenoptem 10x50
14.2
13.1
3rd
(3)
SWIFT Audubon 8.5X44
7.7
7.0
4th
(4)
LEITZ Trinovid 10X40B
5.7
4.8
5 th
(10)
OPTOLYTH Alpin 10x50
1.8
3.5
6th
(5)
MIRADOR 10X40
3.6
3.2
7th
(6)
ZEISS JENAJenoptem 8x30
3.0
3.0
8th
(9)
LEITZ Trinovid 8X40B
2.1
2.7
9th—
(10)
OPTOLYTH Alpin 10x40
1.8
2.6
9th-
(8)
ZEISS JENA Notarem 10X40B
2.5
2.6
11th
(12)
HABICHT Diana 10X40
1.5
2.3
12th
(H)
ZEISSJENA Dekarem 10X50
1.6
1.5
13th
(-)
ROSS Stepruva 9x 35
—
1.0
14th-
(-)
SWIFT Trilyte 10X40B
—
0.9
14th-
(-)
OPTOLYTH Alpin 8x40
—
0.9
16th
(7)
SWIFT Newport 10x50
2.8
0.8
17th-
(-)
SWIFT Osprey 7.5X42
—
0.7
17th-
(-)
PENT AX 8X40
—
0.7
All others
36.3
28.0
Table 2. Most highly rated binoculars
Performance of binoculars as rated by their owners.
Performance rating: 6 = excellent, 5 = very good, 4 = good, 3 = satisfactory, 2 = poor, 1 = very poor
(1982 Performance rating Average per-
Position
position) Make & model
6
5
4
3 2
1 formance rating
1st
(2)
LEITZ Trinovid 8X40B
34
3
Excellent
5.92
2nd
(3)
LEITZ Trinovid 10X40B
57
8
1
Excellent
5.82
3rd
(1)
ZEISS WEST Dialyt 10X4OB
229
53
Excellent
5.81
4th
(5)
HABICHT Diana 10x40
22
10
Excellent
5.69
5th
(4)
OPTOLYTH Alpin 10X50
32
13
3
Excellent
5.60
6th
(-)
OPTOLYTH Alpin 8X40
7
4
1
Excellent
5.50
7th
(8)
OPTOLYTH Alpin 10x40
17
18
1
. Very good
5.44
8th
(-)
SWIFT Osprey 7.5x42
3
6
1
. Very good
5.20
9th
(7)
ZEISSJENA Dekarem 10X50
5
13
2
. Very good
5.15
10th
(9)
ZEISS JENA Notarem 10X40B
10
22
3
1
. Very good
5.11
11th
(-)
ROSS Stepruva 9x35
3
8
2
. Very good
5.08
12 th
(10)
ZEISS JENA Jenoptem 10x50
36
109
29
4
V ery good
4.99
13th
(11)
SWIFT Audubon 8.5x44
18
53
18
5 1
Very good
4.86
14th
(14)
ZEISS JENA Jenoptem 8x30
5
26
9
1
. V ery good
4.85
15th
(12)
MIRADOR 10X40
6
23
11
3 1
. Very good
4.68
16th
(13)
SWIFT Newport 10X50
7
2
2
Good
4.45
17th
(-)
PENTAX 8x40
4
6
Good
4.40
18 th
(-)
SWIFTTrilyte 10X40B
2
6
1
2 1
Good
4.25
M ft
*
I
I 'fn
e j'-'m
j
I %
H *tl(
mouth, gain the reputation for being an improvement and become the
fashionable instrument which everyone wants to own.
The changes in these fashions, not only of current ownership, but also of
birdwatchers’ future buying intentions, are shown in league-table form in
this report (tables 1-9).
We are most grateful to the 1,338 readers who completed our question-
naire and whose information and opinions form the basis for tables 1-9.
169
Binoculars and telescopes survey 1985
Table 3. The most satisfactory binoculars
Proportion of current owners who would buy the same binoculars again
(1982
Position
position) Make & model
No.
%
1st
(2)
ZF4SS WEST Dialyt 10X40B
249/282
88.3
2nd
(8)
LEITZ Trinovid 10X40B
53/66
80.3
3rd
(1)
OPTOLYTH Alpin 10x50
34/48
70.8
4th
(4)
LEITZ Trinovid 8X40B
22/37
59.5
5th
(7)
HABICHT Diana 10x40
16/32
50.0
6th =
(11)
OPTOLYTH Alpin 10X40
16/36
44.4
6th =
(6)
ZEISSJENA Notarem 10X40B
16/36
44.4
8th
—
OPTOLYTH Alpin 8X40
5/12
41.7
9th
(9)
ZEISS JENA Jenoptem 10x50
65/178
36.5
10th
(13)
ZEISS JENA Jenoptem 8x30
13/41
31.7
1 lth=
—
SWIFT Osprey 7.5X42
3/10
30.0
1 lth=
(3)
ZEISSJENA Dekarem 10X50
6/20
30.0
13th
(14)
SWIFT Audubon 8.5X44
24/95
25.3
14th
(5)
MIRADOR 10X40
9/44
20.5
—
(12)
SWIFT Newport 10X50
2/11
18.2
—
—
PENTAX 8X40
1/10
10.0
—
—
SWIFT Trilyte 10X40B
1/12
8.3
—
—
ROSS Stepruva 9x35
0/13
0.0
All others
77/379
20.3
These data are certain to influence future purchasers of binoculars and
telescopes, so we feel that we are providing a helpful service to the
birdwatching community. We hope that manufacturers and retailers of
optical equipment will also find the information useful, since the tables
summarise the views of some of the world’s most critical and frequent users
of binoculars and telescopes.
Readers of this report should bear one very important point in mind the
whole time. The binoculars and telescopes listed in tables 1-9 are all good,
very good or excellent. They are the best ones available, and have been
chosen by very' discriminating purchasers. Our survey shows expert bird-
watchers’ preferences within the range of top optical instruments. There are
scores of other makes and hundreds of other models for sale, some good,
some bad and some dreadful, but even the least highly rated ones named in this
survey report are still good.
Binoculars
At the head of the list both last time and this, the popularity of Zeiss West
Dialyt 10X40B has dramatically increased among top birders (table 1).
Other models which have significantly improved their positions are Optolyth
Alpin 10x50, Leitg Trinovid 8X40B, Optolyth Alpin 10X40, and Habicht
Diana 10X40.
The owners of six models rate them generally as ‘excellent’ (table 2).
There is clearly almost nothing to choose between the top three: Leitg
Trinovid 8X40B and 10X40B. and Zeiss West Dialyt 10X40B. The next
three most highly rated models, also generally noted as ‘excellent’, are the
Habicht Diana 10X40, and Optolyth Alpin 10X50 and 8X40.
So far as their owners are concerned, three models are supreme (table 3).
170
Binoculars and telescopes survey 1985
Table 4. Top binoculars for 1985
Binoculars which would be bought again by their current owners or to which owners of other
models would change *
Position
1982
position
Make & model
1983
(%)
Now
(%)
1st
(1)
ZEISS WEST Dialyt 10X40B
22.1
40.9
2nd
(3)
LEITZ Trinovid 10X40B
8.2
11.8
3rd
(2)
ZEISS JENA Jenoptem 10x50
12.7
8.5
4th
(9)
OPTOLYTH Alpin 10x50
1.9
7.1
5th
(12)
OPTOLYTH Alpin 10x40
1.5
3.6
6th
(4)
SWIFT Audubon 8.5X44
4.2
3.1
7th
(7)
LEITZ Trinovid 8X40B
3.0
3.0
8th
(9)
HABICHT Diana 10x40
1.9
2.5
9th
(6)
ZEISS JENA Notarem 10X40B
3.6
2.3
10th
(8)
ZEISS JENA Jenoptem 8x30
2.1
1.3
1 1th
(5)
MIRADOR 10X40
4.0
1.2
12th
—
OPTOLYTH Alpin 8X40
—
1.0
13th
(14)
ZEISS JENA Dekarem 10X50
1.3
0.5
14th
—
SWIFT Osprey 7.5X42
—
0.4
15th
—
SWIFT Trilyte 10X40B
—
0.3
16th
(11)
SWIFT Newport 10X50
1.6
0.3
17 th
—
PENTAX 8x40
—
0.1
18th
—
ROSS Stepruva 9X35
—
0.0
Others
12.1
Seven out of eight owners ofa Zeiss West Dialyt 10X40B would not consider
buying anything other than the same binocular again. Owners of Leitz
Trinovid 10X40B and of Optolyth Alpin 10x50 are also highly satisfied
with their binoculars. Two out of every five owners of Leitz Trinovid 8X40B
binoculars would change (when their preference was stated, this was
always for a higher magnification, to a 10X). Other owners are, however,
much less satisfied, and at least half of them will opt to change to a different
model next time they need to buy new binoculars. This shows a more
volatile situation than two years ago. In our last survey, 46% of owners said
that they would change to another model; in our current survey, this figure
has risen to 55%. Excluding the top three makes, a staggering 73.6% of
owners have stated their intention of changing to another binocular when
their present models need replacing. One suspects that Zeiss West, Leitz and
Optolyth will reap the benefits of this buying bonanza.
The first choice for binoculars in 1985 is quite clear from table 4: Zeiss
West Dialyt 10X40B is far and away the top model, having nearly doubled
its share of the vote in two years. Note also, however, that Leitz Trinovid
10X40B has improved its percentage by almost one-third, and that the two
top Optolyth models (Alpin 10X50 and 10x40) have considerably
strengthened their positions. Table 4 suggests that the top six models will
between them account for 75% of the binoculars purchased by British Birds
readers in 1985. In the past two years, 5% of top birders have changed to
using Zeiss West Dialyt 10 X 40B, so that one in five now owns that model
(table 1); but two in five would like to do so (table 4), and presumably will
as soon as they can afford it.
Our current survey shows that 35.9% of observers wear spectacles when
birdwatching (33.1% in 1982). Of the spectacle wearers, 57% put their
171
Binoculars and telescopes survey 1985
Table 5. Most popular telescopes
1 he telescopes most frequently owned by knowledgeable birdwatchers in 1984.
wee = with changeable eyepieces
(1982 1982 Now
Position position) Make & model (%) (%)
1st
(2)
OPTOLYTH 30X75GA
16.2
19.9
2nd
(4)
KOWA TS- 1 /TS-2 X 60 wee
11.4
13.2
3rd
(3)
BUSHNELL/BAUSCH & LOMB Discoverer
15-60X60
14.9
12.8
4th
(6)
BUSHNELL Spacemaster X60 wee
5.2
12.6
5th
(1)
HER TEE & REUSS Televari 25-60X60
17.1
12.5
6th
(5)
NICKEL Supra 15-60X60
8.5
7.2
7th
(7)
SCHMIDT & BENDER 15-60x60
4.8
3.0
8th
(10)
SWIFT Telemaster 15-60x60
1.8
2.8
9th
(8)
MIRADOR x 60 wee
3.1
2.4
10th
—
OPTOLYTH 30X80GA
—
1.2
11th
—
OPTOLYTH 22X60GA
—
1.1
12th
—
OPTICRON High resolution X60wce
—
0.9
13th=
—
( OPTIMA X 60 wee
—
0.7
13th=
—
OPTOLYTH 22-60 x 7 OCA
—
0.7
15th
—
GREENKAT x 60 wee
—
0.6
16th
—
OPTICRON Piccolo X60wce
—
0.5
1 7 1 h =
—
QUEST AR (mirrorlens) wee
—
0.3
17th=
—
SWAROVSKI HABICHT 30x75
—
0.3
All others
17.0
7.3
binoculars
up
to their spectacles, whereas 43%
lift
or remove
their
spectacles
before raising their binoculars up to
their
eyes (the
1982
percentages were 59% and 41%). The changes in percentages are not
significant, but it is clear that, despite the big shift towards binoculars
designed especially for use with or without spectacles (special optics, as well
as fold-down eyecups), there are still many birdwatchers who do not take
full advantage of the attributes of the binoculars that they own. Presum-
ably, they prefer the loss of a fraction of a second of watching, as they lift
their spectacles, to the loss of a proportion of the field of view, which would
occur if they did not raise their spectacles. Binocular manufacturers should
perhaps note that birdwatchers consider that a wide field of view is of vital
importance to them.
Telescopes
Not only are more birdwatchers using telescopes now than a few years ago
(86% now, compared with 64% in 1978), but those owning telescopes are
also making more and better use of them. In 1978, 41 % of owners used their
telescopes regularly or always when birdwatching; this figure had increased
to 76% by 1982; and to 80% in the current survey. Conversely, the
proportion owning a telescope but using it only occasionally has decreased
from 27% in 1978 to 8% in 1982 and 6% now. There is still a hard core of
observers who resist carry ing the telescope-on-tripod combination and use
a tripod only occasionally or never (43% in 1978, 11% in 1982 and 12%
now), but the proportion of birdwatchers converted to constant use of a
tripod has continued to increase (22% in 1978, 50% in 1982 and 55% now).
The demand for a first-class easy-to-handle telescope is now greater than it
172
Binoculars and telescopes survey 1985
Table 6. Most highly rated telescopes
Performance of telescopes as rated by their owners.
Performance: 6 = excellent, 5 - very good. 4 = good, 3 = satisfactory, 2 = poor, 1 = very poor
(1982 Performance rating Average per-
Position
position) Make & model
6
5
4
3
2
1 formance rating
1st
—
QUESTAR (mirrorlens) wee
4
Excellent
6.00
2nd
—
SWAROVSKI HABICHT 30x75
3
1
Excellent
5.75
3rd
(1)
OPTOLYTH 30X75GA
164
57
4
3
1
Excellent
5.66
4th
OPTOLYTH 30X80GA
9
3
1
Excellent
5.62
5th
(3)
BUSHNELL Spacemaster X60 wee
77
60
5
2
Very good
5.47
6th
(2)
KOWA TS- 1 /TS-2 x 60 wee
83
57
8
4
. Very good
5.44
7th
—
OPTIC RON Piccolo X60 wee
2
4
Very good
5.33
8th
(4)
BUSHNELL/BAUSCH & LOMB
Discoverer 15-60x60
62
66
16
3
Very good
5.27
9th
—
OPTICRON High resolution X60 wee
2
8
Very good
5.20
10th
—
OPTOLYTH 22-60 X 70GA
1
6
1
Very good
5.00
11th
(6)
M I RADOR x 60 wee
5
15
8
Very good
4.89
12 th
—
OPTOLYTH 22X60GA
3
4
5
Very good
4.83
13th
—
OPTIMA x 60 wee
6
2
Very good
4.75
14th
(7)
HERTEL& REUSS Televari 25-60x60
14
67
50
8
4
Very good
4.55
15th
(8)
SWIFT Telemaster 15-60x60
2
15
8
7
Good
4.38
16th
—
GREENKAT X60 wee
3
2
1
1 Good
3.86
17th
(9)
SCHMIDT & BENDER 15-60X60
1
5
18
8
2
Good
3.85
18th
(10)
NICKEL Supra 15-60x60
1
15
32
29
6
Good
3.71
Table 7. The most satisfactory telescopes
Proportion of current owners who would buy the same telescope again
(1982
Position
position) Make & model
No.
%
1 st =
(2)
BUSHNELL Spacemaster X60 wee
108/144
75.0
lst=
—
QUESTAR (mirrorlens) wee
3/4
75.0
3rd
(4)
KOWA TS- 1 /TS-2 X 60 wee
113/152
74.3
4th
—
OPTOLYTH 30X80GA
9.13
69.2
5th
—
OPT ICRON Piccolo X60 wee
4/6
66.7
6th
(1)
OPTOLYTH 30X75GA
152/229
66.4
7th
(3)
BUSHNELL/BAUSCH & LOMB
Discoverer 15-60x60
72/147
49.0
8th
—
OPTICRON High resolution X60 wee
4/10
40.0
9th=
—
HABICHT 30X75
1/4
25.0
9th—
(6)
MIRADOR X60 wee
7/28
25.0
9th =
—
OPTOLYTH 22-60 X 70GA
2/8
25.0
12th
—
OPTOLYTH 22X60GA
2/12
16.7
—
(7)
HERTEL & REUSS T elevari 25-60x60
27/143
12.5
—
OPTIMA X 60 wee
1/8
12.5
—
(8)
SWIFT Telemaster 15-60x60
3/32
9.4
—
(9)
SCHMIDT & BENDER 15-60x60
2/34
5.9
—
(10)
NICKEL Supra 15-60x60
2/83
2.4
—
—
GREENKAT X60 wee
0/7
0.0
All others
14/84
16.7
has ever been, and there are some very good telescopes suitable for bird-
watching now available.
The top five telescopes currently account for 71% of all those owned
(table 5). The most frequently owned model has changed in the past two
years and is now the Optolyth 30X75GA. The Kowa X60 has moved from
fourth to second place, but the biggest increase has been in ownership of the
173
Binoculars and telescopes survey 1985
Table 8. Top telescopes for 1985
Telescopes which would be bought again by their current owners or to which owners of other
models would change
(1982 s 1983 Now
Position position) Make & model (%) (%)
1st
(1)
OPT OLYTH 30X75GA
24.2
26.8
2nd
(3)
BUSHNELL Spacemaster X60 wee
12.2
16.5
3rd
(4)
KOWATS-l/TS-2 x 60 wee
11.2
15.8
4th
(2)
BUSHNELL/BAUSCH & LOMB
Discoverer 15-60X60
20.6
13.1
5th
—
OPrOLYTH 30X80GA
—
11.7
6th
(5)
HERTEL & REUSS Televari 25-60x60
5.3
3.1
7th
—
SWAROVSKI HABICHT 30X75
—
2.1
8th
—
OPrOLYTH 22-60X70GA
—
1.3
9th
(7=)
MIRADOR X60 wee
1.0
1.0
10th
—
OPTICRON High resolution X60 wee
—
1.1
11th
—
QUESTAR (mirrorlens) wee
—
0.9
12th
(7=)
SWIFT Telemaster 15-60X60
1.0
0.6
13th=
—
OPriGRON Piccolo X60 wee
—
0.4
13th=
—
OPrOLYTH 22X60GA
—
0.4
15th=
(9)
NICKEL Supra 15-60x60
0.8
0.3
15th=
(10)
SCHMIDT & BENDER 15-60x60
0.6
0.3
17th
—
OPTIMA X60wce
—
0.1
—
—
GREENKAT X60wce
—
0.0
Others
23.1
4.5
Bushnell Spacemaster X60, which has considerably more than doubled its
share, to become the fourth-most-popular model.
The ratings of three of the top four most highly rated telescopes (table 6)
are based on only tiny samples, since the Questar, Swarovski Habicht 30X 75
and Oplolyth 30X80GA are possessed by only a very few birdwatchers, but
they are clearly greatly admired by their owners. The Questar, of course, is
enormously expensive, and is really in a class by itself, but the Habicht must
certainly be worth serious consideration by anyone planning to buy a new
telescope. Among the more frequently owned telescopes, the Optolyth
30 X 75GA stays clearly at the top, with an even higher performance rating
than that with which it headed the table in the last survey. The owners of
the two next most popular telescopes, in a slightly lower price range, are
also both very highly rated by their owners, the Bushnell Spacemaster X60
having now just overtaken the Kowa X60 in this respect.
Owners of Bushnell Spacemaster X60 telescopes are clearly very satisfied;
this model has risen to top the table this year (table 7). Hardly surprisingly,
the superb Questar is equally appreciated by its few lucky owners. The Kowa
X60 has also improved its position, dose behind the two leaders. The
well-known and popular Optolyth 30X75GA has been overtaken by its
stable-mate, the 30X80GA, and by the Opticron Piccolo X60, neither of
which appeared in our last survey results.
While the Optolyth 30X75GA retains the lead as the telescope most
birdwatchers would buy again or change to (table 8) — the position it held
in the last survey — our prediction that ‘the Bushnell 20-45x60 Spacemaster
and the Kowa 25-60x60 . . . are likely to be purchased in increasing
numbers in the next year or so’ {Brit. Birds 76: 159) has proved to have been
correct, these two models having both increased their percentages and
174
Binoculars and telescopes survey 1985
Table 9. Prices of binoculars and telescopes and summary of league positions
na = relevant model no longer available
Not all retailers stock every model, and prices vary from one retailer to another; for telescopes,
the prices are particularly variable, and depend very much on whether the lens required is
fixed magnification or variable; in general, the price quoted is for the cheapest alternative
available
Make & model
Approx.
retail Currently
price in most
November popular
1984 (inch (tables
VAT) 1 & 5)
Most
highly
rated
(tables
2 & 6)
The
most
satis-
factory
(tables
3& 7)
Top
models
for 1985
(tables
4& 8)
Binoculars
LEITZ Trinovid 10X40B
£444
4
2
2
2
LEITZ Trinovid 8X40B
£429
8
1
4
7
ZEISS WEST Dialyt 10X40B
£359
1
3
1
1
HABICHT Diana 10X40
£240
1 1
4
5
8
ZEISSJENA Notarem 10X40B
£165
9=
10
6=
9
SWIFT Audubon 8.5X44
£145
3
13
13
6
OPTOLYTH Alpin 10X50
£141
5
5
3
4
OPTOLYTH Alpin 10x40
£123
9=
7
6=
5
OPTOLYTH Alpin 8X40
£119
14=
6
8
12
SWIFT Newport 10x50
£1 14
16
16
—
16
SWIFT Osprey 7.5X42
£1 10
17=
8
11 =
14
SWIFT Trilyte 10X40B
£107
14=
18
—
15
ZEISS Jena Dekarem 10x50
£81
12
9
11 =
13
ZEISS JENA Jenoptem 10X50
£81
2
12
9
3
PENT AX 8X40
£71
17=
17
—
17
ZEISSJENA Jenoptem 8x30
£45
7
14
10
10
MIRADOR 10X40
na
6
15
14
1 1
ROSS Stepruva 9X35
na
13
11
—
18
Telescopes
QUESTAR (mirrorlens) wee
£ 1 ,636
17=
1
1 =
1 1
SWAROVSKI HABICHT 30X75
£335
17=
2
9=
7
OPTOLYTH 30X80GA
£258
10
4
4
5
OPTOLYTH 22-60 x 70GA
£242
13=
10
9=
8
SWIFT Telemaster 15-60x60
£235
8
15
—
12
OPTOLYTH 30X75GA
£225
1
3
6
1
BUSHNELL/BAUSCH & LOMB
Discoverer 15-60x60
£195
3
8
7
4
HERTEL & REUSS Televari
25-60X60
£173
5
14
6
BUSH NEEL Spacemaster X60 wee
£168
4
5
1 =
2
NICKEL Supra 15-60x60
£160
6
18
—
15=
SCHMIDT & BENDER 15-60x60
£150
7
17
—
15=
OPTOLYTH 22X60GA
£145
1 1
12
12
13=
KOWA TS-l/TS-2 X60 wee
£140
2
6
3
3
MIRADOR x 60 wee
£129
9
1 1
9=
9
OPTIMA x60 wee
£120
13=
13
—
17
OPTICRON High resolution X60 wce£102
12
9
8
10
OPTICRON Piccolo X 60 wee
£90
16
7
5
13=
GREENKAT X60 wee
£62
15
16
—
—
175
Binoculars and telescopes survey 1985
rankings. Also of particular note is the Optolyth 30X80GA, which appears
for the first time, high up in fifth position; with few present owners, it owes
this to a high number of people (including many Optolyth 30X75GA
owners) stating their intention of changing to this model ‘next time
around’. Our figures suggest that these four, together with the Bushnell/
Bausch & Lomh Discoverer 15-60X60, will account for over 80% of the sales
of telescopes to keen birdwatchers in the coming year or so.
Counting the cost
When it comes to choosing a pair of binoculars or a telescope, some people
are lucky enough just to go straight to the best, which are almost inevitably
also among the most expensive. In the top price range, personal preference
will determine whether a birdwatcher wanting a 10x binocular chooses
Zeiss West 10X40B or the substantially more expensive Leitz 10X40B. Over
£ 1 00 cheaper than either, and almost alone at its price, there is the excellent
Habicht Diana 10X40. T he bulk of quality binoculars are in the £45-£ 1 65
price-range, and outstanding amongst these are the three Optolyth Alpin
models (8X40, 10X40 and 10X50) at £1 1 9-£ 141, the 10X50 being the one
most favoured by birdwatchers.
With telescopes, one also has to pay to get the best. The Questar, rated so
highly by all its owners, is also by far the most expensive. The Bushnell
Spacemaster X60 is exceptional value for money: it is very highly rated, but
is in the middle price-range. Other especially good buys in the middle and
lower price-range seem to be the well-rated Optolyth 30X80GA, Kowa
TS-l/TS-2 X60and Opticron Piccolo X60.
There are, of course, many other binoculars and telescopes not covered
by our survey. In some cases, these are very good, but are new on the
market and are owned by too few birdwatchers for their quality to be widely
appreciated as yet. In this category, we should mention the well-reviewed
Bushnell Explorer II 8x40 binoculars (Brit. Birds 77: 203-204) and Swarovski
Habicht SL 10X40 binoculars (Brit. Birds 77: 243-245), and the Kowa TSN 1
and TSN2 77 mm telescopes. We always welcome submission by manufac-
turers or wholesalers of such newly introduced optical products for
assessment and possible inclusion in our feature ‘Product reports’.
Acknowledgments
We wish especially to thank the British Birds readers who completed our survey forms and
posted them to us, thereby making this analysis possible. We are also very grateful to the
Heron Optical Company, 23/25 King’s Road, Brentwood, Essex, for supplying information on
current prices.
P. J. Grant, 14 Heathjield Road, Ashford, Kent TN24 8QD
Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane . Blunham , Bedford \tK44 3NJ
Field identification and status
of black-headed Yellow
Wagtails in Western Europe
Martin van den Berg and Gerald J. Oreel
The male Yellow Wagtail Motacilla JIava of the black-headed race feldegg
(Sammalisto 1961) in adult breeding plumage is a distinctive bird.
Descriptions and illustrations in most held guides, however, are inade-
quate, and of little help in distinguishing it from other dark-headed races of
the Yellow Wagtail. This has resulted in misidentihcations. In our opinion,
most records of feldegg in western Europe probably result from confusion
with the grey-headed race M.f thunbergi.
In this paper, adult breeding plumage, bare parts and calls of these two
races are described and compared. Distribution and migration of both
races are reviewed, and the status o [feldegg in western Europe is discussed.
Plumage and bare parts
According to Bruun & Singer (1978), Heinzel et at. (1979) and Peterson et
al. (1983), males of the black-headed rac t feldegg in adult breeding plumage
can be distinguished from those of the grey-headed race thunbergi by the
head pattern. The race feldegg has a black forehead, crown, nape, lores and
ear-coverts; thunbergi has a grey forehead, crown and nape, contrasting with
black or almost black lores and ear-coverts. These features, however, are
not completely diagnostic. Sammalisto (1961) demonstrated the existence
of thunbergi with characters of both feldegg and other dark-headed races;
moreover, of about 2,600 thunbergi which Sammalisto (in litt.) studied in
Finland during 1955-80, three had a head pattern identical with that of
feldegg.
Adult breeding plumage and bare parts of males of the two races are
described and compared in table 1 . This is based on an examination of skins
of 1 3 feldegg and 28 thunbergi at the Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historic in
Leiden and the Zoologisch Museum in Amsterdam; on field studies during
1978-84 in Cyprus, Greece and Turkey; and on the existing literature (e.g.
Bub 1981; Dittberner & Dittberner 1984; Herroelen 1982; Sammalisto
1961; Smith 1950; Svcnsson 1984). Male feldegg can normally be
176
\Bnl. Birds 78: 176-183, April 1985]
Black-headed Yellow Wagtails in Western Europe 177
Table 1. Plumage and bare parts of male Yellow Wagtails Motacilla flaw of black-headed
rac e Jeldegg and grey-headed race thunbergi in adult breeding plumage
Feature
Differences are shown in italics
Black-headed Jeldegg
Grey-headed thunbergi
HEAD
Forehead and crown
Black or almost black;
not contrasting with lores
and ear-coverts
Grey to dark grey, rarely
black; normally contrasting
with lores and ear-coverts
Nape
W holly (including sides)
black or almost black;
not contrasting with lores and
ear-coverts
Sides of nape grey to dark
grey, rarely black; central
nape grey to dark grey,
paler towards mantle, very
rarely black. Sides
normally contrasting with
lores and ear-coverts;
centre often contrasting with
forehead, crow n and sides of
nape, and nearly always
with lores and ear-coverts
Lores and ear-coverts
Black or almost black
Dark grey to black, very
rarely grey
Supercilium
None (in hybrids, often
white to yellow superciliurti
or pre- and post-ocular
stripes or flecks)
None (in hybrids, often
white supercilium or pre-
and post-ocular stripes or
flecks)
UPPERPARTS
Mantle, scapulars,
Brighter olive-green,
Duller olive-green,
back and rump
generally with blackish
tinge: distinct contrast
with wings
generally with greyish
tinge: no distinct contrast
with wings
Wings
Dark brown to black-brown;
edges to tertials, median
and greater coverts normally
w hite, with or without
yellow tinge, and wide
Brown to dark brown; edges
to tertials, median and
greater coverts normally
white, with or without olive
to yellow tinge, and narrow
Tail
Dark brown to black-brown ,
outer rectrices with white
outer edges
Brown to dark brow n, outer
rectrices with white outer
edges
UNDERPARTS
Chin and throat
Yellow (in hybrids, often
with white)
Yellow (in hybrids, often
with white)
Rest of underparts
Yellow to deep yellow;
breast band of olive or
dark olive markings often
absent or strongly reduced
Yellow, not uncommonly
deep yellow ; breast band of
olive or dark olive markings
often present
BARE PARTS
Blackish-brown to black.
Bill averages somewhat
longer and more slender;
hindclaw averages somewhat
shorter (Sammalisto 1961)
Blackish-brown. Bill
averages somewhat shorter
and more stumpy; hindclaw'
averages somewhat longer
(Sammalisto 1961)
Heading drawing: Yellow Wagtails Motacilla Jlava of grey-headed race thunbergi (left) and
black-headed race feldegg (two at right) (Killian Mullamey)
178
Black-headed Yellow Wagtails in Western Europe
70. Male Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava of black-headed race feldegg, Romania, June 1979
( Lubomir H/sek)
71. Male Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava of black-headed race Jeldegg , Israel, April 1982 ( Bertil
BreiJe )
179
Black-headed Yellow Wagtails in Western Europe
distinguished in the held from the dark-headed variant of thunbergi by the
black or almost black central nape (often reaching to the mantle). This
character, however, does not eliminate the rare black-headed variant of
thunbergi. It is, therefore, essential to use a combination of plumage and
bare-parts features when identifying extralimital Jeldegg. It should always
be remembered that, even under seemingly good held conditions, the head
of a normally plumaged thunbergi may look black or almost black. For good
illustrations of both subspecies, see Jonsson (1979, 1982).
Calls
The black-headed race Jeldegg has a distinctive call note. It can be
transcribed as a loud and harsh ‘tsee-rr’, sometimes recalling the flight call
of Fawny Pipit Anthus carnpestris. In our opinion, this call is a useful
additional feature of Jeldegg. It can, however, be confused with the call note
oi thunbergi, which can be transcribed as ‘rssli' or Tsliu’ (Schiiz 1956). For
more information, including sonagrams, on the calls of both subspecies, see
Bergmann & Helb (1982) and Dittberner & Dittberner (1984).
72. Male Wagtail Motacilla Jlava of black-headed race Jeldegg, Yugoslavia, June 1978
(K.J. Carlson)
180
Black-headed Yellow Wagtails in Western Europe
73. Male Yellow Wagtail Motacilla Jtava of black-headed race feldegg, Israel, April 1982 ( Bertil
Breife)
Distribution and migration
The black-headed race feldegg breeds in southeast Europe and southwest
Asia, including western Yugoslavia and Albania, and the Kalmuck Steppes
and the Transcaspian region, where hybrid populations occur (Sammalisto
1961). Its European range was fairly constant during the first half of the
20th century, but it has expanded northwards in the second half (Keve
1978). It winters mainly in eastern Africa, from Sudan and Eritrea to
northeastern Zaire and northern Tanzania, west to Eake Chad (Zink
1975). The spring migration is from February to April (Curry-Lindahl
1958; Zink 1975).
74. Male Yellow Wagtail Motacilla J. lava of grey-headed race thunbergi , Finland, July 1958 ( Eric
Hoskins)
Black-headed. Yellow Wagtails in Western Europe
181
75. Male Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava of black-headed race Jeldegg, France, June/July 1980
( Jean-Philippe Siblet & Olivier Tostain )
The grey-headed race thunbergi breeds in northern Europe and winters
mainly in Africa south of the Sahara (Sammalisto 1961; Zink 1975). The
Norwegian and northern Swedish population winters in western Africa,
and has little or no contact with Jeldegg during winter and on migration; the
northern Finnish population probably has more contact (Zink 1975). The
spring migration is from March to June, most European individuals
returning in May (Curry-Lindahl 1958; Zink 1975).
For more information, including references, on the distribution and
migration of both subspecies, see Dittberner & Dittberner (1984).
Status in western Europe
The black-headed race Jeldegg has been recorded in several west European
countries, including Belgium. France, Great Britain, the Netherlands,
Sweden and West Germany (British Ornithologists' Union 1971;
Commissie voor de Nederlandse Avifauna 1970; Herroelen 1982; Keve
1978; Rogers et al. 1980; Siblet & Tostain 1984; Sveriges Ornitologiska
Forening 1978). For the follow ing two reasons, w e are of the opinion that
most of these records are probably the result of confusion with thunbergi.
(i) Most descriptions o [Jeldegg recorded in Britain and the Netherlands fit the dark-headed and
black-headed variants of thunbergi, or do not exclude the possibility of the latter. This applies
also to Jeldegg recorded in Belgium (Herroelen 1982).
182
Black-headed Yellow Wagtails in Western Europe
76. Male Yellow Wagtail Motacilla Jtava of black-headed race feldegg, but showing some hybrid
characters (white pre- and post-ocular stripes and white on chin and throat), Yugoslavia, May
1975 {Karel A. Mauer)
77. Male Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava of black-headed race feldegg, but showing some hybrid
characters (white pre- and post-ocular stripes), Israel, April 1982 (Bertil Breife )
(ii) Of 22 accepted records of feldegg in Belgium, Britain, the Netherlands and Sweden during
1958-78, 18 were in May and early June; the remaining lour were in latejune (two), July and
October. This striking temporal coincidence with the main spring migration period of thunbergi
in western Europe is unlikely. In theory, one would expect the majority of feldegg in (March
and) April, when most Yellow Wagtails of the blue-headed race M.f. flava and of the mainly
British race M. f. Jlavissima return to western Europe. This applies especially to adult males,
which return well before the other age and sex categories.
In June and July 1980, a male feldegg successfully bred near Montereau,
Seine-et-Marne, France (Siblet & Tostain 1984). Judging from the
photographic evidence, it was probably a first-summer individual. The
Black-headed Yellow Wagtails in Western Europe 183
rac ial identity of the female could not be established. This constituted the
first breeding record for France and for western Europe.
Acknowledgments
We should like to thank Dr Gerlof F. Mees and Dr Jan Wattel for allowing us to examine skins
at, respectively, the Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historic in Leiden and the Zoologisch
Museum in Amsterdam; and Peter J. Grant (and other members of the British Birds Rarities
Committee), Paul Herroelen, Dr Andras Keve, Dr Lasse Sammalisto, Dr Jan Wattel and Dr
Gerhardt Zink for their most useful comments on the draft of the 1980 version of this paper.
Summary
Plumage and bare parts of adult breeding male Yellow Wagtails Motacilla jiava of the black-
headed race feldegg and the grey-headed race thunbergi are described and compared. The race
feldegg can be distinguished in the field from the dark-headed and black-headed variants of
thunbergi by a combination of plumage and bare-parts features. The call note of Jeldegg is
considered a useful additional feature. The authors are of the opinion that most records of
Jeldegg in western Europe are probably the result of confusion with thunbergi.
References
Bergmann, H.-FL, & Helb, H.-W. 1982. Stimmen der Vogel Europas. Munich, Vienna & Zurich.
British Ornithologists’ Union. 1971. The Status of Birds in Britain and Ireland. Oxford,
London & Edinburgh.
Bruun, B., & Singer, A. 1978. The Hamlyn Guide to Birds oj Britain and Europe. London. New
York, Sydney & Toronto. Second edn.
Bub, H. 1981. Kenngeichen und Mauser europaischer Singvogel. vol. 2. Wittenberg.
Commissie voor de Nederi.andse Avifauna. 1970. Avifauna van Nederland. Leiden. Second
edn.
Curry-Lindahl, K. 1958. Internal timer and spring migration in an equatorial migrant, the
Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla Jiava). Ark. Zoo/. 1 1: 541-557.
Dittberner, H., & Dittberner, W. 1984. Die SchaJ'stelge. Wittenberg.
Heinzel, H., Fitter, R. S. R., & Parslow, J. L. F. 1979. The Birds of Britain and Europe.
London. Fourth edn.
Herroelen, P. 1982. De Balkan-Gele kwikstaart, Motacilla Jiava feldegg , ten onrechte op de
Belgische Lijst. Omis Eland. 1: 7-14.
Jonsson, L. 1979. Birds of Mountain Regions . Harmondsworth.
1982. Birds of the Mediterranean and Alps. London.
Keve, A. 1978. Die Arealsausbreitung der Maskenstelze Motacilla (/lava) feldegg. Tn^. Om. Ges.
Bayern 17: 225-237.
Peterson, R. T., Mountfort, G., & Hoi.lom. P. A. D. 1983. A Eield Guide to the Birds oj Britain
and Europe. London. Fourth edn.
Rogers, M. j., & the Rarities Committee. 1980. Report on rare birds in Great Britain in
1979. Brit. Birds 73: 491-534.
Sammalisto, L. 1961. An interpretation of variation in the dark-headed forms of the Yellow
Wagtail. Brit. Birds 54: 54-69.
Schuz, E. 1956. Vom Friihjahrs-Durchzugder Wiesenstelze (Motacilla Jiava) and der Siidkuste
des Kaspischen Meeres. Vogelwarte 18: 169-177.
Siblet, J.-P., & Tostain, O. 1984. Un male de Bergeronnctte printaniere. Motacilla Jiava. du
type Jeldegg , nicheur cn Seine-et- Marne (France). Nos Oiseaux 37: 284-288.
Smith. S. 1950. The Yellow Wagtail. London
Svensson, L. 1984. Identification Guide to European Passerines. Stockholm. I bird edn.
Sveriges ( )rnitologiska Forening. 1978. Sveriges Faglar. Stockholm.
Zink, G. 1975. Der Zug europaischer Singvogel . vol. 2. Moggingen.
Martin van den Berg, Uiterwaardenstraat 261-3, 1079 CR Amsterdam, Netherlands;
Gerald J. Oreel, Postbus 51273, 1007 EG Amsterdam, Netherlands
The Rarities Committee is currently reviewing the accepted records of M.f feldegg. The results
of these reassessments will be published in due course. Eds
The Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martins is one of the few species which
have in recent years considerably extended their breeding range in
some western European countries. Nesting was first reported in Belgium
around 1908, and in Luxemburg and the Netherlands in 1915. Westwards
expansion continued in the Netherlands, where the species has now
reached the coast (fig. 1; Teixeira 1979). In Belgium and Luxemburg,
progression appears to have stopped, or slowed down greatly (figs. 2 & 3;
Tricot 1977; Weiss 1979). It is in France and Denmark that range-
extension has been the most spectacular.
Strangely, the Black Woodpecker did not breed in Denmark before 1961,
when it nested in Nord Sjaelland. It reached Bornholm (about 30km from
Sweden) towards 1950, but did not nest there until 1966 (Hansen 1973); it
has now completely invaded this island. In Continental Denmark, its
movement was not so rapid (fig. 4; Dybbro 1976).
In France, before 1950, the Black Woodpecker bred only in mountainous
areas (fig. 5), reports of sporadic nesting elsewhere not being fully
confirmed. From 1957 onwards, breeding was recorded in a growing
number of regions, and today it has even reached several western
departements (fig. 6; Cuisin 1967, 1973, 1980; Yeatman 1976). Perhaps
because of lack of observations, a few gaps remain in some inland regions,
but the Black Woodpecker can be said now to inhabit the whole eastern half
of France and a notable part of the western half. In 1983, it nested in at least
53 departements. Lack ofsuitable woodland may have locally hampered its
spread towards the Channel. Its absence in some areas of France may seem
surprising: for example, it has not yet been reported in the huge forest of Les
184
fl*
w
ftfi
yU
fo-
ie
[Bril. Birds 78: 184-187, April 1985]
185
Range-expansion of Black Woodpecker
Landes (900,000 ha), although it breeds in the Pyrenees mountains.
The Black Woodpecker is the sole western European woodland species
that has exhibited such an increase, but why it has done so is unclear. One
of the various hypotheses links this range-expansion with the plantation in
many countries of coniferous trees. This tenet, however, is not acceptable
everywhere, because conifers have been present for many years in some
regions: examples include the Normandy hills, where they are indigenous;
several forests around Paris; and since before 1850 in southern Champagne.
186
Range-expansion of Black Woodpecker
Moreover, the Black Woodpecker
very frequently excavates its nest in
deciduous' trees (mainly beech Fagus
sylvatica, but also oak Quercus, poplar
Populus and aspen P. tremula, among
others); extensive coniferous tracts
are not, therefore, a sine qua non of its
existence. If the causes remain a
complete mystery in France, how-
ever, it seems that a recent influx of
Black Woodpeckers in Denmark may
have been brought about by forest
exploitation in Sweden (Hansen
1973). Whatever the reasons, it
appears that, in a small part of its
immense range (western Europe to
Japan), the Black Woodpecker has
moved from its ‘classical’ habitat.
Over 80 records of the Black
Woodpecker have been claimed in
Britain (Fitter 1959), but so far none
has proven to be acceptable. In my
opinion, its genuine occurrence in
Britain is possible, for a sea-crossing
presents no difficulties for this wood-
pecker. The most westerly sighting
in France, in the Nieppe forest, near
Bailleul, was only about 80 km from
the sea coast. Further, the distance
between the Danish island of
Bornholm and Sweden is the same as
that between Pas-de-C’alais departe-
ment and Kent, and immature Black
Woodpeckers are known to be prone
to travel very far from their birth-
place.
Figs. 1-4 and 6 show the Black
Woodpecker’s present breeding areas
in west-central Europe (a few gaps in
France are not illustrated) as given in
recent atlases and, for France, based
also on information provided by
correspondents. They do not show
localities where the species has only
been sighted, such as in France,
where it has been reported not very
far from the Atlantic coast in Loire-
Atlantique.
I IS
Range-expansion of Black Woodpecker
187
78 Sc 79. Male Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius at nest with young, Sweden, June 1959
(M. D. England)
References
CuisiN, M. 1967. Essai d une monographic du Pic noir (Dryocopus martius (L)). L'Oiseau 57:
163-192.
1973. Note stir la repartition du Pic noir (Dryocopus martius (I..)) en France. L'Oiseau 43:
305-313.
1980. Nouvellcs donnees stir la repartition du Pic noir (Dryocopus martius ( L.)) en France
ct coniparaison avec la situation dans d'autres pays. L 'Oiseau 50: 23-32.
Dybbro, T. 1976. De Danske Ynglefugles tdbredel.se. Dansk Ornithologisk Forening. Copen-
hagen.
Fitter, R. S. R. 1959. The status of the Black W oodpecker in the British Isles. Bull. Brit. Orn.
Cl. 79: 79-87, 102-113.
Hansen, F. 1973. Bomholms Fugle.
1 eixeira. R. M. 1 979. Atlas ran de Xederlandse Broedvogels. Deventer.
Tricot, J. 1977. Atlas des oiseaux de Belgique, avancement des travaux apres quatre annees
de recherche, 1973 a 1976. Aves 14:214-216.
Weiss, J. 1979. Yerbreitungsatlas der Brutvogel I.uxemburgs. Regulus 13:3-12.
Veatman. L. 1 976. Atlas des oiseaux nicheurs de France. Paris.
.V/. Cuisin , 40 rue Pierre Corneille, 78000 Versailles, France
Points of view
Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of ‘'British Birds’
13. Identification of bird sounds
In his admirable work on bird voices, Gerhard Thielcke (1970, Vogel-
stimmen) quite properly stated that ‘the vocal sounds of birds and animals in
general are peculiar to a given species. If a person devotes long enough time
to a given animal group he will be able to distinguish species on the basis of
their sounds just as well as on the basis of their appearance’ (translation
from Bird Sounds , 1976). In Britain at least, those bodies responsible for
assessing records of unusual species seem not yet ready to embrace this
principle. The fault lies with those in the field who have not made the effort
to grasp the techniques of noting and reporting bird sounds.
A bird’s sound is typified by just as many features as is its appearance,
and it can be described in just as much detail. With due application of ear
and mind, anybody can note a bird sound well enough for it to be recog-
nised by those familiar with the species, or from sound recordings. I see no
serious impediment to aurally acquired evidence reaching similarly high
standards to those of visually acquired evidence.
A bird sound embodies four main characters: ‘pitch’, ‘volume’, ‘tone’ and
‘construction’. The first two can be adequately quantified in terms of
comparison with more familiar species, as is commonly done in visual
description. Describing tone requires more effort, but the English language
is rich in adjectives which convey even the most subtle of nuances. This is
not to say that the listener should be dogmatic: what to one may be ‘fluty’
may to another be ‘piping’; ‘squeaky’ may be confusable with ‘wheezy’, and
so on. The construction can be put into words as easily as it can be
‘transcribed’. The familiar ‘transcription’ has been relied upon far too
heavily as the sole means of sound description. An important adjunct to
construction involves the three other features: it is most important that
emphases on, or differences between, each phrase, syllable or note in terms
of pitch, tone and volume be well described.
It is equally imperative to know what the bird was doing at the time ofits
utterance. In general, bird sounds reflect behaviour and state of mind, and
vice versa. If, for instance, the bird is visibly anxious, is it due to the presence
of the observer, or a nearby cat, or a raptor overhead? If the call is given in
flight, is it when taking off (in alarm or otherwise), or merely when passing
over? All such aspects of behaviour aff ect the general character of the sound.
Hearing and listening acuity varies considerably among birders. Most of
those I have met who are ‘good on calls’ are naturally musical people; this
must be significant. Even so, a despairing ‘I’m no good at calls’ is heard far
too often. It is up to all of us to set new standards in the reporting of bird
sounds, and thereby establish new identification criteria which can no
longer be ignored or overruled.
A final word to the technocrats. How about an aural equivalent of
binoculars not much bulkier than a stethoscope? M . J . Rogers
4 Pentland Flats, St Mary ’s, Isles ofScilly TR21 OHY
188
Mystery photographs
80. 1 .esser Golden Plovers Pluvialis dominica, North Yemen, April 1980 (S. C. Madge)
Last month’s mystery photograph (plate 58, repeated here as
100
plate 80), clearly shows a flock of waders. The combination of
relatively short bills, dark random spots on the underparts and noticeable
supercilia shows that they are plovers, but are they a flock of Lesser Golden
Pluvialis dominica , Golden P. apricaria , Grey P. squatarola or Sociable Plovers
Chettusia gregaria ? The last would show black primaries, white secondaries,
and legs protruding noticeably beyond the tail; whilst Grey Plover has
obvious black axillaries. Golden Plover is more than a possibility, but note
their slimness, narrow wings, prominent supercilia, and long bill relative to
the head. These features point to Lesser Golden Plover. The underwings on
some, however, appear white, like those of Golden Plover, rather than
dusky, with smoke-grey axillaries. This is a photographic effect, however,
81. Mystery photograph 101. Identify the species. Answer next month
189
1 90 Mystery photographs
due, partly at least, to the bright conditions in which they were photo-
graphed, by S. C. Madge in the North Yemen in April 1980. They are,
indeed, Lesser Golden Plovers, of the race- fulva — regarded by some
authorities as a distinct species (Brit. Birds 77: 164-165) — in transition from
winter to summer plumage. I have discussed the identification features of
Lesser Golden Plover in two recent illustrated contributions (Brit. Birds 75:
112-124; 77: 338-340). A. Pym
PhotoSpot
83. Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola
falcine llus on nest, Sweden, July 1936
(P. O. Swanberg)
10. Broad-billed Sandpiper
Any small Calidris- like wader with flank streaking on white underparts or a
strongly striped head is worth a second look. Combined, these features are
typical only of an adult Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus.
Juveniles and winter adults lack the flank marks. On this small wader, the
solid bill with a terminal droop is obvious at some distance. The Swedish
photograph (plate 83) shows the heavy wear of a mid-breeding-season
adult about to lose its scapular lines. Tony Prater
RSPB , Scan House, 4 Church Street, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex BN4 5DQ
82. Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola
falcinellus, New Zealand, March 1960
( D . A. Urquhart )
Notes
Broad-billed Sandpiper with long-legged appearance The appearance
of a Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus at Ditchford Gravel-pits,
Northamptonshire, on 25thjune 1984 seems to show that there is always an
exception to the rule. The photographs are typical of the bird’s appearance
during its two-day stay; it is notably not looking short-legged, a feature
which is normally considered synonymous with this species.
J. I . Blincow
48 Bush Hill, Northampton NN32PE
The way in which different postures can affect the shape and apparent proportions of waders
was recently described and illustrated (Brit. Birds 77: 297, fig. 3); we thank J. Blincow for this
further example. Eds
84 & 85. Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus , Northamptonshire, June 1984 (J. /.
Blincow)
191
192
Notes
Goldeneyes displaying with Smew In bright afternoon sunshine on 14th
February 1982, at Ingbirchworth Reservoir, near Penistone, South York-
shire, we were watching a male Smew Mergus albellus. It had earlier been
swimming on its own, but, when it came up with two pairs of Goldeneyes
Bucephala clangula, the whole of the small assemblage became a twisting,
turning, excitable group, the Smew apparently joining in with the display-
ing behaviour of the Goldeneyes, rearing up in the water and surging up
and down with them. The display lasted for a concentrated period of 13
minutes, before the two species separated to go their own ways. The Smew
had been fairly close to, and in company with, at least one male Goldeneye
on previous days. A. Miller
33 Elwood Road , Bradway, Sheffield S17 4RH
Dr Hilary Dow has commented as follows: ‘It is fairly common to see such interspecific
Goldeneye-Smew display groups; I have frequently observed them on the south coast of
Sweden, where there are large numbers of both species overwintering. Smew X Goldeneye
hybrids are fairly frequent: I have over 20 records from the literature in my own files.
Furthermore, these two species indulge in inter- and intraspecific nest parasitism to such a
great extent that mixed broods and presumably some degree of ‘cross-imprinting’ would be
expected. This may partially explain the frequency of interspecific display groups among these
species.’ Eds
Hen Harrier hunting at Starling roost On 15th November 1981, at
Walberswick, Suffolk, C. S. Waller and I were waiting to observe the
gathering of a substantial roost of Starlings Stumus vulgaris, estimated at
about 200,000 individuals, in the vast reed bed. At 1 5.30 gmt a considerable
number were arriving and at this time a ringtail (female/immature) Hen
Harrier Circus cyaneus flew in above the swirling flocks. The immediate
reaction of the Starlings was to take up their well-described defence forma-
tion and harass the raptor. The harrier continued flying up and down the
marsh, above the level of the adjacent trees, with a cloud of tens of
thousands of Starlings in close attendance. 1 1 soon became obvious that the
harrier was trying to catch a Starling by lunging upwards and over on to its
back and grabbing its intended prey with outstretched talons. After several
abortive attempts, it caught one and descended to reed level, followed by
almost the entire roost. The prey was wriggling in the harrier’s grasp,
obviously still very much alive; when the raptor made an evasive move-
ment, it dropped the Starling, which flew off apparently unharmed.
At about the same time on 2 1st November, with D. Fisher, J. O’Sullivan
and others, I watched the Starling roost begin to assemble. On this
occasion, the birds were attended by two ringtail Hen Harriers which
adopted the same tactic, flying high among the enormous flocks at tree
level. The Starlings’ defensive pattern was again in evidence, and both
harriers were attempting to catch the birds by the same clumsy upward
lunge with outstretched talons. Three attempts were successful, the
harrier dropping quickly to the reedbed. Both raptors returned to the air so
rapidly that it seems likely that they lost the prey before they could begin to
devour it. The harriers were very persistent in their attacks, but did not
Notes
193
seem able to reach the ground with the victim still in their grasp. Could it be
that the harrier’s insubstantial talons and long slender legs are sufficient in
the normal hunting method of dropping on unsuspecting prey on the
ground, but totally unsuitable for grabbing and maintaining a hold on prev
taken in mid-air?
I he only reference I have found in the literature to Hen Harriers hunting
in mid-air relates to one chasing a passerine at a height of 40m and effecting
a clumsy and unsuccessful stoop (Hodgson & Wyatt 1979). Dickson (1979)
recorded Hen Harriers flying across a Starling roost in Gallowav in which
the defensive formation was taken up by the Starlings, but no attacks bv the
harriers were seen. Watson (1977) described a Hen Harrier shadowing a
Starling roost, but this individual was not seen to take any prev; at dusk, the
same harrier was noted to have a full crop and it was considered possiblv to
have taken a Starling after it had settled. D. R. Moore
Crosslands, Cage Lane , Boxted, Colchester , Essex C.045RE
REFERENCES
Dickson, R. C. 1979. Bird predators at a Starling roost. Brit. Birds 7‘2: 187.
Hodgson, I., & Wyatt, T. 1979. Hen Harrier repeatedly stooping at small bird. Brit. Birds 72:
288-289.
Watson, D. 1977. The Hen Harrier. Berkhamsted.
Opportunistic food acquisition by Buzzard while mobbed by Pere-
grines On 28th May 1977, in a Lakeland valley in Cumbria, we were
watching a pair of Peregrines Falco peregrinus. The tiercel was mobbing a
Buzzard Buteo huteo on the side of the valley opposite the Peregrines’ nesting
crag, while the falcon was flying towards the eyrie with a freshly caught
feral Rock Dove Columha livia in her talons. The falcon changed course to
join her mate in stooping at the Buzzard and, while doing so, dropped the
dove, which the Buzzard skilfully caught in mid air. The latter glided down
and landed on the fellside with its capture, but not before being severely
buffeted by both Peregrines: at least once it appeared to be struck
physically. The Peregrines continued to fly overhead for several minutes,
frequently giving the aggressive ‘kek-kek-kek . . . ’ call, as they had through-
out the incident, and occasionally stooping at the Buzzard, causing it to
duck. Despite this, the Buzzard held on to the prev, and eventually the
Peregrines lost interest and drifted off. On 10th June 1978. at the same site,
we watched what was almost certainly the same pair of Peregrines. As
before, the falcon was returning with a freshly caught dove when she
changed course to mob a Buzzard on the other side of the valley; again, she
dropped the dove while stooping at the Buzzard, which seized the prey, this
time immediately it had hit the ground. The Buzzard then took off. fiercelv
mobbed by both Peregrines; it landed after a short flight, still clinging
tenaciously to the dove, and was soon left in peace by the Peregrines, which
had given the aggressive call frequently throughout the incident.
R. I. Kinley and D. B. Thexton
16 Underley Hill, Kendal , Cumbria LA95EX
194
Notes
Bigamy by the Kestrel During 1975-79, I made a detailed study of the
population density and breeding behaviour of the Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
in 70km2 of southern Hampshire. Many hours were spent making close
observations of 36 occupied nests, and on four occasions I recorded
evidence of bigamy. On 6th June 1975, a female was brooding six ten-day-
old young while an adult male sat preening about 20m away; a second adult
male flew in and presented the female with a small mammal, while the first
male showed no hostility, merely shifting his perch and calling excitedly
during the flurry of activity. Similar behaviour by other pairs was observed
in 1977 and in 1979 (twice) at other sites, during periods of incubating and
feeding of large young. In the second instance in 1979, the males were seen
copulating alternately with the female at approximately half-hour intervals
(this was also witnessed by numerous other observers); these males never
approached each other closer than about 30m. All four cases involved two
adult (at least two-year-old) males and one female (polyandry). Hostile
territorial behaviour near nest sites was recorded on only two occasions.
Bigamy is clearly exceptional in Kestrels: BWF2 gives only four previous
records, three of polygyny (one male with more than one female) and one of
polyandry. Polygyny may frequently go unobserved unless the nests are
close together and the individual birds marked. In my study, the degree of
involvement (e.g. copulation, providing of food, etc.) of each polyandrous
male was also difficult to ascertain, since the Kestrels were unmarked.
The existence of an unbalanced sex ratio in a polygynous or polyandrous
system is clearly not important in non-raptor species, but in the frequently
polygynous Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus a 1 : 1 .96 ratio in favour of females has
been recorded in Orkney (Balfour & Cadbury 1979). An unbalanced ratio
of 1:1.75 in favour of females was observed in Kestrel nestlings (Cave
1968), but not in adults of breeding age (one year or older), where it is
presumed to be 1 : 1 . A greater degree of polygyny occurs in Hen Harriers
when a plentiful food supply exists (Hagen 1969). It should follow that
polyandry occurs more frequently when food is in short supply and more
than one male is needed to provide for the female. In my Hampshire study,
however, the Kestrels were at the third highest density on record (one pair
per 394 ha; total 17 pairs), suggesting good food availability, and the
unusually high incidence of bigamy was probably a result of this high
density. Chris Packham
10 Cleveland Road , Midanbury, Southampton S022AN
REFERENCES
Balfour, E., & Cadbury, C. J. 1979. Polygyny, spacing and sex ratio among Hen Harriers
[Circus cyaneus) in Orkney, Scotland. Omis Scand. 10: 133-141.
Cave, A. J. 1968. The breeding of the Kestrel, Falco tinnunculus L., in the reclaimed area,
Oostelijk Flevoland. Neth. J. Zool. 18: 313-407.
Cramp, S.. & Simmons, K. E. L. (eds.) 1980. The Birds oj the Western Palearctic. vol. 2. Oxford.
Hagen, Y. 1969. Norwegian studies on the reproduction of birds of prey and owls in relation to
micro rodent population fluctuations. Fauna 22: 73-126.
Newton, I. 1979. Population Ecology of Raptors. Berkhamsted.
Notes
195
Roding at night and vertical escape flight of Woodcock The notes on
the \\ oodcock Scolopax rusticola roding at night and on its v ertical escape
flight {Brit. Birds 75: 467-468) prompt the following. My house is situated in
a large area ol woodland where Woodcocks breed (the notes in The Handbook
on length of roding period are based on observations made there). I found it
by no means unusual to hear roding at various times during the night from
my bed whenever I happened to be awake. As for the vertical escape flight,
this depended on where the bird was when disturbed. If in deep bracken
Pteridium aquilinum , it made the usual zigzag flight. Often, however, it would
be in dense patches ol young birches Betula w here it would be difficult to get
out except by going straight up: on these occasions, the Woodcock would
shoot up at terrific speed, as though catapulted up (it always seemed
incredible how fast it could rise in so brief a time). At that time, when I was
using some woodland for poultry farming, a Woodcock got into an area
surrounded by high wire netting; as it was unable to walk out, and did not
seem aware that it could get out only by flight, I directed it into a corner,
caught it without difficulty, and launched it into the air. F. F incher
Randan Wood , Woodcote , Bromsgrove . Worcestershire BM 'JED
According to Bl I E. Woodcocks roding lor the longest time over woodland arc the most
successful in mating, but roding at night in Britain is not mentioned. Although the vertical
escape flight is apparently not especially noted in recent ornithological literature, it is in fact
normal and quite common. John W ilson's previous comments (Bril. Birds 75: +68) would seem
still to apply. Eds
Unusual wing-tip pattern of third-year Mediterranean Gull Sev eral
times between 9th September 1982 and 15th April 1983, at Torremolinos,
Malaga, Spain, I saw a Mediterranean Gull Larus me/anocephalus in normal
third-winter/adult winter plumage except for two black spots across both
webs 1 cm or so in from the tips of the outer two primaries. Grant (1982,
Gulls: a guide to identification) described the usual pattern for this age as ‘1st
(and rarely 2nd) primary with thin black line of variable extent on outer
web.' The size of the spotting was not great, and would not hav e attracted
attention at any range over 100 m or so. This was the only case of such
spotting among over 1,100 adult Mediterranean Gulls seen between 1980
and 1983 in the Malaga Bay region. This individual’s precise age was
known because it had acquired a noose around its neck when it first
appeared (in typical second-winter plumage) on several occasions between
September 1981 and April 1982. P. J. Grant {in litt.) has commented that it
may be possible for plumage development to be retarded by injury, and that
the effect of the noose may have accounted for the unusual wing-tip
pattern. Andrew M. Paterson
Edficio San Gabriel 2-L°-A, CJ. Escritor Adolfo Reyes , 2900 Torremolinos,
Malaga, Spain
Owls feeding on snails Although Malcolm J. Palmer's observation of a
Short-eared Owl Asio Jlarnmeus apparently feeding on a snail (Brit. Birds 75:
131) may be exceptional, my experiences in the Netherlands indicate that
196
Notes
some owl species do occasionally take snails. Among 18,789 prey items of
Long-eared Owls A. otus collected between 1965 and 1980, I found one
snail; I identified two snails among 1,933 prey items of Tawny Owls Strix
aluco collected in the same period. The snails all belonged to the family
Cepeae. There is also some evidence that Barn Owls Tyto alba , Eagle Owls
Bubo bubo and Little Owls Athene noctua may take snails on rare occasions
(Glutz von Blotzheim & Bauer, 1980, Handbuch der Vogel Mitteleuropas , vol.
9). It is, however, certain that snails make no significant contribution to the
total biomass consumed by owls. F.J. Koning
Belkmerweg 35, Burgervlotbrug, Holland
Head pattern of immature Citrine Wagtail The postscript to the section
on Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola in Sharrock & Grant ( 1982, Birds New to
Britain and Ireland) stated that ‘Perhaps the most promising possibility [for
separation of immatures of Citrine and Yellow Wagtails M.flava] so far is in
different facial pattern details: Citrines have a complete pale surround to
the dark “hollow-centred” ear-coverts, whereas Yellows have more solidly
dark ear-coverts which merge with the dark nape.’ Although this pattern
may be diagnostic of immature Citrine, the complete pale ear-covert sur-
round may not always be so obvious as shown by P. ]. Grant’s illustration
on page 51 of that publication. We have had recent experience of two
immature Citrine Wagtails in Lothian. On the first, in Sepember 1981, this
feature could be readily seen. On the second individual, however, in
October 1983, at about 40m in dull light, the supercilium was prominent
but its extension around the ear-coverts could not be made out; the com-
plete pale surround showed only inconspicuously at very close range and in
better light, and was always extremely difficult to see. Observers faced with
a possible immature Citrine should be aware that, at least in some cases,
close views in good light are needed to determine whether or not there is a
complete pale surround to the ‘hollow-centred’ ear-coverts. We would add
that, on both Lothian individuals, the brown tinge to the forehead could be
seen only at close range; this was also the case with the brown tinge to the
fore supercilium, shown only by the second individual.
Alan Brown and Peter R. Gordon
32 King’s Court , Longniddry , East Lothian EH320QP
Similarity of Nightingale call to croaking of common frog In the
paper ‘Insect, amphibian or bird?’ (Brit. Birds 77: 87-104), no reference was
made to the short, croaking rasp, often repeated, of the Nightingale Luscinia
megarhynchos. I have heard this one- or two-syllable croak given by an adult
when well-grown or recently flown young were approached by a cat and by
human beings. It could be confused with the croaks of the common frog
Rana temporaria, which, however, are more prolonged and, in Britain, have
largely ceased by the time Nightingales are breeding. A. P. Radford
Crossways Cottage, West Bagborough, Taunton, Somerset TA43EG
There are letters on related subjects on page 198. Eds
Notes
197
Grasshopper Warbler mistaken for Savi’s Warbler On 26th April
1984, at Marham Fen, Norfolk, I heard and saw a Locustella warbler.
Grasshopper Warbler L. naevia was ruled out because it had no streaking,
sang in short bursts (5-10 seconds in length), and sang on exposed perches.
I assumed that it was a Savi’s Warbler L. luscinioides, and another observer
later confirmed this identification, based on experience of the species in the
Netherlands. A mist-net was erected, and a tape-recording of the song of
Savi’s was played to act as a lure. Nothing happened. Next morning, a tape
of the song of Grasshopper Warbler was used, and the bird was caught
within seconds. In the hand, it was obviously a Grasshopper Warbler, with
barring on the tail and streaking on the upperparts and upperwing-coverts.
After release, it sang again, and the Grasshopper tape attracted it much
closer, when it was obviously a Grasshopper Warbler.
I thank J. B. Kemp, who initially doubted that it was a Savi’s. He
suggested that, in some lights, the barring and streaking could not be seen.
I I still seems strange, however, that it should have sung on exposed perches
in full sunshine and in such short bursts. A. Banwell
18 Hall Farm Gardens, East Winch, King’s Lynn, Norfolk
This useful cautionary tale confirms several pitfalls in Savi’s Warbler identification, as
discussed recently by P. j. Grant (Brit. Birds 76: 78-80). Eds
Voices of Willow Tit and Marsh Tit Fully fledged young Willow fits
Parus montanus do indeed utter the begging calls described by K. J. Hall
(Brit. Birds 77: 117-118), although there are often four notes on a descending
scale. These hunger cries are distinctive: they have fair carrying power and
sound very musical. The first syllable of the call transcribed by Mr Hall as
‘dee-doo-der’ is more emphatic and prolonged than the other two, whereas
in the four-note phrase the notes are quickly repeated to form a phrase even
in tone and rhythm. I have also noted that similar calls persist for short
periods after the juveniles have left the nest-hole, but then give way to calls
resembling, although more subdued than, those of the parents. (Inci-
dentally, the basic call of the adult male is more ‘nasal-sounding' and
deeper in tone than that of the adult female.) The Willow Tit has only one,
well-known, basic song: a very delicate refrain consisting of a simple
repetition of a series of four to five notes which are balanced in pitch, the
complete song-phrase lasting not much more than one second. It also
possesses a very subdued warbling type of song (almost a sub-song), but
during 27 years’ observation I have heard this on only two occasions, both
in autumn. It was also noted by Ludwig Koch (1941. Songs of Wild Birds). I
recall that this song, although subdued, had appreciable carrying power. It
gave me the impression of being intermediate between sub-song and full
song; it was uttered in brief snatches, and could hardly be regarded as
territorial in character. (The true sub-song of most species is intrinsically
different from the primary' song, and can be described as an ‘inward
warbling’ embracing a wide frequency range of rambling and often
discordant sound without set pattern.) The song was like that of a Canary
Serinus canaria in pattern and included odd call notes similar to those uttered
Notes
198
bv Siskins Carduelis spinus. To my ears it was reminiscent of portions of the
song of Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos , sometimes also of the liquid
rendering of the Goldfinch C. carduelis.
The Marsh Tit P. palustris, unlike the Willow Tit, utters quite a variety of
different songs, including song variants (six different song types, together
with other vocalisations, are illustrated in my British Bird Vocabulary cassette
series, vol. 4, side C). These various songs may not all be well known and
may possibly be confused with those of other species. They may not all be
common to the species generally, but they are not necessarily restricted to
individual males (four of the song types in British Bird Vocabulary were
included in the repertoire of three different males). In contrast to the
Willow Tit, fully fledged young Marsh Tits do not appear to be very vocal;
their food-soliciting calls are also of a different pattern and much more
subdued than those of young Willow Tits. V ic Lewis
Rosehill House , Lyonshall , near Kington, Herefordshire HR5 3HS
Letters
Insect, amphibian or bird? During the mid 1960s, on a visit to
Walberswick, Suffolk, I watched a Bittern Botaurus stellaris flying over the
reedbeds for several minutes and giving a very convincing rendition of the
‘kok-kok-kok’ call of the male common toad Bufo bufo. Had the bird not
been in view, I would have had no hesitation in recording the amphibian.
This call seems approximate to the Bittern’s warning call, as indicated in
BWP, but the written account does not emphasise the croaking nature of the
sound.
Another interesting Suffolk confusion was between the churring of Night-
jars Caprimulgus europaeus and the distant noise of the water-cooled Velocette
motorcycle which seemed to be in vogue with the rural constabulary of the
area 20 years ago. Michael Clegg
26 Malham Way, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire HG50HQ
Michael Clegg’s final paragraph recalled a similar incident, described for us by Dr J. J. M.
Flegg: ‘During fieldwork for The Hertfordshire Breeding Bird Atlas ( 1982), Chris Mead, Chris Cox
and I suffered a similar problem at the hands of the police. During a nocturnal ‘owl-listen’
across the county, we investigated a continuing call, precise enough to convince the three of us
(with ample Mediterranean experience) that we had found a Scops Owl Otus scops. With
quickening heartbeats, we pursued it. To our chagrin, however, we discovered that it, too,
emanated from a police Velocette motorcycle: the police radios at that time emitted (when at
rest) a monotonous, metronomic, whistling “kiu . . . kiu . . . kiu . . . ”!’ Eds
Song of Grasshopper Warbler As a matter of historical fact as well as
scientific interest, let it be recorded that as long ago as 1950 Carl Weismann
( Dansk Ornithologisk Forenings Tidsskrift 44: 19-22) analysed the song of the
Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia on an oscillograph and showed that
the singer produced 26 double notes a second (cf. Brit. Birds 77: 1 15).
Jeffery Boswall
Birdswell, Wraxall , Bristol BS 19 1 JZ
Letters
199
Calls of Bonelli’s Warbler With reference to notes published on
differences between the calls of eastern and western races of Bonelli’s
Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli (Brit. Birds 76: 537), may I refer you to my paper
on the subject which appeared 1 3 years ago, ‘Notes sur le Pouillot de Bonelli
oriental, sa distribution et sa voix’ ( L’Oiseau 43: 75-79). The obstacle of
language seems to be growing now in Europe between ornithologists. Most
Continentals make serious efforts to read English publications, but the
reverse seems not to be true. Fortunately, the outlook is broadening with
your journal and this could perhaps lead to better understanding and help
alleviate irritation if the trend is followed. Paul Geroudet
37 av. de Champel, CH-1206 Geneve . Switzerland
On 22nd April 1976, whilst in the Dibbin Forest in Jordan, I noted Bonelli’s
Warblers with a what to me was a very odd ‘chip’ call note, quite different
from the usual call. With such different calls, however, are we dealing with
different subspecies, or different species? Richard Sutton
10 Park Square , Leeds IS! 2LH
During 21st July to 16th August 1983, I came into contact with many
Bonelli’s Warblers in the French and Spanish Pyrenees. The only call heard
during this time was a single note, loud and sharp, with a very slight
upward inflection at the end, which 1 rendered ‘pziuf. The call was short,
with a slightly metallic, buzzing quality, similar in pitch to the call of
Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava. The majority of the birds observed showed
bright fresh remiges and rectrices of juvenile plumage. Circumstances do
suggest that this call is uttered by juveniles, and I found it significantly
different from that of adults of the eastern race orientalis , despite the simi-
larity of phonetic renderings given in British Birds (76: 537). To my ears, the
call of orientalis has a similar quality to that of Crossbill Loxia curvirostra ,
being louder and shorter as well as slightly lower than that of juveniles
heard in the Pyrenees. J. M. Pindf.r
29 Thick Hollins , Xleltham , Huddersfield HD7SDQ
We are grateful to Michael Wilson for drawing our attention to a further paper on
differences in both song and call of the two races of Bonelli's Warbler: Helb. Bergmann &
Martens ( 1982, Experientia 38: 326-327) pointed out that the vocal differences were first noted
as far back as 1905! They also summarised experiments where calls and songs of the race
orientalis elicited no response from birds of the nominate race when played in their territories,
and suggested that the two forms may well be separating into two species. Basically, the
nominate race calls ‘doo-eeo’, whilst orientalis calls ‘tvip’. The song of orientalis was described by
Geroudet (1973) as being briefer, more liquid and weak in resonance in comparison with that
of the nominate race. Eds
Vocalisations and Phylloscopus taxonomy It is well known that
certain populations of some Phylloscopus warblers have rather different calls
and, to a certain extent, also songs (e.g. recent correspondence concerning
the two races of Bonelli’s Warbler P. bonelli and the more familiar differ-
ences in the calls of Iris t is and nominate Chiffchaffs P. collybita (Brit. Birds 74:
444; 76: 537; 77: 24-25, 429; 78: above). Recently, Helb et al. (1982)
advocated that the two forms of Bonelli’s Warbler are sufficiently different
200
Letters
vocally to warrant splitting specifically. Svensson (1984) considered that
Yellow-browed Warblers P. inomatus of the nominate race and humei should
be split on the same basis. Although I agree that the vocal differences
involved in these cases are considerable, these differences between different
populations occur in many other species in the genus. In recent years, I
have been fortunate enough to have travelled in the hot-bed of
Phylloscopus evolution in the USSR, the Himalayas and China; sorting out
some of the identities of these warblers has sometimes become a problem as
a number of species sing and call quite differently in well-separated parts of
their range. Incidentally, it was noted that the race mandellii of the Yellow-
browed Warbler seemed to be somewhat intermediate between humei and
the nominate race vocally, taking some of the strength out of Svensson’s
proposals. Both Pallas’s Warblers P. proregulus and Arctic Warblers P.
borealis are involved in this situation and, more importantly, Greenish
Warbler P. trochiloides. Although the songs of western Greenish Warblers of
the race viridanus and the closely related Green Warbler P. nitidus are
distinctly different, on hearing Greenish of the same subspecies around
Tashkent it was noted that the song seemed closer to Green than to
Greenish heard near Moscow. Clearly, we are on the verge of either
splitting many more forms of Phylloscopus on song differences or lumping
some on discovering that vocalisations vary so much as to render conven-
tional tools of systematics of little use within this complex genus. We are
living in an age of ease of travel and the portable tape recorder, and I urge
anyone travelling east to record as many sounds of Phylloscopus warblers as
possible. Analysis of the results will be the only way that we can start to
understand just what is happening with this fascinating group of birds.
S. C. Madge
2 Church Row, Sheviock, Torpoint , Cornwall PL113EH
REFERENCES
Helb, H.-YV., Bergmann, H.-H., & Martens, J. 1982. Acoustic differences between popula-
tions of western and eastern Bonelli’s Warblers (. Phylloscopus bonelli , Sylviidae). Experientia 38:
356-357.
Svensson, L. 1984. Identification Guide to European Passerines. Third edn. Stockholm.
^fUcntp-fihc peats ago...
‘THE LANCEOLATED WARBLER ( Locustella lanceolata ) IN LINCOLNSHIRE. A New
British Bird, by g. h. caton haigh. When walking along the sea-bank at North Cotes,
Lincolnshire, on November 18th, 1909, I shot an example of the Lanceolated Warbler
(. Locustella lanceolata). I first observed the bird in the long grass on the side of one of the
marsh-drains, out of which it ran on to the short grass of the adjoining field. I watched it for a
short time as it ran about the ground like a mouse, and I noticed that it kept its tail depressed,
and not erected over the back, as is usually the case with the Grasshopper-Warbler ( Locustella
ncevia ) when running over open ground. At one time it flew up to a barbed-wire post close by, up
which it climbed with the facility of a Tree-Creeper. It soon flew back to the ground, and I shot
it just as it reached the long grass again. Unfortunately the bird was much shattered by the
shot, and I had great difficulty in making a skin of it. It proved to be a male, and I think adult,
and was excessively fat.’
201
Seventy-five years ago . . .
MARKING BIRDS. We hope that our readers will mark a large number of birds this season.
Some of the best results are obtained by ringing a great many birds of the same species, such as
colonies of Gulls, Terns, etc . . . The rings are kept in packets of twenty each, in three sizes,
large size for Gulls, Ducks, etc., medium size for Thrushes, Terns, etc., small size for Robins,
Warblers, etc. Requests for rings should state the quantity required of each size. Eds.’ (Brit.
Birds 3: 353-354, 367, April 1910)
Announcements
Quicker books from British BirdShop Over the past couple of years,
many BB subscribers have obtained their bird books through British
BirdShop, thereby greatly helping BB' s finances (and ensuring larger
issues for everyone). These book orders have been despatched by the
individual publishers. The service has generally been very efficient, but
occasionally one or another publisher has caused a hiccough — the usual
explanations being ‘the computer was on the blink’ or ‘the warehouse staff
have been under great pressure.’
We are now delighted to announce a link-up which should ensure prompt
and efficient despatch of all book orders for BB subscribers. The newly
formed Natural History Book Service will be despatching for us all book
orders sent to British BirdShop. They have guaranteed a 48-hour turn
around after receipt of the order on every title listed in British BirdShop. As
before, BB subscribers in the U K & Eire can obtain their books post free if
ordered through British BirdShop.
Bird books not on our monthly list can also be ordered at the same time.
We will pass your requirements for despatch by the Natural History Book
Service in the same way as other books.
Please remember: books ordered through British BirdShop help BB
financially, considerably subsidising the magazine, to everyone’s benefit.
Please order all your bird books through British BirdShop. In this
issue, the form is on page xv.
‘BWP’ reminder Volume IY of Birds of the Western Palearctic is still
available, price £60, post free to subscribers in the UK & Eire, through
British BirdShop (see page xv).
£30 off ‘BWP I-IV’. An Exclusive Offer to ‘BB’ Subscribers. The
usual cost of the first four volumes of B WP is £55 + £55 + £55 4- £60 = £225.
As well as receiving them post free (in UK & Eire), BB subscribers can
obtain these four volumes for £ 1 95, saving a total of £30, if ordered through
British BirdShop (see page xv).
‘The Popular Handbook’ That classic book. The Popular Handbook of
British Birds by P. A. D. Hollom, which has been unavailable for some
months, will, we understand from H. F. & G. Witherby Ltd, be back in
print towards the end of April. Copies can now again be ordered through
British BirdShop (see page xv).
News and comment
Mike Everett and Robin Prytherch
Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of ‘British Birds’
Old binoculars and field guides needed
urgently! ... for teachers in countries where
these items are difficult to obtain. Your old
binoculars or field guides, collecting dust in a
cupboard, can be put to good use through the
ICBP’s British ‘Stop the Massacre’ Com-
mittee which has launched this appeal.
Please send them (your postage will be
refunded if you ask) to: Stop the Massacre
Committee, c/o The Lodge, Sandy, Bedford-
shire SG19 2DL.
Derwent decision In November 1984, the
Minister of Agriculture decided to reject the
Ouse and Derwent Internal Drainage
Board’s application for grant-aid to pump-
drain the 75 ha North Duffield Carrs — 61 ha
of which are part of the 783-ha internation-
ally important wetland Site of Special
Scientific Interest of Derwent Ings, North
Yorkshire. Discussions between the IDB, the
Nature Conservancy Council, the RSPB and
the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust started in
autumn 1980. The IDB wished to install
pumps to aid drainage of the Carrs between
March and November, claiming that pro-
gressively higher levels in the River Derwent
since 1976 were impeding drainage of water
from the Ings alongside: the quality of the
pasture for summer grazing and hay cutting
had deteriorated and the scheme would
correct this. But the IDB was unable todetail
the cause of the alleged deterioration of
drainage and unable to produce figures to
support its case. The conservation bodies
thought that pumping would make the site
drier, to the detriment of the wetland flora
and breeding waders and wildfowl (especi-
ally Shoveler Anas clypeata , Redshank Tringa
totanus and Snipe Gallinago gal Imago) for
which the area is renowned. It was also
feared that ‘take-up’ of the agricultural
benefits of the scheme would lead to greater
herbicide- and fertiliser-use, also damaging
wildlife. The project was also seen by the
IDB as a pilot, likely to lead to pump-
drainage for the remainder of the Ings. It was
suggested that a temporary pump could be
installed and its impact on flora, fauna, the
agricultural use and hydrology of the Carrs
monitored for five years. If it damaged the
wildlife interest of the site, it would be
withdrawn immediately. Before its installa-
tion, three years of monitoring existing
conditions would be required to provide
control data for comparison. The IDB,
however, found the delay and the cost of all
this unacceptable, and discussions broke
down. In August 1983, the IDB submitted its
original proposals to the MAFF, requesting
grant-aid for the scheme, unmodified to meet
conservation objections in any way. The
NCC. the RSPB, the Yorkshire Wildlife
Trust, the Wildfowl Trust and the Inter-
national Waterfowl Research Bureau all
formally objected to the scheme. The RSPB
and the YWT also submitted detailed econ-
omic evidence, showing that the IDB had
overstated the agricultural benefits of the
scheme and that it was not economicallv
viable. Objections to the scheme were sup-
ported by many members of the public and
Members of Parliament (notablv Kenneth
Carlisle MP (Conservative), Lincoln, and
Mr Peter Hardy MP (Labour), Wentworth.
The North Duffield Carrs case became an
important test of the Government’s
commitment to wildlife conservation. In
ornithological terms, the decision not to
grant-aid the pump-drainage scheme is at
least as important as the historic 1978
decision, after public inquiry, to reject
Southern Water Authority’s proposals for
the pump-drainage of Amberlev Wildbrooks
in Sussex. (Contributed bv Gwvn Williams )
202
News and comment
203
Congratulations . . . belatedly, to Derek
Barber, on his knighthood, awarded in last
year’s Birthday Honours List. Sir Derek is
Chairman of the Countryside Commission,
and before that was Chairman of the RSPB
Council.
Cormorant mystery solved? M . J . Pointon
has written to us on — literally — a long-
standing problem: ‘I have read, and heard in
lectures, of the Cormorant’s habit of
perching with its wings held out. The two
main reasons given to me have been: (i) to
dry the wings after long arduous fishing
bouts, or (ii) the posture somehow aids
digestion. At Radipole RSPB Reserve,
together with other local birders, I watched a
Cormorant fishing furiously fora long time; it
caught nothing, got out of the water and
joined its colleagues on a wooden platform. 1 1
immediately opened its wings, this bird,
then, being the only one with its wings open.
Torrential rain then began to pour down Ibr
some fifteen minutes. The Cormorant
remained with its wings held out throughout
this downpour, obviously not drying any-
thing whatsoever. Not having caught any fish
either, it could not be aiding its digestion too
much. Then, all became obvious to me. It.
like all other fishermen, was telling the
fisherman’s tale “You should have seen the
one that got away!” All present agreed with
me that this must be the answer.’
Condor news For too long, effective
research into the problems facing the
California Condor Gymnogyps califomianus —
necessary if a last-ditch conservation effort
was to be mounted — and proposals to
establish a captive-breeding programme
were bedevilled by endless arguments as to
who, or what, was right. Fortunately, that
phase is now over, and ecological research is
well under way. This is aided by radio-
tagging of wild condors: eight ol the
remaining 17 carried radios by mid
December 1984. Some idea of the immense
problems facing condor researchers can be
had from the incredible fact that one ol the
oldest tagged individuals is known to have
wandered over an area of about 8.000 km2
(3.000 square miles)! There are now lfi in
captivity, the famous 16-vear-old, one wild-
trapped four-vear-old. three taken as chicks,
and I I hatched from eggs taken in the wild.
BB Photographic Consultant discovers
species new to science The latest issue of
Ibis ( 127: 1-6) includes a paper bv Dr Hilary
Fry and Don Smith concerning a cliff-
swallow w hich Don found dead on Sanganeb
Reef, a coral atoll in the Red Sea 20 km
northeast of Port Sudan. Now named the Red
Sea Cliff Swallow Hirundo perdita, this species’
nearest relatives are H. preussi. H. rufigula and
H. spilodera of western and southern Africa.
The breeding range of the Red Sea Cliff
Swallow is, of course, still unknown, but the
authors speculate that it ’is unlikely to breed
in Arabia and will be found to range in the
Red Sea hills of Sudan or Ethiopia.’
It made us smile . . . The vision that was
brought to mind when we read the page-
proofs of February British Birds and found
this delightful printer’s error: ‘ Compiled b\
Robert Spencer and the Bare Breeding Birds Bane!
R &: M Conference The 17th annual BTO
Ringing and Migration Conference at
Swanwick. Derbyshire, during 4th-6th
January 1985. proved as popular as ever,
w ith a near-400 capacity attendance. Joe and
Ann Hardman and their Arden Ringing
Group helpers hosted the event with their
usual efficiency. Brian Little filled the
traditional Friday evening travelogue spot
News and comment
204
with an often very humorous account of a
June visit to Japan. A major scoop by the
conference organisers was the booking of that
guru of in-the-hand identification and ageing
techniques, Lars Svensson, whose talk on
birdwatching in Siberia was delivered with
the same precision and clarity which marks
his writings: it provided an excellent start to
the Saturday sessions, and was further
enlivened by cleverly synchronised tape
recordings of the birds on the screen. At the
end of his talk, he was appointed as an
honorary BTO ringer in recognition of his
services to ringers in Britain. Crammed
between this and the final session on
Sunday — a superbly delivered and illus-
trated lecture by Fred Cooke on a Canadian
population of Snow Geese — was a varied
programme of items, ofinterest mainly to the
ringer, but also some equally entertaining for
the more general birdwatcher. Among these
were Rhys Green’s age-related wader bill
measurements; the Interwader ringing
studies of wader movements in the East Asia/
Pacific flywav by Duncan Parish; and an all-
vou-could-ever-want-to-know-about-the-Pied-
Flvcatcher session by Chris Mead and Tim
Stowe. The ever-popular BB mystery
photograph competition attracted 82
entrants, and an exceptional 14 all-correct
entries included Lars Svensson’s (clearly, he
can practise what he preaches!) and that of
Paul Harvey who, after a hat-draw, won the
prize of a bottle of champagne. ( Contributed by
PJG)
David Hunt As we were going to press, we
learned of the tragic death of David Hunt,
killed by a tiger in the Corbett Reserve in
India in late February. We extend our
deepest sympathy to his widow and family.
An obituary will be appearing in due
course.
North Northumberland Bird Club We
owe an apology to this new, very active and
apparently highly successful club for having
neglected to mention its formation well over a
year ago. Anyway — we were delighted to
hear from its Chairman, Graham Bell, of the
success in its first year, and hope that its
members will forgive us and accept our best
wishes for 1985. If you live in their area, why
not join us? For more information, write to J.
Turnbull, 3 Newham Village, Chathill,
Northumberland.
New recorder for Fife and Kinross The
new recorder is Douglas Dickson, 133
Duddingston Drive, Kirkcaldy, Fife KY2 6XG.
who takes over from Ian Gumming.
What they say We are grateful to Bernard
Zonfrillo for drawing our attention to the
Sunmed Holidays’ brochure which tells of
the Raven Blackbird, the Bonell’s Warbler,
the Woodchat Shrika and, best of all, the
Toopot Screamer, all of which you can see in
southern Crete. Having twitched them, dash
up to Harderbroek Reserve in the Nether-
lands, where, as Dr J. H. Lawton has pointed
out to us, the brochure on the new town of
Almere almost guarantees a real five-star
lifer because ‘here breed harriers, dodos,
bitterns and grebes’. Or, if you prefer
something closer to home, try Richmond
Park: Bruce Kerr has shown us a Guardian
cutting where it says ‘on milder days you
could hear thrushes clearing their throats in
preparation for the clarity of the new year
songs’ and ‘coots and a few random black-
headed river gulls cry . . .’ But watch out
what vou take with you if you go to the
Republic of Ireland: Martin Garner has sent
us the Customs Guide for Travellers where it says
‘The principal articles, the importation of
which is prohibited or restricted are: arms,
ammunition and explosives, budgerigars and
other birds of the parrot species . . .’
Presumably this includes the Military
Macaw Ara militarist
Bird names explained . . .
Whinchat Saxicola rubetra (Brett Westwood)
Recent reports
Keith Allsopp and Ian Dawson
These are largely unchecked reports, not authenticated records
The dates in the report refer to January
unless otherwise stated.
Hard-weather movements
The year began with cold northerlies as high
pressure to the west blocked the mild
westerlies. Even colder Siberian air which
was affecting the Baltic pushed south-
westward, arriving over southeast districts of
England on 6th, with heavy snowfalls
followed by sub-zero temperatures over the
following days. With the centre of pressure
moving northwest over Britain and Ireland,
the weather became settled, but, as the winds
turned easterlv, a further blast of freezing air
arrived over British eastern counties on 12th.
Temperatures remained near or below zero
over the country' for the next week, with most
inland waters frozen over.
The wintering wildfowl were obviously
affected. Flocks of Wigeons Anas penelope
were observed moving off-shore at Sandwich
Bav (Kent), with totals of 1,120 on 11th,
2,346 on 18th and 3,300 on 19th. On the Isle
of Sheppev (Kent), 22,000. twice the normal
number, were reported and on Jersey
(Channel Islands) about 1,000 birds were
found on 19th. where usually none is present
in most winters. Farther north, at Minsmere
(Suffolk), off-shore movements were noted,
with a maximum of 362 south on 12th.
Probablv these counts involve some move-
ment from the Continent where conditions
were worse. Flocks of White-fronted Geese
Anser albifrons , which were also seen at
Sandwich Bay, with 150on5thand 19th, 190
on 20th and 121 on 22nd. were probably
cross-Channel birds. A flock of 1 1 was also
seen on 12th at Pagham Harbour (West
Sussex); inland. 110 flew over Willen Lake
(Buckinghamshire), again on 12th. 37 were
present at Grafham Water (Cambridgeshire)
on 19th and 20th. and an influx was noted in
southeast .Scotland where a flock of 24 on
22nd at Tyninghame (Lothian) was the
largest. Bean Geese A. fabalis also arrived at
Sandwich Bay. with 12 on 17th and nine on
22nd. and seven were seen at Stewartby
(Bedfordshire) on 13th. At the beginning of
the month, there was a good scattering of
reports of Smews Mergus albellus. presumablv
escaping the bad Continental weather, but.
as this moved across the North Sea. their
numbers increased. Small flocks were found
on ice-free waters over much of Britain,
notable concentrations being 23. including
1 3 males, on the Ouse Washes (Cambridge-
shire) on 23rd, 15 in the Lea Valley (Essex)
on 19th, 11 in Christchurch Harbour
(Dorset), six in Jersey from 19th to 30th. and.
inshore, 23 at Sandwich Bav on 17th. 10 at
Ipswich Docks (Suffolk) and 15 at Filey
Brigg (North Yorkshire).
Red-necked Grebes Podiceps grisegena also
became commoner, with groups of five and
seven along the Lothian coast and small
numbers scattered inland. All five common
species of grebe could be seen together near
205
206
Recent reports
Sandwich Bay and at Rutland Water
( Leicestershire) on 20th, the last locality also
holding all three common species of diver
Gavia on the same dav. The Black-throated
Diver G. arctica, in particular, was driven
inland, w'ith singles reported from nine
reservoirs in England. Velvet Scoters
Melanitta fusca. Scaups Avthva mari/a and
Red-breasted Mergansers Mergus senator
were reported also on inland waters in small
numbers, and there was a small influx of
Red-crested Pochards Netta nifina. with two
on Rutland Water and singles elsewhere.
Another species affected hv the freeze was the
Bittern Botaurus stellaris. Nine reports were
received of the species in unusual places,
including Scunthorpe Steelworks (Lincoln-
shire) (a boom in the economy?), five on
Jersey on 19th and four at Christchurch.
Hopefully these birds managed to survive the
freeze which lasted until 21st. when mild
Atlantic westerlies arrived, with tempera-
tures climbing above the average until the
end of the month.
Seabirds
Iceland Larus glaucoides and Glaucous Gulls
L. hyperboreus did not show an increase of
numbers during the cold spell as conditions
were generally milder to the northwest of
Britain. An Ivory Gull Pagophila ebumea,
however, did appear at Govehithe/Benacre
(Suffolk) on 13th, 16th and 19th, and the
Ross’s Gull Rhodostethia rosea stayed at
Thurso (Highland) until mid month. Medi-
terranean Gulls Larus melanocephalus were
reported at seven coastal areas, including six
at Plymouth (Devon), and inland at Fair-
burn Ings (North Yorkshire) on 26th and
Widen Lake on 28th. Six Ring-billed Gulls
L. delawarensis were present in Northern
Ireland and singles were found at Hoy
(Orkney) on 17th, at Plymouth, near Lincoln
(Lincolnshire), at Par (Cornwall) and at
Preston (Devon) (plates 86 & 87). The
Laughing Gulls L. atrinlla remained into
January at Hull (Humberside) and New-
castle (Tvne & Wear), and a Bonaparte’s
Gull L. Philadelphia was seen at Newquay
(Cornwall) on 24th. Wintering skuas in-
cluded an Arctic Stercorarius parasiticus and a
Pomarine S. pomarims at Heacham (Nor-
folk) on 1st and Great Skuas S. skua at
Swarkestone Reservoir (Derbyshire) on 6th
and Minsmere on 18th. L nseasonal Sand-
wich Terns Sterna sandvicensis were reported
from Jersey on 2nd. Sandwich Bay on 22nd
and three on the Lothian coast. Twenty
Little Auks Alle alle passed Flamborough
Head (Humberside) on 1st and others were
seen at Belfast Lough (Co. Down) on 3rd and
at Walnev (Cumbria) on 9th.
Birds of prey
A few' more records of Rough-legged
Buzzards Buteo lagopus were received, of
singles at Scunthorpe, at Minsmere on 5th, at
Birsav (Orkney) on 13th, two on Chislet
Marshes (Kent) and continued sightings of
one at Copeland Island (Co. Down). An
adult White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus alhicilla
was a rare find at Abberton (Essex) on 25th
and one. possibly two, others were seen in the
Flamborough area. A Gyrfalcon Falco
rusticolus haunted the Isles of Scilly from 5th
to 19th.
Passerines
Although the number of winter thrushes
seems down in many areas, the cold snap
brought them into suburban areas to feed,
one flock, surprisingly, including a Ring
Ouzel Tardus torquatus at Sabden (Lanca-
shire) from 14th to 19th. Another surprising
garden feeder was a Redstart Phoenicurus
phoenicurus at Taunton (Somerset) on 20th.
Waxwings Bombvcilla garrulus became more
numerous in the south as the weather
deteriorated; 50 were estimated in east
Norfolk on 5th, 25 at Sittingbourne (Kent)
86 & 87. First-winter Ring-billed Gulls Larus delawarensis, January 1985: left, Cornwall; right,
Devon (J. C. Nicholls)
207
Recent reports
on 15th. 20 at Benacre (Suffolk) on 20th and
singles at Cambridge, Barrow (Cumbria)
and Grafham. A late report was of 20 at
Iverurie (Grampian) on 23rd December.
Arctic Redpolls (Undue! is homemanni which
had arrived earlier last autumn were still
being found; one was trapped at Spurn
(Humberside) on 17th and another was
reported at Whiteadder (Borders) from 2nd
to 19th. A Siberian Stonechat Saxicola
torquata was still present at Spurn until 12th.
as were the Desert Wheatear Oeminlhe deserti
at Fesw'ick Bay (Highland) until at least 13th
and the Belfast White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis throughout the month.
Waders and wildfowl rarities
An Asiatic Lesser Golden Plover Pluvialis
dominica fulva was an excellent find in the
Bridlington (Humberside) area, but stayed
only a few' days to about 28th, and a
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus was a surprise
visitor to Walnev from 8th to 24th. Four
Cranes Crus grus which were seen in Kent
around the middle of the month mav well
turn out to be the long-staving group
previously in Norfolk. Also in Kent was a
Red-breasted Goose Branta ruftcollis at
Lavsdown, and the onlv report this winter of
a Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser
erythropus was of one at Abberton on 30th.
Embo (Highland) continued to attract
visitors to see the King Eider Somateria
spedabilis and the four Surf Scoters Melanitta
perspici/tala. and two of the latter species were
also present in Donegal Bay (Co. Donegal).
Latest news
The appearance of a female Little Crake
Porzana parva in early March in the Cuckmere
Valley (East Sussex) caused much excite-
ment. There were a few Garganeys Anas
qtierquedula in Sussex and Norfolk; Sand
Martins Riparia ripana were at Radipole
(Dorset) and a single House Martin Delichon
urbica appeared at Wells (Norfolk) on 9th.
Several Wheatears Oenanthe nenanthe were
scattered around Devon, Dorset, Norfolk and
Sussex. An Arctic Redpoll was still at Wells
on 10th March.
Reviews
The Bee-eaters. By C. H. Fry. Illustrated by the author and John
Busby. T. & A. D. Poyser, Calton, 1984. 304 pages; 8 colour plates, ox er
100 line-drawings. £19.60.
All Poyser books have a pleasing ‘feef and show clearly the care and thought w hich has been
put into their design. This latest addition to the Poyser list has the extra attraction ofjohn
Busby’s evocative illustrations scattered liberally throughout the text. A centre section of eight
colour plates portrays all of the 24 species of bee-eater (and most of their races) in the form of
paintings by the author, Hilary Fry. Rumour has it that these were originally produced mereh
as guide-lines for the as-yet-unchosen artist to follow. but that the publisher decided to use
them without commissioning copies from a recognised painter. How wise! Hilary Fry has — as
one would expect from someone so intimately involved over many years w ith studying such an
attractive group — an understanding and love of his subjects w hich has come through in these
marvellous portraits. Of the world’s 24 species. I have seen only eight, but the jizz of each of
those is captured magnificently; and. looking at Hilary Fry’s paintings, I am very tempted to
go oil in search of the other 16.
Although the book itself and the illustrations it contains are both so attractive, these are just
the gilt on the gingerbread. Even undecorated, and in plain wrapping, the gingerbread would
still satisfy even the most critical birdwatcher.
208
Reviews
Bee-eaters are not only delightful to look at, with an interesting and elegant shape, agile and
attractive flight, and beautiful plumage colorations, but they also have extraordinarily fasci-
nating habits. Research, much of it by the author himself, has revealed some most unexpected
social behaviour. Do you, for instance, know (or can you guess) why certain bee-eaters will
allow some individuals (which may not be their close neighbours in the colony, and may not
even be from the same colony) into their burrows, but eject others? No, the ones that are let in
are not ‘helpers’ which are assisting in the feeding of the brood. No, they are not non-breeders.
No, they are not necessarily related genetically to the owners of the nest-hole which they are
allowed to enter. To find out the intriguing answer, you will have to read this book. In so doing,
you will have enormous enjoyment, will learn a lot about bee-eaters, and will gain some
understanding of the excitement which must spur on scientists, such as Dr Fry, who devote
large portions of their lives to the study of wildlife.
This is one of those books which, once you have seen it, you will want to own. I cannot find a
single aspect to criticise. It even includes a ‘believe it or not’ section (see illustration by John
Busby) of aspects ofbehaviour reported but as yet unconfirmed. This is just one example from
a book which not only looks nice, but is also a lot offun to read. J. T. R. Sharrock
In need of confirmation. A Little Bee-eater reported carrying another in its beakm ,
Swallow-taileds roosting on each other’s backs and taking insects from flowers m, Little
Bee-eaters breeding in a weaverbird’s old nest 382 , a Rainbowbird using a twig to assist in
excavating”6 , a Red-bearded taking a scorpion, and a Carmine taking an insect from a Kori
Bustard’s beak"1. Probably all of these reports contain errors of observation or interpretation.
Reviews
209
Les Oiseaux de Montagne. By Jean-Frangois
Dejonghe. Illustrated by Michael Cambrony.
Editions de Point Veterinaire. Maisons-Alfort,
1 984. 3 1 0 pages; 1 6 colour plates; 4 black-and-white
plates; 70 text figures. Softback FF148.
1 his is the second book in a series ‘Les oiseaux dans leur milieu
naturel (Birds in their natural habitat), which has no ready
equivalent in English, t he first Les Oiseaux des Villes et des Villages
(Birds of town and village) was published in 1983 and won a
prize: it is not difficult to see why. Approximately one-third of
France is mountainous — the Pyrenees, Alps, Massif Central.
Jura, Vosges and Corsica — and, although not specified by the
title, the area covered is France and adjacent mountainous
regions in Spain, Italy and Switzerland. The first three chapters,
comprising half the book, form the real interest. Chapter one
covers life in the mountains and the adaptations of birds enabling
them to live there: resistance to cold, food preferences, and social/
sexual behaviour. It includes such examples as the use of snow
holes for roosting by grouse, food storage by Nutcrackers, the
hierarchy of vultures at a carcase, the bone-breaking technique of
Lammergeiers, pellets of Dippers, and drilling for sap by Three-
toed Y\ oodpeckers. Chapter two looks at the effects of man on the
habitat, ranging from afforestation, disturbance and tourism, to
the creation of national parks and reserves (including a nine-page
gazetteer of reserves in France and adjacent countries), and the
attempted reintroduction of several species. The author is not
slow to condemn a Capercaillie reintroduction scheme where two
different subspecies are involved. Chapter three concerns
migration through the mountains, and compares the Alps and
Pyrenees, as well as examining the effects of hunting.
Chapter four, the second half of the book, is a systematic list of
species accounts. There is nothing new in the information, but
the layout is a model of clarity, and the vital points are sum-
marised diagrammatically (see example, for Ortolan Bunting).
To complete this delightful pot-pourri, an appendix gives, among
other things, nestbox designs for Dipper and Tengmalm's Owl!
Last but not least, there are 16 attractive colour plates, and four
pages of black-and-white photographs (including Corsican
Nuthatch); and the text is liberally laced with fine drawings and
clear diagrams.
It is refreshing to come across a novel approach in such a
well-covered field as bird books, and this volume is packed with
fascinating information not easily found elsewhere. It is rather
expensive, but well worth considering, especially if you can read
French. Ian Dawson
Fauna CSSR: Ptaci — Aves. Part 3, vols. 1 & 2. Edited by Karel Hudec.
Czechoslovak Academy of Science, Prague, 1983. 1,234 pages; 29 colour
plates; 651 black-and-white photographs, maps and figures; many short
tables. No price given.
This, the third and final part of the avifauna of Czechoslovakia, comes in two volumes. The
first deals with 103 species (Cuckoo, owls. Nightjar, swifts, Kingfisher. Bee-eater. Roller.
210
Reviews
Hoopoe, woodpeckers, larks, hirundines, pipits and wagtails, Waxwing, Dipper, Wien,
accentors, Robin, chats and thrushes etc, warblers). I he second comprises 67 species (H>-
catchers, tits. Nuthatch, W’allcreeper, treecreepers, Penduline lit. Golden Oriole, shrikes,
crows, starlings, sparrows, hitches, buntings). Colour illustrations of all species are placed
together at the back of volume 2, along with egg plates. 1 he whole of the text is in ( .zechoslo-
vakian and therefore unfortunately beyond the comprehension of the cast majority of Luro-
pean ornithologists, myself included. At the end ol volume 2, however, there are 33 pages of
species summaries in German, and it is mainly on these that this review is based.
My first reaction was one of frustration. 1 hese summaries are extremely short in most cases,
and one also has continually to turn back to the pages and/or figures referred to which is not
made easier bv the fact that the reference numbers to the figures and photographs are in every
case incorrect! Nevertheless, the summaries do provide useful, albeit brief, information on. for
example, general distribution and habitat, status and numbers, migration, dates etc, as well as
on various aspects of breeding biology. Once one has ascertained how certain of the figures and
tables work, there is much of interest to be gleaned on this latter subject, such as laying dates
and the height of nests above the ground. Although world range maps are given for species that
occur regularly in Czechoslovakia, only some species also have a map (Tz/ar-ty pc) showing
distribution in the country itself. 1 his is a pity, for surely such maps covering all breeding
species would have been a most useful addition for the west European ornithologist. On the
other hand, the numerous maps of ringing recoveries are very welcome. I he many black-and-
white photographs vary in quality; they show mostly nests/eggs/habitat, and some form good
reference material for actual nest sites (although in many cases some gardening by the
photographer is rather evident) . I he colour plates are not bad, but there are better ones; their
appeal is aesthetic perhaps, but some — the woodpeckers, warblers and buntings are well
worth looking at more closely.
To judge from the admittedly brief German summaries, the score of authors have, under the
reliable editorship of Karel Hudec, produced a work of some depth and value. I sing the
summaries and maps together, one can learn that in Czechoslovakia the Eagle Owl is
surprisingly widespread and apparently not uncommon; that the River Warbler is also
widespread and has increased in numbers; that Long-tailed 1 its with characters of both races
caudatus and europaeus occur in the country, which forms the overlap zone between the two
races; and that the status of several species, such as Bonelli’s Warbler, is not clearly under-
stood.
I f parts 1 and 2 are comparable, this new Czech avifauna, well-produced and printed (apart
from the annoying errors in cross references), would appear to form a good standard work on
the birds of a land-locked country not often visited by west European ornithologists. For it to
be of real value, however, a good knowledge of German (or Czech!) is essential.
David A. Christie
Robins. By Chris Mead. Illustrations by Kevin Baker. Whittet Books,
London, 1984. 128 pages; over 70 line drawings. £4.95.
This little book on the Robin, attractive and lively, should have much popular appeal.
Lavishly illustrated by line-drawings — often of cartoon type — the matter is laid out in
magazine form. Subjects ranging from populations to folklore are interspersed with short
snippets of information, sometimes cast in semi-humorous form. In short, the contents are as
varied and unpredictable as are those in a Christmas stocking — something for all tastes.
Of the serious matter, the longer pieces include items on distribution, habitat, migration
(illustrated by interesting maps), plumage, and moult. Clear exposition in these sections make
an amount of scientific and statistically based information intelligible and interesting to the
ordinary reader such as myself. The treatment of other items is, however, uneven. In
particular, the various forms of behaviour concerned with care of the plumage, known
collectively as feather maintenance, are dealt with perfunctorily. Some statements on bathing,
for instance, are ambiguous or at variance with other recorded findings; they need to be
substantiated either by descriptions or references. Sunning is not mentioned at all. I was not
aware that, in the case of Robins, dusting as well as anting had been recorded. Since it is rare
for a passerine species to do both, further comment would have been helpful.
Despite these reservations, there is much of value and interest in the book. This being so, the
whole text would have been enhanced by a reference list. J . M . Stainton
ipparc my favourite
i others for durability
er proofing) and ease
undling; field of view,
-'-focusing and
racy of colour;
pare them in bad light and try
1 against the sun; docs the
nre go ‘milky’?
These are specific tests but
ultimately the best
binoculars have an
indefinable quality about
them -a naturalncss-and
when you look through
them, it’s as if you’re seeing
exactly what your eyes see,
but much closer.
At the end of the day -I’d
be surprised if your favourites aren’t
LEITZ TRINOVID, in my opinion
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Weekends, Ideal Home magazine and 2 American
guide books. The Old Vicarage Hotel, Worfield,
Bridgnorth, Shropshire WV15 5JZ. l ei: 074-64
498.' (BB234)
NORTH YORKSHIRE. Smugglers Rock,
Country Guest House, Ravenscar Y013 OER.
Homely atmosphere with panoramic views over
country and sea, AA listed. Ideal holiday for
country' lovers. Mrs J. Greenfield. Tel: 0723
870044. ' (BB242)
NEWPORT, PEMBS. Coastal cottage, adj. Nat.
Park, 5 mins. Sea and Estuary. Sleeps 8. Tel:
0222 752965. (BB70)
ISLES OF SCILLY. Quiet, modern, comfort-
able guest house offering good food, excellent
views and full central heating. Central location
only 15 mins walk from Hugh Town. Perfect for
early and late season bird watchers. Stephen
Morris, Glandore, Porthloo, St. Marys. Tel:
Scillonia 22535. (BB243)
MINSMERE 4m. B&B in comfortable private
house, edge of village. Brochure/terms, Hills, Old
Mill House, Yoxford, Suffolk. Tel: 536. (BB175)
WELLS NEXT THE SEA, close harbour. CH,
garage, 5+cot. Stevens, 4 Bell’s Court, Castle
Street, Cambridge Tel: Cambridge 66014. (BBI89)
HEREFORDSHIRE. Farm holiday bungalow
to let amidst Black Mountains in the lovely
Olchon Valley of Herefordshire. Lovely walks
and bird watching area. Dippers nesting close to
bungalow in Spring. Week-end lets until April.
Probert, Glandwr Farm, Llanvaynoe, Longtown,
Hereford. Tel: Longtown Castle 608. (BB81)
COUNTRY COTTAGES between Alnwick and
Belford. Sleep up to six, fully equipped,
self-catering, available throughout the year. Well
placed for Holy Island and Fame Islands,
Cheviot Hills and many places of natural beauty.
SAE to Mrs P. Foster, Coxons, Craster South
Farm, Alnwick, Northumberland. Tel: (066 576)
640. (BB27)
Churehwood V&lley'
NEW
for 1985
LUXURY
CABINS
Top Grade
English Tourist
Board
Jxzlf Catering “Holiday Cabins.
• Set in coastal preservation area of
outstanding natural beauty
• Adjoining N.T. land and near several N.T. houses
• Easy reach Historic Plymouth
• Good walking, riding, sailing, fishing and diving
• Bird-watching and wildlife
• Minimum commercialisation
« Personal attention
• Reasonable charges
• Corporate members R.S.P.B.
Colour brochure from:
CHURCH WOOD ESTATE, WEMBURY.
nr. Plymouth, Devon PL9 0DZ.
Tel: (0752) 862382 (24 hours) (BB148)
J^ansrtbtoell 1
Country House Hotel
IDEAL FOR BIRD WATCHERS
Spend this Spring or Summer in quiet
luxury near the Helford estuary Own
grounds, secluded cove, excellent food
Write or phone for brochure
Mawnan, Nr Falmouth, Cornwall
TEL Falmouth (0326) - 250 - 340
LUXURY IDYLLIC COTTAGE. Ideal base
Cheviot Hills, Fame Isles and Kielder Forest.
Forster. Tel: 1 -904 9 1 07 and 0669 30265.
(BB1 1)
SIBTON ( nr Minsmere), Suffolk. The White
Horse Inn. A unique and charming 16th century
freehouse in 2l/2 acres, ^n suite accommodation,
bed and breakfast or weekly rates. Ample car
parking. CC location site. Bar snacks or
restaurant meals available. Tel: Peasenhall 337.
(BB68)
FARM COTTAGES between Lindisfarne Re-
serve and The Fames. Comfortable and well
equipped. Sorry no pets. Brochure: Mr J.
McNish, Outchester Farm, Belford. North-
umberland. Tel: 066 83 336. (BB45)
NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS National
Park. Coast and country. For (he largest selection
of inspected self-catering cottages, farmhouses
etc, contact: Ingrid Flute, White Cottage,
Ravenscar, Scarborough Y013 ONE. Tel:
Scarborough (0723) 870703. (BB67)
ORCHARD HOUSE, N. W. Norfolk nr. Titch-
well Marsh Reserve. Homely Bed and Breakfast
accommodation (E.M. available). Also self-
catering unit in orchard. Tel: Thornham (048
526)259. (BB49)
EXCELLENT B&B. Own bathroom.
Glorious setting. 4 miles Suffolk coast. 6 miles
Minsmere. 2 miles Snape Concert Hall. £8
per night, per person. Telephone for
reservation. Snape 750. (BB237)
NORTH NORFOLK COAST, fishermen’s
cottages. Open all year. Oak beams. Colour TV
and open fires Oct/March, Ray Hewitt, Brig
Square Holiday Cottages, Freeman Street, Wells
next the Sea. Tel: 0328 710440. (BB1 7)
BARGAIN BREAKS
Small, recommended, coastal, licensed hotel
facing open countryside. National Trust
cliff walks nearby. All bedrooms with baths/
shower/wc, central heating, colour TV and
tea maker, en suite. Four poster bed. Heated
indoor swimming pool. Dinner choice from
extensive menu. 2/5/7 night Bargain Breaks
from £20 including dinner, breakfast and
VAT. Brochure/reservations: GLENCOE
HOTEL, Gwithian Village (St Ives Bay)
TR27 5BX. Tel: 0736 752216.
(BB42)
ISLE OF MULL, Torosay Castle, Craignure.
Golden eagles often seen in the area. 20 species in
the garden and over 200 recorded on the island.
Mull is a paradise. Gardens open year-round.
Castle: 1 May-30 Sept, I flat and gardener’s
cottage to let. Each sleeps 4 plus camp beds.
Special monthly winter terms. For terms apply:
The Secretary. Tel: 068 02 42 1 . (BB15)
SOUTH WOLD AA** HOTEL. Ensuite bed-
rooms, good food and wines. Ideal base for
Minsmere and surrounding area. Open all year.
Reduced terms for party bookings. Write or tel:
Pier Avenue Hotel, Southwold. Tel: 722632.
(BB32)
NORTH WEST HIGHLANDS, Dundonnell
Hotel, just south of Ullapool, ideal location for
hill walkers, birdwatchers and those who enjoy
the open spaces. Private bathrooms, Col. TV, full
c.h. Send for col. brochure/tarilf giving details of
bargain holidays on selected dates, to Selbie
Florence, Dundonnell Hotel, by Garve, Ross-
shire. Tel: 085 483 204. (BB63)
NR MINSMERE, Kings Head, Southwold
723829. B&B, packed lunches, Adnams ales.
(BB19)
EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK. Come and
enjoy the peace of 77 acre wooded nature reserve
and our smallholding. We have 7 camouflaged
caravans on a secluded site, modern toilet
facilities with showers, utility room, children’s
play area. Nature trails and fresh produce. Sea 4
miles. SAE to: Chris and Babs Johnson, Cowley
Wood, Conservation Centre, Parracombe, N.
Devon EX31 4PQ. Tel: Parracombe 200. Day
visitors to centre also welcome. (BB 1 28)
NATIONAL TRUST VILLAGE on Exmoor.
Self-catering holiday homes. Centrally heated,
near Porlock. Sea, moors, woods and marshes all
within walking distance. Stamp for brochure.
Sheila Wright, The Pack Horse, Allcrford. Nr.
Minchcad. Tel: (0643) 862475. (BB72)
COME AND SEE the King Eider and many
other rare birds on Loch Fleet and stay with us at
I he Park House Hotel, Golspie, Sutherland.
Pel: 040 83 3667 where we promise to make your
stay enjoyable. (BB12)
xx
IN THE GROUNDS of a beautiful house
surrounded by woodlands and unspoiled
countryside. Ideal for birdwatchers. Send SAE
for brochure: Trelowarren Chateau Camping
and Caravan Park, Mawgan, Helston, Cornwall.
(BB133)
EAST NORFOLK. B&B. Open all year. Also
modernised 17th century fisherman’s cottage.
Tel: 0493 728374. (BB137)
ISLES OF SCILLY, Mincarlo Guest House, St
Mary’s. Superbly situated in own grounds
overlooking the harbour. Terms from £8.50
(plus VAT) for B&B £12.75 (plus VAT) BB &
EM. Tel: 0720 22513. (BB140)
ORKNEY ISLANDS — Modern accommoda-
tion self-catering and bed and breakfast, near the
sea, boating, fishing, wide variety migratory
birds, regular bus service and car hire available.
For more details write or phone South Ronaldsay
and Burray Tourist Organisation, St. Margaret’s
Hope, South Ronaldsay, Orkney Islands 085 683
309. (BB150)
ELERKEY HOUSE HOTEL
Veryan, near St. Mawes, Truro,
Cornwall TR2 5QA.
Telephone: Truro (0872) 501261
Exclusive Hotel renowned for its comfortable
elegance located on the Roseland Peninsula amidst
National Trust countryside with magnificent coastal
walks. Accommodation comprises nine tastefully-
appointed bedrooms with private shower or bath and
toilet. Exceptional standards maintained on quality
of food, wine and service. Restaurant and Residential
Licence. Terms: Inclusive of VAT and Serv/ce
Dinner, Bed and Breakfast per person from £130.00
to £153.00 weekly.
Bed and Breakfast per person from £14.00 to £17.50
daily.
Write or 'phone Jor Illustrated Brochure from:
Mrs. Heather Greene, Resident Proprietor.
.( BB 1 98)
CAIRNGORMS — Ncthybridge near
Aviemore. Choice of unique converted smithy,
hay loft, cottages and bungalows. Y'ery comfor-
table, well furnished, central heating and col. TV
from £65-£250 pw. Mrs B. Patrick, Chapelton
Place, Forres. Tel: 0309 72505. (BB76)
EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK— Dunster,
Beautiful Georgian residence — a ’listed’ build-
ing, in lawns, walled garden and orchard.
Exceptionally well appointed self-contained flats.
Spacious views of parkland and sea coast.
Historic village with castle. Resident owners to
ensure your comfort. The Archer House, Dunster
Steep, Dunster TA24 6SD. Tel: 0643 821448.
(BB158)
KELLING, NR. CLEY. Situated in 4 acres of
own wooded grounds. Double room £1 1.95 per
person. En suite £13.45. Winter two-day breaks
£27.50 per person, B&B & evening meal.
Applehill Hotel, Kelling. Tel: Weybournc (026
370)382. (BB159)
COTTAGES GALORE. We have some 200 de-
lightful cottages in all parts of Britain. A great
variety of individual properties, all inspected.
Prices £19 to £50 per person per week. Get our
free colour brochure: Amaro Cottage Holidays,
22 High Street, Alton, Hampshire GU34 1BN.
Tel: 0420 88892. (BB178)
NORFOLK BROADS. West Somerton.
Modernised cottage to let on village green. Sleeps
6. Adjacent Nlartham Broad, Horsey, Winterton;
close Waxham, Hickling. Phone 0622 52062.
(BB207)
SOMEWHERE SPECIAL for your bird-
watching in the Dyfi Valley, Mid Wales. 17th
century manor house hotel in 9 acres of peaceful,
unspoilt and finely timbered valley, in secluded
location. Licensed bar and restaurant. Tradi-
tional and vegetarian/whole food lare. Brochure:
Eileen and David Brown, Plas Dolguog Hotel,
Machynlleth, Powys. Tel: 06542244. (BB169)
BARN HOUSE, Bempton. Pleasantly situated,
comfortable farmhouse style B&B, Schofield, 5
Newsham Hill Lane, Bempton, Bridlington. Tel:
0262 850523. (BB73)
MINSMERE. Accommodation at the Eight
Bells, Kelsale A12, B&B. Real Ale, good food.
Tel: Saxmundham 2975. (BB59)
SOUTHWOLD. ‘Avondale’. North Parade,
overlooking sea. B&B/EM, ch, dglazed, licensed.
Open all year. Ideal Minsmere, Havergate,
Walberswick. Good food, friendly atmosphere.
Tel: 0502 722538. (BB8)
ISLE OF MULL. A stable converted into 2 warm
comfortable flats. Frachadil Farm, Calgary. Tel:
068 84 265 or (0573) 24852. (BBI20)
NORTH LAKES — perfect for Caerlav crock and
South Solway Estuary. Six self-catering lodges
overlooking sheltered 30 acre lake. Woodland site
designated of’Special Scientific Interest’. Impor-
tant location for large flocks of water birds,
wintering site for duck, wide variety of wildfowl.
Brochure: Lakeshore Lodges, The Lough,
Thurston Field, Carlisle, Cumbria CA5 6HB.
Tel: 0228 76552. (BB33)
ARGYLL COAST. Self-catering cottages on
isolated private nature reserve. Sorry no dogs.
SAE for brochure please to Ardpatrick Cottages,
Tarbert, Argyll. Tel: 088 02 608. (BB 187)
WEST SUSSEX. Black Mill House Hotel,
Bognor Regis 2 mins sea, Marine Gardens,
Games Room, Cocktail Bar, enclosed Garden,
Car Park. Visit Arundel Wildfowl Trust. AA,
RAC, .Member SEE Tourist Board. Minibreaks
from £37.50 2 days. Brochure. Tel: (0243)
821945. (BB199)
xxt
GREYHOMES HOTEL
Torcross, S. Devon
Holiday Accommodation, S. Devon
SLAPTON SANDS, AA and RAC one star.
Small friendly licensed hotel magnificiently
situated in six acres of mature gardens over-
looking the panorama of Slapton Ley Nature
Reserve and Start Bay. Unspoilt coastline
famous for its variety of birds and wildlife.
Also four self-catering holiday bungalows in
grounds. SAE for brochure: Greyhomes
Hotel, Torcross, Nr. Kingsbridge, S. Devon.
Tel: Kingsbridge (0548) 58022o‘. (BB30)
SOLWAY COAST. B&B, evening meal
optional. CH, ample parking, convenient wild-
fowl reserve. Ideal painting, hill walking. Packed
lunches and vegetarian meals available.
Bardsley, The Rossan, Auchencairn, Castle
Douglas DG7 1QR. Tel: 055 664 269. (BB10)
ISLES OF SCILLY — Seaview Moorings, St.
Mary’s. Home cooking and personal service from
resident proprietors, Tony and Linda. Over-
looking harbour, close to quay and town —
licensed — in-room tea and coffee making facili-
ties— pets welcome. SAE for details or telephone
Tony or Linda Dingley on 0720 22327. (BB35)
SOUTH LINCS. 18th century farmhouse B&B
£9, optional EM. Anne Thompson, Guy Wells
Farm, Whaplode, Spalding. Tel: 0406 22239.
(BB156)
GARE MILL, Slapton. Comfortable, warm self-
catering Cedar Lodges carefully sited in 4 acres
overlooking river and woods. 2 CH flats in 16th C
cornmill available all year. Sleep 2-6. Dogs
welcome. For coloured brochure ring Stoke
Fleming 770295. (BB157)
WELLS, NORFOLK B&B., (Les Routiers
recommended). H. & G., Tea and Coffee facilities
in all rooms. Anne Taylor, The Cobblers (0328
710155). ' (BB 111)
AT THE TIDE’S EDGE between Prawle/Start
Points, Maelcombe House Farm offers B&B/EM
or s/c flat. Spectacular situation for migrations.
Magnificent coastal walking. Ring Mrs Davies on
Chivelstone (054 851) 300 for brochure. (BB48)
CLEY. Attractive house in village, four bed-
rooms, large garden, garage, c.h. Available all
year. Details from Mrs F. Album, 47 Lyndale
Avenue, London NW2. Tel: 01-431 2942. (BB58)
GALLOWAY. Hills, lochs, forests and sea.
Speciality, birds of prey and waterfowl. High
quality houses, cottages, flats. Details, send 27p
stamp to: G. M. Thomson & Co, 27 King Street,
Castle Douglas. (BB43)
VISIT BEMPTON RESERVE. Stay for two
days BB/FD from £28 pp inc. VAT. At the
Flaneburg Hotel, Flamborough. The Hotel on
The Heritage Coast — Full Details phone (0262)
850284. (BBI68)
NORTH NORFOLK. Attractive comfortable
cottage. 4 miles Blakeney. Sleeps 4. Tel: 032875
366. ' (BB183)
CLEY. 3 Quality cottages (sleep 4, 6 and 8).
Quiet. Comfortable. Excellent value. Brochure:
(0353) 740770. (BB171)
USK VALLEY. A remote 16th century Welsh
Longhouse on the Gwent Ridgeway retaining
many original features but with every modern
comforts. Fourposter beds. Bathrooms en-suite.
Magnificent views. Varied birdlif'e. Ideal
Naturalists/Ornithologists. B&B/EM. SAE for
brochure, Mrs Armitage, Ty’rywen Fach Farm,
Mamhilad, Pontvpool. Tel: Little Mill 200.
(BB215)
DUNVEGAN. Mobile home. Sleeps 4. Farm
site. MacDonald, Uiginish Farm, Dunvegan, Isle
ofSkye. (BB216)
COASTAL COTTAGES OF PEMBROKE-
SHIRE, Abercastle, Pembrokeshire National
Park. 75 warm and well equipped owners’
cottages, mostly within sight and sound of sea and
seals on Britain’s most beautiful and natural
coastline. Available all year from £60 per week.
Tel: 034 83 742. (BB185)
HEBRIDES. The Hotel, Isle of Coll, Argyll
PA 78 6SZ. Tel: 087 93 334. AA* RAC. Open all
year, central heating. Over 100 species to be seen
including skuas, raptors, water rail, etc. May we
send you our brochure? (BB194)
CUMBRIA LEIGHTON MOSS 4 miles ideal
touring base. Homely accom. in traditional
cottage. Home made bread, log fires, B/B £7. EM
£4 optional. Details Ellison, Spout House,
Heversham Cumbria LA7 7 EE. (BB 184)
COTSWOLD AREA. Fully equipped luxury
holiday flat. Mrs Rowe, Coombe Mount,
Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire. Tel: 0453
843584. (BB182)
AUTHENTIC GYPSY CARAVAN. Beauti-
fully sited on private (Lake District) nature
reserve. Frahm, Haybridge, Bouth, Ulverston,
Cumbria (022 986) 4 12. (BB205)
ISLE OF WIGHT, BEMBRIDGE. Lovely cot-
tage, sleeps 4, overlooks private lake. Ideal
birdwatchers, artists or those wanting a quiet
holiday. Close harbour and beaches. Available
holidays all year. 098 387 4080. (BB214)
SILVERDALE. Comfortable fully equipped flat.
Sleeps 2-4. Leighton Moss 1 mile. Owner
maintained. Tel: 04482 2395/0468 61400.
(BB172)
BEDDGELERT. Charmingly furnished cottage.
Superb surroundings. Sleeps 5. Regret no pets.
SAE Day, White Cottage, Church Lane, Corley,
Coventry CU7 8BA. Lei: 0676 40501 . (BB209)
xxn
ELIZABETHAN FARMHOUSE set in a
beautiful position near Welsh Border. Enjoy
complete relaxation. Excellent food. Marvellous
walking country. Close to coast and golf course,
and Ofla’s Dyke. Ideal place for birdwatching.
Open Easter onwards. Contact Mrs E. Venables,
Rorrington Hall, Chirbury Powys (093 872) 223.
( BB65)
BIRDWATCHING IN THE HIGHLANDS.
Cottages in Wild Mountainous beauty area by
Sea-Loch. Botanists and Climbers paradise. Rare
wild life of every kind. Boating fishing, good food
and night life locally. TV aerial and heating
available. SAE lnverlael Cottages, Loch Broom,
by Ullapool, Ross-shire 085 485 262. ( BB86)
NORTH NORFOLK. The George & Dragon
Hotel. Accommodation, bars & meals. Over-
looking the marshes at Cley, towards Blakeney
Point. Tel: Cley (0263) 740652. (BB219)
IN EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK, 2 semi-
detached cottages, Winsford. Also comfortable
farmhouse, Wheddon Cross. All sleep 6, plus cot.
Colour TV. Open fires. Sheets provided. Sorry no
pets. SAE please to: Mrs D. Jack, c/o Mrs A.
Webber, Steadway Farm, Wheddon Cross,
Minehead TA24 7EB. Tel: Timberscombe 492.
(BB221)
LIZARD. Beautiful sea views, close to coves and
coastal path. Good food, comfort, reasonable
rates. Dogs welcome, T reglow House, The Lizard
TR 1 2 7NP. Tel: 0326 290472. ( BB 18 1 )
OSPREY VISITORS to Loch Garten this
Summer? Locheil GH offers BB: £5.50; DBB:
£9.25; or self-eater Cottage (sleeps 6) rental £15
nightly, and Chalet (sleeps 4) £10 nightly. For
details plus walks, slide-talks, films, local
activities, write: Locheil, Boat of Garten,
Inverness-shire. Tel: 047 983 603. (BB162)
OLD HUNSTANTON. The White Cottage
guest house, beautifully situated. Overlooking
Wash. Ideal birdwatching. B&B/EM. Special
rates OAPs. Mrs U. Burton, 19 Wodehouse
Road, Old Hunstanton, Norfolk. Tel: 048 53
2380. (BB170)
SOUTHWOLD. ‘Avondale’, North Parade,
overlooking sea. B&b/em, CH, dglazed, licensed.
Open all year. Ideal Minsmere, Havergate,
Walberswick. Good food, friendly atmosphere.
Tel: 0502 722538. (BB179)
MANOR BARN COTTAGE. Nludgley, South
Isle of Wedmore, overlooking Somerset, Levels.
Fine English cooking, log fires, CH. rooms en
suite, open all year. Brochure: Wedmore 0934
712953. (BB46)
SPEY VALLEY — home of the osprey, cross-
bill and crested tit. Impressive Victorian house.
Superb views. CH, log fires. Home cooking. Tel:
0479 2201 or write Rossmor, Grantown on Spey,
Moray. (BB190)
YORKSHIRE’S HERITAGE COAST
Varied and spectacular bird watching on the 350 ft
cliffs around Flamborough and Bempton. A coast
that’s rich in history and wildlife. Discover fossils,
see the seals, explore the nature trails at Danes Dyke
and South Landing.
Send / or details and Bridlington Colour Guide to:
Publicity Dept., 105 The Spa, Bridlington,
East Yorkshire Y015 3JH.
A contribution towards postage appreciated
( BBH4 )
ORKNEY. Our Island Hotel, ideal for ornitholo-
gists, habitat, moorland, shore, clifTs,
lochs, attracts 70 breeding species. Excellent
migration, good walking. Brochure: Taversoe
Hotel, Rousay, Orkney. Tel: 085 682 325.
(BB191)
HISTORIC COUNTRY HOUSE overlooking
Derwent Ings. Explore York, the Wolds,
Bempton Cliffs. Enjoy Yorkshire cooking. B/B,
EM from £10.50. Mrs Vincent, Aughton Hall.
Aughton, York 504 4PG. Bubwith 237. (BB62)
SELF-CATERING PROPERTIES. All
personally inspected. Brochure: Rural Vacations
Ltd, Pipworth Lane, Eckington, Sheffield S31
9EY. Tel: 0246 432202. ( BB54)
BIRD WA TCHING HO LI DA YS
BIRD-WATCHING WORKSHOP
Friday May 24 (evening) to Monday 27, Identifica-
tion, song, calls, censusing. migration, ringing, etc.
E. Kent and Pas de Calais 127 species seen on last
year's course. £64.35.
NA TURE WORKSHOP. JULY 5-7. birds, insects,
plants inch orchids, on duneland SSSI £42.90.
Both full board. Details: Warden, Sandwich Ba\
Bird Observatory. Sandwich, Kent Cl 13 9PI
i BB139)
ISLE OF COLL, ARGYLL. "Tighnamara”
Bird watching at its best. Over 120 species.
Breeding Arctic Skuas, Little ferns. Kiitiwakes,
Divers, Corncrakes. Ravens. 6 resident raptors
including Merlin & Peregrine. Unique island
scenery. Otters, seals. Excellent cuisine.
Brochure. Tel: (08793) 354 (BB104)
ARCTIC BIRDS. 1 wo weeks in the Arctic,
July/August, viewing rare northern birds. Gyr
Falcons. Ivory Gulls, Little Auks, etc. Camping
in North Greenland or boat-based in Spitsbergen.
Expert guides. From £940. Send stamp to:
ERSKINE EXPEDITIONS. 14 Inverleith
Place. Edinburgh. (BB71)
NORTH CORNWALL FIELD STUDIES.
Wildwatch holidays. Enjoy a wildlife or Special
Interest break. Brochure from NCFS BB.
Hellandbridge, Bodmin. Cornwall. Pel:
020884 397. (BB163)
xxiii
TURKEY AND GREECE 1985
Central 8c Southern Turkey
16 Days April/May £665
North West Turkey & North Greece
1 1 Days May/September £488
Eastern Turkey
16 Days May £665
Central Turkey 8c Bosphorus Migration
16 Days September £650
Bosphorus Migration
1 1 Days September £460
ICELAND 16 Days July £700
All Inclusive Prices
Details: Chris Slade
Turkish & Greek Birdwatching Holidays fT
8 The Grange, Elmdon Park, Solihull cc
West Midlands B92 9EL. ®
Tel: 021-742 5420 021-705 5535
DESERT WHEATEAR? West Cornwall is one
of the best places for birds and underwatched.
Stay at Boswednack Manor, Zennor, St Ives and
help us find the rarities. Also Birdwatching,
Natural History & Photographic courses. SAE
please for brochure. (BB 142)
£77: CORNWALL FOR BIRDS. 20-27 April
and 12-19 October 1985, Trevone Hotel.
Newquay. Centrally heated. Excellent food,
talks, films and outings with popular leaders Eric
Grace and Jack Wright. £77, inclusive price for
the week inc DB&B. New for 1985. 27 April-4
May ‘Cornwall for Wildflowers and Gardens’:
£84. Tel: Pamela Chegwin 063 73 3039. (BBI49)
BIRDWATCHING WEEKENDS DORSET.
Expert leadership. Talk/Slide show. Mini-bus
transport. Excellent accommodation. £37
inclusive. SAE Broadsheet M. E. Garwell, 12
Kirtleton Ave, Weymouth, Dorset. Tel: 783147.
(BB131)
CALF OF MAN BIRD OBSERVATORY.
Hostel type accommodation from April to
October. Details from: The Secretary, The Manx
Museum, Douglas, Isle of Man. Tel: (0624)
75522. (BB176)
LLANDUDNO ideal base for coast and
mountain. For accommodation and/or transport
consult Kestrel Coaches, Bron-y-Mor, 40
Vicarage Avenue, Llandudno LL30 IPS. Tel:
0492 76009. (BB9)
BIRDWATCH CORNWALL. March 21st-
27th 1985. £105.00 inclusive; Sept 28th-Oct 4th
1985. £105.00 inclusive. Five days of field trips.
Local RSPB leaders. Evening films and talks.
Special help for beginners. Exciting seabirds,
waders, ducks and birds of prey. Discounts for
parties. Two star hotel with Scandinavian leisure
centre. For brochure and birdlist phone Pauline
Boss, 0736 795294, Karenza Hotel, St Ives,
Cornwall. (BB225)
JOHN GOODERS. Raptors over Gibraltar:
2nd-9th Sept 1985 — peak period. Autumn in
Andalucia and the Goto Donana: 26th Oct-2nd
Nov: 2nd-9lh Nov 1985. Weeks/long weekend
breaks April — October 1985. Super comfort at
our 1 6th C. farmhouse near Sussex coast. Details:
Lattenden’s Farm (BB) Ashburnham, Nr Battle,
E. Sussex. Tel: 0323 883245. (BB244)
SKOKHOLM AND SKOMER ISLANDS,
Pembrokeshire, Dyfed. Full board accom-
modation; birdwatching/photography courses.
Send s.a.e. to Dept BB, WWTNC, 7 Market
Street, Haverfordwest. (BB116)
WEST COUNTRY WILDLIFE. Birdwatching
wildlife holidays, in Devon. Small parties, expert
leadership. Excellent food/accommodation,
talks, slides, trips out each day. Beginners
welcome. April-October one week holidays,
November- March 2, 3 or 4 day week-ends.
Birdwatching on the Exe. Brochure from
Courtlans, Colebrooke, Crediton, Devon EX 17
5JH. (BB208)
MIGRANTS, WADERS, SEABIRDS and
much more. Self-catering birdwatching holidays
in Purbeck. Advice and help freely available from
local experts and wardens. Tel: Swanage 424442
for details and free monthly guide (nearly 300
species). (BB213)
WILDLIFE HO LI DA YS
WILDLIFE SAFARIS
AND EXPEDITIONS
• 3 weeks Zambia with Victoria
Falls.
• 2/3 weeks Kenya. Game parks,
beaches, Lake Turkana,
Lamu Island. from only
Details of this and many £350
other short & Iona expeditions iCHT
in our full colour brochure +
GUERBA EXPEDITIONS LTD
Dept BB WESTFIELD HOUSE
WtblBURY WILTS BA1 3 3EP. UK
TEL (0380)830476(24 HRS)
African adventure
(BB143)
BODMIN MOOR NATURE OBSERVA-
TORY. Open all year. Flexible accommodation
from full board to B&B. Regular field trips under
expert guidance to “discover” birds on the Moor
and north coast sites. Good food. Central heating.
SAE lor prospectus and 1984 records summary
to Tony Miller, Bodmin Moor N.O., Ninestones,
l.iskeard, Cornwall PL14 6SD. Tel: 0579 20455.
(BB145)
xxtv
EXPLORACION ESPANA
The Spanish Wildlife Tour 1985
Enjoy 12 days ol Central and Southern Spain
led by professional Spanish Naturalists. The
small party will have privileged access to
private _anctuaries and estates. It will visit
DQNANA and enjoy comfortable accommo-
dation in private hunting lodges.
U.K. Consultant: Tony Soper
U.K. Representative: Alison Kefford
Exploracion Espana,
18 Bromley Gardens, Houghton Regis,
Dunstable, Beds.
Tel: 0582 864540
Telex: 826314 BUSA1D G.
(BB231)
KENYA. Personally escorted 14-day camping
Wildlife Safari departing 9th August visiting
Lakes Naivasha, Nakuru and Baringo with
Masai Mara and Samburu National Gameparks.
All inclusive, £985. Adventure Agency. The
Square, Ramsbury, Wiltshire. (0672 20569).
(BB240)
ALDABRA and other Indian Ocean islands.
Send 2 X 1 7p stamps for preliminary prospectus
of November 1986 trip, to: Caledonian Wildlife
(Aldabra), 30 Culduthel Road, Inverness IV2
4 A P, Scotland. (BB160)
WILDLIFE HOLIDAYS AND EXPEDI-
TIONS. Pyrenees June-July, Moroccan High
Atlas October, Algerian Sahara — Ahaggar
Mountains November. Expert leadership by
naturalist-geologist. Brochure from Mike Jones
M.Sc., 30B Sprim field Rd., Stoneygate,
Leicester, LE2 3BA. fnone (0533) 700837.
(BB253)
CRUISES
VISIT SCOTTISH ISLES— even (weather
permitting) St Kilda — abroad comfortable 8-
berth motor sailing yacht with qualified
skipper/guide. Details: Seabird Cruises, High-
minton, Hillside, Cromer NR27 0HY. (BB186)
COURSES
BIRD STUDY W/E 17/ 19th May and Bird-
watch Cumbria 21-25 October. Details:
Warden, Low Gillerthwaite Field Centre,
Enncrdale, Cleator. Cumbria. Tel: (0946)
861229. (BB174)
PROPERTY TO LET
ON SEASHORE, Pett Level. Sussex. 6m Rye.
Ideal location for birdwatching and family
holidays. Comfortable modern house. C.H., T V.
3 bedrooms sleep 6. Mrs Le Fevre. Tel: 0797
222075. (BB167)
PROPERTY EOR SALE
RURAL SITUATION, outskirts village, 5
miles Bedford station (London 42 mins.), 4-bed
house, stables, outbuildings, orchard, hedges,
paddocks, 4V2 acres, 54 species birds. River Ouse
5 mins. walk. Ideal horse/dog/bird/boat/angling
enthusiasts. Tel: Oakley 3333. (BB258)
PERSONAL
SCILLY BIRDERS. Why not become a member
of the Cornwall Bird Watching and Preservation
Society? Members receive Scilly and Mainland
Reports free of charge. Membership fee from £5.
Contact Mrs D. Inch, 9 Compass West,
Tregadillett, Launceston, Cornwall. (BB248)
THE HAWK TRUST cares about all birds of
prey. Why not help us with our conservation
projects? For information, contact The Member-
ship Secretary (JB), The Hawk Trust, FREE-
POST, Beckenham, Kent. (BB52)
BIRD REPORT
“BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNTY BIRD
REPORT 1983. £2 post paid from J. Knight,
319 Bath Road, Cippenham, Slough SL1 5PR.
Cheques payable to Bucks Bird Club. 1980, 81
and 82 also available. (BB235)
BIRDING ABROAD? Site guides and trip
reports on: Kenya, Thailand, Malaysia, India,
Nepal, Sri Lanka, Israel, Morocco, Canary-
Islands, Venezuela, etc. Tel: 0905 54541.
(BB138)
SCOTTISH BIRD REPORT 1983. £2.50
(inc. p&p) from SOC, 21 Regent Terrace,
Edinburgh EH7 5BT. Back issues (1978-82) also
available. (BB200)
BIRDS OF OXFORDSHIRE, 1983 Report of
the Oxford Ornithological Society. £2. inch p&p
from R. Overall, 30 Hunsdon Rd. llfley. Oxford,
OX4 4JE. Some back copies to 1915 still
available. (BB188)
WANTED
BINOCULARS WANTED. W Zeiss or Leitz
Roof Prism — 2 1 Crescent Grove, London S\\ 4.
(BB220)
COLLECTOR wishes to purchase Morris's
Birds, Bannerman’s Birds, and any other
interesting Natural History Books or Paintings.
David Brodie, Hazel Bank. 106 Castlemain
Avenue, Southbourne, Bournemouth, Dorset
0202431997. (BB173)
STAMPS
ENORMOUS COLLECTION of Bird Stamps,
(68 albums) F.D.C.’setc £5000. For details write:
H. M. Harman, Broadwav, Worcs. WR12 7NB.
(BB259)
BIRDS OF PREY ON STAMPS, 50 = £2.00.
Send for 14 page bird stamp list. A. Grainger,
42 Lee Lane East, Horsforth, Leeds. (BB238)
XXV
REPAIRS
ARE YOU a cross-eyed birdwatcher? We offer a
cleaning and re-aligning service for any make or
size of hand held binocular or telescope at a
special price of £15.50 including return postage.
Full repair service available. Charles Frank Ltd.,
Repair Division, Office 413/415, 93 Hope Street,
Glasgow G2 6LD. (BB161)
BINOCULAR AND TELESCOPE REPAIRS.
Fast efficient service on all makes and types by
expert technicians at L&L Optical, 204 High
Street. Barnet, Herts. Tel: 01-449 1445, (BB13)
WE REPAIR BINOCULARS. And cameras.
And projectors. We’ve been at it for thirty years
and we’re very, very good. Perfect? No.
Perfectionilts? Yes. Burgess Lane & Co. Ltd,
Thornton Works, Thornton Avenue, London W4
1QE. 01-9945752. (BB223)
BOOKS
HENRY SOTHERAN LTD
New, secondhand & Antiquarian
Booksellers.
London’s leading Ornithological book stockists
2, 3, 4 & 5 Sackville Street,
London W IX 2DP.
Tel: 01-734 1150 and 0308.
lust off Piccadilly.
(D449)
JUST PUBLISHED
The Birds of Orkney, by Chris Booth,
Mildred Cuthbert and Peter Reynolds. The
most comprehensive book ever to be
published on the rich bird-life of the Orkney
Islands. 298 pp, with b/w photos by Arthur
Gilpin and vignettes by John Holloway. £12
from bookshops, or, in case of difficulty,
direct from The Orkney Press, 72 Victoria
Street, Stromness, Orkney, Scotland (add £1
p&p). ’ (BB206)
BOOKS ON Birds, Natural History, Gardening,
Field Sports, etc. Bought and sold. Catalogues
issued. Books on most subjects purchased. Blest,
Wateringbury, Maidstone, Kent. Tel: 0622
812940. ’ (BB39)
BOOKS ON BIRDS. New and secondhand,
catalogue 30p stamps. Surplus books urgently
sought. BB bought and sold. Open Monday to
Saturday. Bird Books of Sevenoaks, 67 London
Rd, Sevenoaks, Kent. Tel: 0732 455899. (BB245)
To Advertise
Telephone 0621 815085
The £1000 cheque and Zeiss
West 10x40s have been won,
but if you would be intrigued to
see The -•>“ British Birds’ Mystery
Photographs Book (and the full
solution) you can get it now for
£ 1 .50 (previous price was £4.80).
Send cheque or PO (payable to
British Birds) to: MPB, Foun-
tains, Park Lane, Blunham,
Bedford M K44 3NJ ( BB 1 30)
ORNITHOLOGICAL BOOKS. Contact the
international specialists. Overseas enquiries in-
vited. Surplus items purchased. David Evans,
MBOU, Fine Bird Books, Warren Court, West
Tvtherley, Salisbury, Wilts SP5 1LU. Tel: 0980
862366. (BB93)
BIRD BOOKS 1847-1982. Large S.A.E. for
catalogue. Crack Books, Sawmill Cottages,
Burton-in-Lonsdale, Carnforth, Lancs. (BB255)
THE BIRD BOOKSHOP
SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB
Wide range of titles in stock
Free catalogue from: 21 Regent Terrace,
Edinburgh EH7 5BT. Tel: 031-556 6042
(BB239)
‘BIRD BOOKS’. Good secondhand books
bought and sold. Free catalogue from, and offers
to Briant Books, 94 Quarry Lane, Kelsall.
Tarporley, Cheshire CW6 0NJ. Tel: 0829 51804.
(BB 18)
ORNITHOLIDAYS GUIDES in the Let's look
at . . .’ series. Majorca, SW Spain, The
Camargue, Montenegro, Eastern Austria, South
Morocco, North East Greece, Vancouver and
The Rockies, Sri Lanka, Lapland and Arctic
Norway, The Gambia, and North West Turkey.
£2.80 per copy- Ornitholidays, 1-3 Victoria
Drive, Bognor Regis, Sussex P021 2PW.
(BB153)
FINE NATURAL HISTORY BOOKS bought
and sold. R. Norman. The Book-Squirrel, Hart-
on-the-Hill, Dalton Piercey, Hartlepool, Cleve-
land. (BB14)
BIRD BOOKS. Collector disposing of large
selection of surplus books. S.A.E. for list to: J. A.
Dick, 21 Liskeard Gardens, London SE3 OPE.
(BB260)
FOR SALE
NICKEL SUPRA 15-60 X 60 telescope in case,
exc. condition. £50. Tel: 0904 52985. (BB232)
ORNITHOLOGICAL JOURNALS
(including BB, County Reports etc).
Free 1000 item list
Stamp appreciated
David Morgan
Whitmore, Umberleigh, ®
Devon EX37 9HB
?
XX V
Breeding Birds of Great Britain
and Ireland
A Fieldguide Companion
A set of 7 laminated cards in a handy
plastic wallet (120 mms X 75 mms)
225 breeding birds covered
• Laying period • No. of Broods • No. of
Eggs • Size and Shape • Incubation days
• Colour • Location of nest.
only IR£2.50/Stg£2
(post free anywhere in U.K./Ireland)
Send cheque. P.O., money order to: Barvane Ltd.,
2 Cloughcarrigeen, Kilsheelan. Clonmel,
Co. Tipperary, Ireland.
BIRD PAINTINGS. Originals from £15.
Illustrated catalogue from: BIRDERS, 46
Westleigh Drive, Sonning Common, Reading,
RG49LB. (BB210)
BINOCULAR AND TELESCOPES. Send for
free colour brochure: Dept Bl, Sherwoods
Binocular Centre, 11-13 Western Arcade,
Birmingham B2 5HU. (BB151)
BRITISH WARBLERS & GARDEN BIRDS
are two, hour-long stereo cassettes in a series of 5
titles. Only £3.25 each incl. p&p. SAE details.
Also, Parabolic Reflector specially designed for
recording birdsong. Hand or tripod mounting.
£26 incl p&p. SAE details. Richard Margoschis,
80 Mancetter Rd, Atherstone CV9 INH.
(BBI77)
27 YEARS OF UNBOUND BBs. Back issues
for 1946-1973 (with 20 numbers missing) are
for sale to the highest postal bidder. These were
donated to BB by Miss Violet Maxse, and the
proceeds will be devoted to extra pages in the
journal. Send your bid to: Maxse Donation Bid.
Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44
3NJ. (BB246)
Artificial
House Martin’s
Nest
Remarkably successful readily accepted
by martins, they also encourage the
construction of natural nests. Made of
hard cement compo with hardboard roof
and back easily fixed to eaves of house or
barn with special nails supplied
Price £9 for 1
£16.50 for 2
including post and packing & VAT
NERINE NURSERIES
Welland, Worcestershire
(D463)
HAWKINS, Winit, Tccnic, Bogtrotters. walking
boots and shoes. Sprayway waterproofs. SAL for
brochure. B. T'imson, 1 1 I Hinckley Road, Earl
Shilton, Leicester. (BB135)
BRITISH BIRD VOCABULARY. A twelve-
cassette series of a 6 vols. in book/album form
(127 species, 710 examples). Reduced prices for
remaining sets. Also single cassette Sound
Guides. SAE to Lewis, Rosehill House. Lvonshall
HR53HS. ( BB 141)
HERTS
OPTICAL SERVICES
TELESCOPES
KOWA
TS1 £110.50
TS2 £95.00
Eyepieces from £26.00
TSN1 £188.00
TSN2 £177.00
Eyepieces from £36.00
OPTOLYTH
30 x 75 £229.00
30 x 80 £263.00
DISCOVERER £193.00
PRISMA High Resolution £131.10
Eyepieces from £26.00
SPACEMASTER
Zoom £171.50
MAIL ORDER
BY RETURN
ADD £3.00
CARRIAGE
&
INSURANCE
REPAIRS
102a VICTORIA STREET • ST ALE
Telephone: (0727) 59392
BINOCULARS
OPTOLYTH ALPIN
10 x 40
8 x 40
..£122.00
..£119.00
8 x 30
..£109.00
ZEISS WEST
8 x 20B
..£152.50
10 x 40BGAT
..£345.00
ROSS High Quality
8 x 30
....£82.55
9 x 35
....£88.92
10 x 40
LEITZ
10 x 40B
....£90.18
..£372.68
8 x 40B
..£360.35
ALL MAKES STOCKED
HERTS
(BB155)
XXVII
Talk to A. R. Hawkins
about Binoculars!
BRITAINS BINOCULAR SPECIALISTS FOR THE
WORLDS TOP MAKES— ORDER BY POST OR
PHONE FROM US IN COMPLETE CONFIDENCE.
PHONE US FOR
Best Makes
Largest Stocks
Fastest Service
By return
Despatch and
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ZEISS WEST THE
WORLD’S FINEST!
YOU’VE JUST GOT
TO OWN ONE!]
NEW dote locus
ZEISS 10 X40BGA
in stock NOW at
only £359.
10 x 40 B Oialyt
10 x 40 BGA Dialyl
7 x 42 BGA Oialyt ...
8 x 30 B Dialyl
8 x 30 BGA Oialyt
8x56 BGA Dialyl
8 x 20 B Mmi-Oialyt
10x25 BMini-Dialyt
7 x 50 BGA Porio
15 x60 GAT Porro
All Zeiss Wesl supplied with
ZEISS JENA
Binocular Terrestrial Telescope 80/500
magnification 20x to40x complete with
carry case and tripod — a fabulous instru-
ment £655.00
OPTOLYTH ALPIN
Superb Lightweight
from W. Germany at
Prices.
8 x 30 BGA Alpin
8 x 40 BGA Alpin
10 x 40 BGA
10 x 50 BGA Alpin
12 x 50 BGA Alpin
7 x 42 BGA Alpin
SWIFT
Audubon 8.5 x 44
Osprey 75 x 42 R/A
Trilyte 10 x 40 B
HAWK
Models
Sensible
£118
£129
£132
£150
£153
£135
£139.95
£112.90
£109.53
Exclusive to A. R. Hawkins, a top
quality high resolution 20-60x60
zoom telescope complete with
quality leather case. Only £145.00
BRESSER 32x80 telescope high defini-
tion and clarity green rubber body superb
in poor light conditions £239.95
NEW FROM HABICKT 23x70 BGA high
resolution Large field of view a quality
telescope you can afford al only £168.95
TELESCOPES
TELESCOPES!
Oplolyth 30 x 80 £273.00
Oplolyth 30x 75 £239.00
Oplolyth 22-60 x 70 £255.00
Oplolyth 30 x 60 £145.00
Oplolyth 22x 70. £210.00
Spacemasler 20-45 x 60. £1 79. 95
Spacemaster 22 x WA 60 £155.95
Bushnell T rophy 1 6-36 x 50 Rubber Body
Close Focus 2011 £174.95
KowaTSI £125.00
Kowa TS2 £108.00
Kowa Lealher Case £24.95
Habichl 25-40 x 75S £385.00
Mirador 30 x 75 R/A £159.00
Habichl 30 x 75 close locus £340.00
Optpcron 20-60x60 £134.00
Tamron Zoom 20-60 x 65 £247.95
15-60 x 60 Mirador £179.95
Discoverer 15-60x60. £189.95
Sleiner 24x80 £199.95
You can buy in complete confidence.
SUCK D2 TRIPOD
THE finest Inpod for your
telescopel Extends to a full 5ft 9in.
weighs only 41b 12oz!
Our Special Price £54.95
Post and Insurance £2.75.
ORDER NOW for "By Return"
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Telescopes E2.50p post and
Insurance send cheque or
Visa/Access accepted by phone!
Stamps (50p|. For illustrated
Discount Price List and Coloured
Brochures on over 200 Models.
CALLERS WELCOME!
Our Showrooms are only
7 minutes from Ml Exit 15 or 16
and 2 min walk from railway stn.
Early closing Thursday 1 pm.
Prices correci 3rd March '85
subject to change availability.
A Remwkins
N’PTON
LTD
9 MAREFAIR (D485)
NORTHAMPTON NN1 1SR
TELEPHONE 0604/39674
COUNTRYSIDE VIEWING
FACILITIES
Unlimited
^Parking at
Shop
BINOCULARS - TELESCOPES
| Wide range -Top quality - Discount prices
SWIFT- HABICHT-ZEISS(West)- LEITZ
ALPINNIKON-OPTOLYTH-KOWA
OMIYA-ZEISS(East)-MIRADOR
HARTMA -SLIKTRIPODS
- eg AUDUBON HR £134-50
m ZEISS 10 X 40 BT £341-00
HABICHT SL 10 X 40 £249 00
PRICES SUBJECT TO ALTERATION WITHOUT NOTICE
Price lists on request
Focus OPTICS
Church Lane- Corley
Coventry CV7 8BA
Tel: 0676-40501
Open MON - SAT 10. a m. ■ 5.p.m.
MAIL ORDER WELCOME
Ins. P&P. FREE
xxviii
The OPTICROn difference is
QUALITY and PRICE.
TELESCOPES
For those, whose interest is in zoom telescopes only, we are now able to offer the
very best with our guarantee that these out perform all other makes with 60mm
objectives, including most of the popular fixed magnification of other makes.
Just phone or send for details.
OPTICRON
P.O. Box 81, Unit 6, Marlborough Trading Estate
25 Lattimore Road, St. Albans, Herts. AL1 3NT
Telephone: St. Albans (0727) 56516 (D368)
For those who wish to own the BEST" quality binocular,
to obtain greater pleasure and enjoyment from looking at
birds in clearer and sharper detail, we recommend you to
assess and compare our own new 9x35 Elite binocular.
Available exclusively from Opticron
Because this is an Opticron binocular, the combined optical
performance of the high resolution and light transmission,
coupled with the incredibly large depth of field, contrast and
natural colours may only be equalled by other makes, but
never surpassed. It is small and compact. The weight is only
24 oz. and has a wide field of view of 375 ft. at 1000 yds. Will
focus down to approximately 12 ft. Fitted with fold-down rubber
eyecups for spectacle wearers. Supplied in a de-luxe hard case
and is guaranteed for life against any manufacturing defects.
And the price is only £157.00. Sent to you for 14 days approval,
upon receipt of full remittance. Access, send or phone details.
Leaflets and price list on all other high quality Opticron
products and others, available upon request.
Should you, however, wish to judge for yourself and compare
this binocular with other makes, thus seeing how all binoculars
should be, our showroom is open Tuesdays to Saturdays 8.30 to
5.30 pm inclusive.
British Bi
Volume 78 Number 4 April 1985
167 Binoculars and telescopes survey 1985 P.J. Grant and J. T. R.
1 76 Field identification and status of black-headed Yellow Wagtails
in Western Europe Martin van den Berg and Gerald J. Oreel
1 84 Range-expansion of the Black Woodpecker in Western Europe
M. Cuisin
1 88 Points of view 13 Identification of bird sounds M.J. Rogers
1 89 Mystery photographs 100 Lesser Golden Plover A. Pym
1 90 PhotoSpot 10 Broad-billed Sandpiper Tony Prater
Notes
191 Broad-billed Sandpiper with long-legged appearance J. I. Blincow
1 92 Goldeneyes displaying with Smew A. Miller
192 Hen Harrier hunting at Starling roost D. R. Moore
1 92 Opportunistic food acquisition by Buzzard while mobbed by Peregrines R. I. Kin
D. B. Thexton
1 94 Bigamy by the Kestrel Chris Packham
1 95 Roding at night and vertical escape flight of Woodcock F. Fincher
195 Unusual wing-tip pattern of third-year Mediterranean Gull Andrew M. Paterson
195 Owls feeding on snails F.J. Koning
I % Head pattern of immature Citrine Wagtail Alan Brown and Peter R. Gordon
196 Similarity of Nightingale call to croaking of common frog A. P. Radford
1 97 Grasshopper Warbler mistaken for Savi’s Warbler A. Banwell
197 Voices of Willow Tit and Marsh Tit Vie Leans
Letters
1 98 Insect, amphibian or bird? Michael Clegg
1 98 Song of Grasshopper W arbler Jeffery Boswall
1 99 Calls of Bonelli’s Warbler Paul Geroudet; Richard Sutton; J. M. Pinder
1 99 Vocalisations and Phylloscopus taxonomy S. C. Madge
200 Seventy-five years ago . . .
Announcements
201 Quicker books from British BirdShop
201 ‘BWP’ reminder
201 £30 ofF'BWP I-IV\ An exclusive offer to ‘BB’ subscribers
201 ‘The Popular Handbook’
202 News and comment Mike Everett and Robin Prytherch
205 Recent reports Keith Allsopp and lan Dawson
Reviews
207 The Bee-eaters by C. H. Fry J. T. R. Sharrock
209 Les Oiseaux de Montague by Jean- Francois Dejonghe Ian Dawson
209 Fauna &SSR: Ptaci-Aves. Part 3. vols. / & 2 edited by Karel Hudec David A. Christie
2 1 0 Robins by Chris Mead /. M. Stainton
Line-drawings: 167 telescope and binoculars (P.J. Grant); 1 76 grey-headed Yellow Wag
and black-headed Yellow Wagtails ( Killian Mullamey); 184 Black Woodpecker (/. P.
Wilcgur); 205 Smew (Eric Dempsey); 207 Waxwings (Nik Borrow)
Front cover: Reflection of an Osprey (C. G. Packham): we regret this month’s cover is
sale
British Birds
British Birds
Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock
Personal Assistant Sheila D. Cobban Assistant Editors David Christie 8c P. J. Grant
Editorial Board Stanley Cramp, P. J. Grant, Dr M. A. Ogilvie 8c Dr J. T. R. Sharrock
Photographic Consultants Dr R. J. Chandler 8c Don Smith
Rarities Committee P. J. Grant (Chairman), D. J. Britton, A. R. Dean, R. H. Dennis,
D. J. Holman, T. P. Inskipp, P. G. Lansdown, S. C. Madge, R. F. Porter 8c K. E.
Vinicombe; Michael J. Rogers (Honorary Secretary )
Notes Panels behaviour Dr C. J. Bibby, Dr J. J. M. Flegg, Dr C. H. Fry,
Derek Goodwin, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock 8c Dr K. E. L. Simmons;
identification P. J. Grant, S. C. Madge, Dr M. A. Ogilvie 8c Dr J. T. R. Sharrock
© British Birds Ltd 1985
Copyright of photographs remains with
photographers. British Birds is
published monthly by British Birds Ltd,
93 High Street, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire
ISSN 0007-0335
Publishing Manager,
Production & Promotion
Dr J. T. R. Sharrock
Circulation Manager
Erika Sharrock
Design
Deborah Cartwright
Advertising
Sandra Barnes
Addresses
Please keep correspondence on different items separate. Please address vour
envelope correctly. Please supply SAE, if reply required.
Papers, notes, letters, drawings & photographs for publication Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Fountains,
Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford mk44 3nj
Subscriptions and orders for back copies Mrs Erika Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane,
Blunham, Bedford mk44 3nj
Advertising Mrs Sandra Barnes, BB Advertising, c/o Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham,
Bedford mk44 3nj. Phone: Tiptree (0621) 815085
Bird news for 'Recent reports ’Ian Dawson & Keith Allsopp, c/o RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy,
Bedfordshire sg 19 2dl. Phone (outside office hours): Huntingdon (0480) 214186.
News items for ‘News and comment ’ Mike Everett & Robin Prytherch, 7 Burlington Way,
Hemingford Grey, Huntingdon pe18 9bs
Rarity descriptions M. J. Rogers, Flat 4, Pentland Flats, St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly
tr21 Ohy
Special book and sound recording offers for subscribers BB Offers, Fountains, Park Lane,
Blunham, Bedford mk44 3nj
Annual subscriptions (12 issues and index) Libraries and agencies £26 or $55.41.
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outside Europe £36.70 or $56.55. Single back copies, if available. £2 or $4.
Make all cheques payable to British Birds Ltd. Payment may also be made
directly into UK Post Office GIRO account number 37 588 6303.
British Birds publishes material dealing with original observations on the birds of the west Palearctic . Except for
records of rarities, papers and notes are normally accepted only on condition that material is not being offered in
whole or in part to any other journal. Photographs and sketches are welcomed. All contributions should be sub-
mitted to the Managing Editor.
Papers should be typewritten with double spacing, and wide margins, and on one side of the sheet only. Authors
should carefully consult this issue for style of presentation, especially of references and tables. English and scientific
names and sequences of birds follow The 'British Birds' List of Birds of the Western Palearctic ( 1984): names of
plants follow Dony et at. (1980, English Names of Wild Flowers); names of mammals lollow Corbet & Southern
(1977, The Handbook of British Mammals). Topographical (plumage and structure) terms should follow
editorial recommendations (Bril. Birds 74: 239-242). Figures should be in Indian ink on good quality tracing paper,
drawing paper, non-absorbent board or light blue or very pale grey graph paper; lettering should be inserted lightly
in pencil; captions should be typed on a separate sheet.
Authors of main papers (but not notes or letters) receive ten free copies of the journal (five each to two or more
authors).
Printed in England by Newnorth-Burt Kempston, Bedford
in focus
Open 9am-6pm Mon-Sat
204 High Street
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01-449 1445
LARGE SELECTION OF SECOND-HAND INSTRUMENTS
PART EXCHANGE WELCOME
MAIL/PHONE ORDER SERVICE
Choose from, and select from our comprehensive range of equipment
LEITZ 10x40 BA
BLACK RUBBER ARMOURED
ONLY £309.95
ilusyour old 10 x 50 Jenoptem
or Dekarem in part exchange
LEITZ 8 x 40 BA
BLACK RUBBER ARMOURED
ONLY £309.95
plus your old 8x30 Jenoptem
or Deltrintem in part exchange
LEITZ 8 x 20 BC
COMPACT
ONLY £149.00
plus your old 8x30 Jenoptem
or Deltrintem in part exchange
BINOCULARS
ZEISS WEST
£
Dialyt 8 x 20 B
155.00
Dialyt 10 x 25 B
169.00
Dialyt 8 x 30 BGAT
313.00
Dialyt 10x40 BGAT
Phone
Standard or close
for
focus
price
Dialyt 7 x 42 BGAT
369.00
Dialyt 8 x 56 BGAT
410.00
15x60 GAT Porro
675.00
LEITZ
Trinovid 8 x 20 BC
175.00
Trinovid 8 x 20 BCA
189.00
Trinovid 10 x 25 BC
189.00
Trinovid 10 x 25 BCA
204.00
Trinovid 7 x 42 BA
Phone
Trinovid 8 x 40 BA
for
Trinovid 10x40 BA
price
CARL ZEISS JENA
Deltrintem 8 x 30
57.95
Dekarem 10 x 50
88.95
HABICHT
Diana 10 x 40 B
239.00
WSL/M 10x40
269.00
OPTOLYTH
Alpin 8 x 30 BGA
119.00
Alpin 8 x 40 BGA
129.00
Alpin 10 x 40 BGA
131.00
Alpin 7x42 BGA
135.00
Alpin 10 x 50 BGA
150.00
TELESCOPES
£
Spacemaster Zoom 179.00
Spacemaster 22 x 60 154.95
Eye Pieces 15 x to 60 x 29.00
Soft Case 12.95
Mirador 15 x-60 x 60 174.95
Photo Adaptor 14.00
Case for Mirador 15.00
Kowa TS-1 Body 119.00
Kowa TS-2 Body 99 00
New 27 x WA 33.95
Eye Pieces 15 x to 60 x
from 26.45
Kowa TSN-1 Body Phone
Kowa TSN-2 Body for
Eye Pieces 20 x 25 x price
40 x and 20 x-60 x zoom
Optolyth 30 x 75 BGA 239.00
Optolyth 30 x 80 BGA 273.00
Habicht 23 x 70 BGA 179.00
Habicht 30 x 75 BGA 339 00
Mirador 30 x 75 BGA 139.00
Steiner 24 x 80 BGA 212.95
Opticron HR 20 x -
60x60 134.00
Opticron HR 45°
20 x -60x60 141.00
Bausch & Lomb Criterion
4000 Body Only 399.00
Eye Pieces 45 x to 100 x
from 26 45
We also stock. West Zeiss.
Nickel Supra. Televari. Swift,
etc.
TELESCOPE AND
TRIPOD OUTFITS
If you purchase a telescope and
tripod at the same time we can
otter you a very special price
TRIPODS AND
ACCESSORIES
Slik Gazelle 28.95
Silk 35S 34 95
Slik 35D 38.95
Slik Master D2 51.95
Slik 88 51.95
Slik SL67 84.95
Car Window Mount 17 00
Universal Mount 17.50
Monpods from 9 95
Binocular Lanyards, leather 2 00
Rainguards 1.00
Congratulations to
N. tlAVIDSON
45 Leng Crescent, Eaton,
Norwich NR4 7NY
Winner of our Buy a Scope
Win a Zeiss Draw
All equipment sent on 14 days
approval upon receipt of full
remittance
Please £2 00 p&p if ordering
by mail
We also stock Swift. Kowa. Prices correct 9.4.85
Hartmann, Bushnell, Opticron
Pentax. Bresser. etc
(D487)
BINOCULARS AND TELESCOPES
K5I
REPAIRED ON THE PREMISES
1
Main St, Empingham,
Nr. Oakham, Leicestershire.
This low traditional stone building
once the village court house, stands in
the middle of Rutland's most pic-
turesque village. Ideally situated on
the side of Rutland Water offering two
nature reserves with bird watching
huts, guides, binoculars and con-
ducted tours are available by arrange-
ment.
Accommodation Tarriff
Single £15.00
Double/Twin £24.95
including Breakfast & VAT
Bargain Breaks
3 Days £49.50
4 Days £65.00
7 Days £110.00
these include: Breakfast, and 4-course
dinner. All rooms have colour TV and
tea/coffee making facilities. Appetis-
ing bar food, two cosy bars. Egon
Ronay recommended, log fires, steak
bar, restaurant with interesting menu,
afternoon teas, home-made scones
always available also packed lunches.
Robert, Helen and Andrew invite
you to have a pleasant and enjoy-
able time sampling our friendly
hospitality and will be pleased to
answer any enquiries or reserva-
tions.
Tel: Empingham (078086) 221
(D475)
KOWA
77mm telescopes
The choice of telescope for bird-
watching has always been rather
difficult. Should you choose compact
prismatic construction, large objective
glass, interchangeable eyepieces,
zoom or fixed magnification? The
introduction by Kowa of the new TSN
System has greatly simplified the
choice. These beautifully constructed,
razor sharp telescopes combine a
unique selection of the most highly
desired features within a choice of two
body types.
Prices will be in the £200 to £300 price
range dependant on the combination
of body and eyepiece. Extra eye-
pieces, photo-adaptors and carrying
cases are avilable. For full details and
price list please contact:
Tony & Enid Murphy
FOCALPOINT
14 Cogshall Lane Comberbach
Northwich. Cheshire CW9 6BS.
Tel: 0606 891098
Kowa products are imported into the UK by
Arthur E. S. Matthews Ltd.
(D474)
A Dictionary of Birds
Edited by BRUCE CAMPBELL and ELIZABETH LACK
Art editor Robert Gillmor
Photographic editor Eric Hosking
Compiled for the British Ornithologists’ Union, the book enlists major contributions
from over 280 ornithologists around the world. Their authoritative accounts cover
the whole field of modern ornithology and related subjects, many of the articles
running to several thousand words.
The text of over a million words is supported by more than 500 photographs,
diagrams and drawings. It ranges from general subjects such as fossil birds,
migration, parental care, bird anatomy and morphology, to descriptions of all bird
families (plus numerous genus and species accounts) and to man-related topics
such as falconry, radio telemetry, photography, birds as pests, etc.
This new work, encyclopaedic in treatment, will be a major reference in any
ornithologist's library. Its editors and contributors (to text and illustrations), most of
whom gave their time and knowledge freely, have earned the thanks and acclaim
of users for many years to come.
0 85661 039 9
28 x21cm, 704 pages, publication 17th May. £35.00 net (£39.00 from 1st October)
T & A D POYSER LTD
Town Head House. Calton, Waterhouses, Staffordshire ST10 3JX
iii
KAY OPTICAL SERVICING
FOR BINOCULARS AND TELESCOPES
Service to the Naturalist for over 23 years
SALES (some examples). Prices correct 1 /4/85
£
BINOCULARS
ZEISS (West)
8 x 20 B Dialyt 153
10 x 25 B Dialyt 165
8 x 30 BGAT Dialyt 305
10 x 40 BGAT Dialyt 340
(Normal or Close Focus)
7 x 42 BGAT Dialyt 365
ZEISS (Jena)
10 x 40 B Notarem 139
SWIFT
71/2 x 42 Osprey* 110
8V2 x 44 Audubon 145
LEITZ
8 x 32 BA Trinovid
369
8x40 BA Trinovid
408
7 x 42 BA Trinovid
418
HABICHT (Swarovski)
10x40WM Diana
239
7x42 WSL/M*
239
10x40 WSL/M*
269
10x50 WSL/M*
294
HARTMANN
Compactf g * 4Q
wide 1 10x40
angle (JUXX42L
197
234
234
247
£
Magnon 8 x 20 RP
69
Piccolino 8 x 21 RP
66
TELESCOPES
Mirador 15-60x60*
175
Optolyth 30 x 75 BGA
239
Optolyth 30 x 80 BGA
273
Optima S60 (30x60)*
135
Piccolo (e.g, 40 x 60)*
90
Piccolo 20-60 x 60*
120
Opticron 20-60 x 60’
134
Opticron 20-60 x 60 (45°)*
141
Kowa TSN-1 (25x 77)*
250
Spacemaster 20-45 x 60
180
TRIPOD
Stitz CV330
55
*No case/pouch
MAIL/PHONE ORDER SERVICE (Access and Visa). Add £2.50 pp.
REPAIRS to all types of instruments carried out on the premises. Estimates free. Px possible.
89B London Roadt, Morden, Surrey. Telephone: 01-648 8822 (24 Hour).
fThe A24. We are opposite the Midland Bank. (D496)
f BRANTA
TRAVEL ^
LIMITED
WITH
DFDS
SEAWAYS
BRANTA 1985 BIRDWATCHING HOLIDAYS IN SWEDEN AND THE NORTH SEA
Travel in style by DFDS Seaways and luxury coach for exceptional binding in southern Sweden and
seabird watching in the North Sea. Enjoy seeing birds under expert guidance both at sea and through
the unrivalled Swedish landscape with its lakes, forests and islands. Combine this with delightful
country inns and delicious local food specialities.
Our autumn holidays all includes Seawatch on board in the company of Peter Harrison, the foremost seabird
expert and author of the unrivalled field guide.
15-day Autumn Migration Tours with Seawatch (September 1 & 15) A comprehensive tour of southern
Sweden covering the most important migration areas and in particular the outstanding migrating stages at
Falsterbo, at the country's southernmost tip, and on the Baltic island of Oland. Seawatch in the North Sea when
seabird migration is at its peak.
8-day Seawatch with Falsterbo Migration Tour (September 15) The exciting Seawatch in the North Sea
with a four day stay at Falsterbo when raptor migration is at its height. And a special short sea birdwatch lor
both beginner and expert -
3-day Seawatch Cruise with Peter Harrison (September 13) A short break on board a DFDS Seaways
liner to Gothenberg under the guidance of Peter Harrison, who will give two talks on identification problems.
A most interesting and economical way to study a variety of shearwaters, skuas, auks and other seabirds.
At all times on land we are guided by local experts with close knowledge ol current bird movements.
Send lor detailed programme to Branta Travel Ltd., 20-24 Uxbridge St., London W8 7TA
Telephone daytime 01-229 7231 or evenings 01-870 1054.
(D498)J
IV
The New Unique
Optika-Pen
PREVENTS MISTING
■ ANTI-STATIC ■ WILL NOT SCRATCH
Clean — Quick & Easy to Use
For use on: Binoculars, Spectacles, Sunglasses,
Cameras, Scientific Lenses, etc.
Coated or uncoated.
Instructions:
Draw a line half an
inch long across the
lens and rub it with
a lint free cloth or a
clean handkerchief.
Obtainable from:
The OPTIKA PEN Co. Ltd.
22. The Mead
Petersfield,
Hants.
GU32 3 LG
/y Please send me by return post OPTIKA PENS
... at £2 each inclusive of VAT. & P.&P
Cheque/P. 0. Value enclosed.
Name
Tel:(0730) 67552
Address
YOUR ADDRESS LABEL.
PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY.
>
Post Code
(D497)
BOKMAKIERIE
the popular ornithological
magazine of Southern Africa
Subscriptions for
Institutional Membership
£12.00 US$22.00
Individual Membership
£9.00 US$18.00
which constitutes
membership of the
SOUTHERN AFRICAN
ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY
and you will also receive its
scientific journal
THE OSTRICH
Write to P.O. Box 87234,
Houghton, Johannesburg,
South Africa, 2041
(D501 )
FIRECREST
TELESCOPES AND
BINOCULARS
Choose from 20 scopes and over
40 binoculars
From Alpin, Bushnell, Helios,
Kowa, Mirador, Opticron,
Optolyth, Panorama, Swift,
Televari, Zeiss Jena
Fast mail order service.
Easy access to M6 & M62.
Callers welcome.
14 day approval.
N.B. Closed for holidays from 17.5.85
to 31 .5.85 inclusive.
For details ring
Pam or Cliff Gibson on
(0925) 817874 or write to:
FIRECREST
8 Chapelcross Road, Fearnhead,
Warrington, Cheshire WA2 0PP.
(D465)
ICBP ANNOUNCES A NEW LINE IN
CONSERVATION READING
The following recently published books are available now from the International
Council for Bird Preservation.
• Threatened Birds of Africa and related Islands: Part 1 of the fully revised Third
Edition of the ICBP/IUCN Bird Red Data Book. A detailed study of the status of 1 77
species by N. J. Collar and S. N. Stuart with 12 colour plates by Norman Arlott,
796 pp, £24.
• Status and Conservation of the World’s Seabirds edited by J. P. Croxall,
P. G. H. Evans, and R. W. Schreiber; 46 papers by experts on seabirds from 18
countries, 800 pp, £26.90.
• Conservation of Island Birds edited by P. J. Moors; a collection of case studies of
problems associated with threatened birds on offshore islands, 276 pp, £16.50.
• Conservation of Tropical Forest Birds edited by A. W. Diamond and T. E. Lovejoy;
21 papers on the status of tropical forest birds in regions throughout the world,
324 pp, £18.50.
Please send your order with a cheque made payable to ICBP to ICPB-Publications,
219c Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0DL. Books will be mailed promptly,
free of charge.
(D500)
VI
ODmODl
( A member of the F leld & Trek Group) „»
tt
&
sS**
G»
id
II
BINOCULARS
HERON 8x40 BWCF £37.25
CARL ZEISS 10x40 B DIALYT
(Hard Case) £358.80
CARL ZEISS 10x40 BGA
(Soft Case) £364.35
LEITZ 10x40B
(Hard Case) £376.00
OPTOLYTH 8x40GA
(Soft Case) £129.00
OPTOLYTH 10x40GA
(Soft Case) £132.00
HABICHT DIANA
10x40
£239.95
c
Compare our prices . . .
but don’t stop there !!
\^sopp'V'^SeSalcdedbV
\ 's ^f&ot visit out
Please add £2.00
p&p on all orders
£46.55
MIRADOR 8x40BCF
SWIFT TRILYTE 10x40 Roof
Prism £106.95
SWIFT AUDOBON 8 5 x 44 £145.30
SWIFT GRAND PRIX 8x40 Mkll
£86.10
ZEISS JENOPTEM 8 x 30 £45.45
ZEISS JENOPTEM 10x50 £81.30
TELESCOPES
BUSHNELL DISCOVERER
15-60x60 no case £194.95
MIRADOR 15x 60x 60 with case
(Similar to Discoverer) £179.95
OPTOLYTH 30 x 80 £273.00
OPTOLYTH 30 x 75 £239.00
BUSHNELL SPACEMASTER with
ZOOM no case £179.00
Case for Spacemaster £12 .90
\Ce
&
l\
aoa^Aoi
X
(D499)
HERON OPTICAL^^^ COMPANY
liH Dept. BB5 23/25 KINGS RD. BRENTWOOD ESSEX CM144ER
HSJ Tel. (0277) 233122 (Mail Order) 222230 (Showroom)
TAKE FLIGHT
Explore the East and its exotie birdlife with experienced escorts. Twickers World takes
you on the Southern India Wildlife and Beaches tour in search of the majestic osprey,
and 250 species of birds. A memorable mixture of lazy days on sandy beaches and
exciting jungle explorations. 15 days, leaving 16 November 1985. £1,800.
Heather Angel leads the Camera in China tour, created especially for photographers.
Capture the beauty of a bird on the wing against an autumn backdrop. Indulge your
cultural and aesthetic sensibilities for 22 days, leaving 29 September 1985. £2,385.
Tony Pym takes you to Papua Newr Guinea in search of the 33 species of Birds of
Paradise to be found on the island. 18 exotic days, leaving 27 July 1985, £3,295.
Harry Llewellyn is your escort on the India Riding,
Wildlife and Cultural Safari. The beautiful Bharatpur
Bird Sanctuary is one of the many highlights in 1 7 days of
discovery. Departs 29 November 1985 and 31 January
1986. £1,559.
Our ornithologist shows you the sheer concentration of
birdlife on the Sri Lanka Wildlife and Cultural Tour. 16
days in paradise, leaving 21 July 1985. £1,245.
Phone for our worldwide brochure.
Twickers World
•WILDLIFE, CULTURAL & WILDERNESS IOURNEYS-
Twickers World Brochure — 01-892 8164.
22 Church Street. Twickenham TW1 3 NW. Tel: 01-89-2 7606. Telex: 25780
vn
COUNTRYSIDE VIEWING
FACILITIES
Unlimited
ing at
Shop
BINOCULARS - TELESCOPES
| Wide range -Top quality- Discount prices
SWIFT- HABICHT-ZEISS(West)- LEITZ
ALPIN - NIKON -OPTOLYTH -KOWA
OMIYA-ZEISS(East)*MIRADOR
HARTMA -SLIK TRIPODS
- eg AUDUBON HR £134-50
3 ZEISS 10 X 40 BT £341-00
HABICHT SL 10 X 40 £249-00
PRICES SUBJECT TO ALTERATION WITHOUT NOTICE
Price lists on request
FOCUS OPTICS
Church Lane- Corley
Coventry CV7 8BA
Tel: 0676-40501
Open MON - SAT. 10. a. m. - 5.p.m.
MAIL ORDER WELCOME
Ins. P&P. FREE
TaiktoA.R.Hawkins
about Binoculars!
BRITAINS BINOCULAR SPECIALISTS FOR THE
WORLDS TOP MAKES— ORDER BY POST OR
PHONE FROM US IN COMPLETE CONFIDENCE.
'phone us for
Best Makes
Largest Stocks
Fastest Service
By return
Despatch and
^Free Advice
ZEISS WEST THE
WORLD'S FINEST!
YOU'VE JUST GOT
TO OWN ONE!
NEW close locus
ZEISS 10 X40BGA
in stock NOW at
only E359.
10 x 40 B Dialyt
1 0 x 40 BGA Dialyt ....
7 x 42 BGA Dialyt
8 x 30 B Dialyt
8x30 BGA Dialyt .
8x56 BGA Dialyt
8 x 20 B Mlni-Dialyt
10 x 25 B Mmi-Dialyl
7x50 BGA Potto
1 5 x 60 GAT Porto
All Zeiss West supplied with case
ZEISS JENA
Binocular Terrestrial Telescope 80/500
magnification 20 x Io40x complete with
carry case and trippd — a labulous instru-
ment £655 00
OPTOLYTH ALPIN
Superb Lightweight Models
from W. Germany at Sensible
Prices.
8x30 BGAAIpin £118
8 x 40 BGA Alpm £129
10 x 40 BGA £132
10 x 50 BGA Alpin £150
12 x 50 BGA Alpin £153
7 x 42 BGA Alpin £135
SWIFT
Audubon 85 x44 £139.95
Osprey 7 5 x 42 R/A £112.90
Tnlyle 1 0 x 40 B £109.53
HAWK
I
. »
TELESCOPES
TELESCOPES!
Optolyth 30 x 80 £273.00
Optolyth 30 x 75 £239.00
Optolyth 22-60 x 70 £255.00
Optolyth 30x60 £145.00
Optolyth 22 x 70. . £210.00
Spacemaslet 20-45 x 60 £179.95
Spacemasiet 22 x WA 60 £1 55.95
Bushnell Trophy 16-36 x 50 Rubber Body
Exclusive lo A. R. Hawkins, a lop
quality high resolution 20-60x60
zoom telescope complete with
quality leather case. Only £145.00
BRESSER 32x80 telescope high detini
lion and clarity green rubber body superb
in poor light conditions £239.95
NEW FROM HABICHT 23x70 BGA high
resolution Large held ol view a quality
telescope you can allord at only £168.95
Close Focus 2011
Kowa TS1
Kowa TS2
Kowa Leather Case
Habichl 25-40 X 75S
Mirador 30x75 R/A.
Habichl 30x75 close locus
Oplpcton 20-60x60
Tamron Zoom 20-60x65
15-60 x 60 Mirador
Discoverer 15-60x60
Steiner 24x00
£174.95
£125.00
£108.00
£24.95
£385.00
£159.00
£340 00
£134.00
£247.95
£179.95
£189 95
£199 95
You can buy in complete confidence
SUCK D2 TRIPOD
THE finest tripod tor your
telescope! Extends to a lull 5ft 9in.
weighs only 41b 12oz!
Our Special Price £54.95
Post and Insurance £2.75.
ORDER NOW lor By Return-
Dispatch. Binoculars and
Telescopes £2.50p post and
Insurance send cheque or
Visa/Access accepted by phone!
Stamps (50p). For illustrated
Discount Price List and Coloured
Brochures on over 200 Models.
CALLERS WELCOME!
Our Showrooms are only
7 minutes from Ml Exit 15 or 16
and 2 min walk from railway stn.
Early closing Thursday 1 pm
Prices correct 3rd March '85
subject to change availability.
ARhawkins
N’PTON
LTD
9 MAREFAIR
NORTHAMPTON NN1 1SR
TELEPHONE 0604/39674
(D485)
tjnoculars & Telescopes
from Charles Frank
the optical experls
kRLES
NK
XULARS
CHARLES
FRANK
TELESCOPES
Bushnell
BINOCULARS
7 x 26 Custom
Compact, lloz.
109.95
to our own specifica-
nd bearing our name,
fine instruments offer
inding value. All are
ad with case and carry
iar guarantee
JARD RANGE
!CF
32.95
'CF
36.95
!CF
39.95
)ZCF
42.95
4 LABEL
wide angle
Multi-
1 lenses. Close focus-
IWCF
79.95
BWCF
82.95
BWCF
89.95
PRISM
nini
69.95
Inew
94.50
! [wide angle
97.50
J models
99.50
irmoured
92.50
4IER
h high quality roof
binocular.Cow hide
139.50
0 149.50
IIES
ingle Fully coated
1
C
6:
..
1
2
X:
71.00
71.00
IVATION
oculars for use on a
BCF - super bright
160.00
BCF - high power
137.50
Clamp 3.95
14-45x50 73.45
20-60 x 60 99.95
30x75 169.95
7.5 x 42 Osprey armoured
(no case). 109.50
8.5 x 44 Audubon HR 141.50
All other Swift models
available.
IEIU
Quite simply, the best. Roof
prism binoculars that give
crystal clear vision. Guar-
anteed for 30 years.
8 x 20B
miniature, 6oz. 155.00
10 x 25B
miniature, 6. 7oz. 171.50
8 x 308 Dialyt 316.50
8 x 30BGA/CF
Dialyt armoured 319.50
7 x 42BGAT*
Dialyt armoured 369.50
8 x 56BGAT*
Dialyt armoured 449.50
10 x40Bf Dialyt 358.00
10 x 40BGAT* Dialyt
armoured (standard or
short focus model) 364.00
OPTOLYTH >4LP1N
Light as a feather - well al-
most. West German made
armoured binoculars.
Ideal for spectacle wearers
8 x 40 - 17oz. 129.00
10 x 40 wide-17oz. 132.00
10 x 50 - 23oz. 150.00
All other sizes available.
TELESCOPES
30 x 75 239.00
30 x 80 273.00
TELESCOPES
Spacemaster Zoom
20-45 x 60 194.00
Spacemaster
22 x 60 wide angle 162.00
Spacemaster case 18.50
Discoverer
15-60 x 60 198.00
Discoverer case 16.50
H HELIOS(Russian)
Difficult to fault at the price
8 x 30ZCF 21.95
7 x 50ZCF 29.95
10 x 50ZCF 39.95
12 x 40ZCF 32.95
8x30 monocular 11.95
Case (extra) 3.25
20 x 50 telescope 24.50
( Nikon )
Binoculars to match the high
reputation of their cameras.
8x30wideangle 167.50
10x35 wide angle 189.50
9x30 roof prism 204.50
8x35 Action’ 121.00
10x50'Action' 151.50
Habicht
Precision made in the Aus-
trian Tyrol. Highly recom-
mended.
10 x 40 WM Diana 239.00
SL range.
Rubber cushioned No case.
7 x 42 WSL/M 245.00
10 x 40 WSL/M 275.00
TELESCOPES
30 x 75NZG Focusing range
8m - <*> 325.00
30 x 75G Focusing range
20m - <*> 249.00
TAfllROn
20-60 x 65, 264.95
^Charles Frank
v-y The Optical Experts
(cARLZEiSs)
lOtesj
Wide angle binoculars wi
lifetime guarantee.
8 x 30 Deltrintem 51
7x50Jenoptem 7<
10x50Jenoptem 75
10x50Dekarem 9!
Nobilem8x50B 181
8x30 Deltrintmo
monocular 5"
OTHER MONOCULARS
Tohyoh8x30 IS
Tohyoh7x50 25
Tohyoh 10x50 2(
Lumex 8 x 20
roof prism 55
Lumex 8 x 24
'Miniscope' 3i
ACCESSORIES
A good telescope deservi
good tripod. This one
super
Silk Master D2 full heii
One action pan/tilt. Wei
only 2.5kg. 5!
Car window mount 2<
Table top tripods, binoc
/tripod adaptors, alw
available.
Binocular & telescope b
ing pack available -
send 35p stamps.
Charles Frank Service De
Binocular cleaning
collimation.
All prices include VAT P
age & packing £2. Re
Unsuitable goods, in unu
condition, within 14 days
full refund. Prices cor
1/9/84 but liable to alt
tions.
Visa & Access welcom
just quote your number.
HEAD OFFICE
PO Box 5, Ronald Lane,
Saxmundham, Suffolk
I PI 7 2NL. Tel: 0728 350€
Norwich Camera Centri
20 White Lion St.,
Norwich. Tel: 0603 6217'
Kay Gee Cameras
13 The Poultry,
Nottingham.
Tel: 0602 506323
Edinburgh Cameras
57 Lothian Rd, Edinburj
Tel: 031 229 3363
IX
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British Birds
VOLUME 78 NUMBER 5 MAY 1 985
Sponsored by
„_=5]
Photograph
of the Yearly
This, the ninth annual competition to find the ’Bird Photograph of the
Y ear’, was again sponsored by Matthew Gloag & Son lad, the proprietors
of The Famous Grouse Scotch whisky. This support not only enables us to run
the competition and present the prize and trophy to the winning photo-
grapher, but also makes it possible to publish the top photographs in
colour.
A total of 129 transparencies was submitted by 50 photographers.
Although this was slightly lower than last year, the general standard of the
entries goes up and up each year. This makes the task of judging exceed-
ingly difficult (but also very enjoyable). We have remarked on this in
several recent years, but in none has this ‘strength in depth' been more
apparent than in the present selection. Any of the top 18 would have been a
worthy winner, and — as every' year — it took a vote to settle the placings.
The eventual winner, however, headed the field by a clear margin, and with
two judges voting it in first place.
The original short-list of 30 was further sifted to give the following top 18
transparencies:
1st Bird Photograph of the Year 1985. Great Crested Grebes Podiceps cristatus by
C. R. Knights (plate 88)
2nd Pheasants Phasianus colchicus by Dr Kevin Carlson (plate 89)
3rd Stone-curlews Burhinus oedicnemus by Gordon Langsbury (plate 90)
4th Chaffinches Fringilla coelebs by Roger Wilmshurst (plate 92)
5th Eagle Owl Bubo bubo by C. G. Packham (plate 91 )
bth Bee-eater Merops apiaster by Jan Schram (plate 93)
7th= Grey Herons Ardea cinerea by Roger Tidman
7th= Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus by Martin B. Withers
9th Water Rail Rallus aquaticus by M. C. Wilkes
10th Arctic Terns Sterna paradisaea by Gordon I.angsburs
1 1 th Swallow Hirundo rustica by Dr Kevin Carlson
12th Jays Garru/us glandarius by E. A. Janes
1 3th Dipper Cinclus cinclus by Oene Moedt
14th Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis by A. P. Barnes
15th Ring Ouzels Turdus torquatus by Ian Appleyard
16th Nightjar Capnmulgus europaeus by A. P. Barnes
1 7th Sparrowhawk Accipiter msus by A. R. Hamblin
18th Mallard Anas plalyrhynchos by Neill King
The original selection of 30 included transparencies submitted by another four photographers:
B. Holt, Dave Pullan, Marc Raes and G. P. Sutton.
f BrU. Birds 7H: >1 Ntav 19851
211
212
Bird. Photograph of the Year
Three photographers had the remarkable achievement of having all
three of their entries selected in the initial short-list of 30 (Dr Kevin
Carlson, E. A. Janes and M. G. W ilkes) and three photographers, it will be
noticed, had two of their entries in the top 18 (A. P. Barnes, Dr Kevin
Carlson and Gordon Langsbury).
Looking at the entries — the highlights of the year’s achievements for so
many bird-photographers — was truly a privilege. W e noted that the trend
away from nest photography continues, although that will not be immed-
iately apparent to our readers. Indeed, our winning photograph (plate 88)
is of a bird at the nest, though one that epitomises everything that we look
for in the winner of this competition: good composition, the bird not too
large (or too small) in relation to its surroundings, and attractive colours all
add up to a picture that is a delight. Above all, how'ever, it records a
fascinating (and little understood) aspect of the behaviour of Great Crested
Grebes, that of feeding feathers to their newly hatched young. The one-day-
old, stripily plumaged chick is being presented with a small feather, care-
fully chosen for size, plucked by the adult from its breast. Although this
action has perhaps been photographed before, we do not believe that this
shot of it could be bettered.
The runner-up, Dr Kevin Carlson, must be despairing! For the third
successive year, he has taken second place, so surely takes first prize for
consistency. For the second successive year, we also have a photograph of a
pair of Pheasants in our published selection. These were photographed at
bait; the dominant male of those present became interested in one of the
females, and after a brief display mated with her, providing a photograph as
interesting as it is colourful (plate 89).
Only just pipped to third place was Gordon Langsbury, with a superb
photograph (obtained with the necessary NCC permission) of a pair of
Stone-curlews changing over at the nest (plate 90) . We were impressed with
the composition, sharpness and clarity — of both birds (depth-of-field
problems usually result in one of the pair in this situation being slightly out
of focus) — one pecking at the ground as it leaves the other to settle on the
nest.
A criticism of nest-photography is that it has ‘all been done before’; this
applies particularly to common species, such as the Chaffinch. We felt,
though, that Roger Wilmshurst’s photograph (plate 92) must be one of the
best and most interesting ever of this species. The cock passes food to the
hen, perhaps for her in turn to feed the youngsters. All are clearly seen, as is
the mossy nest. Superb! That such a photograph comes ‘only’ fourth in our
selection exemplifies the astonishingly high standard of the competition.
Not many British bird-photographers are lucky enough to have had the
opportunity to photograph an Eagle Owl as did C. G. Packham in France in
March 1984 (plate 91 ). The fox Vulpes vulpes, shot by a local farmer, was set
out for the owl, which had been taking bait at this site for some time. It was
a bold attempt to photograph it in daylight and against the light, but one
that has come offi, to provide us with this striking shot of a magnificent bird.
The final photograph selected for publication is the fine study of a
Bee-eater by Jan Schram (plate 93), photographed, from a hide, in Corsica.
Bird Photograph of the Year
213
f^8. Adult Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus passing breast feather to its one-day-old young, Norfolk
May 1984 (C. R. Knights) (Canon FI. 300 mm Canon and 2 X converter. Kodachrome 64)
19. Pheasants Phasianus colchicus mating, Norfolk, April 1984 (K. J. Carlson ) (Nikon FE2. 135 mm
Nikkor. Kodachrome 64)
Bird Photograph of the Year
90. Stone-curlevys Burhinus oedicnemus after change-over at nest, Norfolk, May 1984 ( Gordon Langsbury)
(Nikon F3. 300mm Nikkor. Kodaehrome 64)
91. Eagle Owl Bubo bubo at dead fox Vulpes vulpes , France, March 1984 (C. G. Packham ) (Canon A1
400mm Canon. Kodaehrome 64)
Bird Photograph of the Year
215
!. Chaffinches Fringilla coelebs at nest. West Sussex, June 1984 (Roger Wilmshurst) (Pentax 6X7. 240
Schneider. Metz 402 flash. Fujichrome)
A delightful bird, the interest of the shot being considerably enhanced by its
briefly spread tail, so well caught by the photographer.
As usual, all 19 photographers whose work was short-listed will be
welcome to attend the Press Reception for the award presentation to the
winner, which will be reported on in a later issue.
We look forward to next year's competition, and hope very much that all
this year’s runners-up w ill be entering again.
216
Bird Photograph of the Year
93. Bee-eater Merops apiaster, Corsica, May 1984 (Jan Schram) (Nikon FE. 600 mm Novoflex
Ektachrome 200)
Finally, we must again remind photographers of the legal requirements
of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981), and that the welfare of the birds
must always be put first.
R. J. Chandler, Eric Hosking, J. T. R. Sharrock and Don Smith
The Choughs
of Bardsey
P.J. Roberts
In recent years, several studies on the Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
have shed light on the species’ breeding ecology and distribution in
Britain and Ireland (Bullock et at. 1983a), and given details of feeding and
foods taken (Bullock 1980; Warnes 1982; Roberts 1982, 1983). This paper
gives information on population structure, dispersal and biometrics:
spheres in which there are few reliable published data. It is based on
observations of individually colour-ringed Choughs on Bardsey, Gwynedd,
over a six-year period 1978-83. When studying a small and long-lived
population of birds, data are sparse and slow in accumulating; the results
are, therefore, preliminary and tentative in some aspects. They are
presented here as part of a general overview of Chough dispersal and
population dynamics throughout Britain and Ireland.
Background and study methods
Bardsey is an island of 180ha, 3km off the tip of the Llevn Peninsula in
Gwynedd, North Wales. Choughs have traditionally bred on the island and
adjacent mainland coastline. Recent national surveys (Rolfe 1966: Bullock
et at. 1983a) have shown stable numbers throughout an unchanged
breeding range, including about 50 pairs in Caernarvonshire (Gwynedd).
In this period, numbers on Bardsey have increased from two to four pairs
( 1954-78) to five to seven ( 1979-83). Breeding numbers and ringing totals
since the observatory was founded in 1953 are shown in table 1. During
1954-83, owing to some nest sites being inaccessible, and to the closure of
the observatory in 1971-73, a maximum of 40-45 nestlings (about 20% of
the total) may have fledged unringed. Since 1978, all Choughs ringed have
been given three colour rings to enable individual recognition in the field.
During 1978-83, a maximum of 10% of nestlings may have gone unringed.
Within this study period, 29 full-grown Choughs were also ringed (see table
1); these, caught mainly in late autumn, represent about 30% of all full-
grown Choughs ever ringed in Britain and Ireland.
The island was manned annually from March to November or Decem-
ber; midwinter records are, therefore, scant or lacking. All casual
observations of colour-ringed Choughs were recorded daily by visitors and
[Brit. Birds 78: 217-232. May 19851
217
218
The Choughs oj Bardsey
Table 1. Ringing totals and numbers of nests of Choughs Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax on
Bardsey, Gwynedd, since 1954
NO. RINGED
Year
No. nests
Nestlings
Full-grown
1954
2
8
1955
2
8
1956
2
3
1957
2
1
1958
2
3
1959
1
4
1960
2
7
1961
2
9
1962
3
9
1963
3
4
1964
4
3
1965
3
4
1
1966
4
4
1967
4
5
2
1968
2
3
1969
3
6
1970
3
8
1974
3
7
1975
4
5
1976
3
5
1977
3
7
1978
4
15
15
1979
5
1 1
11
1980
6
6
1
1981
7
20
2
1982
6
15
1983
6
10
staff. Additionally, I made weekly Chough ‘forays’ for at least half a day,
specifically to observe and record the population. With so many observer-
hours on such a small and discrete area, it was possible to gain an accurate
picture of presence or absence of individuals. Any uncertain or incomplete
records were excluded from this analysis. Thousands of further observa-
tions were made on all aspects of behaviour, and some of this anecdotal
information is included where relevant. All data are put into a national
context by reference to other Chough studies, British and Irish ringing
recoveries, and county records.
Results
Mortality and longevity
Fig. 1 shows recoveries by month of all Bardsey-ringed Choughs. Even from
this small sample, it is clear that there is a high mortality of young in
summer, when family groups have broken up, as noted by Holyoak (1971)
for other members of the crow family (Corvidae). Death of older birds
occurs mainly in winter months (the recoveries in October and April refer
to long-dead individuals, whose actual date of death is unknown) . A very-
similar pattern of mortality was shown by Bullock et al. (1983a) using data
from the whole of the United Kingdom, although their winter peak was
slightly greater than that for first-autumn Choughs.
219
The Choughs oj Bardsey
Bullock el al. (1983a) tentatively suggested a first-year mortality, based
on all B IX) ringing recoveries, of 85%, with a similar figure for second-year
mortality. By using sightings of colour-ringed young surviving to adult-
hood, it was possible to calculate maximum mortality rates for each of five
years in the study period, thus adding to and refining the calculations of
Bullock el al. Although the Bardsey data are few and potentially unreliable,
the large amount of time spent observing and searching for colour-ringed
Choughs gives a little more validity to the figures, fable 2 shows that, in
three of the five years, first-year mortality was below the figure given by
Bullock et al. (1983a), and in 1979 was at most 45%. Obviously, such a
small sample size can give widely varying results, but at least in some years
survival was quite high in this population. The difference in first-year
mortality between the years 1978-80 and 1981-82 is significant. This is
reflected in fig. 2, where life histories of 50% of young ringed in 1978-80
continue over two and three years, compared with just one such individual
for the period 1981-83 (observations continuing into 1984 to allow for
further sightings). In addition, the number of fledglings known to have died
in their first year varied from nil to two for each year in the study period,
except 198 1 when six were found, four of these within two or three months of
fledging (see fig. 2).
Table 2. Mortality rates of Choughs Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax on Bardsey, Gwynedd,
1978-82
For subsequent years, one year is calculated as a 12-month period from time of fledging.
Mortality 77.6% in year 1; 46.7% in year 2
Year of
fledging
No.
fledged
1
NO. SEEN AI.IVE IN
SUBSEQUENT YEARS
2 3 4 5
6
First-year
mortality (%)
1978
15
4
4
2
1
1
73.4
1979
1 1
6
1
—
—
—
45.4
1980
6
2
2
1
—
66.7
1981
20
1
1
—
95.0
1982
15
2
—
85.7
TOTALS
67
15
8
3
1
1
0
Reasons for this large difference in first-year mortality between the two
periods are not known. Personal observations, however, suggest that it is
due at least partly to climatic conditions adversely affecting food supplies at
the times of the usual peak mortality as shown in fig. 1. The early-autumn
peak in first-year mortality is due largely to the juveniles' inexperience in
finding food without parental help at a time when food availability is
‘patchy’; staple prey items such as ants (Formicoidae) and beetles
(Coleoptera) are often in poor supply (Roberts 1982, 1983). The winter
mortality has already been attributed by Holyoak (1971) to the Chough’s
specialised feeding requirements, and Bullock et al. ( 1983b & in press) also
suggested that hard winters could have serious effects on mortality if
feeding became poor. These natural factors were thought to be exacerbated
in the years 1981-83, when more severe and extreme weather conditions
220 The Choughs oj Bardsey
MJJA50NDJFMA
77
Z2
77
vt;
later mortality
Fig. 1. Monthly distribution of mortality of Choughs Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax on Bardsey,
Gwynedd, based on 23 ringing recoveries
disrupted the complex life cycles of invertebrate prey in summer, making
food more difficult to find in winter.
When data for all five years are combined, the average mortality in the
first year is 77.6%, very close to the figures given by Bullock et al. (1983a).
Calculations of second-year mortality are very spurious, but in one year
produced a maximum of 83%, and averaged 46.7% for the whole study
period.
A male Bardsey Chough had the greatest proven longevity of any wild
Chough. Ringed as an adult in March 1965, it bred successfully on the
island until its death in December 1981, when at least 17 years old. Darke
(1971) suggested that the last surviving Cornish Chough was one of a pair
that last bred in 1947, remaining subsequently as non-breeders; it died in
1973, when at least 27 years old.
Social structure
Colour-ringing of nestlings and full-grown Choughs has allowed
preparation of life histories for 76 individuals, from which details of social
structure and behaviour can be deduced. Fig. 2 shows the known histories
of those ringed as nestlings and gives valuable facts about known-age
Choughs. Fig. 3 shows life histories of Choughs ringed as full-grown in
autumn (mainly October and November). As there seems to be no reliable
way of ageing Choughs after about September, most of those caught were of
unknown age; all that could be deduced was that they were not Bardsey-
bred, as these were all ringed. Any first-years would by now have got past
the critical early-autumn mortality period illustrated in fig. 1. Their
chances of survival might be expected to be higher, and this is to some
extent borne out by the greater proportion of birds in fig. 3 with longer
histories. Of the full-grown Choughs trapped, seven were from the island’s
breeding population.
The Choughs oj Bardsey
221
[ -y -si. i _ ■
1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983
Fig. 2. Sightings of Choughs Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax colour-ringed as nestlings on Bardsey.
Gwynedd, 1978-83. Life histories start in June each year, at the time of fledging. Black bars =
bird present on island; open bars = bird absent from island; o = sighting on mainland: + =
found dead on island; X = found dead on mainland; stipple = no observations
BREEDING INDIVIDUALS
Pairs remained together all year. They freely joined feeding flocks at all
times, but were discernible as pairs within the larger group. This was
suggested also from observations in other areas by Williamson (1959),
Coombes (1978), Bracegirdle (1964) and Praz (1971). Breeding pairs
appeared totally sedentary, remaining on the island throughout the year.
Praz (1971), watching Choughs in winter in the Valais region of the Alps,
noted breeding pairs wintering at or near the nest site, both alone and in
flocks with other Choughs. This has possibly given rise to claims by many
authors(e.g. Goodwin 1976; Coombes 1978) of sedentariness for the species
as a whole.
999
The Choughs oj Bar dsey
94. Nc-stli ng Choughs Pyrrhocorax pvrrhocorax, Gwynedd, May 1982 (P.J. Roberts)
At least during the study period, pairs were completely faithful to one
another, and to their nest sites. Most sites are ‘traditional’, several being
used annually. The farthest any pair moved was about 10m within the same
boulder-beach nesting site. Only one individual among the five to seven
breeding pairs was known to have changed during the study period: this
was due to the death of the 17-year-old male mentioned above; the female
retained the nest site, attracted a mate, and bred successfully without
missing a season. Not all pairs bred annually. One marked pair bred in
1980, then held territory at the same site for two subsequent years without
any attempt to breed. This interrupted breeding has not been recorded
previously, although Holyoak ( 1972) noted non-breeders holding territory.
Apart from a 20% chance of an unringed Bardsey individual being present,
observations showed that none of the breeding Choughs was reared on the
island. Cowdy ( 1962) also noted a total absence of Bardsey-reared Choughs
in the population in 1961.
DISPERSAL
It is clear from fig. 2 that most Choughs were not seen beyond their first few
months after fledging, although there is a great deal of annual variation (see
Mortality and longevity). Observations of a total of 17 family groups over
four breeding seasons showed that young stayed with parents as a family
unit for up to 43 days after fledging (Holyoak 1972 recorded periods of
28-35 days on the Calf of Man); after 48-50 days, young were seen on their
own, and some had left the island. This corresponds well with the time of
known highest first-year mortality as shown by ringing recoveries. Fig. 2
illustrates the diversity of dispersal patterns of those surviving first-year
individuals.
Three birds (k, 1 & m in fig. 2) left the island during their first autumn
223
The Choughs oj Bardsey
(from August to October), were seen in mainland flocks, and never
returned. Many other fledglings (b-j in fig. 2) left in their first autumn, but
returned intermittently in that same autumn and in later years. Of 15
fledglings, one was absent only in August; 1 1 were absent in August and
September, returning in October; and two were absent from August to
October, returning in November. Several of these disappeared again, but
returned sporadically in subsequent summers and autumns (e.g., c in fig.
2). At the other extreme, bird a in fig. 2 remained permanently on the
island, in the non-breeding flock, for three-and-a-half years, before either
dying or leaving the island. By the end of the study period, none of the
colour-ringed young was still on the island, and there was no evidence of the
presence ol any earlier-ringed young either; this is in strong contrast to the
highly sedentary nature of the breeders.
Fhe pattern of occurrence and the life histories of the imaged Choughs in
fig. 3 are very similar to those of the young in fig. 2 which survived beyond
their first autumn. The largest number of Choughs occur on the island in
late autumn: representing a dispersal from the mainland to Bardsey at the
same time as Bardsey young are dispersing away from the island. The
sedentary nature of the breeding birds, and biometric data (see page 228),
suggest that many of these unaged autumn arrivals are first-years
dispersing from nesting areas on the mainland, mixed with a few older,
non-breeding individuals. Two birds (a & b in fig. 3) remained in the island
non-breeding flock for three years after capture; bird b returned inter-
mittently in the fourth year, and was then seen back on the mainland. Birds
d-h in fig. 3 remained in the non-breeding flock for one to two years, and
were then seen sporadically in their third and fourth years, with bird g on
the mainland later; birds c and i were seen on the island only in the autumn
of capture, but were found on the mainland again respectively four and one
years later.
L I I I I I
1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983
f ig. 3. Sightings of Choughs Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax colour-ringed as unaged, full-grown, on
Bardsey, Gwynedd. Life histories start in October/November each year, at time of ringing.
Black bars = bird present on island; open bars = bird absent from island; o = sighting on
mainland; X = found dead on mainland; stipple = no observations
PAIRING AND FIRST BREEDING
Definite ages for first breeding by Choughs were unknown until recently.
Bird 1 in fig. 2 was seen on three occasions over two years at Llangrannog,
Cardiganshire; on the last occasion, as a three-vear-old, it was breeding.
On Islay, Argyll, J. M. Warnes {in lift.) proved breeding in the second year.
224
The Choughs oj Bardsey
Other evidence from Bardsey suggests that many Choughs may not breed
until their fourth year or later: for example, bird.a in fig. 2 could not have
bred until at least its fourth year, when it disappeared from the non-
breeding flock. Similarly, birds a & b in fig. 3 did not breed in the three
years they were resident on the island, thus making them at least four years
old before they could have bred (assuming that they were first-years when
caught, and that they bred immediately after leaving the island). Bird c in
fig. 3 was found breeding on the mainland four years after having been
ringed: the site had been closely watched each year, and the bird had not
bred there before; given the nest-site tenacity of breeding Choughs, it is
unlikely that it had bred elsewhere in the intervening period, which further
suggests an age of first breeding of at least four years.
Holyoak (1972) suggested an age of first breeding of three years, on the
assumption that the Chough is similar to other, better-studied, members of
the crow family; he also noted that some first-years were already paired.
With the individually-marked Bardsey Choughs, however, it was clear that
‘first pairing’ was not so simple as this. Known one- and two-year-olds were
seen to go through pair-bonding and pairing activities, such as mutual
feeding, allopreening and other displays. These individuals were not all
paired, but were clearly promiscuous: several examples of one bird being
apparently paired with another, then that other seen to be paired with two
further, different, Choughs in later weeks, indicate more exploratory
activity than pairing for life. That many Bardsey Choughs did not breed
until four years old may reflect the more dense population on the island
compared with some other parts of the British and Irish range: young
Choughs may be unable to compete for territory, and nest-site availability
may be limited, causing delayed breeding and perhaps greater dispersal.
95. Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax feeding on beach, Gwynedd, November 1979 (P.J. Roberts )
225
The Choughs of Bar dsey
FLOCKING AND ROOSTING
Few references have been made to size and function of non-breeding flocks,
so much a feature ol the Chough population. In the Abruzzi National Park,
non-breeders were noted as forming 20% of the total population in 1975
(Lovari 1976a); in the UK, 30% has been quoted (Holyoak 1972; Rolfe
1966). During 1953-83, on Bardsey, the figure varied greatly from year to
year, ranging from 20% to 60%. Within the study period 1978-83, the
largest non-breeding flocks were recorded in 1978-80, when first-year
mortality was significantly lower than in 1981-83 (see pages 218-220). This
suggests that numbers of non-breeders may be related in part to better
first-year survival, resulting in more ‘spare’ birds in the population as a
whole.
In Italy, these non-breeding summer flocks were noted by Lovari (1976b,
1978) as the largest gatherings of the year, the birds tending to split into
smaller groups and pairs at other seasons. On Bardsey, maximum annual
flock size has occurred in all months, but with distinct influxes and flocking
in September and October in most years. This is due partly to intensive
feeding activity on a sandy beach rich in invertebrate foods, but such larger
autumn and winter flocks are also recorded at several other L^K localities
which have less of a focal point for feeding.
Roosting behaviour is very variable according to time of year and to age
and status of individuals. The pattern of roosting over the year seems
generally to follow the pattern below.
Communal winter roosts holding up to 50 or more Choughs have been
recorded at several localities ( contra Coombes 1978). These are regularly
used from October to March (I. Bullock in lilt.), and can include
individuals of all ages; they may be used sporadically by some birds of all
ages from August onwards. On Bardsey, a large area of open, east-facing
cliff was used at least from August to November, when observations for the
winter ceased. Individually-marked Choughs could be picked out by torch-
light; these included first-years and variously aged non-breeders, but not
breeders. During this same period, nest sites and surrounds were also
checked, but no breeders were found here either.
During the breeding season, non-breeders used a variety of loose summer
roosts. Breeders roosted at or near the nest site according to their stage of
breeding; as chicks hatched and grew, so adults moved off the nest site to
nearby ledges within the area. Cowdy (1962) noted that, on Bardsey,
fledged young and their parents roosted at or near the nest site while they
remained as a family unit into July. Williamson (1959) confirmed this for
the Isle of Man, adding that, by late August, breeding Choughs had moved
to ledges farther from the nest site.
Movements
Fig. 4 shows all recoveries of Bardsev-ringed Choughs, and sightings of
colour-ringed individuals away from the island. Both types of record reflect
a similar pattern. The majority of birds did not move far (up to 20km).
Three were recovered at longer distances: two 46km along the Llevn
Peninsula, and one 142 km away in Liverpool (the farthest recovery for any
Chough). Ringing recoveries for other localities indicate generally shorter
226
The Choughs of Bardsey
Fig. 4. Dispersal of Choughs Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax ringed on Bardsey, Gwynedd, o = live
(ringed as nestling); • = dead (ringed as nestling); X = live (unaged); □ = live (ringed as
full-grown); ■ = dead (ringed as full-grown)
movements: the majority from the Irish Republic, Islay and the Isle of Man
are less than 10km, with a few up to 27km. Other notable recoveries are of
an Anglesey Chough found 32 km along the North Wales coast, four in
Europe 25km, 40km, 50km and 60km from the ringing sites, and one in
Switzerland 130km from the ringing site (Busse 1969).
Sightings of colour-ringed Choughs were up to 20 km distant, within the
breeding range on the Lleyn Peninsula, and also 30km and 45km away in
Snowdonia. Condry (1981) suggested that coastal-breeding Choughs in
North Wales might well disperse inland to the smaller and slightly less
successful Snowdonia population; these records add weight to this theory.
The farthest definite sighting of a Bardsey Chough was 70km south, at
Llangrannog in Cardigan Bay (bird 1 in fig. 2). There are also two reports,
not fully confirmed, of Bardsey Choughs on Islay and in Pembrokeshire,
respectively 340km and 160km distant.
Ringing recoveries all comprised dead or dying birds, mostly in their first
autumn. This could be dismissed as an enforced dispersal of ‘weak’ or
‘inferior’ individuals unable to compete, and doomed to die. While this may
be true in some cases, the sightings of colour-ringed Choughs give a more
balanced and hopeful picture. Although they, too, were mainly of first-
years, some were of surviving and healthy individuals which had success-
fully joined other populations. The three distant sightings were all of
Choughs associating with breeding birds as ‘helpers’, showing some
interest in pairing, or eventually breeding. The Chough seen at
Llangrannog had spent its first autumn on Bardsey, having dispersed to
Llangrannog by the following spring: it bred after two years and has
remained there since.
The Choughs of Bardsey
227
Fig. 5. Records of Choughs Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax away from breeding range in Britain and
Ireland since 1960. Black areas = breeding range; + = single record; += four records;
hatching = several records in area
Fig. 5 shows the present breeding range of the Chough in Britain and
Ireland, and records away from this range since 1960. It illustrates clearly
the species’ dispersive ability. Bullock et al. (1983a) showed that this range
had changed little over the past 20 years, since the last survey (Rolfe 1966)
and compared with the Atlas (Sharrock 1976). Thus, the records collected
from county recorders have all emanated from a closely similar breeding
distribution, regardless of which year they relate to. All accepted county
records are included, except those considered by recorders to refer to
escaped birds. Some areas have several undated records adjacent to the
breeding range. Records, all of live Choughs, occur in all months, with no
apparent pattern, some individuals staying for several months in the same
area.
228
The Choughs oj Bardsey
1 1 is apparent that there are many sightings at considerable distance from
the nearest breeding site. Of the Scottish records^the two Orkney ones are
360km from the nearest breeders on Islay. The east coast of England
records are 210km from the nearest (Isle of Man) population. The
Cornwall and Devon sightings are 100km from the nearest breeders in
Pembrokeshire. The bulk of records, however, come from the east shores of
the Irish Sea, bordering Lancashire and Cumbria. These birds are likely to
be equally of Isle of Man or North Wales origin. The records from the east
coast of Ireland are of interest, but it is difficult to know whether they relate
to Irish breeders or not. All are nearer to the British breeding populations
(i.e. Scottish, Manx or Welsh), up to 80km away by sea. Goodwin (1976)
stated that the Chough is extremely sedentary, and mentioned its
reluctance to colonise any of the other Canary islands 40 km across the sea
from its stronghold on Palma. The individual on Barra, Outer Hebrides,
however, must have made a substantial sea-crossing (fig. 5). Several
Lancashire and Cumbria records involved Choughs which appeared at the
same time as, and mixed with, other corvids from a westerly (Isle of Man?)
direction. The Irish record from Houth Head, Dublin (the first for 70 years
on the Irish east coast), was seen flying with auks (Alcidae) and Fulmars
Fulmarus glacialis after a night of easterly gales, suggesting a crossing from
Wales. Eight recent instances of BTO ringing recoveries of other crow
species also support the idea that crossings of the Irish and other seas are
not unusual for crows. Six Jackdaws Corvus monedula ringed in Wexford,
southeast Ireland, were found in various parts of Wales and one in north
Yorkshire. A Rook C.frugilegus, also ringed in Wexford, was found in North
Wales, whilst two Ravens C. corax crossed in the other direction: one from
Kintyre, Strathclyde, to Northern Ireland, and the other from North Wales
to Dublin. Long-distance movements of Choughs are not a new
phenomenon: several older records relate to movements of at least 150-
300km over the past century, when the species’ range in Britain and Ireland
was more extensive.
It is evident that Choughs will make sea-crossings, and that there is
much more mobility, at least from first-years and non-breeders, in the
British and Irish population than is at first apparent. Fears of inbreeding in
a somewhat fragmented breeding range seem unfounded, and the possibil-
ity of recolonisation of former breeding areas is quite real, given that
suitable habitat still remains or can be created.
Biometrics
When full-grown Choughs were trapped (mostly in October and
November), data were collected on their weight and on their length of bill
and wing. Both known-age and unaged individuals were caught, some
retrapped several times over long periods. Bill was measured from tip to
feathering, and wing was measured as ‘maximum chord’ (see Svensson
1984). Although the sample is small, the data are, I believe, the most
comprehensive and reliable yet available.
Table 3 compares these data with those from various other sources.
Witherby et al. (1941) measured wings of eight males and five females by
‘standard chord’, a method rarely used on live birds today and one which
The Choughs of Bardsey 229
Table 3. Wing lengths and bill lengths (mm) and weights (g) of male and female
Choughs Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
All data refer to British race P. p. pyrrhocorax , except SchifFerli & Lang (P. p. erythroramphus) . Wing
length measured by ‘maximum chord’ for Bardsey, Calf of Man, Svensson and British
Museum (skins); 'standard chord’ for Witherby et al.\ not known for Schifferli & Lang and
V aurie. Bill length measured from tip to feathering in all except Schifferli & Lang (method not
known), and Calf of Man (tip to skull). Bardsey, Calf of Man and Yaurie data from definite
adults. Sample size not known for Svensson
MALE FEMALE
Wing Bill Weight Wing Bill Weight
BARDSEY
Mean
297
49.5
366
274
46.0
309
Range
289-304
46-52
350-380
266-278
44-47
285-325
Sample size
6
6
4
6
6
5
witherby et al. (1941)
Mean
—
—
—
—
—
—
Range
257-281
41-49
—
245-271
39.5-48
—
Sample size
8
8
—
5
5
—
BRITISH MUSEUM
Mean
276
46.7
—
260
44.5
—
Range
260-281
42.50
—
249-269
41-51
—
Sample size
7
7
—
10
10
—
VAURIE ( 1954)
Mean
276
54.7
—
271.5
52.0
—
Range
268-293
51-59
—
266-278
50-53
—
Sample size
8
8
—
5
5
SVENSSON ( 1984)
270
—
—
258
—
—
SCHIFFERLI & LANG
(1940)
309
52.5
350
295
50.5
293
Sample size
1
1
1
1
1
1
CALF OF MAN
286
56
335
261
53.5
302
Sample size
1
1
1
1
1
1
gives shorter results. Their figures do not fall into the same range as that
from Bardsey; their birds are also unaged, hence perhaps the overlap in
range between the sexes, but there is still a clear difference in size between
male and female. Measurements taken by myself from ten female and seven
male skins of the British race P. p. pyrrhocorax in the British Museum
(Natural History) again show this clear size difference; as with Witherby et
fl/.’s (1941) and more recently with Svensson’s (1984) data, however, the
range is quite different from my own on Bardsey, as it fails to take into
account size differences between first-year and older birds. Mayaud ( 1933)
stressed the difference in size between adult and first-year Choughs, but
quoted only Witherby et al.' s measurements for British individuals. Data
from Vaurie (1954) were for fully adult British birds (method of
measurement unknown). His data for females fit my own almost exactly,
but those for males are much smaller, for which there is no apparent
explanation.
Fig. 6 shows wing length and weight of adult Choughs trapped on
Bardsey and the Calf of Man; fig. 7 shows wing and bill lengths of all
Choughs trapped on Bardsey. I found no overlap in wing length or weight
ing length (mm)
230
310
The Choughs oj Bardsey
300.
290-
280
270h
* 8 *? .
• o
$
$
9
✓
</
cf •
<f
&
260 t , * ,
280 300 320 340 360 380
Weight (g)
Fig 6. Wing length and weight of adult Choughs Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax on Bardsey, Gwynedd,
and Calf of Man, Isle of Man. o = unsexed; • Calf of Man
between the sexes, males all being distinctly larger, although there was a
1-mm overlap in bill length. The latter is contra Goodwin (1976), who
suggested that sexual size difference in Choughs is most apparent in bill
length. Measurements (by unknown methods) ofa breeding pair of the race
P. p. erythroramphus in Switzerland by Shifferli & Lang (1940) (table 3)
support my findings of a big difference in weight between the sexes; a
smaller, but noticeable difference in wing length; but little difference in bill
length. Measurements from the Calf of Man are the most comparable with
those for Bardsey, being taken recently from live British Choughs. They
give closely similar results to those from Bardsey, the unsexed adults falling
into two clearly differentiated size groups, and the two sexed birds equally
widely separated.
Measurements of juveniles (caught from fledging up to late August, not
shown in fig. 7) showed an enormous range in size and weight, indicating
very variable rates of growth. One caught just after fledging had a wing of
247mm; while four caught in August had wings averaging 272mm (263-
283mm), and bills averaging 41 mm (36-46 mm). Clearly, recently fledged
Choughs are far from fully grown, and bill length seems to develop more
slowly than wing length. Weights of these juveniles were very variable, and
appeared to reflect condition of health rather than size. Seven had weights
of 237-360g, and one found freshly dead weighed 220g. The two lightest of
the live young weighed respectively 237g and 245g: both were in poor
condition, yet both survived to the next year, one being the bird established
at Llangrannog.
The unsexed first-winter Choughs shown in fig. 7 seem to split into two
size groups, the larger of the two being in the adult female range. This
suggests a sexual size difference in first-winter Choughs that are not fully
grown. On the assumption that, on average, 50% of the birds should be
male, it would seem that the larger ones are first-year males (equal to adult
female in size), growing to adult male size in the following years, and that
the smaller ones are first-year females.
231
The Choughs of Bardsey
55r
E 50-
£
bo 45'
C
v
o' <f
tf
• 9 ”
• > « • •
• •
% »■’
'
CQ 40-
03 i — 1 i i i i i
250 260 270 280 290 300 310
Wing length (mm)
Fig. 7. Wing and bill lengths of Choughs Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax on Bardsey, Gwynedd,
o = unsexed adult; • unaged; X = first-autumn
l he unaged individuals show a similarly large size range, although 85%
fall into the first-year range, but with no clear split into two size groups.
Accepting that adults appear to be very sedentary, and given the known
dispersive pattern of these unaged birds, combined with their biometrics, it
seems very probable that most are first-years dispersing from the mainland.
The few larger individuals may be older non-breeders of adult size. In
support of this theory, an unaged Chough at the lower end of the size range,
and thus theoretically a first-year female, was retrapped two years later as
an adult, in the middle of the female size range.
Acknowledgments
Thanks are due to Mrs J. Stroud, P. Thomson and D. Owen for their comments on their own
studies of Choughs in other areas. Most of the regional recorders were extremely helpful in
their replies to my requests for information, as were the BTO staff. The British Museum
(Natural History) kindly allowed my examination of the skin collection. The Calf of Man Bird
Observatory kindly allowed use of their biometric data for this analysis. On Bardsey. many of
the visitors, as well as Mrs J. Strick and assistant wardens G. Tucker, C. Rowley, M. Peacock
and D. Suddaby, contributed greatly to this study by their detailed observations. Special
thanks are due to Ian Bullock, who has encouraged the work and its publication from the start
and provided valuable criticism and comment on the study and on an earlier draft.
Summary
Data are interpreted from a colour-ringing study of Choughs Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax during
1978-83 on Bardsey, Gwynedd, and these are combined and compared with analyses of
national ringing recoveries, county records, and reference to other literature. Breeding
Choughs are sedentary, with great nest-site and pair fidelity. First-years can show much more
mobility, dispersing up to 70km within the breeding range and 140km outside it; extreme
distances wandered by unaged individuals are up to 360 km. A first-year mortality rate of 75%
is suggested, although this figure is shown to vary greatly annually. Adult longevity was in one
case 17 years. First breeding is generally in the fourth year, but instances of breeding in the
second and third years are known away from Bardsey. Notes on flocking and roosting
behaviour are made. Biometric data show clear size differences between the sexes and between
first-year and older Choughs.
References
Bracegirdle, R. C. 1964. The Chough. Joum. oj the Manx Museum 6: 80. 194-196.
Bullock, I. D. 1980. .Aspects of ecology of the Chough. MSc thesis. University of Wales.
Bangor.
232 The Choughs oj Bardsey
, Drewett, R. R., & Mickleburgh, S. P. 1983a. TheChough in Britain and Ireland. Brit.
Birds 76: 377-401.
, , & . 1983b. The Choughs of the Calf of Man. Peregrine 5: 5.
, , & . In press. The Chough in Wales. Nature in Wales.
Busse, P. 1969. Results of ringing European Corvidae. Acta Om. Warsg. 1 1: 263-328.
Condry, W. 1981. The Natural History of Wales. London.
Coombes, C. J. F. 1978. The Crows. London.
Cowdy, S. 1962. Post-fledging behaviour of choughs on Bardsey Island. Brit. Birds 55:
229-233.
Darke, T. O. 1971. The Cornish Chough. Truro.
Goodwin, D. 1976. Crows of the World. Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.), London.
Holyoak, D. 1971. Movements and mortality of Corvidae. Bird Study 18: 97-106.
1972. Behaviour and ecology of the Chough and Alpine Chough. Bird Study 19: 215-227.
Lovari, S. 1976a. TheChough in Abruzzo N. P. Italy. S.O.S. Fauna: 189-214. World Wildlife
Fund.
1976b. Population trends and seasonal flock size variation of Alpine Chough, Chough
and Raven in the Abruzzo N P. Italy. Gerfaut 66: 207-219.
1978. Flocking behaviour of the Chough and Alpine Chough. Gerfaut 68: 163-176.
Mayaud, N. 1933. Notes et rernarques sur quelques Corvides. Alauda 2: 195-196.
Praz, J.-C. 1971. Ou hivernent les Craves du Valais? Nos Oiseaux 31: 11-13.
Roberts, P.J. 1982. Foods of the Chough on Bardsey Island, Wales. Bird Study 29: 155-161.
1983. Feeding habitats of the Chough on Bardsey Island, Gwynedd. Bird Study 'SO: 67-72.
Roi.fe, R. 1966. Status of the Chough in the British Isles. Bird Study 13: 221-226.
Schifferli, A., & Lang, E. M. 1940. Beitrag zur Naturgeschichte der Alpenkrahe. J. Om. 88:
550-575.
Sharrock, J. T. R. 1976. The Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain arid Ireland. Berkhamsted.
Svensson, L. 1984. Identification Guide lo European Passerines. Stockholm.
Vaurie, C. 1954. Systematic notes on Palearctic birds. No. 4. The Choughs ( Pyrrhocorax ).
Amer. Mus. Novitates. No. 1658.
W arnes, J. M. 1982. The ecology of the Chough on the isle of Islay. Unpublished report,
University ofStirling/Islay Museum Trust.
Whittaker, I. 1947. Notes on Welsh Choughs. Brit. Birds 40: 265-266.
W'illiamson, K. 1959. Observations on the Chough. Peregrine 3: 8-14.
Witherby, H. F., Jourdain, F. C. R., Ticehurst, N. F., & Tucker, B. W. 1941. The Hand-
book of British Birds, vol. 1 . London.
P.J. Roberts, 3 Childscroft Road , Rainham , Kent
*5>ebentp-fit)C pears ago . . .
‘RECOVERY OF A MARKED SWALLOW. On April 12th, 1910, the first Swallow (Hirundo
ruslica ) was seen at 4 p.m. passing the house at Huntbourne, High Halden, Kent, which lies in
the line of a small migration-route; at 6 p.m. a small flight ofSwallows passed over to the north,
and from it four birds separated, and after flying round the house and settling on the
chimney-pots, finally went to roost in a shed where two pairs bred last year. Two days
afterwards I caught a Swallow at roost in this shed, almost certainly one of those that arrived
on the 12th, and found it was one which my sister had caught and ringed as an adult bird on
May 8th, 1909, the bird having come down one of the chimneys into one of the rooms. I may
note that there was no mark or injury of any kind on the leg which bore the ring. Claud B.
Ticehurst.’ {Brit. Birds 3: 399, May 1910)
Mystery photographs
"I "I We have used this
X v/ X ploy before: showing
you a nondescript female duck as
a ‘Mystery photograph’ (plate
81), and then, the following
month, revealing it in company flu
with unmistakable males (plate
96). If nothing else, it saves ^
having to read right through this
text in order to discover the
correct identity. Here, then, is
last month’s female duck, now flanked by no less than three readily identi-
fiable Baikal Teals Anas formosa.
The more-or-less-horizontal back, pointed tail, and feeding action
should all have led to the initial diagnosis of a dabbling duck. I he lack of
clear plumage markings indicates either a female, or perhaps an eclipse
male or juvenile. One would need more detail to separate these in the case of
dabbling ducks. Now, the presence of this bird with full-plumage males
leaves little doubt that it is an adult female.
There are no clues as to the size in the photograph, which was taken in
April in the USSR by Yuri Shibnev, though it is rare indeed when this is so
in the field. In this case, however, size is immaterial, because the most
obvious among a number of admittedly not very conspicuous field charac-
ters is shared by only two dabbling ducks. * I he white spot at the base of the
upper mandible is found only on the Blue-winged leal .4. discors and the
Baikal deal. Garganev A. querquedula shows something like the same
feature, but its whitish spot is virtually always prolonged backwards into a
pale line running under the eye. Given that all three species are small, it is
worth pointing out that the other small dabbling duck, the Teal *4. crecca ,
usually lacks any kind of well-defined loral spot.
The rest of the head markings may look smudgy and indistinct, but this
in itself is a further guide to the correct identification as Baikal Teal. The
dark crown is barely separated from the eve-stripe, while there is a dark
blotch below the eye, on the ear-coverts. (This is sometimes resolved into a
dark vertical line, and sometimes continues as a dark line or ‘bridle under
the throat.) Blue-winged Teal also has a dark cap, but with a clear whitish
supercilium between it and the dark eve-stripe, while the ear-coverts are
96. Baikal Teals Anas Jormosa. USSR. April 1974 ( 1 Shibnei )
233
234
Mystery photographs
pale brown, uniform with the remainder of the head. Garganey shows a pair
ot pale stripes, above and below the darker eyes.tripe, while Teal has the
most even colouring of them all, with little distinction between the crown
and the ear-coverts, and the barest indication of a dark eye-stripe, though
both crown and eve-stripe are a little darker on the American race A. c.
carolinensis.
The mottling on the flanks and back give little aid to identification, being
quite variable on most dabbling ducks. In this photograph, however, rather
elongated scapulars can be seen, in faint but distinct echoing of the
prominent ones of the male. This feature does not seem to be shared by any
of the other three small ducks.
Further details on identifying the Baikal Teal, including those in flight,
can be found in D. I. M. Wallace’s description of the first British occurrence
(Brit. Birds 74: 321-326). \1. A. Ocilvie
If*
97. M ystery photograph 102. Identify the species. Answer next month
Notes
One Great Crested Grebe apparently importuning
food from another in winter At 16.05 GMT on 17th
January 1982, while walking alongside the River Thames
about 800 m downstream from Henley-on-Thames,
Middlesex, I saw two Great Crested Grebes Podiceps
cristatus. One (bird 4) surfaced with a fish 10-12 cm long
which it was having some difficulty in swallowing. The
other (bird /?), about 10 m from .4, immediately swam
towards it; when about IV2 m from 4, B dived, surfaced
almost immediately right under (he breast of 4, and
Notes
235
started pecking at ,4’s breast and neck. A , still trying to swallow its fish,
made a rapid get-away, but was quickly pursued by B : when the latter was
within 1 V2 m, it again dived, surfaced under A and pecked at .4’s breast and
neck. Once more, A swam rapidly away; B followed, repeating the same
performance. By this time (after about four minutes), .4 had managed to
swallow its prey; although it had made three quick escapes, it had not
appeared too perturbed by the repeated submarine attacks. Once the fish
was swallowed, the attacking grebe lost interest and resumed normal
fishing. R.P.S.Wolsey
Lignarius , Farm Lane. East Markham. Nottinghamshire SG220QH
1 his appears to be an example of 'infantile' behaviour bv grebe B. probablv aged less than
one year old. Dr k E. I.. Simmons has commented that, at Chew Valles Lake. Avon, he
recorded an adult female ( treat ( ires ted ( irebe that associated with one of her offspring well
into January. Eds
Grey Heron diving from air for fish At 08.00 CMT on 2nd May 1981, at
Waleot Pool, Shropshire, J. C. Smallwood and I observed a Grey Heron
Ardea cinerea dive into the middle of the lake from a height of about 1 m and
emerge with a fish about 15 cm long in its bill. It rose from the surface with
some effort and flew to the bank, where it swallowed its prey. We estimated
the depth of water where it dived at 1 .5-2 m. F. A. Lowe ( 1954. The Heron)
stated that the species is exceptionally recorded swimming and diving,
presumably from the surface. I. A. R. Brown
43 Benvick Road. Shreivsbury SYI2LS
Aerial plunging is not mentioned for this species by Hancock & Kushian (1984. The Herons
Handbook), but R Y A. Marshall (Brit. Birds 5 4: 202) described having ‘quite often seen [Grex
Herons] fishing from the air whilst circling oxer the water [of Abberton Reservoir. Essex],
mostlx in earlv summer'. Eds
Interaction between Peregrine and injured feral Rock Dove On 20th
March 1982. at Cluttering Wharf. Avon, I saw a juvenile Peregrine Fa/co
peregrinus attack a party of five feral Rock Doves Cotumha livia. One fell
injured into the estuary mud about 1 m from a shingle spit. For about half
an hour, the Peregrine endeavoured to reach the stranded dove, but it
would not attempt to walk or hop across the mud; it made many short,
circular, hovering flights and long glides against the moderate wind
towards the dove, but failed to grasp it. On each attack, the dove flapped its
wings. After about half an hour, the falcon flew off. During its absence, the
incoming tide reached the dove, which managed to struggle on to the edge
of the spit. The Peregrine soon reappeared and flew over the spit several
times, but completely' ignored its victim and finally came to rest about 25 m
from it on the other side of the spit. I remained for another half hour, during
which time no further interaction occurred. B. A. Tizard
2 Montrose Avenue. Red/and. Bristol BS66F.il
Avocet resting on sea At 08.00 gmt on 6th March 1982. in fine and bright
weather with a moderate offshore wind, at Reculver, Kent, I saw a white
bird sitting on the sea some distance ahead. At first I took it to be a gull
236
Notes
Larus , but it soon became obvious that it was an Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta.
For as long as the next IV2 hours, it sat on the sea, sometimes actively
swimming and at other times resting with its bill under its wing, while it
drifted east on the tide. At about 08.20 hours, it took off, but flew only about
100 m to join a group of 30 Mallards Anas platyrhynchos also sitting on the sea
about 200 m from shore. A number of gulls appeared interested’ in the
Avocet, and at one stage it was joined by a Herring Gull L. argentatus. The
wader was still on the sea when it was lost to sight at 09.30 hours. I have
seen Avocets readily swimming while feeding, but was not aware that they
would rest on the sea for periods of IV2 hours and more. Chris Hindle
42 Glenbervie Drive, Heme Bay, Kent
This behaviour is not particularly unusual — see, for instance, the observation made by
David Newman and Vic Tucker ( 1984, Where to Watch Birds in Devon and Cornwall, page 43) that
‘Avocets ... at high tide may float buoyantly in a group among Shelducks [Tadoma tadoma ],
easily overlooked because of their similar colours’ — but, outside areas where Avocets are
common, is unexpected, and not well recorded in the literature. Eds
Tree-perching by waders in Malaysia I was interested by the note bv
R. A. H ume on Whimbrels Numenius phaeopus standing on overhead wires
and in the tops of trees in the Gambia (Brit. Birds 75: 232). In the mangroves
bordering part of the west coast of Selangor, Malaysia, this is the normal
behaviour of several waders. The eastern races of the Whimbrel N. p.
variegatus, the Curlew N. arquata orientalis and the Redshank Tringa totanus
eurhinus are fairly common passage migrants and winter visitors to the
extensive mudflats off Port Swettenham; at high water, when the flats are
completely covered, they take to the mangrove trees, together with assorted
egrets and herons (Ardeidae), and wait for the tide to ebb. At times, several
hundred birds are involved, making a remarkable sight. R. G. H. Cant
1 High Street, Great Eversden, Cambridge
Identification of large terns From 6th to 23rd August 1983, during a
study of seabirds off Cap Rhir, Morocco, sponsored by the University of
London, we observed a minimum of 56 yellow-billed and orange-billed
terns Sterna. Following recent letters (Brit. Birds 77: 371-377), we hope that
this summary of our notes will be of interest. Although we are still unsure of
the identification of many of these terns, they were readily assigned to two
types (see fig. 1).
type a (at least seven seen) We identified these as Royal Terns S. maxima. All were very large,
heavily built terns, larger than Black-headed Gulls I.arus ridihundus, and in structure resembled
small Gannets Sula bassana. Wings: broader and less angular than accompanying Sandwich
Terns .S', sandvicensis , grevish-white upperside except for dark grey outer primaries forming a
darkish wedge. Underparts and underwing white, except for dark areas on underside of outer
five or six primaries fading to pale trailing edge at tip. Forehead and front of crown white; back
of crown, nape, and patch behind eye black. Bill large, dagger-like, orange without a dark tip.
Only the underwing pattern was incorrect for Royal Tern, and was closer to that of Caspian
Tern .S. caspia.
type B (about 49 seen) Detailed notes were made only of the last few, when we realised that
they differed from literature descriptions of Lesser Crested Tern S. bengalensis. On average,
they appeared to be up to 4cm longer than nearby Sandwich Terns and proportionatelv
bulkier. Tail similar to Sandwich, but wings narrower, longer and more angular. On adults,
Notes
237
I' ig. 1 Upperwing, underwing and head patterns of terns Sterna in Morocco in August 1983:
left, type A; right, type B (see text)
the upperparts and upperwings were pale grey (but darker than Sandwich); most had
unmarked whitish primaries, except for one with about the 4th outermost primary and tip of
3th blackish on uppersidc. Underwing white, with dark trailing edge to primaries. This type
had less white on the head than type A, with a white forehead and black crown. Bill deep
yellow, longer and stouter than Sandwich Tern. A few presumed juveniles had extensive areas
of black on upperwing-coverts and tips of upperwings, but we did not make detailed notes on
these. Type B could be distinguished by its call, which was slightly deeper than that of
Sandwich Tern.
Both Royal and Lesser Crested Terns are stated to occur ofT Morocco.
There are, however, a number of discrepancies between type B and usual
descriptions of Lesser Crested. The following differences from Harrison
(1983, Seabirds: an identification guide) are noteworthy. Type B terns were
larger than Sandwich Tern, yet Lesser Crested should be smaller; type B
(in August) had a white forehead (see fig. 1), but Lesser Crested has a black
cap extending forward to the bill in breeding plumage, and a white forehead
and crown in non-breeding; type B had a long, deep yellow bill, but that of
Lesser Crested is orange and lacks a noticeable droop.
It seems unlikely that over 40 terns would all be in the same transitional
stage of moult or wear in head plumage. While we cannot be sure that some
distant type-B terns differed from Lesser Crested, those seen well showed
the above distinctions, but did not appear confusable with Royal Tern. One
possibility not discussed in recent letters (77: 371-377) concerning terns in
North Africa is Crested Tern S. bergii. If the identity and status of the
‘Lesser Crested Terns’ in Libya is open to dispute, the next nearest area of
occurrence is the Red Sea area, which happens also to be the closest part of
the Crested Tern’s range to the Mediterranean: colonisation or dispersal
from the east seems as plausible in this case as vagrancy from the west.
Paul Thompson, Nick Lethaby and Andy Silcocks
37 Leicester Road , East Finchley, London N29NY
238
Notes
Stev e Madge has commented: ‘These observations are useful support to the fact that some
populations of Lesser Crested might be larger than we thought, thus also supporting Mike
Smart’s letter (77: 371-372). Type A must be Royal; 1 noticed the slightly darker shade on
underside of primaries on some birds in Morocco on a September visit. Type B must reallv be
Lesser Crested, surely not Crested which for a start is very dark grey on mantle and
wing-coverts (between Common Larus canus and Lesser Black-backed Gull of race L. fuscus
graellsii) (this is Red Sea race ve/ox). Although Indian Ocean forms ofCrested, S. b. bergii and S.
b. lhatassinus, would be much paler and as pale as Lesser Crested. I cannot see their being
regular in the northwest African Atlantic like this. Also, the bill ofCrested is strongly arched
and very greeny-yellow and stout, although said to be duller on juveniles.’ fins
Leg-length of Black and White-winged Black Terns When watching a
juvenile White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus , at Denver Sluice,
Norfolk, on 9th September 1984, there was one identification feature that
was immediately obvious when the bird was perched, but which I have not
seen mentioned in the literature. White-winged Black Tern has noticeably
longer legs than those of Black Tern C. niger.
The Denver Sluice White-winged Black Tern was perched on stout
fencing projecting into the river, conveniently alongside a single Black
Tern and a few Common Terns Sterna hirundo, allowing for some superb
comparisons to be made. I watched it at a range of about 30 m for 30
minutes, using a 25 X scope in good light.
Seen face-on, 1 first noted the lack of ‘shoulder’ smudges and the
distinctly shorter bill of the White-winged Black. After these, the longer legs
seemed the most obvious feature, the White-winged Black standing taller
than the adjacent Black Tern, and the Common Terns too.
On Black Tern, the knee is just visible, with little or no thigh showing,
therefore appearing to be at the top of the leg. On White-winged Black, a
fair amount of thigh shows above the knee, so that the knee appears to be
three-quarters of the way up the leg. These last points could prove a useful
additional feature, even when no direct comparisons of length can be made.
P. Darling
51 Newmarket Road, Stow-cum-Quv, Cambridge CB59AG
This feature has indeed not been mentioned in any of the most-used held guides and
reference books. 1 he measurements given in The Handbook do, however, confirm the longer
leg-length of White-winged BlackTern (19-22 mm) compared with BlackTern (15-17 mm):
note that there is no overlap. Eds
Exceptionally tame Woodpigeons Although fairly tame, the Wood-
pigeons Columba palumbus in St James’s Park, London, unlike the feral Rock
Doves C. livia , will not normally alight on a visitor’s hand to take food. If
they come to trust somebody, however, they will do so. My experience with
about half-a-dozen Woodpigeons between mid June and the end of August
I 982 showed that they can become astonishingly tame, much more so than
the feral Rock Doves. They can be stroked not only on the head, neck and
breast, but also on the back and flanks, with the cupped hand actually
imprisoning the wings, which, incidentally, they often allowed me to
extend. The Woodpigeons not only tolerate these attentions, but also at
times react positively to them. For example, a bird for some reason alarmed
Notes
239
and about to fly ofl could usually be persuaded to remain on my hand by
gentle stroking and a quiet tone ol voice, much as one reassures a pet cat or
dog. 1 his docile behaviour seems quite remarkable for wild birds, and I
should be very interested to learn whether it has been noted before in
Woodpigeons or other species not reared or bred in captivity.
Audley Gosling
8 The Walk. Fox Lane. London N134AA
Derek Goodwin has commented as follows: 'With wild species of pigeons — Woodpigeon
Colombo palumbus. Stock Dove (.. oenas and Speckled Pigeon C. guinea — I have onlv had such
positive reactions (permitting a stroking, being calmed by my voice, etc.) as vou record from
individuals that were hand-reared from an early age. That is. birds that I had taken from the
nest when they were at the stage when the feather tips are just beginning to burst out from the
quills (not birds that had been taken from the nest when unable to flv. but fullv covered with
feathers), and that were reacting socially to me.
T rom 1934 (perhaps before) until and including 1939, there were many Woodpigeons in St
James’s Park that would perch upon one’s hand, shoulder or head to be fed. or in hope of food,
and tended to be much more placid-seeming and “steadier” when so doing than most of the
Feral Pigeons C. lino, tame as the latter were. I imagine that these very tame Wfxxipigeons
were among the birds killed ol) as “pests” (or as food) at the start of the W ar. when the
Government announced its intention to exterminate the Woodpigeon.
‘When 1 returned after the War and started working in London, in October 1946, I took
particular notice of the pigeons. There were still plenty of Woodpigeons. but they would not
come very near to one. I did a lot of watching and feeding of Woodpigeons. and it was not until
the summer of 1949 that I again saw one feeding from a human hand. I do not recall hav ing
seen one perched on a human hand at all since before the War (though for the past 16 years or
so I have been very little in the London parks).’ Eds
Cuckoos mating on overhead electricity cable Copulation has only
rarely been recorded for the Cuckoo Cuculus canoms (see 'VVvllie 1981,
Chance 1940). In each ofWyllie’s three observations, copulation occurred
during the afternoon, but Molnar (1944) reported seeing it at 08.00 hours
and suggested that it might take place at any time of day. At about 09.00
gmt on 31st May 1982. at Tiln, near East Retford. Nottinghamshire, we
heard a loud ‘bubbling’ from a Cuckoo perched on an overhead electricity
cable about 2m from a supporting post and about 8m above the ground.
Another Cuckoo (evidently the male) flew from an oak tree some 100m
away directly towards the perched bird, which was facing the tree, calling
‘cuckoo’ several times in flight. As he reached the female, he flew above and
around her in a circle of about 5m in diameter, completing one-and-a-half
turns (540°) before landing directly on her back. After only 15-20 seconds,
both birds flew ofl together and landed on the top of a low hawthorn hedge
200m away. They remained there for less than one minute, before flying to
an adjacent taller hedge, where the female perched, while the male was
chased ofl (or perhaps deliberately distracted) by a small passerine. After
an acrobatic flight of about one minute, the male returned to the female,
which was then attacked in turn by the passerine; she fluttered down and
clung to the side of the hedge. A few seconds later, both Cuckoos flew off
together over the other side of the hedge. It is not known whether or not the
female laid an egg while the male was being chased, but it is unlikely. About
90 minutes later, a female Cuckoo, quite possibly the same one, was
trapped in a mist-net 100m from where copulation had occurred; it had
240
Notes
probably been searching for nests, or flying to one previously located. Each
of three females that Wvllie (1981) observed copulating attempted to lay
eggs shortly afterwards; why this should occur is not clear, as fertilisation of
the egg about to be laid must take place some days earlier.
M. Boddy and F. E. Boddy
51 Welham Road , East Retford , Nottinghamshire DN226TW
REFERENCES
Chance, E. 1940. The Truth about the Cuckoo. London.
Molnar, B. 1944. The Cuckoo in the Hungarian Plain. Aquila 51: 100-112.
VVyllie, I. 1981. The Cuckoo. London.
Changes in numbers of Swallows’ and House Martins’ nests in
Somerset over 50-year period On 27th and 28th June 1981, I repeated a
count of the nests of Swallows Hirundo rustica and House Martins Delichon
urbica in an area which I originally censused in 1929 (see Brit. Birds 23:
248-249): the area lies around South Brewham, east of Bruton, Somerset,
and comprises the 4 square miles (10.36 km2) contained in square F7 of the
1-inch Ordnance Survey map (sheet no. 121, 1919 edition). In 1929, there
were 52 Swallows’ nests and 104 House Martins’ nests; in 1981, the totals
were 38 and 54, respectively. An incomplete count in 1933 suggested about
55 Swallows’ nests, with martins well down on the 1929 total. In 1967 and
1969, however, the area appeared to contain, respectively, only about 25
and 20 Swallows’ nests, the latter figure representing a decrease of over
60% in 40 years (on the other hand, House Martin numbers had risen to
108 nests in 1969). The 1981 total of 38 Swallows’ nests may thus be
regarded as a fair degree of recovery. The figures do little to suggest any link
between the fortunes of the two species.
The small village of South Brewham has expanded slightly during the
past 50 years, but otherwise the area remains essentially rural, without
glaring changes, devoted largely to cattle and containing about 15 farms. It
is evident that, for nesting, the Swallows prefer the old type of stone-built,
timber-raftered barns and cattle sheds (of which many remain) to the more
recent constructions of steel frames with sheet roofs. It will be interesting to
see how the Swallow population is affected by the gradual replacement of
older farm buildings over the coming century. P. A. D. Hollom
Inwood Cottage , Ely destile, Godaiming , Surrey GU84AY
Nest sites of House Martins In August 1978, at Ravenstor, Derbyshire, I
noted that a cliff nest of House Martins Delichon urbica consisted simply of a
mud wall built across a small recess in the rock face. This nest and site
provided a parallel with those described by Dr D. A. C. McNeil and Frank
Clark at Oakham, Leicestershire {Brit. Birds 71: 274-275).
P. W. Murphy’s note on House Martins nesting under street lamps in
Suffolk {Brit. Birds 75: 380) recalled nests which I saw in similar situations
at Ioannina, Greece, in 1970. A variation on this was provided by four nests
on ‘The Swan with Two Nicks’ public house at Bollington, near Lvmm,
Cheshire, in September 1981: these were attached to strip-lights which
Notes
241
were lit each evening and left on until closing time. The lights were set
behind a board under the eaves; the nests were built around the strip-light
tube, which formed part of the roof of the nest. Young were being fed in the
nests at the time. Unlike light bulbs, strip-light tubes do not heat up when
in use. Tom Wall
Nature Conservancy Council , Rowans, Rostherne, Knutsford.
Cheshire U A166RY
In June 1982, on 1 hassos Island, Greece, House Martins nested under all
available street lamps in the main town of Thasos. The lamps were of a verv
similar design to those used in Suffolk, but the maximum number of nests
per lamp was only two. Unlike those in Suffolk, the lamps were not switched
off until midnight. Adrian P. Fowles
2 Willow Grove , Vines Cross , Heathjield. East Sussex TS2I9HB
In July 1971, in Espoo, Finland, I saw five or six House Martin nests built
under lamps. Ihe lamps were fixed in the roof formed bv the base of a wing
of a building, standing on pillars about 3 m above ground. Each lamp had
its own nest resting on a concentric metal frame slightly below the level of
the bulb and only 4-5cm from it. Nests were built again in the following
years until 1974, when the entrance to the lamps was blocked up.
Sven Punsar
Otaka/lio 2A, 02150 Espoo 15, Einland
These further examples show the adaptability of the House Martin in its choice of nest sites.
Similar instances notified to us will be filed for reference and possible future summary. F.os
Dippers feeding on fish E. S. da Prato ( Bnt . Birds 76: 315-316) described
a Dipper Cinclus cinclus killing a brown trout Salmo tmtta , presumably for
food, following a pollution incident which severely reduced the bird’s
supply of invertebrate prey. She suggested that such incidents may be
responsible for Dippers acquiring a reputation as predators of game fish.
Few scientific data are available on the prey of Dippers, particularly from
the United Kingdom (e.g. Shaw, 1979, Bird Study 26: 66-67). A study is,
however, in progress in the catchment of the River Wye, mid Wales (see
Bird Study 32: 33-40). Of 147 faecal pellets from 16 breeding pairs of adults
and 20 broods of nestlings, analysed in spring 1983, only 14% and 13%
respectively' contained fish remains (bones and scales). No single pellet
contained more than 5% fish remains by volume. Only two pellets defin-
itely contained salmonid scales, from first-year fish, and other species such
as minnows Pho.xinus pho.xinus , bullheads Cottus gohio and stone loach
Nemachei/us barhatula provided many of the remains. It is apparent that,
although Dippers will take salmonids under normal conditions, the import-
ance of these is small in relation to invertebrate prey and other fish. Any
impact on salmonid stock will be minimal, given high densities of salmonid
fry and the extent of Dipper feeding territories. Milner et al. (1978, J. Fish
Biol. 13: 439-451) and G eeet al. (1978. /. Anim. Ecol. 47:497-505) estimated
mean densities of first-year brown trout 5. salar to be around 0.25/m2 and
1 .25/m2, respectively, in the lower reaches of tributaries of the River Wye in
242
Notes
summer 1976. Elsewhere, densities of brown trout may be as high as 6/m2
( Le Cren, 1973, Gonseil International pour [’Exploration de la Mer, in
Rapports et Proces Verbaux 164). In spring and summer 1982, 41 Dipper
feeding territories in the catchment contained between 1,000 and 10,000m2
(median 5,000 m2) of riffle alone (RSPB, unpublished data). Moreover, the
early stages of salmonid fry are characterised by a high-density-dependent
mortality (Le Cren 1973) and Dipper predation must be seen in relation to
this. S. J. Ormerod and M. A. Boiestone
Department of Applied Biology , l H IST. King Edward VII Avenue. Cardiff:
RSPB. Newtown. Powys
Anting-like behaviour of Dipper with fish On 5th May 1981, by the
River Fruin at Glen Fruin, Dunbartonshire, I watched an adult Dipper
Cinclus cinclus struggling to catch a small brown trout Salmo trutta. It then
rubbed its outer wing surfaces and flanks, restricting most rubbing to its
wings. On 10th May, at the same site, a Dipper with a mouthful of insect
larvae caught a small trout, which it had difficulty in holding. It attempted
to preen its upper breast feathers, then placed the fish on a stone in front of
it, swallowed the remaining food items in its mouth, and preened its neck
and breast feathers; it then picked up the fish and rubbed its upperwing-
coverts and. particularly, its carpal joint areas; it replaced the fish on the
stone, lifted its left wing and thoroughly preened the undersurfaces, picked
up the fish again and rubbed, and then swallowed the fish.
Alan F. Johnston
Bronvn Farm Cottage. Ferryside. near Carmarthen. Dyfed
Blackbird taking rowan berry in flight On a cold morning in November
1984, in Coventry, West Midlands, I watched a male Blackbird Turdus
merula take a berry from a rowan Sorbus in an unusual manner. The berry
was at the end of a thin branch (which would probably not have borne the
weight of the bird) and was grasped in his bill by the bird as he flew past; the
Blackbird flew off, still carrying the berry'. David M. Wilkinson
35 Meadow Lane. Worsley , Manchester M284PI.
‘Siberian’ Lesser Whitethroat wintering in Mid Glamorgan From
23rd November 1982 to 20th January 198.3, a Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia
curruca showing the characters of the Siberian race blythi was present at
Kenfig Pool, Mid Glamorgan. During its stay, it was very skulking; it
occasionally joined a mixed flock of tits Parusf Aegithalos and warblers
Phylloscopus/ Sylvia, but was also seen on its own. Its main characteristics
were the rusty-brown chestnut colour on its wings (more in keeping with
Whitethroat S. communis ); dark grey ear-coverts, white underparts, dark
legs and stature recalling nominate Lesser Whitethroat S. c. curruca ; and
brownish-grey crown and back. This record draws attention to the need to
scrutinise all out-of-season warblers (and winter passerine flocks).
Nigei. Odin
4Y-Goedwig, Rbiwbina . Cardiff, South Glamorgan CF46UL
Notes
243
I lie only record ol Lesser Whitethroat between 15th December and 7th March listed by
Robert Hudson (197.5, Early and Late Dates for Summer Migrants) was one which staved from
November 1968 to 15th February 1969 at Lvdd. Kent. Eds
Whitethroat feeding on insects on algae-covered concrete On 6th July
1982, at low tide at Ness Point, Lowestoft, Suffolk, we noticed an adult male
Whitethroat Sylvia communis feeding outside the sea-wall on cube-shaped
moulded concrete blocks about 1.5 m3 partly covered with algae. It was
eating small (lies which were swarming on the algae. It was able to cling
upright, in the manner of a treecreeper Certhia , to surfaces of bare,
sometimes wet concrete, some of which were no more than 10° from
perpendicular. 1 he warbler was not able to move over these upright
surfaces without flapping its wings, and most of its feeding was done on the
more horizontal areas, where it ran around snapping up flies.
B. J. Brown and J. R. Read
24 Clifton Road, Lowestoft. Suffolk
Spotted Flycatcher feeding bumble bee to nestlings At about 14.00
GMT on 14th June 1981, in my garden at West Bagborough, Taunton,
Somerset, in warm and sunny conditions, 1 saw a Spotted Flycatcher
Muscicapa striata fly after and seize a small bumble bee Bombus pratorum. It
made no attempt to remove the sting (although, of course, the insect could
have been a stingless male), but quickly fed the bee to one of its well-grown
fledglings in a nearby nest. About one hour later, one of the flycatcher pair
secured a bee of the same species and fed it to a nestling. There was no
suggestion that either adult or young flycatchers were stung by either of the
bees; as no sting was seen to be removed, both insects were probably males.
Swifts A pus apus are able to distinguish between male and female hive-bees
Apis mellif era (D. Lack, 1956, Swifts in a Tower). A. P. R adford
Crossways Cottage. West Bagborough. Taunton. Somerset TA43EG
Dr C. H. Fr\ has commented as follows: ‘Numerous birds eat stinging Hvmenoptera
(workers) without any evident attempt at distinguishing them from non-stinging drones.
Spotted Flycatchers and Verditer Flycatchers M. thalassina are known occasionally to eat
stinging (worker) honeybees Apis mellijera (P. K. Basu. 1957. Indian Bee J. 19: 7: N. V.
Charlemagne, 1954, Zoo/. Zh. 33: 1420), and many other small passerines similarly prev upon
stinging bees (Frv, 1984. The Bee-eaters, p. 210).' In his review of predation by birds on social
wasps {Brit. Birds 67: 221-229), Dr T. R. Birkhead listed only one record concerning Spotted
Flycatchers: wasps brought to young in the nest (Brit. Birds 8: 1 14-1 16). Eds
Bizarre behaviour and death of male House Sparrow On 9th May
1984, from the side of a busy secondary road in east Leicester. I observ ed
the following unusual chain of events. At 09.40 GMT, a disputing group of
four House Sparrows Passer domes hats flew into a small tree on one side of the
road and then up on to a nearby roof before streaming in line across to the
other side. The last bird, a female, was struck bv a car and fell into the road
where, after fluttering a little, she lay still on her side as if dead, though
there was no sign of injury or any loss of feathers. Over the next two or three
244
Notes
minutes, further traffic passed but did not run over the bird, and she
recovered slightly so that, aided by the slipstream of the passing vehicles,
she graduallv righted herself until she squatted, still and dazed, in a sitting
position with her head raised and sunk into her ‘shoulders'. Soon alter, a
male House Sparrow flew down on to the road, hopped up to the female,
mounted her, and copulated while holding her crown feathers in his bill.
Before being flushed bv an approaching car, he mated with the female twice
more, but now onlv after displaying in front of her, assuming the upright
version of the courting posture and bowing briefly. Quickly returning, the
male copulated once more, this time after performing the more common
squat version of the well-known bowing display. When the next car arrived,
however, he remained by the female and both birds were struck and killed.
Although she had not actively solicited in the normal way, the male was
undoubtedlv stimulated to mount the female because her still posture and
passive behaviour was otherwise like that of a receptive bird. His initial
behaviour had the characteristics of a rape, but then, when the female
showed no hostility (the usual reaction towards importuning males), he
switched to more usual pre-copulatorv behaviour. Although the prior
relationship between the two birds was not known, it seems unlikely that
they were mates. K. E. L. Simmons
66 Romway Road , Leicester I.E55SB
Bramblings catching falling nuts in flight, and robbing Greenfinch
During the cold weather of the 1981/82 winter, in a Dorset garden, a
wire-cage bird feeder tied to a fruit tree attracted up to 22 Greenfinches
Carduelis ch/oris and 12 Bramblings Fringilla monti fringilla. As positions at the
feeder were restricted to a maximum of four, pressure to obtain the enclosed
peanuts was high. Birds would sit in the tree and wait for a feeding space.
Bramblings would swoop from a branch and catch (in mid-air) the occa-
sional dropped nut. Greenfinches frequently mandibulated nuts while
perched on the side of the feeder. On one occasion, a Greenfinch held a
recently extracted nut between the tips of its mandibles while its concentra-
tion was ‘fixed’ in a particular direction; from 2 m to its side, a perched
Brambling flew quickly to it, seized the nut with its bill and flew into a
nearby bush. After losing its nut, the Greenfinch appeared surprised,
turning its head in quick, short sideways movements. Ewan Brodie
35 Northbrook Road , Broadstone, Dorset BHIHHHO
Feeding method of a Scarlet Rosefinch On 9th October 1980, on St
Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, I watched an immature Scarlet Rosefinch Carpodacus
erythrinus at 30-40 m feeding on the unripe seed-heads of what appeared to
be a species of sow-thistle Sonchus. After making a hole in the side of the
seed-head, it inserted its bill and extracted a billful of the contents. It held
these in its bill, with the hairy pappuses sticking out at one side, then
‘chewed’ its bill, using the edges in a guillotine action: the pappuses were
thus snipped off before the seeds were swallowed. During three-quarters of
an hour, the rosefinch repeated this feeding method three or four times.
B. J . Brown
24 Clifton Road , Lowestoft, Suffolk
Notes
245
American Redstart in Lincolnshire On the morning of 7th November
1982, RKW and KWW were searching the hawthorns Crataegus and
sallows Salix of the plantation at Gibraltar Point Nature Reserve,
Lincolnshire. At 09.00 GMT, their attention was drawn to a small, brightly
marked ‘warbler’ behaving in a manner more typical of a flycatcher Ficedula
as it fed from the outer branches of a group of hawthorns. Since the
observers were not familiar with the species, field notes were made and
assistance sought. RL was able to suggest, with the aid of field-guide
illustrations, that the bird might be of North American origin, and it was
agreed that it was almost certainly an American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla.
It was quickly relocated in the same area and its identity confirmed.
Although it was very active and frequently disappeared from view, often for
long periods, it remained in a very restricted area of scrub, young trees and
ivy-covered mature trees, both on this first morning and throughout its
stay. A photograph was published in the 1982 ‘Report on rare birds’ (Brit.
Birds 76: plate 224).
The bird’s most obvious features in the field were its small size; relatively
long tail, often raised and fanned while feeding; pale yellow wing patch and
yellow base to the tail; and bronzy shoulder patch below the carpal joint of
the closed wing. Its flight was very buoyant, and flycatcher-like sorties
made its presence very obvious; at other times, it fed with an action
reminiscent of Sylvia warblers as it picked and probed its way along inner
branches. The call, an often-repeated, slightly drawn-out ‘tchip’, was
distinct from any similar calls known to RL and proved an easy means of
locating the redstart in dense cover. Plumage details were noted as follows:
upperparts Crown and nape mid-grey,
extending down onto ear-coverts; upper edge
of ear-coverts slightly darker which with
darker lores, produced thin eye-stripe
through the dark eye, both made more
prominent by marked white eve-ring.
Mantle, scapulars, back and rump also mid-
grey with olive wash; uppertail-coverts darker
grey. Wings dark grey, with olive fringes to
all feathers except primary coverts and alula;
pale yellow patch formed at base of outer
secondaries, possibly extending to inner pri-
maries. Tail dark grey, w ith yellow on all but
central feathers extending from base of tail to
half-length.
underparts Chin and throat w hite. Belly and
flanks off-white, with slight salmon wash on
lower belly, and flanks marked with a yellow-
bronze patch extending from slightly forward
of carpal joint of closed wing to level with tips
of primary coverts. Vent area and undertail-
coverts white. Underside of tail appeared
yellow across its full width to half-length.
bare parts Bill, legs and iris w holly black.
About noon on 8th November, the bird was caught in a mist-net. The
following additional details were noted in the hand:
upperparts Feathers of mantle, back and
rump mid-grev, with narrow olive fringes.
Scapulars more broadly edged olive, upper-
tail-coverts finely fringed pale grey. Central
pair of tail feathers wholly dark grey/black;
adjacent feathers with yellow on the outer
web only to half-feather length, outer four
feathers vellow on both webs to five-eighths
feather length. Wing patch extended across
outer seven secondaries onto inner two (9th
and 10th) primaries, though restricted to a
trace of vellow on outer web onlv of 9th;
yellow extended to 10 mm beyond tips of
greater coverts.
underparts Underwing-coverts mostly
lemon-yellow, this extending from flank
patch to the under primary coverts, which
were white.
measurements Wing formula: emarginated
2nd-5th, notched 2nd-4th, wing point 3rd-
5th, 2nd = 5th/6th. 1st minute. Wing 63 mm.
Tarsus 18 mm. Bill (to skull) 10 mm. (to
feathers) 8 mm. Weight 10.0 g on 8th
November. 9.0 g on 3rd December.
The American Redstart was last seen on 5th December, having allowed
246
Notes
several thousand observers to watch it at close range. This was the fourth
record of the species in Britain and Ireland, narrowly preceded by one on
Islay, Strathclyde, on 1st November 1982. The two previous records were
from Porthgwarra, Cornwall, on 21st October 1967. and Cape Clear
Island, Co. Cork, on 1 3th- 1 4th October 1968 (Brit. Birds 63: 151-153; 66:
36-38). R. Lambert, R. K. Watson and K. W. Winfield
Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory , near Skegness, Lincolnshire
Letters
An earlier Snowy Sheathbill I am not sure how well the record is known,
but I have just come across something which might please or amuse Laurel
Tucker and other admirers of ‘That sheathbill’ (Brit. Birds 75: 591). On
page 244 of his Sketch-Book of British Birds (1898), R. Bowdler Sharpe wrote:
‘The Antarctic Sheathbill (Chionis alba). A specimen of this curious species
was killed at Carlingford Lighthouse, in Co. Down, in December, 1892 . . .
The bird belongs to a purely Antarctic genus, and it must have escaped
from confinement, though the condition of its plumage did not indicate that
it had been recently kept in captivity.’ Perhaps this one had also hitched a
ride! R. A. Cheke
8 Cecil Mansions , Marius Road, London s\\ i77QN
Richard J. I’ssher and Robert Warren (1900, The Birds of Ireland) reached a more open
verdict. We feel that it is worth quoting their account in full:
‘THE YELLOW-BILLED SHEATHBILL. Chionis alba. Latham.
‘A female of this Antarctic species was observ ed on a rock near the Carlingford lighthouse.
Co. Down, on 2nd December 1892. It seemed to take no notice of the approach of the
lightkeeper, Mr. R. Hamilton, who fired at about thirty yards. Then, on taking wing, it
performed a circuit and returned to the rock, where it was shot, but was still able to take wing
and alighted on the sea, when it was captured. It was said to move on land with a “proud, bold
walk”, and its flight was compared to that of a Puffin, but was less rapid.
‘It proved to be fat, and was in such unimpaired plumage that Mr. E. Williams, who
preserved it, considered that it showed no traces whatever of recent confinement. It appeared
to be in a state of moult, as some of the old feathers were not yet cast, but these showed no sign
of captivity; and the ovary contained some small eggs like pin-heads (Zool., 1893, p. 28, and
Irish Nat.. 1893, p. 151, with a photograph).
‘This specimen was exhibited before the Zoological Society on 28th February 1893, and is in
the collection of Mr. R. M. Barrington, who received it in the flesh.
‘In the “Dictionary of Birds,” p. 823, Professor Newton alludes to the capture, and remarks
that the bird thus killed may well have escaped from confinement, while Mr. Howard
Saunders in his Manual makes a similar suggestion.
‘If that were so, this Sheathbill must have maintained itself at liberty for some time under
conditions favourable to its health; however, as Mr. Barrington remarks, the Sheathbill has
been met with at great distances from land in the Southern Ocean, and he suggests that there is
nothing impossible in its travelling north of the Equator if it could find suitable food on the
journey. It certainly seems to be able to rest on the water and swim to some extent.’ Eds
Glaucous X Herring Gull hybrids With reference to A. R. Dean’s letter
on hybrid Glaucous Lams hyperboreus X Herring Gulls L. argentatus (Brit.
Birds 77: 165-166), it may be worth pointing out that, although Martin
Davies (Brit. Birds 7 1 : 80-82) drew attention to only one probable hybrid in
the Aberdeen area of Scotland in the mid 1970s, the North-East Scotland Bird
Report has given details of birds of this type in each issue since 1975: a total of
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247
.^0 probable hybrids and/or leucistic/albinistic Herring Gulls in the period
1975-82. I he largest in any one year was about nine, in 1976, when about
44 different Glaucous Gulls were also reported. In 1977, there were four
hybrid/leucistic gulls and about 51 Glaucous. This high incidence of
reports of hybrids coincides with a period of intense gull-watching in the
area, particularly by Peter Ellis and Rupert Hastings. Since then, the
presence of hybrid/leucistic gulls has been taken for granted and, as interest
waned, most gull flocks have not been particularly closely scrutinised, with
a consequent drop in the number of reports. As well as the above-
mentioned records, there are a further three in the files of the local recorder,
from 1968, 1972 and 1973. Alan Knox
British Museum (Natural History ), Tring. Hertfordshire HP2S 6.1 P
Martin Sutherland has commented as follows; ‘Reduced scrutiny of large gulls in Kent in
the last two winters has similarly resulted in a reduction in reports of “hybrids", whereas
Glaucous, requiring less scrutiny to detect, have shown no decrease. The fewer close
examinations of large gulls that I carried out in the 1982/83 winter, however, produced a
smaller proportion of hybrids to Glaucous Gulls. This may indicate that their numbers
fluctuate from winter to winter, as with white-winged gulls. As Alan Dean clearly implied (77:
165-166), hybrid distribution is more complicated than 1 had previously suggested (76: 83-85).
Alan Dean has further added: ‘Dr Knox's implied ratio of about one hybrid to f rom five to 1 3
Glaucous compares with that of about one hybrid to 15 Glaucous found in the West Midlands
(77: 165-166), and contrasts with the much higher ratio of seven hybrids to three Glaucous in
Kent during 1981-82 (76: 83-85). In order to clarify the regional variations. I would appeal to
all who systematically observe gull flocks to keep a special look-out for Glaucous Gulls and
hybrids during 1984-85 and to forward their results (with details of the appearance ofhybrids,
and any comments on the subspecific identity of herring Gulls wintering locally) to me at:
2 Charingworth Road, Solihull, W est Midlands B'tjan i .’ Eds
Choughs and Jackdaws In their masterly report on the 1982 survey of the
Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax in Britain and Ireland (Brit. Birds 76: 377-
401), 1. D. Bullock, I). R. Drewett and S. P. Mickleburgh stated that (i)
‘10% of all the known pairs nested in man-made features’ and (ii) ‘in
general the species is extremely tolerant of human presence'. In Ulan
Bator, the capital of land-locked Mongolia and some 1,300 km from the sea,
the race brachypus is a conspicuous citv-dweller, nesting in 20th-century
buildings where apertures allow; indeed, it occupies a nesting niche held by
the Jackdaw Corvus monedula in Britain and elsewhere in Europe. The
jackdaw in Mongolia is the Daurian Jackdaw C. dauuricus, primarily an
out-of-town bird and therefore not in direct competition with the Chough.
Bullock et at. dismissed the Jackdaw as a food competitor, but could it not be
a victorious nest-site competitor?
In Ulan Bator, Choughs feed in flocks on the peripheral riparian steppe,
turf kept short by continually grazing livestock. The largest flock I saw was
of 130, on 1 1th June 1977, and I estimated 50-100 pairs breeding in and
around the city in that year. Alan R. Kitson
12 Hillside Terrace , Steyning, 1 1 est Sussex
Ian Bullock has commented as follows: ‘It is possible that Jackdaws compete successfully
with Choughs for nest sites, but unlikely. In most coastal situations Jackdaws nest colonially,
in loose cliff soils where there are several cavities or burrows, whereas Choughs nest in isolated
cracks and clefts or in the roofs of sea-caverns. In the Aran islands Jackdaws were unknown 20
years ago: today, they occur in roosts of 100-150. Vet. within this time, the Chough population
has remained virtually constant on the islands. It may be that, at some inland sites where
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Letters
Choughs once used ruined buildings, Jackdaw colonies have ousted them. Yet, equally, I can
think of several sites in Ireland where there are one or two Chough pairs sharing an old castle
or tower with a colony of 10-20 pairs of Jackdaws.’ Eds
Size-illusion This letter is in response to P. J. Grant’s hypothesis,
subsequent correspondence and comment (Brit. Birds 76: 327-334; 77:
323-326).
Size-illusion — the anomalous perception of the size of an object — has
been known to man since antiquity. Ptolemy, in the second century A.D.,
not only referred to the Moon (and Sun) illusion, but also proposed, with
remarkable clairvoyance, the explanation now generally accepted.
Kaufman & Rock (1962) performed a series of carefully controlled
experiments in order to eliminate explanations dependent on the angle of
tilt of the observer’s head, brightness and colour of the Moon, and the size
and orientation of terrain near the line of sight. Their results demonstrated
that the illusion depended primarily on the presence of terrain within the
field of view, more specifically the distance effect of that terrain. The
apparent diameter of the Moon viewed near the horizon was found to be
about 1.4 times the apparent diameter of the Moon seen at high elevation.
In considering other examples of size-illusion, two aspects of the work of
Kaufman & Rock might be noted. First is the fact that, by the geometry'
involved, size and distance judgments are inexorably linked, even though
the observer may not be conscious of the link. In the case of the Moon
illusion, the brain judges the horizon Moon to be more distant than the
zenith Moon and hence, since the angular diameter is the same in both
cases (even perigee/apogee variations are significantly less than the illusion
effect), the observer perceives, by subconscious brain activity, the Moon to
be larger at the horizon than at the zenith. A second aspect illustrated by
the 1962 experiments is the absolute necessity of eliminating alternative
explanations of any visual perception. Glancing through old copies of
publications such as Scientific American and New Scientist gives warning that
there is no simple explanation of visual effects. Specialists in the field of
vision — such as biologists, physicists, neurophysiologists, and psycholo-
gists— are unlikely to produce accredited advances in the understanding of
vision without the aid of analytical clarity and unambiguous experimental
evidence.
Against such a background. Grant’s hypothesis, evidence and arguments
are unconvincing. To begin with, he does not distinguish explicitly between
objective and subjective effects. Thus, his statement that ‘Illusory relative
sizes and perspective angles are created’ refers to both the reception of
angular size data on the retina (objective) and the interpretation of that
data by the visual system (subjective). Also, the statement ‘. . . based on
images which are actually illusory’ is similarly simplistic; the optical image
is not illusory, but its interpretation by the observer’s brain may well be so.
Again, the statement that ‘The illusion can be reproduced in photographs
. . .’ is subtly misleading. The illusion produced by the photograph of the
brick wall is not in the photograph, as can be shown by placing the latter at
the correct viewing distance; the illusion is then undetectable. With near
point viewing, the illusion is created within the observer from (i) data in the
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249
photograph and (ii) data already held within the observer’s memory'. Any
hypothesis which ignores the distinction between external stimuli and
internal responses is likely to founder in a chicken and egg situation.
Observation shows the brick and plank examples to be valid, both in the
three-dimensional and in the two-dimensional (photographic) forms.
Photographers who have obtained pictures of typical architectural subjects
using a telephoto lens are well aware of the effect, though probablv referring
to it as a form of distortion. But the relevance of these examples to the
ornithological cases illustrated by the wader and gull photographs remains
obscure. A similar test with two identical short vertical poles, one a little
behind and to one side of the other, erected on a smooth surface, yields no
illusion. Joining the tops of the poles with a rule, and thus adding a
depth-wise straight line, introduces a size-illusion similar to that produced
by the brick wall. I he illusion depends on perspective and, to recognise
perspective, cues in the image are needed. The depth-wise straight lines of
the bricks and plank provide very strong perspective cues: the poles,
without the connecting rule, have no such cues. Two waders on mud or two
gulls on water are nearer to the pole model than to either the brick or plank
models, f hat the brick example is fallible can be shown by covering the
centre three-quarters of the photograph, including the forward-facing
surfaces of the brick pillar; the brick illusion depends primarily on the
depth-wise mortar lines. Further examples of the action of depth-wise lines
creating perspective include the Necker cube (Yellott 1981) and the
painting, well known to students of paradox, in which water running along
an aqueduct arrives, apparently, at a point above its own source. In both of
these cases, the perspective necessary to create the observed paradoxical
illusions (not size-illusions) has again to be presented to the viewer by the
strong cues associated with depth-wise straight lines.
The kernel of what appears to be the fallacy in Grant’s hypothesis is
contained in his statement ‘In natural landscapes, however, where there
are no obvious perspective lines, I believe that an observer may be unaware
of the size-illusion which is operating . . .’ (my italics). By a severely limited
choice of observ ational evidence, namely the brick wall and the plank
observations, Grant has confirmed that the presence of strong depth-w ise
lines can produce a detectable size-illusion. Yet, with no further convincing
evidence, he then assumes that an illusion is perceptible when such lines, or
equivalent cues, are absent. Verily, the chicken and egg dilemma. Short-
range cues such as texture and stereopsis are hardly applicable in the given
context; neither is motion parallax. Hence, without perspective cues, the
ambiguity between size and distance cannot be reliably resolved. Put the
gulls on the brick wall, one at each end, or the waders similarly on the
plank, and predictably one might expect to observ e a size-illusion; but, with
no significant depth cues, why does Grant anticipate the formation of a
significant size-illusion?
The card test is demonstrably unreliable, despite Grant’s dismissal of
earlier criticism (Brit. Birds 77: 324-326). Ask any interior designer or
fashion-conscious lady about the effects of horizontal stripes. To prove the
point, cut out a piece of white paper equal in size to the striped image in
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Letters
plate 139 (Brit. Birds 76: 329), add spots to scale to correspond with those on
the spotted card image and then use the papef to cover the striped card
image; there is immediately an apparent size reduction in the covered
image. Similarly, the psychological effect of black-and-white cards cannot
be assumed to be identical especially if, as in plate 139, the exposed areas
are not even equal (area effects are referred to again below). That the
results from the card test primarily indicate human fallibility is high-
lighted by the almost throw-away comment concerning the relative success
of the golfer. Training and experience, making use of cues other than just
the angular size data, can improve the joint judgments of distance and size;
but, even then, unreliability can arise if, as in the case of the waders and the
gulls, insufficient cues are present in the scene.
As has already been suggested, photographic data have to be interpreted
with caution. Taking the wader and gull photographs as a record of angular
sizes, and assuming no optical or processing distortions, accurate direct
measurements are possible. But whether such measurements have any
ornithological value is quite a different matter. Factors such as plumage
state, orientation with respect to the observer, and stance can affect the
recorded angular size. Size data derived from photographs are unlikely to
have the accuracy attainable when a bird in the hand is measured. Con-
sidering now the photographs as evidence of size-illusion, the Moon illusion
mechanism cannot be invoked since the waders and gulls are part of the
terrain, not, as in the Moon case, in space beyond and above the terrain.
The Moon illusion does, however, prompt the thought that birds in flight
above the horizon might be subject to size illusion effects. Returning to the
waders and gulls, unambiguous evidence of size-illusion is nowhere
apparent. No strong depth-wise cues are visible in either the wader or gull
photographs. A weak cue may be present in some of the wader pictures, viz.
the leg separation of an individual bird. The same cue, however, then
indicates that the depth separation of two birds is small, too small to
produce a size-illusion sufficiently large to be distinguishable from obser-
ved size differences resulting from the factors previously mentioned. In the
case of the two Herring Gulls Larus argentatus in plate 126 (Brit. Birds 11:
325), a further factor is involved since the left-hand bird is floating higher in
the water than the other Herring Gull. As the eye tends to be influenced by
area rather than by linear dimensions (illustrated by image size differences
with binoculars and telescopes of different magnifying powers), its effect
cannot be conveniently overlooked. In short, all of the claimed size-illusion
examples can be directly attributed to one or more of the real factors
operating, including, even for birds of the same species, that any two birds
are not necessarily the same size.
To sum up, there is no reasonable doubt that a size-illusion can be
produced if strong depth-wise cues are presented to the retina. In all the
examples referred to above — birds and paradoxes — other essential cues are
also present, thereby triggering memory data already in the observer’s
brain. Thus, the brick wall not only presents depth-wise straight lines to the
eye, but also the detail enabling the bricks to be recognised as such; the
brain then activates the additional data that the observed lines are, in the
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251
actual wall, parallel. I hat a size-illusion can be created when the depth-
wise cues are weak or absent has not been proved by Grant. It is therefore
unfortunate that the hypothesis is already being propagated as gospel {Brit.
Birds 77: 293-315). Bitter experience has shown that it is not easv to
eradicate such simplistic science once it has been disseminated. Why not
accept the fact that high-accuracy conclusions concerning size cannot be
derived from what, by the possible presence of one or more real factors, are
necessarily low-precision input data? D. J. Jeffers
/ Midway , Cheadle Hu/me. Cheadle , Cheshire SK8 7PH
REFERENCES
Kaufman. L„ & Rock, I. 1962. The Moon illusion. Sci. Amer. 207(i): 120-130.
Yei.i.ot, J. I. 1981. Binocular depth vision. Sci. Amer. 245 ( i ) : 118-123.
1 he man who thought of ‘jizz’ Your omniscient Guest Contributor
missed some important points in his timely account of the swinging history
of ‘jizz’ (Brit. Birds 11: 204, 379). It was not just ‘coined’; its traditional
progenitor, T. A. Coward, was a northwestern journalist who first made his
mark when the established expert on bird migration of the day, William
Eagle Clark, summarised half a century of speculation in his two-volume
Studies in Bird Migration ( 1912), pronouncing that birds migrate along fixed
trunk-routes against the wind, and Coward simultaneously produced a
cheap little popular manual on the subject, 50 years ahead of its time,
discussing the implications of developing human experience of aviation for
the interpretation of the effect of ‘drift’ on birds, three years after the first
powered human flight.
When, despite universally frigid reviews, the smaller work sold more
widely, and a growing army of younger birdwatchers begkn to confirm
what it said, traditional investigations of migration collapsed. The
members of the ornithological establishment, who had been away learning
to shoot in Flanders, undertook the study of subspecific variation instead, in
the way described by your contributor, only to find that the resulting
Practical Handbook of British Birds was once again upstaged in the 1920s by
another cheap little three-volume Coward manual describing the birds in
much simpler but more engaging language, with beautiful Thorburn illus-
trations, from which schoolboys of my generation learnt to identify- the
birds just by looking at them in the manner subsequently developed by
Roger Tory Peterson.
The rest of the time, Coward used to write essays for local newspapers,
such as the Manchester Guardian , about the more practical and aesthetic
aspects of birdwatching, one of which also described how to recognise birds
by what he termed, for lack of an established name, their ‘jizz’. The current
arguments about its use miss the point: while it is often easiest to locate
birds bv their characteristic posture and behaviour, in order to prove their
identitv more precise characters may be required, representing a second
stage of identification, before the third and most difficult stage of per-
suading other people to believe in what you say you see.
It see-ms likely that Coward, in addition to many better-publicised
personalities, mav deserve much credit for the addition of improved field
sections to subsequent ‘handbooks’, and time he received more recognition
252
Letters
for his work in bringing ornithology back to ordinary people and out into
the held. It seems doubtful whether anyone htfs ever written better about
birds, and it seems high time for a revival of his simple, clear, and original
style. W. R. P. Bourne
3 Contlaw Place . Mill timber . Aberdeen AB10DS
The origin of ‘jizz’ When I first read Coward’s account of the origin ofjizz
( Bird Haunts and Nature Memories . 1922), I was curious about its etymology.
At the time, I could not find any reference in dictionaries of standard or
colloquial English or Irish. It was familiar, however, to friends from Dublin
and Kildare, and it was generally used to imply spirit or cockiness. School-
boys were encouraged to ‘show a bit ofjizz’ and a sergeant-major regularly
promised to knock the jizz or jizzom (jissom) out of a squad of recruits.
There wras no suggestion that it encompassed any idea of ‘diagnostic
characteristics’. Collins Dictionary of the English Language (1979) defines this
as a taboo word, and its metonymic use parallels that of the more familiar
work spunk.
It seems that we owe this useful term to Coward’s misinterpretation of
the ‘West Coast Irishman’s’ meaning. Ivan T. Draper
13/ 1 Whistlefield Court . Camiesburn Road. Bearsden. Glasgow G61 IPX
Surely ‘jizz’ is a corruption of the old Army term ‘general impression and
shape’, used by patrols, guards, and, particularly, coastal/aerial watchers?
It is still in use in the US Army at least, and is written ‘G.I.S.’
W. G. Harvey
11 Summer Hill. Harbledown. Canterbury. Kent C.T28NH
Describing bird calls Writing down bird calls in a meaningful form,
especially for other people to read and understand, is notoriously difficult.
Those guides which attempt it, especially those translated from other
languages, leave much to be desired. All too often, a field guide rendition
provides little more than an aid to remembering a call already heard and
recognised, rather than giving a useful idea of an unknown call. I should
like to see either of two methods used in earlier books revived (if modern
typesetting can cope). Some American guides use a method which I
frequently employ in my own notes: a phonetic rendering with a line above
each note to indicate changing rhythm and pitch, for example:
‘tup tup tup cheche whew’ (Peterson 1934).
Alternatively, changes can be indicated by changing the alignment of the
words, as used successfully by Marples & Marples (1934). Galls of terns
Sterna thus include:
’keaaaarrr’ ^ear'’ ‘Peeee-er\ ‘Karrrr\ ‘Keari’, and soon.
Though not very neat in appearance, such efforts to put bird calls onto
paper without the use of a sonagram seem to me to give a much better idea
Letters
253
ol the pattern of a song or call than the usual simple jumble ofletters, which
help only if you already know what it sounds like. R. A. Hume
41 Sandy Road, Potion, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG It) 2QA
REFERENCES
Marpi.es. (j.. & Marpi.es, A. 1934. Sea Terns or Sea Swat ton's. London.
Peterson. R. I . 1934. .1 Field Guide to the Birds. Boston.
‘What’s about?’ calls May I draw attention to another aspect of
unthinking behaviour by birdwatchers? 1 refer to the use of the telephone.
Particularly at migration times, observatories accessible bv phone are
frequently inundated with calls often commencing with an abrupt ‘What’s
about?’. When a ‘twitchable bird’ appears, there are numerous requests for
information: ‘Is it still there? Where exactly is it?' 1 1 mav be only one call bv
each birdwatcher, but it could cause a continuous ringing at an
observatory.
The majority of callers are polite and reasonable and, at least where
Dungeness Bird Observatory is concerned, the Warden is always prepared
to give information when he can. The temper of the mildest mannered is
tested, however, when a succession of calls includes a number f rom those
who, without the courtesy of identifying themselves, abruptly demand
information, and even become abusive if it is not immediately available;
and these calls frequently continue well into the night.
Would callers please remember that the person will be more receptive
when such simple courtesies as ‘Please’ and ‘Thank you’ are proffered, and
when the call is at a reasonable hour. Mary Waller
Chairman, Dungeness Bird Observatory, Lindisfarne, 17 Embercourt Road.
Thames Ditton. Surrey
Announcement
Italian conference The Third Italian Conference of Ornithology will be
held in SaliceTerme, Pavia, Northern Italy, from 3rd to 6th October 1985,
organised jointly by the University of Pavia, Dipartimento di Biologia
Animale, by the Centro Italiano Studi Ornitologici, and by Regione
Lombardia, Assessorato Foreste. Caccia e Pesca. Suggestions and requests
for further information should be directed to the Conference Secretary .
Segreteria III Convegno Italiano Ornitologia. Dipartimento Biologia
Animale. Piazza Botta9, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
Request
Shropshire Breeding Bird Atlas Survey Fieldwork in the 870 tetrads in the Shropshire
Ornithological Society area has started in spring 1985. Anyone interested in taking part, or
visitors to Shropshire able to contribute some records, should write for a copy of the
instructions, which can be obtained from Jack Sankev. 1 1 Mardol Terrace, Smithfield Road.
M uch Wen lock. Shropshire TFi:t 6BH.
News and comment
Robin Prytherch and Mike Everett
Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of 'British Birds’
Cyprus mist-net deaths We have seen
another depressing report ( habitat , February
1985) in which Cypriot ornithologists claim
that, excluding aquatic species, about 50-
75% ofall birds migrating across their island
are doomed to die there. Apparently the
Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla is considered to be a
delicacy and, to catch it, mist-nets have been
used in an increasing and indiscriminate
manner since 1974, taking the total of all
birds killed from five million to 20 million,
despite the fact that Cyprus has signed the
1982 Bern Convention on the Conservation
of European W ildlife and Natural Habitats
which forbids the use of mist-nets lor such
purpose, although it has not ratified it. The
International Council for Bird Preservation
is now urging its four million members, travel
agents and the governments of other
countries to apply a tourist boycott to Cy prus
in order to show how strongly they feel about
the slaughter. It is difficult to believe that
such a boycott will be 100% effective but one
thing is certain: that, at the present time,
pressure for change must come from outside.
ICBP publications Three important new
publications from the International Council
for Bird Preservation are available, post free
at the prices given below', from ICBP at 219c
Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, cbm DDL.
Threatened Birds of Africa and Related Islands
(£24), by N. J. Collar and S. N. Stuart, is Part
1 of the third edition of the ICBP/IUCN Bird
Red Data Book and deals in detail with the
status and conservation problems of 177
species. Status and Conservation of the Worlds
Seabirds (£26.90), edited try J. P. Croxall,
P. G. H. Evans and R. N. Sehreiber, is No. 2
in the ICBP Technical Publication series and
includes 46 papers by experts from 18 coun-
tries, based on presentations made at the
XVIII ICBP World Conference. The same
Conference provides the basis for No. 3 in the
series, a sister volume on Conservation oj Island
Birds (£16.50) — an important contribution in
its own right to avian conservation literature,
not least because 10% of the world’s species
are limited to single islands only, and 200 of
die 217 species or races of birds known to
have become extinct in the last 400 years
were island endemics. Many birds facing ex-
tinction today are island forms.
Other publications Three publications
concerning widely differing locations are well
worth noting. Blackmoorjoot Reservoir 1974-84 ,
compiled by Mike Denton and published by
the Huddersfield Birdwatchers’ Club, up-
dates an earlier report on the reservoir,
listing in bird report style details of 179
species seen there. It is obtainable for £1.50,
post free, from Mike Denton, 77 Hawthorne
Terrace, Crosland Moor, Huddersfield,
West Yorkshire HD4 jRP. Birds of Chembe: a
check-list, by Phil Gregory, lists details of over
300 species seen at the Chembe Bird
Sanctuary , near Kitwe, Zambia. A large part
of the 450-ha sanctuary is a seasonally
flooded artificially-created lake, but which
holds water all year, surrounded fry open
grassland and miombo woodland. The
check-list is available for £1.50. post free,
from Phil Gregory, P.O. Box 23484. Kitwe,
Zambia. Last, but by no means least, and
published with commendable speed, is the
report entitled Biological Expedition to Jameson
Land , Greenland, 1984. This 100-page report
(edited by David Cabot) concentrates
mainly on the goose studies carried out by the
four-man expedition. A count of 1,1 15 adult
Barnacle Geese Branta leucopsis included only
50 pairs with broods, the latter represented
bv 112 goslings or only 9.13% of all geese!
Twenty-five other species of bird were re-
corded and four mammals, including more
detailed observations on Musk-oxen Ovibos
moschatus. This well-produced and detailed
report is available for I R£ 10.00 from the
Irish Wildbird Conservancy, Southview.
Greystones, Co. Wicklow, Ireland.
Sounds of Cornell The Library of Natural
Sounds at Cornell l diversity, upstate New
York, is easily the largest of its kind in the
world. It houses 50,000 recordings of no less
than 5,000 species of bird, the latest major
addition being a collection of over 300 species
made on 85 Vi -inch tapes by Arnoud B. van
den Berg, a Dutchman, in Sulawesi, Java and
Malaya, between July and November 1984.
The Library is about to publish a work, the
254
News and comment
sophistication of which outclasses anything
before. It presents the songs ol the .57 species
of warbler (New World wood warblers.
Parulidae). on disc or cassette, accompanied
In a book describing and illustrating du-
stings. Also due on the market is a cassette ol
jungle sounds from the Peruvian rain forest,
taped and introduced by Theodore Parker
111. British omitho-acousticians are re-
minded that their depository is the British
Library ol Wildlife Sounds. National Sound
Archive. 2d Inhibition Road, London SW 7
2 AS. where the curator Ron Kettle stands
with hands out awaiting tapes! (Contributed by
Jeffery Boswall)
World Records Ever had that feeling of
wishing you had never started something?
Well, we have . . . after having been
inundated by correspondence on world bird-
ticking records! We promise to collate these
and publish a composite account soon.
All-Ireland Conference It was the turn of
the RSPB to host this year’s (the 19th) All-
Ireland Conference on Bird Conservation,
with a welcome return to the Slieve Donard
Hotel at Newcastle, Co. Down, from 1st to
!5rd Marc h. Bad weather hid the Mountains
of.Mourne and hindered local birdwatching,
except on the- Saturday afternoon when,
almost miraculously, it stopped raining, but
255
the content ol the talks and papers presented
indoors was such that almost everyone was
happy to see birds at second-hand any way .
Arthur Mitchell spoke on the Mournes area
on the Friday evening: Saturday morning
produced three varied but equally interesting
presentations — Peter Lack on the Winter
Atlas. Kenin I avlor on Buzzards and lan
Taylor on Barn Owls. After the Annual
Dinner, there was a good session on Cope-
land Bird ( )bservatorv from Nev ille McKee
and Sanch Me W illiams. before the Cuinness
and Bushmills marathons began. On
Sunday , Careth Thomas told us about the
All Ireland Tern Survey ; then David Cabot's
talk on Barnac le Geese and the Irish expe-
dition to their Greenland breeding grounds
was followed In Micheal O Briain on Brents
and a similar expedition to Canada. Philip
Watson rounded things oil In telling us
about his survey work on the Blackwater.
The- BB Mvsterv Photographs Competition
attrac ted oniv 15 entries and lour people. Jim
Dowdall, Killian Mullarney. Rob Hume and
Paul Archer, achieved all the- right answers:
Jim won the- draw lor the traditional bottle ol
champagne.
New- Recorder for Suffolk R B W arren.
10!) Larchc roll Road. Ipsw ich IP! i>py. has
taken over from Derek Moore as Recorder lor
Suffolk.
msm
Recent
reports
Ian Dawson and Keith Allsopp
These are largely unchecked reports, not authenticated records
The dates in this report refer to february 1 he month began with mild westerlies
unless otherwise stated. until bth, when an anticyclone stationed to
256
the northeast of Britain was responsible for
the second severe spell of weather this winter.
There w ere heavy snowfalls over most of the
south of Britain on 8th and temperatures
plummeted, remaining well below freezing in
the strong easterly winds until 14th: once
again most inland waters in the south froze
over. The cold easterly airstream persisted
until about 20th, followed by widespread fog
all day on 2 1st and 22nd. The last week of the
month was unsettled and generally mild as a
southwesterly airstream took over.
Wildfowl
Many of the wildfowl which came in with the
severe snap in January stayed into February.
Smews Xlergus albellus continued to feature
prominently: there were about 70 on the
Yorkshire coast in January, and many re-
mained widely scattered as far west as Corn-
wall, the Dyfi Estuary (Dyfed) and Northern
Ireland, and north to Orkney and Shetland
where the month’s total was three redheads
and one white nun. Goosander M. merganser
numbers declined rapidly from the ex-
ceptional totals of January — 160 at Bes-
thorpe/Girton (Nottinghamshire) on 19th,
and 154 at Farmoor Reservoir (Oxfordshire)
the next day. Numerous reports of inland
Scaups Aythya mania early in the month
included five at Girtford/Blunham (Bedford-
shire) on 2nd, and eight in Nottinghamshire,
and there were at least 1 1 Red-crested
Pochards Netta rujina in the southeast of
England, perhaps indicative of genuine
vagrants? A Ferruginous Duck A. nyroca at
Drift Reservoir (Cornwall) moved to St Ives,
and a new Ring-necked Duck A. col laris
appeared at Dublin (Co. Dublin) in addition
to the now regular Inverness (Highland) and
Tophill Low Reservoir (Humberside) indi-
viduals. A female Common Scoter Melanitta
nigra at Foremark Reservoir (Derbyshire)
and a Velvet Scoter M. Jusca at Colwick
(Nottinghamshire) on 9th and 10th were also
unusual, but the cold spell brought in disap-
pointingly few new birds. Ruddy Ducks
Oxyura jamaicensis continue to spread, with
three individuals in Cumbria. Given the lack
of other Nearctic wildfowl, the appearance of
a Black Duck Anas rubripes at Tyninghame
(Lothian) was surprising.
Lesser White-fronted Geese Anser
erylhropus of dubious provenance appeared at
Sudbury (Sullolk) and Holkham (Norfolk),
though one at Marshside (Lancashire) was
more likely to be wild, given the occurrence of
100 Bean Geese A . Jabalis in the area. A flock
of over 40 Barnacle Geese Urania leucopsis at
Recent reports
Marloes (Dyfed) was outside the normal
w inter range. And where did the five juvenile
blue-phase Snow Geese .4. caeru/escens come
from which flew into Stewartby Lake (Bed-
fordshire) on 18th and stayed into March?
The Red-breasted Goose B. ruficollis at
Leysdown, Sheppey (Kent) was present until
at least 2nd, while one in Lincolnshire was
joined by a second (the Sheppey bird?) mid
month. Hopefully these delightful geese will
continue to grace our Brent Geese B. bermcla
flocks lor many winters to come. Bewick’s
Swan Cvgnus columbianus numbers at the
Ouse Washes (Cambridgeshire/Norfolk)
seem to increase at every count: the February
total was 5,100, another record, emphasising
the importance of this site which now holds
about half the European wintering
population!
Other water birds
A number of grebes and divers remained on
inland waters from the January cold spell.
New arrivals included Red-throated Divers
Gavia stellata at Grafham Water (Cambridge-
shire) and Golwick, and Slavonian Grebes
Bodiceps auritus at Barrow Gravel Pit (Derby-
shire) from 4th, Elstow (Bedfordshire) from
20th to 22nd, and at Hitchin (Hertfordshire)
from 24th to 27th on the river by the Market
Place, showing little concern at the bustle of
market day! Less fortunate was one at
Rutland Water (Leicestershire) which was
seen to be knocked down in (light and then
eaten by a Great Black-backed Gull Larus
marinus on 16th. An immature Night Heron
Nycticorax nyclicorax also succumbed at this
reservoir, found dead on 19th having been
present from at least 16th. Gompleting the
obituary section, an ailing White-billed
Diver G. adamsii was brought in to Mouse-
hole Bird Hospital (Gornwall) around 23rd
(plate 98).
A number of reports of wandering
Bitterns Bolaums slel laris included three at
1 ring Reservoirs (Hertfordshire) on 26th,
257
Recent reports
two at Reading (Berkshire) and one in the
unlikely setting of Northwood Woods,
Ruislip (Greater London) on 20th. I'he
Devon Little Egret Egretta garzetta and North
'» orkshire White Stork Ciconia ciconia were
still present, and there was a report o I Belted
Kingfisher Ceryle alcyon at Lough Derg (Co.
Clare/Galway /Tipperary), presumably the
bird seen in November at Ballyvaughan (Co.
Glare), 35 miles to the west.
Among oceanic birds, the hard weather in
January forced a Leach’s Petrel Oceanodroma
leucorhoa to Wilstone Reservoir, bring, on
19th. February saw a scattering of Little
Auks Alle alle in the Northern Isles and down
the east coast of Britain, and a wandering
Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis inland at Kendal
(Cumbria) on 18th.
For real excitement we had to wait until
March, when a female Little Crake Rorzana
parva (which clearly hadn't read the books on
the skulking behaviour of crakes) showed oil
in a wide ditch in the Cuckmere \ alley ( Fast
Sussex) from about 2nd, in f ront of hordes of
admirers, quite oblivious of the furiously
clicking cameras (plates 99-101 ).
Gulls
Although quite widespread in the south of
England, this winter saw a distinct lack of
numbers of white-winged gulls, with only
four Glaucous Gulls Lams hyperboreus and
three Iceland Gulls /,. glaucoides in Shetland,
and two of each in Orkney. On 24th. FN illy -
begs (Co. Donegal) held five and eight res-
pectively, plus an Iceland Gull of the
Canadian race L. g. kumheni known as
Kumlien's Gull. Bridgwater Bay (Somerset)
held a nice selection of gulls, including a
second-winter Glaucous, and, on 17th, two
Mediterranean Gulls L. melanocephalus and
an adult Little Gull L. rninutus. The roost of
about 1,000 Common Gulls L. canus and 150
Black-headed Gulls L. ridibundus at Siblyback
Reservoir (Cornwall) pulled in two adult
Mediterranean Gulls and one or two
adult and one first-year Ring-billed Gulls
L. delawarensis from 7th to 9th. About 20
others of this species were reported in the
west, chiefly Cornwall. W ales and Northern
Ireland, with a first-year at Lerwick
(Shetland) in the third week. An adult
Ross’s Gull Rhodoslelhia rosea graced Ayr
harbour (Strathclyde) for about a week from
8th. the Newquav (Cornwall) Bonaparte’s
Gull L. Philadelphia was seen again on 1th.
and the Laughing Gull /.. alricilla continued
to reside in Newcastle (Tyne & Wear).
Birds of prey
The magnificent Gyrfalcon Ealco mslicolus
remains a mysterious and elusive winter
wanderer to this country, and one seen on
several occasions mid month at Fernworthy
Reservoir, Dartmoor (Devon) proved no ex-
ception. L p to four Merlins F. columbarius
98. White-billed Diver Gavia adamsii, Cornwall, February 1985 (IF. R. Hirst)
258
Recent reports
could be seen dashing in to most at Roydon
Common (Norfolk), and the same county
held a wintering Marsh Harrier Circus
aeruginosus at Titchwell, with another on the
Isle of Sheppey. Rough-legged Buzzards
Buteo lagopus were notable by their scarcity,
with two on Orkney and one on Fetlar (Shet-
land) as the only birds coming to our notice.
Summer visitors
February is still regarded as the depth of
winter by most sane people, but the ever-
hopeful birder starts to think of that first
migrant, and, for a lucky few, spring arrives
early: a pair ofGarganeys Anas querquedula at
Arlington Reservoir (East Sussex) mid
month, a Serin Serinus serinus at Portland
(Dorset) on 23rd, and a Wheatear Oenanlhe
oenanlhe at Slapton (Devon) at the end of the
month. A Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis
at Shoreham (East Sussex) on 18th is, per-
haps, just as likely to have wintered, and the
same goes for Turtle Doves Streplope/ia turtur
in Belfast (Co. Down) from mid January, and
at W ilstone Reservoir, and a Ring Ouzel
Turdus torquatus also in Belfast. Good
numbers of Blackcaps Sylvia atricapil/a and
Chiffchaffs Phylloscopus collybila survived the
two cold spells, as did a Yellow-browed
Warbler P. inornatus at Amble (Northumber-
land). For residents of Orkney, a female
Pintail A. acuta on Loch of Stenness on 18th
was the first returning migrant, followed by a
Lesser Black-backed Gull L. fuscus at
Sandwick on 28th, much later than usual.
Despite the cold, Collared Doves
Streptopelia decaocto were sitting on eggs at
Kendal bclbre the end of the month.
Passerines
Redwings " Turdus iliacus were forced into
gardens in large numbers in search of food,
especially in the London area, though Field-
fares T. pilaris remained less common, and
Bramblings Fringilla montifringilla were
decidedly scarce. Caught up with other
thrushes were exciting reports of a male
Black-throated Thrush T. rujicollis at
Caterham (Surrey) in mid January, a male
Siberian Thrush Zoothera sibirica near Looe
(Cornwall), and a Dusky Thrush T.
naurnanni in Oxfordshire on 19th. A Nut-
cracker Nuci/raga caryocatactes spent several
days in a South W ales garden. Most Wax-
wings Bombycilla garrulus had moved on,
though one stayed at Barrow (Cumbria) to
3rd. and a dozen hung around Aberdeen
(Grampian). The Belfast White-throated
Sparrow Zonolrichia albicollis was 'still being
fed’.
Wells (Norfolk) became a star attraction
from 18th when a large flock of Redpolls
Carduelis jlammea was found, with birds show-
ing every gradation from the small, dark
British ‘Lesser Redpoll' C.J. cabaret' through
the larger, paler 'Mealy Redpoll' C. J.
jlammea to at least one, and possibly several,
frosty Arctic Redpolls C. hornemanni exilipes .
Just to add further confusion at Wells, a pair
of that other taxonomic enigma, the Parrot
Crossbill Loxia pytyopsittacus , returned from
23rd.
Recent reports
259
99-101. Little Crake Porzana parva. Last Sussex, March 1985 ( left and above, David M. Colt ridge;
below Tony Croucher )
Recent reports
260
Recent rarities decisions
1 he following three records have been
accepted: Long-toed Stint Catidris subminuta
at Salthohne Pools (Cleveland) in August
and September 1982, White-crowned
Black Wheatear Oenanthe leucopyga at Kes-
singland (Suffolk) in June 1982, and
Marmora’s Warbler Sylvia sarda at Midhope
Moor (South Yorkshire) from May to July
1982. All involve species new to Britain and
Ireland which have now attained Category A
status.
Latest news
Even at the end of the first third of
April, there were few summer migrants in
evidence, even Chiffchaffs and Willow
Warblers Phylloscopus trochilus being
below normal numbers, and Blackcaps
very scarce. The only rarities were a
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himanlopus
at Looe and an Alpine Swift Apus melba
on the North Norfolk coast, and the
Sociable Plover Chettusia gregaria
still present at Dartford Marshes (Kent).
Reviews
A Guide to the Birds of Venezuela. By Rodolphe Meyer de
Schauensee and William H. Phelps, Jr. Princeton University Press,
1978. 624 pages; 40 colour plates; 13 black-and-white plates; 40
line-drawings. Hardback $91.00; paperback $27.50.
A Guide to the Birds of Panama. By Robert S. Ridgely. Illustrated by
John A. Gwynne, Jr. Princeton University Press, Princeton, 1981. 404
pages; 32 colour plates; over 50 line-drawings. Hardback $49.00.
Eew of us may have the good fortune to birdwatch in these exciting and exotic countries, but, as
much as for the regular visitor, it is vital for the ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ type of visit that these
guides be really effective in the field. These two books from the Princeton University Press do a
pretty good job. Just to refresh your geographical memory, Panama is the major part of the
isthmus, that narrow land bridge joining the vast bulks of North and South America.
Somewhat contrary to expectation, its long axis runs east-west. As might be expected from its
tropical location, and from its position between the two land masses, it is, for its size, very rich
in birds, with getting on for 900 species. Even this pales by comparison with Venezuela.
Next-but-one to the east of Panama (which adjoins Colombia), Venezuela is situated on the
northern shoulder of South America. Although much larger than Panama, it boasts around
1 ,300 species, some 40% of the grand total for South America.
For the intending visitor. The Birds of Venezuela opens with a brief geographical introduction
and a very bland section on travel, which goes nowhere towards describing the thrills and
horrors that seem to be a cardinal feature of transport (from foot, canoe and donkey through to
road, rail and air) everywhere in South America. On this score, The Birds of Panama fares much
better: the introduction contains both climatic and geographic information (and a section on
Conservation), but there is also a most valuable 16-page appendix on finding birds in Panama.
But the real test of such guides is in their illustrations, accompanying texts and layout,
particularly when it comes to use in the field. Perhaps not too surprising, as they come from the
same publisher, the two — Venezuela and Panama — are similar in production, presentation
and quality. And both score pretty well. For Venezuela, 900 species are illustrated in colour
and a further 195 by line-drawings; for Panama, 650 species in colour and 56 by line-drawings.
The colour plates are generally of good quality and well printed, in typical field-guide format,
all looking one way and perhaps reminiscent of the wall paintings inside a pharaoh’s burial
chamber, but functional none-the-less. They are grouped centrally, which happens to be my
preferred layout, though some people would lament the consequential separation of
illustration from text. Sheer colour may be enough to send you off to the cheap air ticket
counter, but beware, because Plate 30 (in Venezuela) illustrates 48 tyrant flycatchers (on one
page!), some 30 of them clearly needing a great deal more than a casual glance to separate
them. Rather disconcertingly, some of the larger birds in both Guides have their illustrations
actually in the main text, and I was sorry to see so many of the non-passerines in Birds of
Venezuela illustrated in black and white — a particular tragedy for some of the very splendid
raptors of the region.
Reviews
261
Opposite the colour plates appear the names and brief identification data: useful, except for
the more crowded plates in Birds of Venezuela when you have to hunt out details of the overspill
on following pages. The plates are arranged in systematic order, as are the fuller texts. In the
Birds of Venezuela, these contain lurther identification details, with unusually ample ecological
information on range and habitat, but normally (and sadly) with little clue on status or the
likelihood of being seen. In the Birds of Panama, the texts, though telegraphic, contain more
information and pointers especially helpful to the newcomer, and they do include comments
on status as well as on distribution. Both books give brief descriptions of calls and song, not,
thank goodness, as sonagrams, but in good human terms, such as ‘like a cracked anvil being
repeatedly struck with a hammer (Bearded Bellbird). Neither book uses maps, but both set
distribution in the country concerned against general distribution in the Americas.
I o sum up, if you are interested in the birds of this region and their ecology (but not biology,
e.g. nests and eggs); or if you are intending to visit either Panama, or Venezuela, or any
neighbouring country, then these are books that you simply must have. Jim Flegg
Coastal Waders and Wildfowl in Winter. Edited by P. R. Evans, J. D.
Goss-Custard and W. G. Hale for the British Ornithologists’ Union.
Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1984. 331 pages. £27.50.
This edited content of a conference, published three years later, contains some interesting
review material and some routine contributions to the fast-growing shorebird literature. If
there is a central theme, it comes particularly from the long-term studies of Evans and
Goss-Custard and their co-workers. Counts are quite inadequate for assessing the importance
of particular sites to wader population levels. The behaviour of both prey and predator, and
the migratory strategies of birds trying to surv ive the non-breeding seasons, make things more
complicated. Afficionados will know the primary literature. People interested but not
thoroughly versed in recent shorebird work will value a perusal and might find longer-term use
of the country-by-country review of wader numbers in western Europe and North Africa. It is a
shame that the publishers price their bird books for libraries more than for individuals.
ColinJ. Bibby
The Puffin. By M. P. Harris. Illustrations by Keith Brockie. T. & A. D.
Poyser, Calton, 1984. 224 pages; 49 black-and-white plates; 33
line-drawings; over 40 maps and diagrams. £12.60.
The Puffin must, I suppose, be our best-known and best-loved seabird, so it comes as
something of a surprise that only in 1984 is a really comprehensive monograph published.
Perhaps the Puffin’s penchant for choosing remote breeding sites, not only of difficult access
but also often in difficult terrain, before it forms really large colonies has something to do with
this. Additionally, it is interesting to see that, comprehensive as this book undoubtedly is. Dr
Mike Harris gives the Puffin best when it comes to winter. Once it has switched into its pelagic
life-style, the Puffin remains an enigma.
It was concern aroused by marked drops in numbers of Puffins at some of its traditional
breeding strongholds, such as St Kilda, the Shiants and Clo Mor, that got Dr Harris deeply
immersed in Puffin studies in the early 1970s. This book is a comprehensive account of his
findings about Puffin biology and movements during the summer months, with additional
information (by Dr Kenneth Taylor) on behaviour, and on Puffins outside Britain and
Ireland, both past and present. This distillation of their status all around the North Atlantic,
based on documentation by local experts, makes particularly fascinating reading.
As would be hoped for in a monograph of this nature, the documentation is very thorough:
there are more than ten pages of close-packed references, for example. There are occasional,
and meaningful, diagrams scattered through the text, illustrating the points made, but tabular
material has been largely confined to an appendix. Author and publisher are to be
congratulated on the presentation of the book, in that it remains extremely readable whilst
containing a welter of information. Divided as it is into 15 chapters, it would classify even as a
good bedtime read so easily can it be dipped into. There are further delights, too. A Poyser
book can be relied on for quite a specific ‘feel’ w hen picked up, so elegant is its production: this
is no exception, and at £12.60 must be regarded as good value. Last, and quite definitely not
least, are the illustrations. There are 24 pages of black-and-white photographs, taken by many
262
Reviews
people, but all usefully expanding on the text while being aesthetically pleasing. Capping all
are the superb drawings by Keith Brockie, who shares with Mike Harris the happy and
enviable position of being both an expert on and an enthusiast for his subject. This shows, and
makes The Puffin one of the best bird books of recent years. J im F lego
The Macmillan Guide to Britain’s Nature Reserves. By Jeremy
Hywel-Davies and Valerie Thom. Macmillan, London, 1984. 717 pages,
many coloured and black-and-white plates. £30.00.
This compendious volume has a most distinguished backing. The three Editorial Advisers are
Robert E. Boote, Bernard Gilchrist, and Dr Franklyn Perring, and its authors Jeremy
Hywel-Davies and Valerie Thom, while all have relied heavily on a body of local experts
recruited from the county conservation trusts, the Nature Conservancy Council, the RSPB,
the Forestry Commission, and many others. It covers some 2,000 sites, mainly nature reserves,
belonging to a wide variety of bodies, but also, in those parts of the country where there are few
formal nature reserves, other sites such as country parks, walks and trails, and other areas
where wildlife may be enjoyed are included. The reserves are divided on a county basis for
England, Wales and Scotland; in future editions, it is hoped to cover also Northern Ireland, the
Channel Islands and the more distant offshore islands. Each county has an introduction by
local experts and a map showing the location of the reserves mentioned within the counties,
each nature reserve account includes the Ordnance Survey map reference, acreage, the
manager/owner, a brief description, details of any restrictions on access, availability of leaflets
or other information, and best seasons for visiting, and this is followed by a text varying from a
fewr lines up to two pages, giving the important features, including mammals, birds, amphibia,
reptiles, insects and plants. I have visited many nature reserves, but only a fraction of those
covered in this book; so far as I can tell, the descriptions are accurate and evocative of the main
interest of each site. There is a useful index to all living creatures mentioned. There are many
photographs in colour and black-and-white of the reserves themselves and their living
inhabitants. Publication of this elegant and comprehensive guide has been made possible by
the Gulf Oil Corporation in association with the Royal Society for Nature Conservation; our
gratitude must go to both these bodies, and those involved in preparing the detailed text, for
providing such a magnificent summary of our wealth of reserves. Stanley Cramp
In the World of Birds. By Algirdas Knystautas and Arvydas Liutkus.
Mokslas, Vilnius, Lithuania, 1984. 280 pages. £35 + £1.50 p&p from
Collets, Denington Estate, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire NN8 2QT.
This is a book the like of which has not previously emerged from the Soviet Union. First
published there in 1982 for the 18th Ornithological Congress, it was reprinted in 1984 and
exported to the UK (and no doubt elsewhere). The text is in Russian, English and Lithuanian.
The two authors are Lithuanian and are among the five photographers whose work,
reproduced in colour, is the primary content of this sumptuous volume. The other three
photographers include another Lithuanian, a Ukrainian, and Yuri Shibnev from the Soviet
Far East.
These men present us with such delights as the Great Knot on its nest, a flock of truly wild
Red-breasted Geese on their breeding grounds, and a third and even more romantic bird of the
far north, Ross’s Gull. How many of us had even heard of Himalayan Ruby throat, Blue-
headed Redstart, Gold-fronted Serin and Songar Tit? As names, however, Azure Tit, Gray’s
Grasshopper Warbler, Radde’s Warbler, Thick-billed Warbler and Pale-legged Leaf Warbler
are more familiar; but not as life-size colour photographs! The very first double-spread is of a
colony of Relict Gull, a species discovered for science only in 1968.
An unusual — and, to the present reviewer, 100% acceptable — feature of the work is a large
proportion of photographs of eggs in situ. Many of the clutches are very beautiful.
About 160 species are depicted. They were photographed at locations spread across both the
length ( 1 1,000 km, 1 1 time-zones) and breadth (5,000 km) of the largest country on earth, the
USSR, and many show habitat as well as the birds themselves.
The final 40-page section includes three- or four-line texts on range, habitat, nest site,
breeding dates, food and status, and very clear distribution maps for the 160 species.
Jeffery Boswall
Reviews
263
River Birds: bird life from mountain stream to estuary. By Roger
Lovegrove and Philip Snow. Columbus Books, London, 1984. 128 pages;
40 colour plates; 60 line-drawings. £10.95.
With so few pages with which to work (126, of which approximately 55 are allowed for the
text), I feel that Roger Lovegrove — the RSPB officer for Wales, a knowledgeable and very
readable writer — was penalised in his attempt to cover all the various habitats and birds that
the contents and index declare are included. Having said that, he has, within the space allowed
him, managed, during the journey of a fictitious river (based, the author admits, on the
Severn), to include over 130 species of birds. He traces the river from its source among the
rocks of a mountainside to its joining with the sea at its estuary. In the course of this journey,
the author describes its passage through upland, lowland and urban areas, breaking ofr to
describe nearby waterside habitats, such as gorse scrub and woodland (a clever way of
including such ‘river birds’ as Red Grouse. Stonechat, Yellowhammcr, Pied Flycatcher and
House Sparrow). The chapters also include many interesting facts and figures about the
habitats and their birds; I especially liked the story of the Mute Swan that, after pushing it into
the river, tried to mate with a Welsh ewe!
Scattered liberally about the text are many illustrations by up-and-coming bird artist Philip
Snow. Sadly, the illustrations are not up to the standard of recent work that I have seen by this
artist. The colour illustrations lack the firmness of form that has been achieved in some of his
half-tones and vignettes.
Tony Soper has written the foreword.
I n general, I felt that this book was not greatly successful as a serious study of a river and its
birds, but. as a ‘pretty picture book’, it will probably be found among many ‘birdlovers”
Christmas presents. If that allows some of those self-confessed birdlovers responsible for the
destruction of riverside habitats in such places as the East Anglian fens to read a copy, perhaps
thev will realise why their well-manicured river banks lack the Kingfishers and Sand Martins
that they say they have not seen for years. Norman Ari.ott
Sporting Birds of the British Isles. By Brian P. Martin. Paintings by
Rodger McPhail. David & Charles, Newton Abbot, 1984. 256 pages; 16
colour plates; 36 black-and-white plates; 39 line-drawings; three pages
flight silhouettes. £15.00.
This book is aimed primarily at the shooting sportsman, and is designed to give him a natural
historian’s knowledge of his quarry species. There is always a danger that such a book will be
merely a repeat of previous work, supported by illustrations; to some extent this is true. Sporting
Birds is not a book for the ornithologist, but then Brian Martin did not intend it to be: it is for
the sportsman who may never see a copy of B\ IT5!
The introduction is refreshing for a book of this nature, and the author has attempted to
outline each of the 27 ‘game’ species (including wildfowl and waders) and six ‘pest’ species in
the light of relatively recent scientific understanding. Generally, he could have gleaned more
accurate and more acceptable information from BWP, and that source is not acknowledged.
More use could have been made of the National Game Census, comparing population trends
from that census with those of the Common Birds Census index, but at least the author made
reference to both of those sources of data. Certain statements, however, are not particularly
acceptable. For example, Pheasants are certainly not easy to census.
Some species are given much better coverage than others. The Grey Partridge, for example,
is covered more thoroughly than is the Pheasant, but this probably reflects our current
knowledge. The author has obviously consulted recent Game Conservancy literature because
he acknowledges the importance of insects in the diet of grouse chicks, but many of the
wildfowl species are not covered adequately enough to give the general reader any new
information. There arc distribution maps — of varying usefulness — vignettes for each species,
and numerous black-and-white drawings, the quality of which also varies.
The colour plates of paintings by Rodger McPhail are. howev er, excellent, and make the
book particularly pleasant. I was left wondering whether the ‘pair’ ofGrey Partridges was not
264
Reviews
in fact two males, but then I saw McPhail’s Shoveler and Pintail ducks — absolutely breath-
taking. On the whole, I can recommend this book to the natural historian or shooting
sportsman, and the publishers, David & Charles, are to be congratulated on the quality of the
production. D. A. Hill
The Birds of Rutland and its Reservoirs. By Terry Mitcham.
Sycamore Press, Melton Mowbray, 1984. 167 pages; 1 colour and 20
monochrome photographs, many line-drawings.
Publishers and author are probably ready with a despairing sigh for the inevitable comment on
this book, so I will oblige right away: at £27.60 for 167 pages, even so well-produced as these,
this is so highly priced that few outside Rutland will buy it, and perhaps many devotees of the
county will be left wishing that a cheap softback had been produced instead.
The cost may not have been helped by a colour frontispiece, which is simply a pasted-in
duplicate of the dust jacket. There are 20 full page monochrome photographs, mainly of
interesting habitats, each with a characteristic bird cleverly inset. Scattered throughout are
many line-drawings, some given a full page; unfortunately some are poor enough to be a
detraction rather than an embellishment.
After brief but interesting introductory matter (I guess that many club-members would like
more nostalgia and recent history in their county bird books) comes the systematic list. This is
the main purpose of the book, gathering records together for the period 1941-80. It condenses
down to about 77 pages of solid text, with three or four birds per page. The treatment is
brief — the Robin gets less than four lines — but it is a useful summary (and I approve of the
inclusion of Feral Pigeon). The style is a little more discursive than many recent county
avifaunas, and much less detailed and analytical, though there is an appendix dealing with
wildfowl numbers at Eyebrook Reservoir. While the research has been thorough, the presen-
tation sometimes leaves the reader frustrated. The book is limited to 800 numbered copies.
R. A. Hume
The Growth and Development of Birds. By Raymond J. O’Connor.
John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, 1984. 315 pages. £20.00.
Modern evolutionary thinking seeks to view adaptations in terms of compromise between costs
and benefits. For breeding birds, Lack ( Ecological Adaptations for Breeding in Birds, 1 968) laid out
a cornerstone of research. A great deal of work has been done since then. Theoretical and
experimental approaches have advanced understanding which Lack derived mainly from a
comparative analysis of field observations. Here, then, is a vacant niche for a book, unlike the
case for much current bird publishing.
The present work broadens Lack’s canvas, both by modernisation of thought and by
drawing in physiological and behavioural strands. Most of the work cited post-dates Lack’s
study. The bird is followed from nest, through egg and young, to its own maturation and
breeding. The range of aspects covered is wide. Predation, mortality from weather, availability
of food and physiological constraints variously contribute to the cost-benefit consideration of
adaptations. Behaviours, be they song, habitat selection or migration, show a common theme
of development within a limited sensitive period of juvenile life. We do not know all the
answers, but the reader will be left in no doubt that they should be sought in terms of natural
selection. The major strands of current thought in the field are all to be seen in one place for the
first time.
The work has the appearance of a text book, and as such is tidily laid out. Each chapter has a
brief summary. Algebra, statistics and graphical modelling may alarm some readers, but
should not deter. All occur in moderation. In general, they illustrate lines of thought which
cannot simply be expressed in words alone. The text is not, in my opinion, as lucid as it might
have been. Coverage of the literature is extensive, though little more recent than 1980 is cited.
This book is, primarily for the undergraduate and serious ornithologist. It contains much of
interest. The keen reader will see how all aspects of breeding and development of birds can be
viewed in evolutionary terms. The birder may prefer to spend the money on petrol to watch the
price some birds pay for failure to develop successful migration behaviour. Colin J . Bibby
Reviews
265
The Wildlife of the Royal Estates. By Robin Page. Hodder &
Stoughton, London, 1984. 240 pages; 75 colour plates; 14 black-and-white
plates; 49 line-drawings. £14.95.
I hope that the restricted subject matter of this book, fully explained b\ its title, will not
prevent British Birds readers examining a copy, 1 he photographs (the majority b\ Roger
1 idman) are not only superb, but also superbly reproduced: they sparkle with life, and the
publishers, Hodder & Stoughton, and the Italian printers deserve commendation. Robin
Page s text describes two years which he spent visiting the royal estates, from the Duchy of
Cornwall and Buckingham Palace garden itself, to Balmoral. It is. however, the photographs
to which one returns again and again: they are exquisite. 1 o pick just four, I would choose the
tumbling waters ol the Linn of Muick (Roger Lidman), harebells in the earlv morning (Neil
Cook), grey dawn on the I amar (Fiona Silver) and a wonderfully candid shot of the Queen
Mother talking to a villager at Sandringham ( I im Graham). Ifonly all books were produced
to such a high standard ... J. T. R. Sharrock
Soviet Birds. (Cassette) By Lars Svensson. LSKB 1. Svensson,
Stockholm, 1984. £7 inch postage (available only from Lars Svensson,
Sturegatan 60, S-l 1436, Stockholm, Sweden. Sterling cheque acceptable).
I his 90-minute tape cassette contains vocalisations from 34 passerine species and subspecies.
The recordings were made during a single visit to the Soviet Union in June 1983, and the fact
that such a presentable product can be made in such a short time is quite a tribute to the
already well-known industry of the recordist. The eight-page leaflet which comes with the
cassette gives full details of all the tracks and timings, and is well produced. Lars Svensson
admits in the introductory notes that some of the recordings are rather poor, but these are few
(and their value to the field ornithologist is undeniable, despite wind- and traflic-noisc) and
the vast majority of recordings are very good and are a recommendation for the equipment
used (which is described in the leaflet). This tape will provide essential homework for anyone
planning a trip to USSR, and will probably excite others enough to start to arrange one! Those
who have to wait for their Siberian birds to turn up as vagrants in Britain, however, will also
find plenty of interest: the names of all but a handful of the species will be well known to the
British rarity-enthusiast, and the recordings include calls of such species as Richard’s Pipit
Anthus novaeseelandiae (‘soft’ and ’loud’ calls have been captured, possibly explaining some of
the confusion over some calls of recent British Richard’s), Citrine Wagtail Motacilla atreola ,
Radde’s Phylloscopus schwarzi and Dusky Warblers P. fuscattis, and Greenish Warbler P.
trochiloides. The differences between the calls and songs of the nominate race ofYellow-browed
Warbler P. inomatus and the race humei are very well demonstrated, and will strengthen the case
of those who recommend a specific split. Equally, the striking difference between the song of
western Chiffchaffs P. collybita and the eastern subspecies tristis is well captured, as is the
similarity between the songs of Greenish and Two-barred Greenish Warblers P. plumbei tarsus
(so much so that the latter is lumped in the leaflet as a subspecies ofGreenish). Such ‘scientific’
interest which the tape provokes is all a bonus anyway. It is worth it alone for the atmosphere
and mental images which the sounds create. P- J. Grant
1 1. Algerian Nuthatch
On 5th October 1975, the Belgian, Jean-Paul Ledant, discovered a
previouslv undescribed nuthatch Sitta in Kabylia in northern Algeria,
where he was doing botanical research together with his compatriots P.
Jacobs and D. Raes. He made an effort to revisit the forest in the following
winter, but found the area inaccessible due to severe weather and much
snow. In June 1976, E. Burnier, ignorant of the still-secret discovery eight
months earlier, independently found the species and produced a number of
266
PhotoSpot
102. Male Algerian Nuthatch Sitta ledanti, Algeria, July 1982 ( Amoud B. van den Berg)
103. Female or perhaps immature male Algerian Nuthatch Sitta ledanti , Algeria, July 1982 (Amoud B.
van den Berg)
[ I’he inclusion of colour plates 102-105 has been subsidised by Zeiss West Germany.]
PhotoSpot 267
sketches (Burnier 1976). A month later, an expedition arrived with Ledant
and supervised by Vielliard. This resulted in a first proclamation to the
world of the discovery of the Algerian Nuthatch S. ledanti, in Le Monde of
28th July 1976, and a number of publications in Alauda and Aves (Ledant
1977, 1978, 1981; Ledant & Jacobs 1977; Vielliard 1976, 1978).
About 70 pairs survive in about 1 ,400 ha of relict forest atop Djebel Babor
(2,004 m), in a region with a rather humid and cool, montane-
mediterranean climate. In winter, snow cover up to 4 m deep can be present
until May. In summer, it is dry, aggravated by the sirocco (a hot desert
wind), or relieved by clouds arriving from the nearby coast.
The Algerian Nuthatch is most common on the summit and to a lesser
extent on the northern slope, where the highest diversity of tree species and
epiphytic mosses and lichens occurs. Its habitat consists of the endemic
Algerian hr Abies numidica and the deciduous Portuguese oak Quercus faginea,
mixed with Atlas cedar Cedrus atlantica , Mediterranean Italian maple Acer
obtusatnm , aspen Populus tremula , yew Taxus baccata , wild service-tree Sorbus
torminalis and common whitebeam S. aria. The nuthatches eat both insects
and seeds. Fir and maple are stable food resources, whereas fructification of
oak and cedar may vary considerably from year to year, in timing and in
quantity. Most nest-holes are found in the soft wood of firs, but also in old
cedars or oaks. The eggs usually hatch in the second half ofjune.
The first researchers reported no relevant sexual or age differences in
plumage. Later investigations indicated, however, that juveniles and some
adult females may completely or partly lack the black head markings
(Gatter & Mattes 1979, Jacobs etal. 1978, van den Berg 1982).
104. V iew from south of forests on top of Djebel Babor, Algeria, July 1982 (Amoud B. van den Berg)
268 PhotoSpot
There are nine nuthatch species closely related to the Algerian Nuthatch,
showing similarities in vocalisations, behaviour and appearance, and
occurring in coniferous forests of the Northern Hemisphere. Two of these
also occur in the Mediterranean area: Kriiper’s Nuthatch S. krueperi in
Turkey, and Corsican Nuthatch S. whiteheadi on Corsica. It can be theorised
that, during the ice-ages, their survival areas were reduced to refugia,
which were presumably within their present ranges. When the climate
became milder, apparently none of the three succeeded in expanding its
range again. Arnoud B. van den Berg
105. Forests of Algerian fir Abies numidica and oaks Quercus on northern slopes of Djebel Babor,
Algeria, haunt of the Algerian Nuthatch Sitta ledanti, ]\i\y 1982 ( Arnoud B. van den Berg )
REFERENCES
Burner, E. 1976. Une nouvelle espece de Favifaune palearctique: la Sittelle kabyle, Sitta
ledanti. Nos Oiseaux 33: 337-340.
Gatter, W., & Matte2, H. 1979. Zur Populationsgrosse und Okologie des neuentdeckten
Kabylenkleibers Sitta ledanti Vielliard 1976. J. Om. 120: 390-405.
Jacobs, P., Mahler, F., & Ochando, B. 1978. A propos de la couleur de la chalotte chez la
Sittelle kabyle (Sitta ledanti). Aves 15: 149-153.
Ledant, J. P. 1977. La Sittelle kabyle ( Sitta ledanti Vielliard), espece endemique rnontagnarde
recemment decouverte. Aves 14: 83-85.
1978. Donnees comparees sur la Sittelle corse ( Sitta whiteheadi ) et sur la Sittelle kabyle
(Sitta ledanti). Aves 15: 154-157.
1981 . Conservation et fragilite de la foret de Babor, habitation de la Sittelle kabyle Aves
18: 1-9.
& Jacobs, P. 1977. La Sittelle kabvle (Sitta ledanti ): donnees nouvelles sur la biologie Aves
14: 233-242.
van den Berg, A. B. 1982. Plumages of Algerian Nuthatch. Dutch Birding 4: 98-100.
Vielliard, J. 1976. La Sittelle kabyle. Alauda 44: 351-352.
1978. Le Djebel Babor et sa Sittelle Sitta ledanti Vielliard 1976. Alauda 46: 1-42.
Arnoud B. van den Berg, Duinlustparkweg98, 2082 EG Santpoort-Zuid , Netherlands
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HO I. ID A V ACCOM MO I) A TION
rc
4*-
jlans'iDtorll
Country House Hotel
IDEAL FOR BIRD WATCHERS
Spend this Spring or Summer in quiet
luxury near the Helford estuary Own
grounds, secluded cove, excellent food
Write or phone for brochure
Mawnan, Nr. Falmouth, Cornwall.
TEL: Falmouth (0326) - 250 - 340
SIBTON (nr Minsmere)* Suffolk. I'he White
Horse Inn. A unique and charming 16th century
firehouse in '2Vi acres, £ n suite accommodation,
bed and breakfast or weekly rates. Ample ear
parking. CC location site. Bar snacks or
restaurant meals available. Tel: Peasenhall (137.
(BB68)
FARM COTTAGES between Lindisfarne Re-
serve and The Karnes. Comfortable and well
equipped. Sorry no pets. Brochure: Mr J.
McNish, Outchester Farm. Belford. North-
umberland. Tel: 066 83 336. ( BB45)
EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK. Come and
enjoy the peace ol 77 acre wooded nature reserve
and our smallholding. We have 7 camouflaged
caravans on a secluded site, modern toilet
facilities with showers, utility room, children’s
play area. Nature trails and fresh produce. Sea 4
miles. SAE to: Chris and Babs Johnson, Cowles
Wood, Conservation Centre, Parracombe, X.
Devon EX3I 41’LL Tel: Parracombe 200. Dav
visitors to centre also welcome. (BB128)
ISLE OF MULL, Torosay Castle, Craignure.
Golden eagles often seen in the area. 20 species in
the garden and over 200 recorded on the island.
Mull is a paradise. Gardens open year-round.
Castle: I May-30 Sept, 1 Hat and gardener’s
cottage to let. Each sleeps 4 plus camp beds.
Special monthly winter terms. For terms appiv:
I'he Secretary. Tel: 06802421. (BBI5)
NATIONAL TRUST VILLAGE on Exmoor.
Self-catering holiday homes. Centrally heated,
near Porlock. Sea, moors, woods and marshes all
within walking distance. Stamp for brochure.
Sheila Wright, I he Pack Horse. Allerford. Nr.
Minehead. Tel: (0643) 862475. (BB72)
SOUTHWOLD AA** HOTEL. Ensuitc bed-
rooms, good food and wines. Ideal base lor
Minsmere and surrounding area. Open all vear.
Reduced terms lor party bookings. Write or tel:
Pier Avenue Hotel, Southwold. l ei: 722632.
(BB32)
COME AND SEE the King Eider and main
other rare birds on Loch Fleet and sta\ with us at
The Park House Hotel, Golspie, Sutherland.
Tel: 040 83 3667 where we promise to make vour
stay enjoyable. (BB12)
NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS National
Park. Coast and countrv. For the largest selection
of inspected self-catering cottages, farmhouses
etc, contact: Ingrid Flute. White Cottage,
Ravenscar, Scarborough Y013 ONE. Tel:
Scarborough (0723) 870703. ( BB67)
BIRDWATCHING IN THE HIGHLANDS.
Cottages in Wild Mountainous beauts area bv
Sea-Loch. Botanists and Climbers paradise. Rare
wild life of every kind. Boating fishing, good food
and night life locally. TV aerial and heating
available. SAE Inverlael Cottages. Loch Broom,
by Ullapool. Ross-shire 085 485 262. (BB86)
YOU WILL FIND A WARM W ELCOME and
every comfort in this attractively situated and
secluded country hotel. Excellent birdwatching
amidst moorland, forest and river. Home
cooking, home produce. Full central heating, h&c
and electric blankets in all bedrooms. Terms £84
db&b for w eek. Brochure from Old Manse Hotel,
Duthiil, Carrbridge, Inverness-shire PH23 3ND.
Tel: (047 984). (BB230)
NR MINSMERE, Kings Head. Southwold
723829. B&B. packed lunches, Adnanrs ales.
(BBI9)
ISLE OF ISLAY, Lochside Hotel. Situated on
the edge of Loch Indaal. Birdwatching all the
year round. Superb 2 star accommodation with
full central heating. All rooms have private
bathroom or shower with wash hand basin,
colour TV, wireless, telephone and tea/coffee
making facilities. Full licensed. Brochure and
tariff from Norman or Elaine Osborne, Lochside
Hotel, Bowmore, Isle of Islay, Argyll PA43 7LB.
Tel: Bowmore (049681) 244/265. (BB261)
ISLES OF SCILLY. Derek and Mary Scofield
welcome you to their comfortable family guest
house, situated on the shore with unrivalled
views. We offer a happy atmosphere, home
cooking and a select wine list. Ideal for spring and
autumn birdwatching. Send stamp for brochure
to Beachfield House, St. Mary’s. Book Now for
October. Tel: 0720 22463. ' (BB92)
HEBRIDES. The Hotel, Isle of Coll, Argyll
PA78 6SZ. Tel: 087 93 334. AA* RAC. Open all
year, central heating. Over 100 species to be seen
including skuas, raptors, water rail, etc. May we
send you our brochure? (BB194)
SILVERDALE. Comfortable fully equipped flat.
Sleeps 2-4. Leighton Moss 1 mile. Owner
maintained. Tel: 04482 2395/0468 61400.
(BB172)
ELIZABETHAN FARMHOUSE set in a
beautiful position near Welsh Border. Enjoy
complete relaxation. Excellent food. Marvellous
walking country. Close to coast and golf course,
and Offa’s Dyke. Ideal place for birdwatching.
Open Easter onwards. Contact Mrs E. Venables,
Rorrington Hall, Chirbury Powys (093 872) 223.
(BB65)
ISLE OF WIGHT, BEMBRIDGE. Lovely cot-
tage, sleeps 4, overlooks private lake. Ideal
birdwatchers, artists or those wanting a quiet
holiday. Close harbour and beaches. Available
holidays all year. 098 387 4080. (BB2 14)
CUMBRIA LEIGHTON MOSS 4 miles ideal
touring base. Homely accom. in traditional
cottage. Home made bread, log fires, B/B £7. EM
£4 optional. Details Ellison, Spout House,
Heversham Cumbria LA7 7EE. (BB184)
BEDDGELERT. Charmingly furnished cottage.
Superb surroundings. Sleeps 5. Regret no pets.
SAE Day, White Cottage, Church Lane, Corley,
Coventry CU7 8BA. Tel: 0676 4050 1 . (BB209)
COTSWOLD AREA. Fully equipped luxury
holiday flat. Mrs Rowe, Coombe Mount,
Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire. Tel: 0453
843584. (BB182)
AUTHENTIC GYPSY CARAVAN. Beauti-
fully sited on private (Lake District) nature
reserve. Frahm, Haybridge, Bouth, LUverston,
Cumbria (022986)412. (BB205)
LUXURY IDYLLIC COTTAGE. Ideal base
Cheviot Hills, Fame Isles and Kiclder Forest.
Forster. Tel: 1-904 9107 and 0669 30265.
(BB1 1)
ISLES OF SCILLY
TRELAWNEY GUEST HOUSE,
ST. MARY’S
Marjorie and David Townend welcome you
for Spring and Autumn Birdwatching. Home
cooking, good wine, central heating, wood-
burner in lounge, CB reports. Close to Quay
and Town Centre.
£9.00 for B&B (inc. VAT). Special weekly
rates for parties of 8-10. In October SAE or
phone 0720/22377.
(BB267)
ORCHARD HOUSE, N. W. Norfolk nr. Titch-
well Marsh Reserve. Homely Bed and Breakfast
accommodation (E.M. available). Also self-
catering unit in orchard. Tel: Thornham (048
526) 259. (BB49)
NORTH WEST HIGHLANDS, Dundonnell
Hotel, just south of Ullapool, ideal location for
hill walkers, birdwatchers and those who enjoy
the open spaces. Private bathrooms, Col. TV, full
c.h. Send for col. brochure/ tariff giving details of
bargain holidays on selected dates, to Selbie
Florence, Dundonnell Hotel, by Garve, Ross-
shire. Tel: 085 483 204. (BB63)
IN EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK, 2 semi-
detached cottages, Winsford. Also comfortable
farmhouse, Wheddon Cross. All sleep 6, plus cot.
Colour TV. Open fires. Sheets provided. Sorry no
pets. SAE please to: Mrs D. Jack, c/o Mrs A.
Webber, Steadway Farm, Wheddon Cross,
Minehead TA24 7EB. Tel: Timberscombe 492.
(BB221)
NORTH NORFOLK COAST, fishermen’s
cottages. Open all year. Oak beams. Colour TV
and open fires Oct/March, Ray Hewitt, Brig
Square Holiday Cottages, Freeman Street, Wells
next the Sea. Tel: 0328 710440. (BB1 7)
EXCELLENT B&B. Own bathroom.
Glorious setting. 4 miles Suffolk coast. 6 miles
Minsmere. 2 miles Snape Concert Hall. £8
per night, per person. Telephone for
reservation. Snape 750. (BB237)
NORTH NORFOLK. The George & Dragon
Hotel. Accommodation, bars & meals. Over-
looking the marshes at Cley, towards Blakeney
Point. Tel: Cley (0263) 740652. (BB219)
OLD HUNSTANTON. The White Cottage
guest house, beautifully situated. Overlooking
Wash. Ideal birdwatching. B&B/EM. Special
rates OAPs. Mrs U. Burton, 19 Wodehouse
Road, Old Hunstanton, Norfolk. Tel: 048 53
2380. (BB170)
ISLE OF MULL. A stable converted into 2 warm
comfortable flats. Frachadil Farm, Calgary. Tel:
068 84 265 or (0573) 24852. (BB120)
xv
BARGAIN BREAKS
Small, recommended, coastal, licensed hotel
facing open countryside. National Trust
clilT walks nearby. All bedrooms with baths/
shower/wc, central heating, colour TV and
tea maker, en suite. Four poster bed. Heated
indoor swimming pool. Dinner choice from
extensive menu. 2/5/7 night Bargain Breaks
from £20 including dinner, breakfast and
VAT. Brochure/reservations: GLENCOE
HOTEL, Gwithian Village (St Ives Bay)
TR27 5BX. Tel: 0736 752216.
(BB42)
CLEY. Attractive house in village, four bed-
rooms, large garden, garage, c.h. Available all
year. Details from Mrs E. Album, 47 Lyndale
Avenue, London NYY2. Tel: 01-431 2942. (BB58)
CLEY. 3 Quality cottages (sleep 4, 6 and 8).
Quiet. Comfortable. Excellent value. Brochure:
(0353) 740770. (BB171)
ISLES OF SCI LLY— Sea view Moorings, St.
Mary’s. Home cooking and personal service from
resident proprietors, Tony and Linda. Over-
looking harbour, close to quay and town —
licensed — in-room tea and coffee making facili-
ties— pets welcome. SAE for details or telephone
Tony or Linda Dingley on 072022327. (BB35)
SOUTHWOLD. ‘Avondale’, North Parade,
overlooking sea. B&b/em, CH, dglazed, licensed.
Open all year. Ideal Minsmere, Havergate,
YValberswick. Good food, friendly atmosphere.
Tel: 0502 722538. (BB179)
USK VALLEY. A remote 16th century Welsh
Longhouse on the Gwent Ridgeway retaining
many original features but with every modern
comforts. Fourposter beds. Bathrooms en-suite.
Magnificent views. Varied birdlife. Ideal
Naturalists/Ornithologists. B&B/EM. SAE for
brochure, Mrs Armitage, Ty'rywen Fach Farm.
Mamhilad. Pontvpool. Tel: Little Mill 200.
(BB215)
VISIT BEMPTON RESERVE. Stay for two
days BB/ED from £28 pp inc. VAT. At the
Flaneburg Hotel, Flamborough. The Hotel on
The Heritage Coast — Full Details phone (0262)
850284. (BB 168)
COASTAL COTTAGES OF PEMBROKE-
SHIRE, Abercastle, Pembrokeshire National
Park. 75 warm and well equipped owners'
cottages, mostly within sight and sound of sea and
seals on Britain’s most beautiful and natural
coastline. Available all year from £60 per week.
Tel: 03483 742. (BB185)
HEREFORDSHIRE. Farm holiday bungalow
to let amidst Black Mountains in the lovely
Olchon Valley of Herefordshire. Lovely walks
and bird watching area. Dippers nesting close to
bungalow in Spring. Week-end lets until April.
Probert, Glandwr Farm, Llanvaynoe, Longtown.
Hereford. Tel: Longtown Castle 608. (BB81)
NORTH LAKES — perfect for Caerlaverock and
South Solway Estuary. Six self-catering lodges
overlooking sheltered 30 acre lake. Woodland site
designated of ‘Special Scientific Interest’. Impor-
tant location for large flocks of water birds,
wintering site for duck, wide variety of wildfowl.
Brochure: Lakeshore Lodges, The Lough,
Thurston Field, Carlisle, Cumbria CA5 6HB.
Tel: 0228 76552. (BB38)
NEWPORT, PEMBS. Coastal cottage, adj. Nat.
Park, 5 mins. Sea and Esiuarv. Sleeps 8. Tel:
0222 752965. (BB70)
DUNVEGAN. Mobile home. Sleeps 4. Farm
site. MacDonald, Uiginish Farm, Dunvegan. Isle
ofSkye. (BB216)
WELLS NEXT THE SEA, close harbour. CH.
garage, 5 + cot. Stevens, 4 Bell’s Court, Castle
Street, Cambridge. 1 el: Cambridge 66014.1 BB 189)
COUNTRY COTTAGES between Alnwick and
Belfbrd. Sleep up to six, fully equipped,
self-catering, available throughout the year. Well
placed for Holy Island and Fame Islands,
Cheviot Hills and many places of natural beauty.
SAE to Mrs P. Foster, Coxons, Craster South
Farm. Alnwick, Northumberland. Tel: (066 576)
640. BB27)
ARGYLL COAST. Self-catering cottages on
isolated private nature reserve. Sorry no dogs.
SAE for brochure please to Ardpatrick Cottages,
Tarbert, Argyll. Tel: 088 02 608. ( BB 1 87)
ISLES OF SCILLY. Quiet, modern, comfort-
able guest house offering good food, excellent
views and full central heating. Central location
only 15 mins walk from Hugh Town. Perfect for
early and late season bird watchers. Stephen
Morris, Glandore, Porthloo. St. Marvs. Tel:
Scillonia 22535. (BB243)
WELLS. NORFOLK B&B.. (Les Routiers
recommended). H. & C., Tea and Coffee facilities
in all rooms. Anne Tavlor. The Cobblers (0328
710155). (BB111)
NORTH YORKSHIRE. Smugglers Rock.
Country Guest House, Ravenscar Y013 0ER.
Homely atmosphere with panoramic views over
country and sea, AA listed. Ideal holiday for
country lovers. Mrs J. Greenfield. Tel: 0723
870044. (BB242)
NORTH NORFOLK. Attractive comfortable
cottage. 4 miles Blakenev. Sleeps 4. Tel: 032875
366. (BB183)
WEST SUSSEX. Black Mill House Hotel,
Bogtior Regis 2 mins sea, Marine Gardens,
Games Room, Cocktail Bar, enclosed Garden,
Car Park. Visit Arundel Wildfowl Trust. AA,
RAC. Member SEE Tourist Board. Minibreaks
from £37.50 2 days. Brochure. Tel: (0243)
821945. (BB199)
XVII
ELERKEY HOUSE HOTEL
Veryan, near St. Mawes. Truro,
Cornwall TR2 5QA.
Telephone: Truro (0872) 501261
Exclusive Hotel renowned for its comfortable
elegance located on the Roseland Peninsula amidst
National Trust countryside with magnificent coastal
walks. Accommodation comprises nine tastefully-
appointed bedrooms w ith private shower or bath and
toilet. Exceptional standards maintained on quality
of food, wine and service. Restaurant and Residential
Licence. Terms: Inclusive of VAT and Serv7ce
Dinner, Bed and Breakfast per person from £ 1 30.00
to £153.00 weekly.
Bed and Breakfast per person from £14.00 to £17.50
daily.
Write or 'phone for Illustrated Brochure from:
Mrs. Heather Greene, Resident Proprietor.
(BB198)
IN THE GROUNDS of a beautiful house
surrounded by woodlands and unspoiled
countryside. Ideal for birdwatchers. Send SAE
for brochure: Trelowarren Chateau Camping
and Caravan Park, Mawgan, Helston, Cornwall.
(BB133)
MINSMERE 4m. B&B in comfortable private
house, edge of village. Brochure/terms, Hills, Old
Mill House, Yoxford, Sulfolk. Tel: 536. (BB175)
CAIRNGORMS — Nethy bridge near
Aviemore. Choice of unique converted smithy,
hay loft, cottages and bungalows. Very comfor-
table, well furnished, central heating and col. TV
from £65-£250 pw. Mrs B. Patrick, Chapelton
Place, Forres. Tel: 0309 72505. (BB76)
SOMEWHERE SPECIAL for your bird-
watching in the Dyfi Valley, Mid Wales. 17th
century manor house hotel in 9 acres of peaceful,
unspoilt and finely timbered valley, in secluded
location. Licensed bar and restaurant. Tradi-
tional and vegetarian/whole food fare. Brochure:
Eileen and David Brown, Plas Dolguog Hotel,
Machynlleth, Powys. Tel: 0654 2244. (BB169)
COTTAGES GALORE. We have some 200 de-
lightful cottages in all parts of Britain. A great
variety of individual properties, all inspected.
Prices £19 to £50 per person per week. Get our
free colour brochure: Amaro Cottage Holidays,
22 High Street, Alton, Hampshire GU34 1BN.
Tel: 0420 88892. (BB178)
YORKSHIRE’S HERITAGE COAST
Varied and spectacular bird watching on the 350 ft
cliffs around Flamborough and Bempton. A coast
that’s rich in history and wildlife. Discover fossils,
sec the seals, explore the nature trails at Danes Dyke
and South Landing.
Send for details and Bridlington Colour Guide to:
Publicity Dept., 106 The Spa, Bridlington,
East Yorkshire Y015 3JH.
A contribution towards postage appreciated
(BB144)
GREYHOMES HOTEL
Torcross, S. Devon
Holiday Accommodation, S. Devon
SLAP' TON SANDS, AA and RAC one star.
Small friendly licensed hotel magnificiently
situated in six acres of mature gardens over-
looking the panorama of Slapton Ley Nature
Reserve and Start Bay. Unspoilt coastline
famous for its variety of birds and wildlife.
Also four self-catering holiday bungalows in
grounds. SAE for brochure: Greyhomes
Hotel, Torcross, Nr. Kingsbridge, S. Devon.
Tel: Kingsbridge (0548) 580220. (BB30)
SHETLAND, YELL. Self-catering holiday
house. Cottage, near Ferry Terminal for Unst
and Fetlar. Good bird watching, otters and
fishing. Tel: (095 784) 202. (BB236)
SPEY VALLEY — home of the osprey, cross-
bill and crested tit. Impressive Victorian house.
Superb views. GH, log fires. Home cooking. Tel:
0479 2201 or write Rossmor, Grantown on Spey,
Moray. (BB190)
ORKNEY. Our Island Hotel, ideal for ornitholo-
gists, habitat, moorland, shore, cliffs,
lochs, attracts 70 breeding species. Excellent
migration, good walking. Brochure: Taversoe
Hotel, Rousay, Orkney. Tel: 085 682 325.
(BB 191)
HISTORIC COUNTRY HOUSE overlooking
Derwent Ings. Explore York, the Wolds,
Bempton Cliffs. Enjoy Yorkshire cooking. B/B,
EM from £10.50. Mrs Vincent, Aughton Hall,
Aughton, York Y04 4PG. Bubwith 237. (BB62)
DISCOVER SHROPSHIRE. Peace and quiet
is guaranteed under the personal supervision of
the owners. All rooms have private bath/shower
and colour TV. In its 3rd year, the Old Vicarage
has been recommended by 100 Great British
Weekends , Ideal Home magazine and 2 American
guide books. The Old Vicarage Hotel, Worfield,
Bridgnorth, Shropshire WV15 5JZ. Pel: 074-64
498. (BB234)
ISLES OF SCILLY, Mincarlo Guest House. St
Mary’s. Superbly situated in own grounds
overlooking the harbour. Terms from £8.50
(plus VAT) for B&B £12.75 (plus VAT) BB &
EM. Tel: 0720 22513. (BB140)
NORFOLK BROADS. West Somerton.
Modernised cottage to let on village green. Sleeps
6. Adjacent Martham Broad, Horsey, Winterton;
close Waxham, Hickling. Phone 0622 52062.
(BB207)
BARN HOUSE, Bempton. Pleasantly situated,
comfortable farmhouse style B&B, Schofield, 5
Newsham Hill Lane, Bempton, Bridlington. Eel:
0262850523. (BB73)
SELF-CATERING PROPERTIES. All
personally inspected. Brochure: Rural Vacations
Ltd, Pipworth Lane, Eckington, Sheffield S31
9EY. Tel: 0246 432202. (BB277)
xviii
EAST NORFOLK. B&B. Open all year. Also
modernised 1 7th century fisherman’s cottage.
T el: 0493 728374. (BB137)
The Shetland
Islands
New and exciting package holidays
to Britain’s frontier in the North.
Shetland Country Homes oilers the
bargain holiday with a dillcrener.
Sail/drive or fly/drive from Aberdeen,
w ith sell-drive ears included.
Enjoy the personal attention and
home cooking that no hotel can oiler.
1 he scenery's so compelling that you
will never Ibrget it.
for all this and much more, write to:
Shetland
Country Homes,
Market Cross, , „ _
Lerwick, Shetland.f.s ; | a ( tl
15 3434. rdtfi'PsW
Tel. 0595 1
(BB247)
15th CENTURY COACHING INN midway
Ross/Hrreford amidst gentle wooded hills, 2
fields from River Wye. A comfortable and in-
formal place, with proper emphasis on real food,
real tiles, civilised prices. Log lire, ch, fourpostcr.
Egon Ronay, Relais Routier. Green Man Inn,
Fowtthope, Hereford. Tel: Fownhope (043 277)
243. (HB21)
WARM WELCOME, B&B/F.M optional. Close
to marshes. Heritage Coastal W alks. Central for
Clcy and Titchwell reserves. Mrs Court.
Eastdene, Northfield Lane. Wells-ncxt-thc-Sea,
Norfolk. Tel: (0328) 710381. (BB251 )
WINDMILL and 2 cottages. 3 miles Blakeney.
Sleeps 8. 6 and 4, available all year. S.A.L. 195
Last End Road. London N2, 01 '883 8137.
(BB256)
SCOTLAND, Galloway Isle of Whithorn.
Luxury bungalow picturesque harbour v illage.
No pets. Sleeps 4/b. Phone: 051-426 2589.
(BB250)
ISLE OF ISLAY. Beautiful island on west coast
of Scotland, come and relax in a luxury 4
bedroomed house and enjoy sandy beaches, wild
life, home cooking, peat fires, sea and loch fishing,
walking. Three options available. Self catering,
full board or self catering with some assistance.
For brochure contact Mrs Fraser. Bridge House,
Bow more. Isle of lslav. Argyll. Ring: 049681 248.
( BB257)
LIZARD. Beautiful sea views, close to coves and
coastal path. Good food, comfort, reasonable
rates. Dogs welcome, T reglow House, The Lizard
TR 1 2 7NP. Tel: U326 290472. (BB 181 )
BIRDWATCHING HO LI DA YS
ARCTIC BIRDS. I wo weeks in the Arctic.
july/August, viewing rare northern birds. Gyr
Falcons, Ivory Gulls, Little Auks, etc. Camping
in North ( Ireenland or boat-based in Spitsbergen.
Expert guides. From £940. Send stamp to:
ERSKINE EXPEDITIONS, 14 Inverleith
Place, Edinburgh. (BB71)
SISKINS with breakfast. Puffins with lunch and
Redstarts with supper. Such was the optical fare
on many days throughout the Summer last year
for visitors staying at this delightfully situated
Observatory . Enjoy a good birding holiday ex-
ploring the Moor and North Coast from £86 p.w
for full board. For full details and 1984 observ a-
tions. S A L. to Fony Miller, Bodmin Moor
Nature ( )bserv atory , Ninestones Farm. I.iskeard,
Cornwall PI.I 4 6SD. Tel: 0579 20455. (BB273)
NEAR M1NSMERE, delightful converted barn
Sleeps 6/7. Fully equipped and linen provided.
Turner, Vine Cottage, The Street, Middleton,
Saxmundham: Tel: Westleton 208 after 6pm.
(BB254)
ISLE OF ISLAY. Superior well equipped holi-
dav house, sleeps 6. Oil fired Aga. Good central
position in own grounds. Write with SAE: W ilks.
Catesby, Daventry, Northants. (BB233)
ISLE OF MULL. Small comfortable guest house
on island rich in birdlife. ( )wners keen
birdwatchers. Pets welcome. Baliscale finest
House. I obermorv . Tel: 0688 2352. (BB252)
KELLING, NR. CLEY. Situated in 4 acres of
own wooded grounds. Double room £11.95 per
person. Ln suite £13.45. Winter two-day breaks
£27.50 per person. BcNB & evening meal.
Applehill Hotel, Kelling. Tel: Weybourne (026
370)382. (BBI59)
MINSMERE. Accommodation at the Light
Bells, Kelsale A 12, B&B. Real Ale. good food.
Tel: Saxmundham 2975. (BB59)
BED AND BREAKFAST. Mrs D. Crowden.
Rosev ilia, Middleton. Saxmundham, Suffolk.
Tel: Westleton 489 between 6-7 pm. l BB50)
WEST COUNTRY WILDLIFE. Birdwatching
wildlife holidays, in Devon. Small parties, expert
leadership. Excellent food/accommodation,
talks, slides, trips out each day. Beginners
welcome. April-October one week holidays,
November-March 2, 3 or 4 day week-ends.
Birdwatching on the Exe. Brochure from
Courtians, Colebrooke, Clrediton, Devon EX 17
5JH. (BB208)
ISLE OF COLL, ARGYLL. " I ighnamara’
Bird watching at its best. Over 120 species.
Breeding Arctic Skuas. Little Ferns. Kittiwakes,
Divers. Corncrakes. Ravens. 6 resident raptors
including Merlin & Peregrine. Unique island
scenery. Otters, seals. Excellent cuisine.
Brochure. Tel: (08793) 354 (BB104)
MIGRANTS. WADERS. SEABIRDS and
much more. Self-catering birdwatching holidays
in Purbeck. Advice and help freely available from
local experts and wardens. Tel: Swanage 424442
for details and free monthly guide (nearly 300
species). (BB213)
CALF OF MAN BIRD OBSERVATORY.
Hostel type accommodation from April to
October. Details from: The Secretary . The Manx
Museum, Douglas, Isle of Man. Tel: (0624)
75522. (BB176)
xt\
TURKEY AND GREECE 1985
Central & Southern Turkey
16 Days April/May £665
North West Turkey & North Greece
1 1 Days May/September £488
Eastern Turkey
16 Days May £665
Central Turkey & Bosphorus Migration
16 Days September £650
Bosphorus Migration
1 1 Days September £460
ICELAND 16 Days July £700
All Inclusive Prices
Details: Chris Slade
Turkish & Greek Bird watching Holidays fT
8 The Grange, Elmdon Park, Solihull sq
West Midlands B92 9EL. “
Tel: 021-742 5420 021-705 5535
BIRDWATCH CORNWALL. March 21st-
27th 1985. £105.00 inclusive; Sept 28th-Oct 4th
1985. £105.00 inclusive. Five days of field trips.
Local RSPB leaders. Evening films and talks.
Special help for beginners. Exciting seabirds,
waders, ducks and birds of prey. Discounts for
parties. Two star hotel with Scandinavian leisure
centre. For brochure and birdlist phone Pauline
Boss, 0736 795294, Karenza Hotel, St Ives,
Cornwall. (BB225)
SKOKHOLM AND SKOMER ISLANDS,
Pembrokeshire, Dyfed. Full board accom-
modation; birdwatching/photography courses.
Send s.a.e. to Dept BB, WWTNC, 7 Market
Street, Haverfordwest. (BB116)
THE FIELD STUDIES COUNCIL is arranging
a week ‘Birdwatching in Mallorca’ from 28 Scpt-
embcr-5 October. The island is rich in birdlife;
residents and summer visitors include many typical
Mediterranean species and others with more
restricted distribution, such as Eleanora’s falcon
and Black vulture. The course, led by Edward
Jackson, will be based in the less developed north
east, with hotel accommodation in Puerto Pollensa.
Charge £390. Full details of these and other courses
overseas from Miss Ros Evans, Flatford Mill Field
Centre (BRF), East Bergholt, Colchester C07 6UL.
(BB276)
WILDLIFE HO LI DA YS
EXPLORACION ESPANA
The Spanish Wildlife Tour 1985
Enjoy 12 days ofCentral and Southern Spain
led by professional Spanish Naturalists. The
small party will have privileged access to
private ^sanctuaries and estates. It will visit
DONANA and enjoy comfortable accommo-
dation in private hunting lodges.
U.K. Consultant: Tony Soper
U.K. Representative: Alison Kefford
Exploracion Espana,
18 Bromley Gardens, Houghton Regis,
Dunstable, Beds.
Tel: 0582 864540
Telex: 826314 BUSAIDG.
(BB231)
KENYA. Personally escorted 14-day camping
Wildlife Safari departing 9th August visiting
Lakes Naivasha, Nakuru and Baringo with
Masai Mara and Samburu National Gameparks.
All inclusive, £985. Adventure Agency. The
Square, Ramsbury, Wiltshire. (0672 20569).
(BB240)
BORNEO ’86 A unique holiday oppor-
tunity to explore the glorious birds, butter-
flies, Orang Utans and flora of the highlands
and coastal regions of Sabah, North Borneo.
17 days, plus five days in spectacular Mt.
Kinabalu National Park. Tour departs
February 1986. Full details from: Cox &
Kings Special Interest Holidays, 46 Marshall
Street, London WIV 2 PA. Tel: 01-439 3380.
(BB271)
CRUISES
VISIT SCOTTISH ISLES— even (weather
permitting) St Kilda — abroad comfortable 8-
berth motor sailing yacht with qualified
skipper/guide. Details: Seabird Cruises, High-
minton, Hillside, Cromer NR27 0HY. (BBI86)
BIRD REPORT
1983 KENT BIRD REPORTS. £3, Kent
Winter Bird Survey 1977-80 (published 1984).
£2.50. Each post paid from R. W. George, 10
Dence Park, Herne Bay, Kent. (BB265)
HERTS BIRD REPORT 1983 — £2 from 6
CastlcHill, Berkhamsted, HP4 1HE. (BB266)
SCOTTISH BIRD REPORT 1983. £2.50
(inc. p&p) from SOG, 21 Regent Terrace,
Edinburgh EH7 5BT. Back issues (1978-82) also
available. (BB200)
BIRDS OF OXFORDSHIRE, 1983 Report of
the Oxford Ornithological Society. £2. inch p&p
from R. Overall, 30 Hunsdon Rd, Illley, Oxford.
0X4 4JE. Some back copies to 1915 still
available. (BB188)
COURSES
BIRDS AND THE ECOLOGY OF THE
SOUTH WEST COASTLINE
Sunday 1 1th - Saturday 17th August
A field-based course in South Devon with
Gordon Waterhouse and guest speakers,
studying birds in a variety of habitats. Held
in an elegant Victorian villa overlooking the
beautiful Teign valley, with excellent cuisine
and comfortable accommodation.
BISHOPSTEIGNTON HOUSE
Centre for Leisure Interest Courses
Bishopsteignton. Tel: 06267 5270
(BB268)
BIRD STUDY W/E 17/ 19th May and Bird-
watch Cumbria 21-25 October. Details:
Warden, Low Gillerthwaite Field Centre,
Ennerdale, Cleator. Cumbria. Tel: (0946)
861229. (BB174)
xx
PERSONAL
THE HAWK TRUST cares about all birds of
prey. Why not help us with our conservation
projects? For information, contact The Member-
ship Secretary (JB), The Hawk Trust, FREE-
POST, Beckenham, Kent. (BB52)
SCILLY BIRDERS. Why not become a member
of the Cornwall Bird Watching and Preservation
Society? Members receive Scilly and Mainland
Reports free of charge. Membership fee from £5.
Contact Mrs D. Inch, 9 Compass West,
Tregadillett, Launceston, Cornwall. (BB‘248)
REPAIRS
BINOCULAR AND TELESCOPE REPAIRS
without corner-cutting. Backed by 23 years’
experience. Send or call in to: Kay Optical,
89B London Road, Morden, Surrey. (01-848
8822). Foi Sales, see our advertisement on page
iv. (BB269)
BINOCULAR AND TELESCOPE REPAIRS.
Fast efficient service on all makes and types In
expert technicians at L&L Optical, 204 High
Street, Barnet, Herts. 'Tel: 01-449 1445. (BB13)
WE REPAIR BINOCULARS. And cameras.
And projectors. We’ve been at it for thirty years
and we’re very, very good. Perfect? No.
Perfectionists? Yes. Burgess Lane & Co. Ltd.
Thornton Works, Thornton Avenue, London W4
I QE. 01-994 5752. (BB223)
BOOKS
HENRY SOTHERAN LTD
New, secondhand & Antiquarian
Booksellers.
London 's leading Ornithological book stockists
2, 3, 4 & 5 Sackville Street,
London WIX 2DP.
Tel: 01-734 1150 and 0308.
Just off Piccadilly.
Hours — Mon-Fri. 9.00-5.30 (U449>
BIRDWATCHING GUIDE BOOKS. Essential
for holiday birding. What birds to see and where,
when to go, where to stay, etc. Richly illustrated
with maps. Mallorca by Eddie Watkinson
(second edition) £3. The Isles of Scilly by David
Hunt £3. The Gambia by Etienne Edberg £4.
Denmark by J. Sanders £3. Prices include post
and packing From J. Sanders. PO Box 24,
Alderney, Channel Islands. (BB166)
‘BIRD BOOKS’. Good secondhand books
bought and sold. Free catalogue from, and offers
to Briant Books, 94 Quarry Lane, Kelsall.
Tarporley, Cheshire CW6 0NJ. Tel: 0829 51804.
(BB18)
THE BIRD BOOKSHOP
SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB
Wide range of titles in stock
Free catalogue from: 21 Regent Terrace,
Edinburgh F.H7 5BT. Tel: 031-556 6042
(BB239)
BIRD BOOKS 1847-1982. Large S.A.E. lor
catalogue. Crack Books, Sawmill Cottages,
Burton-in-Lonsdale, Carnforth. Lancs. (BB255)
BOOKS ON Birds. Natural History . Gardening.
Field Sports, etc. Bought and sold. Catalogues
issued. Books on most subjects purchased. Blest,
Wateringbury, Maidstone, Kent. Tel: 0622
812940. (BB39)
BOOKS ON BIRDS. New and secondhand,
catalogue 30p stamps. Surplus books urgently
sought. BB bought and sold. Open Monday to
Saturday. Bird Books of Sevenoaks, 67 London
Rd. Sevenoaks, Kent. Tel: 0732 455899. (BB245)
The £1000 cheque and Zeiss
West 10x40s have been won.
bill i( you would hr intrigued to
see The ‘British Bints' Mystery
Photographs Booh (and the lull
solution) you can gel it now for
£ 1 .5)0 (previous price was £4.80).
Send cheque or PO (payable to
British Birds) to: MPB. Foun-
tains, Park Lane, Blunhani,
Bedford MK4 1 iN| (BBIStll
FINE NATURAL HISTORY BOOKS bought
and sold. R. Norman. The Book-Squirrel, Hart-
on-the-Hill, Dalton Piercev, Hartlepool. Cleve-
land. (BB14)
ORNITHOLIDAYS GUIDES in the Let’s look
at . . .’ series. Majorca, SW Spain. The
Camargue, Montenegro. Eastern Austria. South
Morocco. North F.ast Greece. Vancouver and
The Rockies. Sri Lanka. Lapland and Arctic
Norway. The Gambia, and North West Turkey.
£2.80 per copy- Ornitholidays, 1-3 V ictoria
Drive. Bognor Regis. Sussex P021 2PVY.
( BB 1 5.3)
PROPERTY TO LET
ON SEASHORE, Pett Level, Sussex. 6m Rye.
Ideal location for birdwatching and family-
holidays. Comfortable modern house. C.H., T.\ .
3 bedrooms sleep 6. Mrs Le Fevre. Tel: 0797
222075. (BB167)
STAMPS
WADERS ON STAMPS, 15 = £1.00. Send for
14 page bird stamp list. A. Grainger. 42 Lee Lane
East, Horsforth, Leeds. (BB262)
P
XXI
FOR SALE
Breeding Birds of Great Britain
and Ireland
A Fieldguide Companion
A set of 7 laminated cards in a handy
plastic wallet ( 120 mms X 75 mms)
225 breeding birds covered
• Laying period • No. of Broods • No. of
Eggs • Size and Shape • Incubation days
• Colour • Location of nest.
only IR£2.50/Stg£2
(post free anywhere in U.K. /Ireland)
Send cheque. P.O., money order to: Barvane Ltd.,
2 C'loughcarrigeen, Kilsheelan, C lonmel,
Co. Tipperary, Ireland.
(BB84)
BIRD JOURNAL BACKNUMBERS SUP-
PLIED. (BB, Bird Study, County Reports etc)
Morgan, Whitmore, Umberleigh, Devon.
(BB226)
LEITZ 10 X 40 BGA Trinovid Binoculars
£190.00. 25 YVillowcrolt Road, Spondon, Derby.
(BB263)
ZEISS DIALYT 10 X 40B, excellent condition,
£230, Phone Oxford 242281 evenings.
(BB264)
NICKEL SUPRA 15-G0 x GO telescope plus
case, ex. cond. £95. 0 1 -889 4009 eves. (BB270)
BUSHNELL DISCOVERER telescope in good
condition, recently completely overhauled c/w
tripod and camera adaptor (Minolta). £95. Tel:
0462 3547G after 10 May. (BB272)
HAWKINS, Winit. Tecnic, Bogtrotters, walking
boots and shoes. Sprayway waterproofs, SAE for
brochure. B. Timson, 1 1 1 Hinckley Road, Earl
Shilton, Leicester. (BB135)
BRITISH WARBLERS & GARDEN BIRDS
are two, hour-long stereo cassettes in a series of 5
titles. Only £3.25 each inch p&p. SAE details.
Also, Parabolic Reflector specially designed lor
recording birdsong. Hand or tripod mounting.
£26 incl p&p. SAE details. Richard Margoschis,
80 Mancetter Rd, Atherstone GV9 1NH.
(BB177)
BIRD PAINTINGS. Originals from £15.
Illustrated catalogue from: BIRDERS, 46
Westleigh Drive, Sonning Common, Reading,
RG49LB. (BB210)
BINOCULAR AND TELESCOPES. Send lot
free colour brochure: Dept Bl, Sherwoods
Binocular Centre, 11-13 Western Arcade,
Birmingham B2 5HU. (BB 151)
BRITISH BIRD VOCABULARY. A twelve-
cassette series of 6 vols. in book/album form (127
species, 710 examples). Also single cassette
Sound Guides — the British tits, hawks and
falcons, breeding waders, warblers, thrushes,
finches. S.A.E. to Lewis, Rosehill House,
Lyonshall H R5 3HS. ( BB275)
WANTED
COLLECTOR wishes to purchase Morris’s
Birds, Bannerman’s Birds, and any other
interesting Natural History Books or Paintings.
David Brodie, Hazel Bank, 106 Castlemain
Avenue, Southbourne, Bournemouth, Dorset
0202431997. (BB173)
WANTED. ‘British Birds’. January 1975. (Vol.
68), No. 1 or Vol. 68 1975. Unbound. Also
Easibinders for B.B. Contact Mr. D. J. Knightley,
262 Hinckley Road, Nuneaton CY11 6LN,
Warks. T el: (0203 384639). (BB274)
BINOCULARS WANTED. VV. Zeiss or Leitz
Roof Prism — 21 Crescent Grove, London SW4.
(BB220)
HERTS
OPTICAL SERVICES
TELESCOPES
KOWA
TS1 £110.50
TS2 £95.00
Eyepieces from £26.00
TSN1 £188.00
TSN2 £177.00
Eyepieces from £36.00
OPTOLYTH
30 x 75 £229.00
30 x 80 £263.00
DISCOVERER £193.00
PRISMA High Resolution £131.10
Eyepieces from £26.00
SPACEMASTER
Zoom £171.50
MAIL ORDER
BY RETURN
ADD £3.00
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102a VICTORIA STREET • ST ALBANS
Telephone: (0727) 59392
BINOCULARS
OPTOLYTH ALPIN
10 x 40
8 x 40
8 x 30
.£122.00
.£119.00
.£109.00
ZEISS WEST
8 x 20B
.£152.50
10 x 40BGAT
.£345.00
ROSS High Quality
8 x 30
...£82.55
9 x 35
...£88.92
10 x 40
...£90.18
LEITZ
10 x 40B
.£372.68
8 x 40B
.£360.35
ALL MAKES STOCKED
HERTS
(BB155)
XXII
The OPT1CRON difference is
QUALITY and PRICE.
For those who wish to own the BEST'' quality binocular,
to obtain greater pleasure and enjoyment from looking at
birds in clearer and sharper detail, we recommend you to
assess and compare our own new 9x35 Elite binocular.
Available exclusively from Opticron
Because this is an Opticron binocular, the combined optical
performance of the high resolution and light transmission,
coupled with the incredibly large depth of field, contrast and
natural colours may only be equalled by other makes, but
never surpassed. It is small and compact. The weight is only
24 oz. and has a wide field of view of 375 ft. at 1000 yds. Will
focus down to approximately 12 ft. Fitted with fold-down rubber
eyecups for spectacle wearers. Supplied in a de-luxe hard case
and is guaranteed for life against any manufacturing defects.
And the price is only £157.00. Sent to you for 14 days approval,
upon receipt of full remittance. Access, send or phone details.
Leaflets and price list on all other high quality Opticron
products and others, available upon request.
Should you, however, wish to judge for yourself and compare
this binocular with other makes, thus seeing how all binoculars
should be, our showroom is open Tuesdays to Saturdays 8.30 to
5.30 pm inclusive.
TELESCOPES
Tor those, whose interest is in zoom telescopes only, we are now able to offer the
very best, with our guarantee that these out perform all other makes with 60mm
objectives, including most of the popular fixed magnification of other makes.
Just phone or send for details.
OPTICRON
P.O. Box 81, Unit 6, Marlborough Trading Estate
25 Lattimore Road, St. Albans, Herts. AL1 3NT
Telephone: St. Albans (0727) 56516 (D368)
Volume 78
211
217
232
233
Number 5 May 1985
Bird Photograph of the Year Dr R.J. Chandler, Eric Hosking,
Dr J. T. R. Sharrock and Don Smith
The Choughs of Bardsey P.J. Roberts
Seventy-five years ago . . .
Mystery Photographs 101 Baikal Teal Dr M. A. Ogilvie
234
235
235
•235
236
236
238
238
238
240
240
241
242
242
242
243
243
243
244
244
245
246
246
247
248
251
252
252
253
253
Q
253
254
255
260
260
261
261
Reau<
Shropshire
Notes
One Great Crested Grebe apparently importuning food from another in winter R. P. S. Welsey
Grey Heron diving from air for fish LA. R. Broom
Interaction between Peregrine and injured feral Rock Dove B. A. '
A vote t resting on sea Chris Hindu
Tree-perching by waders in Malaysia R G. H. Cant
Identification of large terns Paul Thompson, Nuk Lethahy and Andy St/coda
Leg-length of Black and White-winged Black Terns P. Darting
Exceptionally tame Woodpigeons Audio Gosling
Cuckoos mating on overhead electricity cable M. Baddy and F. E. Boddy
Changes in numbers of Swallows’ and House Martins’ nests in Somerset over 50-year period P. A . D. Hoilom
Nest sites of House Martins Tom Wall ; Adrian P. Ftwlar, Scan Pmsar
Dippers feeding on fish S.J. Ormond and M A. Boilstme
Anling-tike behaviour of Dipper with fish Alan F. Johnston
Blackbird taking rowan berry in flight Damd M. Wilkinson
‘Siberian’ Lesser Whitethroat wintering in Mid Glamorgan Nigel Odin
Blackcaps foliage-bathing in gardens David dot
Spotted Flycatcher feeding bumble bee to nestlings Dr A P. Radford
Bizarre behaviour and death of male House Sparrow Dr K. E. L Sunmom
Bi amblings catching tailing nuts in flight, and robbing Greenfinch i
F< -ding method of a Scarlet Rosefinrh BJ. Broum
Ar terican Redstart in Lincolnshire R. Lamktrt, R. K. Watson and K W Wapetd
Letters
An earlier Snowy Sheathbill DrR.A. Choke
Glaucous X Herring Gull hybrids Dr Alan Knox
Choughs and Jackdaws Alan R. Kitsm
Site illusion D J Jeffers
The man who thought of ‘jiaz’ Dr W. R. P. Bourne
The origin of'jizz' Dr lean T. Draper, W. G. Harvey
Describing bird calls R. A. Homo
‘Whai’s about?’ calls Mrs Mary Waller
Announcement
Italian conference
est
ire Breeding Bird Atlas Survey Jack Sankey
News and comment Robin Prytherch and Mike Everett
Recent reports Ian Dawson and Keith Allsopp
Reviews
A Guide to the Birds of Venezuela by Rodolphe Meyer de Schauensee and William H. Phelps Dr Jim FUgg
A Guide to the Birds oj Panama by Robert S. Ridgely, illustrated by John A. Gwynne Jr Dr Jim FUgg
Coastal Waders and Wildfowl in Winter edited by P. R, Evans, J. D. Goss-Custard and W. G, Hale Colin J. Bihhy
The Puffin by M. P. Harris, illustrations by Keith Brockie Dr Jim FUgg
The Macmillan Guide la Britain’s Nature Reserves by Jeremy Hywel-Davies and Valerie Thom Stanley
In the World of Birds by Algirdas Knystautas and Arvydas LtulVinJejJtty Boswatt
River Birds : htrd life Jrrm mountain stream to estuary by Roger Love-grove and Philip Snow Norman
Sporting Birds of the British IsUs by Brian P. Martin, paintings by Rodger McPhail Dr D A. HtU
The Birds oj Rutland and its Reservoirs by Terry Mitcham R A. Hume
The Growth and Development of Birds by Raymond J. O'Connor Coin J,
The Wildlife of the Royal Estates by Robin Page DrJ.T.R. Shanock
Soviet Birds (cassette) by Lars Svensson P.J. Grant
PhotoSpot 11 Algerian Nuthatch Amoud B. van
Line-drawings: 21 7 Choughs in Bardsey Sound (Philip Snow), 255 Nutrrarker, 256 Smew and 258 Waxwing (D
Front cover: Bee-eaters on St Agnes ( Nik Borrow ); the original dra
this month’s cover design ( 1 8.2 X 20.5 cm) is for sale in a postal auction
page 56 in the January issue for procedure)
263
263
264
264
265
265
265
British Birds
'^Mi&LSiSMSL
i.'
British Birds
Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock
Personal Assistant Sheila D. Cobban Assistant Editoi > David Christie Sc P. J. Grant
Editorial Zfoflrt/ Stanley Cramp, P. J. Grant, Dr M. A. Ogilvie Sc Dr J. T. R. Sharrock
Photographic Consultants Dr R. J. Chandler Sc Don Smith
Rarities Committee P. J. Grant (Chairman), D. J. Britton, A. R. Dean, R. H. Dennis,
D. J. Holman, T. P. Inskipp, P. G. Lansdown, S. C. Madge, R. F. Porter Sc K. E.
Vinicombe; Michael J. Rogers (Honorary Secretary)
Notes Panels behaviour Dr C. J. Bibby, Dr J. J. M. Flegg, Dr C. H. Fry,
Derek Goodwin, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock Sc Dr K. E. L. Simmons;
identification P. J. Grant, S. C. Madge, Dr M. A. Ogilvie Sc Dr J. T. R. Sharrock
© British Birds Ltd 1985
Copyright of photographs remains with
photographers. British Birds is
published monthly by British Birds Ltd,
93 High Street, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire
ISSN 0007-0835
Publishing Manager ,
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Dr J. T. R. Sharrock
Circulation Manager
Erika Sharrock
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Choose from, and select from our comprehensive range of equipment
ZEISS WEST 10x40 BGAT
BLACK RUBBER ARMOURED
ONLY £299.95
our old 10 x 50 Jenoptem
or Dekarem in part exchange
plus yc
or De
LEITZ 10x40 BA
BLACK RUBBER ARMOURED
ONLY £309.95
plus your old 10 x 50 Jenoptem
or Dekarem in part exchange
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BLACK RUBBER ARMOURED
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plus your old 8 x 30 Jenoptem
or Deltrintem in part exchange
BINOCULARS
ZEISS WEST £
Dialyt 8 x 20 B 155 00
Dialyt 10 x 25 B 169.00
Dialyt 8 x 30 BGAT 313.00
Dialyt 10x40 BGAT Phone
Standard or close for
focus price
Dialyt 7 x 42 BGAT 369.00
Dialyt 8 x 56 BGAT 410.00
15 x 60 GAT Porro 675.00
LEITZ
Trinovid 8 x 20 BC 175.00
Trinovid 8 x 20 BCA 189.00
Trinovid 10 x 25 BC 189.00
Trinovid 10x25 BCA 204.00
Trinovid 7 x 42 BA Phone
Trinovid 8x40 BA for
Trinovid 10x40 BA price
CARL ZEISS JENA
Deltrintem 8 x 30 57.95
Dekarem 10x50 88.95
HABICHT
Diana 10 x 40 B 239.00
WSL/M 10x40 269.00
OPTOLYTH
Alpin 8 x 30 BGA 119.00
Alpin 8 x 40 BGA 129.00
Alpin 10x40 BGA 131.00
Alpin 7x42 BGA 135.00
Alpin 10x50 BGA 150.00
We also stock Swift, Kowa,
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TELESCOPES
£
KowaTS-2 96.00
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New27xWA 33.95
Eye pieces 15 x to 60 x
from 26.45
Kowa TSN-1 210.00
Kowa TSN-2 198.00
20xWA 62.00
25 x 40 x each 39.00
20x-60xzoom 92.00
Cases 16.95
Optolyth 22x60 145.00
Optolyth 30x75 239.00
Optolyth 30x80 273.00
Spacemaster Zoom 174.00
Spacemaster 22 x 60 154 00
Eyepieces 15 x to 60 x 29.00
Soft case 12.95
Habicht 23x70 179.00
Habicht 30x75 339.00
Mirador 30x75 139.00
Mirador 15 x- 60x60 174.95
Opticron HR 20 x - 60 x 60
134.00
Steiner 24x80 212.95
Bausch & Lomb 4000
Crieterion 399.00
Eye pieces 45 x to 100 x
from 26.45
All equipment sent on 14 days
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Please add £2.00 p&p if
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If you purchase a telescope and
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Phone for a quote.
TRIPODS AND
ACCESSORIES
Slik Gazelle
28.95
Slik 35S
34.95
Slik 35D
38.95
Slik Master D2
51 95
Slik 88
51.95
Slik SL67
84.95
Car Window Mount
17.00
Universal Mount
17.50
Monopods from
9.95
Binocular Lanyards, leather 2.00
Rainguards
1.00
CAMERA LENSES
Now in stock
The Novo Flex System
400 mm lens C/W Follow
Focus Grip
810.75
600 mm lens C/W Follow
Focus Grip
822.25
Full price list on application
The perfect camera for
wild life photography
Olympus OM2 Spot Proc
tram
Body only £
225.00
Olympus 0M2 Spot Program
with 1 .8/50
269.00
Prices correct 7.5.85
(D509)
BINOCULARS AND TELESCOPES
REPAIRED ON THE PREMISES
1
TAKE FLIGHT
Explore the East and its exotic birdlife with experienced escorts. Twickers World takes
you on the Southern India Wildlife and Beaches tour in search of the majestic osprey,
and 250 species of birds. A memorable mixture of lazy days on sandy beaches and
exciting jungle explorations. 15 days, leaving 16 November 1985. £1,800.
Heather Angel leads the Camera in China tour, created especially for photographers.
Capture the beauty of a bird on the wing against an autumn backdrop. Indulge your
cultural and aesthetic sensibilities for 22 days, leaving 29 September 1985. £2,385.
Tony Pym takes you to Papua New Guinea in search of the 33 species of Birds of
Paradise to be found on the island. 18 exotic days, leaving 27 July 1985, £3,295.
Harry Llewellyn is your escort on the India Riding,
Wildlife and Cultural Safari. The beautiful Bharatpur
Bird Sanctuary is one of the many highlights in 1 7 days of
discovery. Departs 29 November 1985 and 31 January
1986. £1,559.
Our ornithologist shows you the sheer concentration of
birdlife on the Sri Lanka Wildlife and Cultural Tour. 16
days in paradise, leaving 21 July 1985. £1,245.
Phone for our worldwide brochure.
Twickers World
•WILDLIFE, CULTURAL & WILDERNESS JOURNEYS-
Twickers World Brochure — 01-892 8164.
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PROBLEMS WITH YOUR WADERS?
Then you need the new record specially produced for bird-watchers by the BBC
Natural History Unit:
A Sound Guide To WADERS In Britain
Containing the calls of 33 species, including those at breeding grounds as well as
on migration and on wintering grounds. Conveniently arranged to aid
comparison of similar calls, the recordings also run in a continuous
pattern of sound which can be played for sheer enjoyment.
To bring the sounds of the countryside into your living room, don't miss
which, in two continuous 24 minute recitals, gives you the twelve species voted
our most beautiful songsters by readers of BBC WILDLIFE Magazine.
Both titles in stereo and available in cassette or record, price £3. 99 each
(inc. postage and packing) from: ^
o
Wildlife Selection, P.O. Box 433, Portishead, Bristol BS20 9SB Q
u
NOW
FULLY
WATER
RESISTANT
The new Habicht 10 x 40 WM
(formerly the “Diana”) is the latest
in the line of thoroughbred
WM binoculars which have proved so
popular with bird watchers, and which
gained the “Excellent” rating from
British Birds magazine. Other models
in this range are the Habicht 8 x 30
and 7 x 42, all individually tested
for optical performance, mechanical
excellence and moisture proofing by
total immersion in 1 meter of water.
Sole UK Distributor:
Pvser Ltd, Fircroft
Way; Edenbridge,
Kent, TN8 6HA
Telephone:
Edenbridge
(0732) 864111
(8 lines)
□
ui
(D494)
BINOCULARS and TELESCOPES
from
KAY OPTICAL SERVICING
Service to the Naturalist for over 23 years
SALES (some examples). Prices correct 1/5/85. E&OE
BINOCULARS
ZEISS (West)
8 x 20 B Dialyt
10x25 BDialyt
8 x 30 BGAT Dialyt
10 x 40 BGAT Dialyt
(Standard or Close Focus)
7x42 BGAT Dialyt
LEITZ
8x32 BA Trinovid
8 x 40 BA Trinovid
7x42 BA Trinovid
OPTOLYTH
8x40 Alpin
10x40 Alpin
10x50 Alpin
£
SWIFT
£
153
8% x 44 Audubon
145
165
305
71/2 x 42 Osprey*
110
340
HABICHT (Swarovski)
10 x 40 WM “Diana”
239
365
7x42 WSL/M*
239
10x40 WSL/M*
269
T40
10x50 WSL/M*
294
374
HARTMANN
388
Compact ( 8x30
197
wide ) 8x40
234
129
angle jlO x 40
234
131
( 7x42
247
150
*Price without case/pouch
OPTICRON
9x35 Elite
MAGNON
8x20 RP
£
157
69
TELESCOPES
Optolyth 30 x 75 BGA 239
Optolyth 30 x 80 BGA 273
Spacemaster Zoom* 1 79
Mirador 15-60x60* 175
Kowa TSN-1 (20 x WA)* 265
KowaTSN-2 Zoom* 280
Kowa TS-1 Body* 115
Kowa TS-2 Body* 100
TS Eyepieces from 25
Opticron HR 20-60 x 60* 134
Opticron HR 20-60 x 60 (45°j*
Piccolo (eg 40x60)* 90
Piccolo 20-60x60* 120
Optima Super 60 (eg 30 x 60)*
135
Habicht 23x70* 165
TRIPOD Stitz CV330
55
MAIL/PHONE ORDER service if required — (Add £2.50 pp) Px possible.
REPAIRS to all types of instruments carried out on the premises. Estimates free.
89B London Roadf, Morden, Surrey. Telephone: 01-648 8822 (24 Hour).
|The A24. We are opposite the Midland Bank. (D505)
■ftn
Artificial
House Martin’s
Nest
Remarkably successful readily accepted
by martins, they also encourage the
construction of natural nests. Made of
hard cement compo with hardboard roof
and back easily fixed to eaves of house or
barn with special nails supplied.
Price £9 for 1
£16.50 for 2
including post and packing & VAT
NERINE NURSERIES
Welland, Worcestershire
(D463)
FIRECREST
TELESCOPES AND
BINOCULARS
Choose from 20 scopes and over
40 binoculars
From Alpin, Bushnell, Helios,
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Fast mail order service.
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14 day approval.
For details ring
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FIRECREST
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Warrington, Cheshire WA2 OPP.
(D465)
IV
HERON
8 x 40 BWCF
Fold down rubber
eyecups make this
binocular particularly
suitable for spectacle
wearers. Field of view at
1000 yds , 525 ft. Weight 26ozs
CARL ZEISS 1 0 x 40 B DIALYT
(Hard Case) £358.80
CARL ZEISS 10x40 BGA
(Soft Case) Close Focus. £364.35
LEITZ 1 0 x 40B (Hard Case) £376.00
OPTOLYTH 8 x 40GA (Soft Case) £1 29.00
OPTOLYTH 1 0 x 40GA
(Soft Case) £132.00
OPTOLYTH 1 0 x 50GA
(Soft Case) £150.00
HABICHT DIANA 10x40 £239.95
MIRADOR 10x42 (New) £90.50
SWIFT TRILYTE 10x40
Roof Prism £106.95
SWIFT AUDOBON 8.5x44 £145.30
SWIFT GRAND PRIX 8 x 40 MKII £86.10
ZEISS JENOPTEM 8x30 £48.75
ZEISS JENOPTEM 10x50 £80.40
BUDGET 8.30 £22.45
PENTAX 9 x 20 DCF £68.70
BUSHNELL 7 x 26 Pocket Compact £97.50
Send for
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illustrated
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MAILORDER
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Prices include case, lanyard Add £2 00 p&p
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date. Prices correct at 9. 5.85
_ HERON ^
r OFFERS YOU
★ The best quality models
★ All fully guaranteed
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TELESCOPES
BUSHNELL SPACE
MASTER Case £12.90
20-60 Zoom
OPTOLYTH
I Rubber cove red
30X75 lnctud'n9 case 33o
MIRADOR ZOOM with case
1 5 x 60 x 60mm £189.00
Similarto ‘DISCOVERER’
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Everything for the great out-
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KOWA
77mm telescopes
The choice of telescope for bird-
watching has always been rather
difficult. Should you choose compact
prismatic construction, large objective
glass, interchangeable eyepieces,
zoom or fixed magnification? The
introduction by Kowa of the new TSN
System has greatly simplified the
choice. These beautifully constructed,
razor sharp telescopes combine a
unique selection of the most highly
desired features within a choice of two
body types.
Prices will be in the £200 to £300 price
range dependant on the combination
of body and eyepiece. Extra eye-
pieces, photo-adaptors and carrying
cases are avilable. For full details and
price list please contact:
Tony & Enid Murphy
FOCALPOINT
14 Cogshall Lane Comberbach
Northwich. Cheshire CW9 6BS.
Tel: 0606 891098
Kowa products are imported into the UK by
Arthur E. S. Matthews Ltd.
(D474)
Main St, Empingham,
Nr. Oakham, Leicestershire.
This low traditional stone building
once the village court house, stands in
the middle of Rutland’s most pic-
turesque village. Ideally situated on
the side of Rutland Water offering two
nature reserves with bird watching
huts, guides, binoculars and con-
ducted tours are available by arrange-
ment.
Accommodation Tarriff
Single £15.00
Double/Twin £24.95
including Breakfast & VAT
Bargain Breaks
3 Days £49.50
4 Days £65.00
7 Days £110.00
these include: Breakfast, and 4-course
dinner. All rooms have colour TV and
tea/coffee making facilities. Appetis-
ing bar food, two cosy bars. Egon
Ronay recommended, log fires, steak
bar, restaurant with interesting menu,
afternoon teas, home-made scones
always available also packed lunches.
Robert, Helen and Andrew invite
you to have a pleasant and enjoy-
able time sampling our friendly
hospitality and will be pleased to
answer any enquiries or reserva-
tions.
Tel: Empingham (078086) 221 .
(D475)
VI
“Very balanced, comfortable to hold
and superb optical performance.
One of the finest binoculars for
ornithology, hunting and
general use we have come
across.
COUNTRY SPORT November 1983
,3j
■ ' ■' I : '
Swift Osprey 7.5 x 42 Binoculars
“Optically these
binoculars are
superb,
fine details as
well as any
binoculars I have
used. There is no
indication of
colour fringes
or any other
distortion at
the edge of the
field of view,
nor is there
any colour
cast ”
BRITISH BIRDS 1984
Sole UK Distributor:
Pyser Ltd., Fircroft Way,
Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 6HA
Telephone: Edenbridge
864111 (8 lines)
(D495)
Ask for the
birdwatcher's
popular choice
. . . 9901
For further information please contact:
Zeiss 10 X40B/GAT*
The closer focusing Dialyt
A truly short-focusing
binocular, with a minimum
focusing distance of only 5 lfi
metres and special ‘B’ eyepieces
permitting unrestricted viewing with
or without spectacles. The multi-layer
anti-reflection T* coating gives excellent
image contrast and superior light
transmission at dawn and dusk. Add to
these features the easy-grip rubber
armour (complete with rainguard), light-
weight, sturdiness and dependability, and
you have a binocular unsurpassed in
quality and performance.
x •
V j.,jm
ZEISS
West Germany
Carl Zeiss
(Oberkochen) Ltd
PO Box 78
Woodfield Road
Welwyn Garden City
Herts. AL7 1LU
Telephone
(0707)331144
viii
British Birds
VOLUME 78 NUMBER 6 JUNE 1985
Dartford Warblers in
1984 Britain
Mark Robins and Colin J. Bibby
The Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata is rare in Britain because of the
scarcity and fragmentation of its habitat on the southern lowland
heaths. The heaths, mainly in Surrey, Hampshire and Dorset, are them-
selves of great natural history interest. Their conservation is a subject of
concern because so much has been altered or destroyed. The Dartford
W arbler is one of the key species (Moore 1962) whose status reflects the
effectiveness of conservation efforts.
Dartford Warblers, like other small and sedentary insectivorous birds,
are subject to heavy losses in severe winters. Population levels are usually
below the capacity of the habitat because cold winters normally recur
before numbers have fully recovered from the previous one. Recovery at
sites distant from the centre of the range is inhibited by the low chances of
recolonisation after local extinction of small populations.
Numbers of Dartford W arblers in Britain have been fully assessed in
1960/61 (Bovs 1961; Raynsford 1963; Tubbs 1963) and 1974 (Bibby &
Tubbs 1975). In view of continuing losses and changes oflowland heath, a
further full count was conducted in 1984.
In this paper, we present current information on the status of the
Dartford Warbler and of its habitat in southern England. We review
changes since the last full survey, with emphasis on the effectiveness of
nature-conservation activities in securing the bird's habitat and future
here.
[Bril. Birds 78: 269-280. June 1085]
269
270
Dartford Warblers in 1984 Britain
106. The broken cover of gorse Utex europaeus provides sheltered feeding places for Dartford
Warblers Sylvia undata in times of snow. Dorset, April 1975 (C.J. Bibby)
Methods
Dartford Warbler localities are well known as a result of previous surveys
and the knowledge of local birdwatchers. Known and possible sites,
including all heathland in Dorset, Hampshire and Surrey, were counted on
two or more visits between April and June. Appropriate prior contact and
encouragement ensured that coverage was completed by locals, where
available, and by MR elsewhere, especially in Dorset. The totals recorded
represent the minimum numbers of breeding males, taken as equivalent to
pairs. We do not know to what extent this might underestimate the truth,
but an error greater than 10% is unlikely. The methods have been similar in
previous full surveys, but more thorough than some figures published for
intermediate years.
Vegetation surveys in Dorset and the New Forest (Rippey 1974; Webb &
Haskins 1 980; Tubbs 1974) provided a background for updating in the field
and by reference to aerial photographs. The distribution of dry heath was
mapped in Dorset, and the abundance of gorse Ulex europaeus on each site
estimated (MR). In the New Forest, mature heather Calluna vulgaris was
Dartford Warblers in 1984 Britain
271
107.1 ,arge areas, especially in the New Forest and Surrey, are dominated by bracken Pteridium
aquilinum as a result of excessive burning. Hampshire, November 1974 ( C.J . Ribby)
mapped by L). WesterhofT in three classes of gorse abundance (>50%,
<50%, and absent).
Numbers in 1984
The 423 territories located were as shown in table 1 . Since the 1974 survey,
numbers in some places have been reduced by poor winter weather in
1977/78, 1978/79 and 1981/82. Effects of these winters have differed
between regions. The 1974 total of about 565 pairs followed a long run of
mild winters. This was predicted at the time to be a total unlikely to be
exceeded because of expected habitat loss before another such run of
favourable winters.
Table 1. Pairs of breeding Dartford Warblers Sylvia undata in Britain
Area
1974
1984
Cornwall
0
6
Devon
<5
2
Dorset
286
127
New Forest
250
203
Rest of Hampshire
4
16
Surrey
1
69
Isle of Wight
6
0
Sussex
15
0
TOTALS
c.565
423
272
Dartford Warblers in 1984 Britain
Small and variable populations in Devon, the Isle of Wight and Sussex
continue to be susceptible to extinction followed by a gap before recolonisa-
tion. Otherwise, there have been several changes since 1974. Cornwall was
recolonised in 1980; the first breeding record for 40 years. The Surrey
population was eliminated in 1961, and had barely re-established by 1974.
It is now 69 pairs, approaching the levels last recorded in the 1930s (Bond
1 955) . A small coastal population in Hampshire (five pairs) occurs in areas
of gorse and bramble Rubus fruticosus: a habitat not recorded in the recent
past.
Total numbers have fallen in spite of the dramatic increase in Surrey.
Dorset and the New Forest continue to be the dominant counties, but their
relative positions have changed, with a much larger decline in Dorset.
Circumstances in these two areas are explored in relation to the available
habitats and changes therein.
The New Forest
The extent of the three vegetation classes mapped in 1984 and the distri-
bution of Dartford W arblers are shown in table 2. Areas with mature
heather with gorse occupying more than half the ground have higher
Dartford Warbler densities than those with sparser gorse cover. A total of
153 pairs (75% of the population) was on the ground mapped as heather
with some gorse, which suggests that the area of 1 ,654ha is a good measure
of the abundance of extensive Dartford Warbler habitat. Most of the other
50 pairs were also in gorse and heather, but in patches too small to have
been mapped. The total area of suitable habitat was probably about
1 ,700ha, including allowance for these smaller patches.
Tubbs (1974) estimated that there were 1 ,558 ha of heather with gorse in
1972/73. The small difference probably lies within the limits of accuracy of
108. Accidental fires can seriously damage lowland heath habitat, and nests of Dartford
Warblers Sylvia undata. Dorset, July 1976 ( C.J . Bibby )
Dartford Warblers in 1984 Britain 273
Table 2. Abundance of four classes of vegetation in the New Forest and of Dartford
Warblers Sylvia undata : both surveyed in 1984
‘Other heath’ not surveyed: calculated from estimated total by subtraction
Vegetation Warbler Density
category Area (ha) pairs (km-2)
Heather with >50% gorse
769
108
14.2
Heather with <50% gorse
885
45
5. 1
Heather with no gorse
1,863
25
1.3
Other heath
9,680
25
c.0.3
the surveys, which are believed to be about 10%. Prime Dartford Warbler
habitat has survived at about 1 ,600- 1 ,700ha, or perhaps slightly increased
over the last ten years. There have been changes in its distribution as areas
burn and recover, but gains have matched losses. The shift in distribution
has in general been to the south and east. The distribution of Dartford
Warblers has moved similarly.
Considering the New f orest divided into ten blocks, the numbers of
Dartford Warblers on each were correlated with the abundance of mature
heath with gorse (r8 = 0.64) and more so with areas of greater than 50%
gorse cover (r8 = 0.75). We did not detect any other factors influencing
their distribution and abundance. The heathland in the New Forest is
distributed in a virtually contiguous crescent. Adverse effects of fragmen-
tation and isolation would not therefore be expected.
There were 29 pairs nesting in forestry plantations in 1974, but none in
1984. This habitat is suitable for Dartford Warblers only in its early stages,
and the plantations are now too old. The population declined from 250
pairs in 1974 to 203 in 1984 (19%). Allowing for the loss of habitat in conifer
plantations and no other appreciable change in habitat abundance, the
109. Older gorse Ulex europaeus becoming tall and leggy needs to be cut to maintain ideal
conditions for Dartford Warblers Sylvia undata. Dorset, May 1968 (B. P. Pickess)
274
Dartford Warblers in 1984 Britain
unexplained reduction from 1974 to 1984 was about 8%. We attribute this
small loss to intrinsic population fluctuations, largely due to winter
severity.
Dorset
The total abundance ofheathland in Dorset has now been estimated on four
occasions (table 3). Annual loss rates were about 3.5% from 1960 to 1974.
The following two studies indicate losses of about 1 .0% per annum, contin-
uing to the present. The area of dry heath in 1984 was 2, 198 ha, distributed
over 99 separate areas. Gorse abundance was estimated on these fragments.
1 10. Ideal country for Dartford Warblers Sylvia undata has tall heather Calluna vulgaris and a
scattering of vigorous gorse Ulex europaeus. Dorset, April 1968 (B. P. Pickess)
The majority of sites had less than 1% of gorse, which was therefore very
difficult to measure. On only 3.5% of the area did gorse exceed 20% cover:
a very different situation from the New Forest (table 2). Unlike the New
Forest, stock grazing is virtually non-existent in Dorset. The 2, 1 98 ha of dry
heath in Dorset held 1 16 pairs of Dartford Warblers (5.3 pairs km-2). The
total density on prime habitat in Dorset was thus very similar to that on
mature dry heath with less than 50% gorse cover in the New Forest (table
2);
The effects of changes in abundance ol habitat can be seen by comparing
the 1974 and 1984 distributions of Dartford Warblers (table 4). As in the
New Forest, the suitable forestry has now grown too old, and there has been
Table 3. Area of heathland in Dorset
Year
Area (ha)
Source
1960
10,000
Moore (1962)
1974
6,100
Rippey (1974)
1978
5,832
Webb & Haskins ( 1980)
1984
5,512
This study
275
Hartford Warblers in 1984 Britain
little recent planting on heathland. In addition, 28 territories are no longer
suitable because of complete loss of heathland; 23 of these were on one site.
The remaining reduction of population can be partitioned between that on
habitats still mature dry heath in 1 984 and those now with other heathland
vegetation. I he loss on the former (26%) is significantly less than on the
latter (82%; Xi2 = 16.01; P<0.001). This may represent changes of
vegetation due to fire, as was evidently the case in some areas. Additionally,
a retreat to the most suitable habitats may have occurred at lower
population levels. Some sites occupied in 1974 but not 1984 had not
changed dramatically. I hese may be only marginally suitable for Dartford
Warblers.
111. Old heather Calluna vulgaris in the foreground has died as a result of the 1976 drought.
Younger stands are more vigorous. Dorset, May 1977 ( B . P. Pickess )
The distribution of heaths in Dorset is now such that in Purbeck the sites
are still almost contiguous, with nearest neighbours generally within a
kilometre. Elsewhere, to the north and east, they are much more frag-
mented. Population changes for these two areas, excluding the effects of
total loss of habitat, are shown in table 5. The outlying population has
dropped more severely than that in Purbeck (x^ = 4.67. /><0.05). On the
surviving suitable habitat, there were 7.2 pairs km-2 in Purbeck and 3.4
pairs km-2 on the other heaths (x*2 = 15.45; /><0.001). We attribute these
Table 4. Change in numbers of Dartford Warblers Sylvia undata in Dorset in relation to
vegetation 1974-84
Pairs of Dartford \\ arblers
Vegetation
1974
1984
% loss
Mature dry heath in 1984
156
1 16
26
Other heath in 1984
51
9
82
Forestry
43
1
98
Destroyed heathland
28
0
100
Non-heathland sites
4
1
TOTAL
286
127
57
276
Dartford Warblers in 1984 Britain
'4
1 12. Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata . Surrey. March 1972 (F. Blackburn )
differences to the effects of fragmentation and isolation of the outlying
heaths, since degradation of the habitat alone is insufficient to explain
them. A direct example of this comes from a northern site which in 1974
held 31 pairs of Dartford Warblers. In 1984 there were only four pairs, in
spite of the survival of82ha of mature dry heath with ample gorse. The
decline of about 15% in numbers on surviving dry heath in Purbeck is
similar to that part of the decline in the New Forest which we attribute to
population fluctuation.
Discussion
The Dartford Warbler has suffered mixed fortunes in the decade since its
last census. It is good to see the recolonisation of Cornwall after a 40-year
Dart ford Warblers in 1984 Britain 277
Table 5. Distribution of Dartford Warblers Sylvia undata in Purbeck and outlying heaths
in Dorset according to suitability of habitat
1974 1984 % reduction
PURBEC.K
Dry heath
( 1077ha)
92
78
15.2
Other heath
24
7
70.8
TOTAL
116
85
26.7
OUTLYING HEATHS
Dry heath
(1221 ha)
64
38
40.6
Other heath
27
2
92.6
TOTAL
91
40
56.0
gap. This population, like those in Sussex and the Isle of W ight, is never
likely to become large, and will be subject to high risk of extinction. More
important numerically has been the recolonisation of Surrey. The history of
this area shows that a population of 40 pairs can be exterminated in a single
snow fall, as it was in 1961. Although only about 60km from the New
Forest, it took more than ten years to start a recovery, with initial breeding
attempts being sporadic, as a result of fires and perhaps chance. The
present habitat of about l,270ha might be suitable for up to 100 pairs, but
there are prospects for management to improve these heaths, most of which
are in public ownership. At the moment, there are serious problems from
fire and encroachment of birch Betula, pine Pirns and bracken Pteridium
aquilinum.
Of habitat losses in Dorset and the New Forest, the virtual cessation of
forestry breeding has had a large effect (76 pairs in 1974, reduced to one in
113. Territories of Dartford Warblers Sylvia undata can be overrun by invading birch Betula or
pine Pinus which may need to be manually controlled. Dorset, May 1977 ( B . P. Pickess )
278 Dartford Warblers in 1984 Britain
1 14. Fire can be used under control to rejuvenate small patches of vegetation on reserv es.
Dorset, March 1975 (B. P. Pickess )
1984). The early years of second conifer crops are not likely to be suitable;
by this stage, the ground vegetation is more often grass than heather- or
gorse-dominated as on newly afforested heaths. Gorse is now more vigor-
ously controlled in plantations than it was. Additionally, the trend away
from planting Scots pine Pirns sylvestris may also be unfavourable for
Dartford Warblers. The benefits from forestry in 1974 were therefore only
temporary. The sites are now permanently lost.
Tubbs (1974) expressed concern about the future of gorse in the New
Forest. Strenuous efforts to reduce the amount of heath burnt each year
have succeeded in maintaining the available habitat for Dartford Warblers.
The relatively small drop in numbers, after allowing for loss of forest
habitat, is attributable to natural population fluctuations. With appro-
priate weather, there is at the moment no reason why the 1974 population
level on the New Forest heaths should not be reached again in the future.
The area of most suitable habitat remains a small proportion of the total
area of heather (table 2). Of concern is the retreat from the north and west
side of the area which contributes to the remoteness from potential sources
of colonists of some of the north Dorset heaths. A medium-term cessation
and long-term reduction of dry-heath burning in the northern part of the
Forest, and maintenance of the position in the south, would be desirable.
Good news is much less the case in Dorset. A 10% loss ofheathland in the
last ten years included Florton Common, which in 1974 held 5% of all the
Dartford Warblers in Britain. The heaths are more dispersed and frag-
mented in Dorset than in the New Forest. There are now signs that this is
having an adverse effect, with reductions in numbers being greater in the
outlying sites, simply because of their relative remoteness. If this trend
continues, the Dorset stronghold could be substantially reduced in spread
so as to be virtually confined to Purbeck. Were this to happen, the Dorset
279
Dart ford Warblers in 1984 Britain
population would be reduced to under 100 pairs, separated from the New
Forest by about 40km. This effect has been enlarged by the fact that the
New Forest population has a more southerly and easterly distribution than
in 1974, and is thus more separated from that in Dorset.
I he inevitability that the heaths in Dorset would come to be nature
reserves, Ministry of Defence property, Sites of Special Scientific Interest or
destroyed has now virtually come to pass. The concern for the future is less
the simple prevention of loss of heathland sites. More pressing is how the
Dartford W arbler and other wildlife can be maintained on relatively small
areas of land in increasingly hostile surrounds. Recommendations for the
management and improvement of sites for Dartford Warblers have been
made previously (Bibby 1979). Nature reserves have so far protected sites
from alternative prejudicial uses, but have not been of additional benefit to
Dartford W arblers. More than hall Dorset’s population now occurs on four
major reserves, but population changes have been similar to those on other
surviving sites in Dorset. Two of these reserves were almost completely
burnt, in 1974 and 1976 respectively, so their vegetation was young and
vigorous in 1984. These have suffered a 9% population reduction, in line
with the suggested natural fall in numbers. The other two, free from major
fires, have suffered a 35% reduction in Dartford Warbler numbers. There is
clearly scope for management of existing vegetation to benefit Dartford
Warblers, labour intensive though this is. The Dartford Warbler is scarce
even on areas of mature heather because gorse is much more restricted in
abundance and distribution in Dorset than in the New Forest. It would thus
be possible to improve the habitats by selective encouragement of gorse.
115. Dartford Warblers Svlvia undata, Dorset. May 1975 (C. J. Bibbr)
280
Hartford Warblers in 1984 Britain
and so to maintain nuclei of Dartford Warblers less at risk from local
extinction. Such action could help to offset the increased vulnerability ol the
bird brought about by loss and fragmentation of the lowland heaths.
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to many people and apologise to any who may have been omitted, especially if
they passed on information by way of a co-ordinator. Field data were contributed by:
S. Albrecht, A. Amphlett, D. F. Billet, R. Butler, N. J. Cabbie, B. Cave, D. J. Chillcott, D. A.
Christie, J. M. Clark, D. M. F. Clarke, M. Combridge, P. Combridge, J. R. Cox, J. H. K.
Dagger, P. G. Davis, G. Dutson, G. Evans, M. Evelyn, P. F. Fawkes, E. Flatters, R. Fry,
D. Gowland, G. H. Gush, O. Haissell, P. G. Hawkins, T. Heathcote, G. Huggins, K. D.
Hughes, J. Irvine, E. L. B. Jenkins, J. M. Jones, P. A. Kirkpatrick, J. Leece, S. C. Madge,
P. Maynard, E. Mummery, B. Pickess,A.J. Prater, J. Sage, C. R. Tubbs, J. M. Tubbs, J. M.
Walters, J. Walton, D. Westerhoff, and C. R. Wood. Various permissions for access were
arranged by: C. M. Glaydon, L. C. Drouet, E. Flatters, J. T. Kenward, D. D. T. McCabe,
G. Oliver, and J. Sargent.
W e are particularly grateful to C. R. Tubbs and J. M. Tubbs for their roles in organising
coverage in the New Forest and Surrey, and toj. M. Clark for co-ordination in the Hampshire/
Surrey border area. C. R. Fubbs also commented on a draft and generously allowed us to
measure and summarise results of vegetation mapping conducted in the New Forest by D.
W esterholf on behalf of the Nature Conservancy Council. N. R. W ebb provided access to
aerial photographs of Dorset, and the Nature Conservancy Council, Taunton, provided
map-measuring facilities.
Summary
A total of 423 territories of Dartford W arbler Sylvia undata was found in Britain in 1984,
compared with about 565 in 1974. Surrey now has a strong population after recovery from
extinction in 1961 , and Cornwall is occupied after a 40-year absence. In the centre of the range,
about 10-15% of the population decline is attributed to 1974 having followed a run of milder
w inters than did 1984. A loss of 75 territories was due to the growth of forestry plantations,
temporarily suitable in 1974 but now too old (and permanently unsuitable), and fortunately
not replaced by other new plantings. The amount of suitable habitat has remained about the
same in the New Forest, but declined by about 10% in Dorset. Further losses in Dorset have
been due to degradation of sites, and the effects of fragmentation and isolation. Suitable
habitat is more densely occupied in the Purbeck peninsula than in the other more isolated
heaths in Dorset. The Dorset and New Forest populations are more separate than they were in
1974. The maintenance or improvement of suitable habitat on protected sites should be a
priority for the future!
References
Bibby, C. J. 1979. Conservation of the Dartford W arbler on English lowland heaths: a review.
Biol. Conserv. 13: 299-307.
& Fubbs, C. R. 1975. Status, habitats and conservation of the Dartford W arbler in
England. Brit. Birds i] 8: 177-195.
Bond, P. 1 955. A Revised List of the Birds of the Haslernere District. Haslcmere.
Boys, J. V. 1961 . Report on selected species. Proc. Dorset Nat. Hist. Arch. Soc. 82: 67-69.
Moore, N. W . 1 962. The heaths of Dorset and their conservation. /. Ecol. 50: 369-39 1 .
Raynsford, E. j. 1963. A short history of the Dartford W arbler in Surrey. Surrey Bird Report
(1961): 31-33.
Rippey, B. H. R. F. 1973. The conservation of Dorset heaths: a factual study. Discourse for
degree of MSc(Conservation), Univ. Coll. Eondon.
Fubbs, C. R. 1963. The significance of the New Forest to the status of the Dartford Warbler in
England. Brit. Birds 56: 41-48.
1974. Heathland management in the New Forest, Hampshire, England. Biol. Conserv.
ti: 303-306.
W ebb, N. R., & Haskins, E. E. 1980. An ecological survey of heathlands in the Pole Basin,
Dorset, England in 1978. Biol. Conserv. 17: 281-296.
Mark Robins and Colin J. Bibby , RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SCI!) 2D L
Mystery photographs
116. Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos in winter plumage, USA, April 1982 ( Amoud B. ran
den Berg)
This robust-looking wader (plate 97, repeated here as plate 1 16)
has generally stoekv proportions, short legs (less than maximum
depth of body), and swarthy, boldly scaled upperparts, suggesting a species
of Calidris. Comparing it mentally with Dunlin C. alpina. it is larger bodied,
with a proportionately smaller head and shorter, only slightly down-curved
bill; it is generally sturdier, but is longer and more attenuated at the rear. It
has a flat-backed, horizontal carriage, an apparently short neck, and a
full-breasted appearance.
It also has a distinctive pattern to its underparts: a strongly marked
throat and a vertically streaked breast, cleanly demarcated from the white
belly. Together, these features are indicative of Pectoral Sandpiper C.
melanotos and, in the field, observation of the typically vellow-ochre legs
would complete the diagnosis. This particular individual, photographed by
Arnoud B. van den Berg in the USA during April 1982, is still in winter
plumage (some scapulars seem to be missing, signalling the onset of the
spring moult). It would look rather greyer and colder in tone than the more
familiar (in Europe) juveniles and summer adults, both of which have more
richly coloured and more sharply defined fringes to the feathers of the
mantle, scapulars and tertials and, usually, well-marked white mantle and
scapular Vs.
When a Pectoral becomes suspicious, it may adopt an erect, head-up
posture (with, abruptly, a surprisingly long neck); it can momentarily
recall a female Ruff Philomachus pugnax rather than a Calidris (and, in fact,
shares a rather similar flight pattern, with little wing-bar and two white
ovals at the base of the tail), but thought of that species should be soon
dispelled as it returns to its normal posture: the imperious stance is short-
lived and is not the persistently elevated mien (a function of both posture
and leg-length) of the Ruff.
The onlv real confusion-species is its close relative, the Sharp-tailed
Sandpiper C. acuminata, which is of similar proportions, though, to some
[Bril. Birds 78: 281-283. June 19851
281
282 Mystery photographs
eyes, heavier-looking. Juveniles and winter adults lack extensive markings
on the underparts: juveniles usually display a narrowly streaked necklace
above a warm, rufous-bufT breast, while adults are diffusely marked at the
sides of the pale greyish-buff breast. They are thus distinct from almost all
Pectoral Sandpipers (a few juvenile Pectorals have markings which are
slightly less strong in the centre of the breast). On summer adult Sharp-
tailed, the underparts are boldly marked with scallops and chevrons, but,
unlike the Pectoral, these markings continue profusely onto the flanks, and
do not form a clearly delineated gorget; additionally, the undertail-coverts
are extensively streaked. At all ages, the head pattern provides useful clues;
the crown of Sharp-tailed is strongly toned with chestnut or rufous
(particularly on adults), producing a bright cap which contrasts with the
upperparts and is highlighted by a clearly defined, white supercilium,
widest behind the eye. The crown of Pectoral, though displaying chestnut,
rarely forms such an obviously distinct, bright cap. The supercilium is
frequently heavily streaked on adults and is broader in front of the eye than
behind; on juveniles, although occasionally like that of the adult, the
fore-supercilium is more-frequently diffuse or even forked. On individuals
with heavily streaked supercilia (such as the mystery bird), the pale eye-
ring is highlighted, and can almost match in prominence that of the
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper: this suggested field-character (Brit. Birds 75: 128)
must, therefore, be used with caution.
Pectoral Sandpiper in worn adult summer plumage has featured
previously in this series (Brit. Birds 74: 344-345) and another picture of the
same individual is shown here (plate 117). Readers are referred to that item
and to the paper by D. J. Britton (Brit. Birds 73: 333-345) for a fuller
discussion of the characters of these two species. A. R. Dean
117. Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris metanotos in worn adult summer plumage, Mid Glamorgan.
August 1980. The moult to winter plumage is underway, as shown by the newly grown winter
feathers ( two lower scapulars and about six upper scapulars) (Richard G. Smith)
283
Mystery photographs
1 18 & 1 19. Mystery photographs 103. Identify the species. Answer next month
Diary dates
This list covers July 1985 to June 1986
2nd July British ornithologists’ club. Dr
Brian Wood on ‘Waterfowl conservation and
wetland management in Tunisia and
Algeria’. Central London. Non-members
should write (enclosing SAE) at least two
weeks before to Hon. Secretary. R. E. F. Peal.
2 Chestnut Lane. Sevenoaks. KentTN13 3.\R.
4th- 17th July society of wildlife artists’
annual exhibition (including display of
winning entries in ‘Bird Illustrator of the
Year’ and ‘The Richard Richardson Award’
competitions). The Mall Galleries, The
Mall, London swi. Open 10-5 Mon.-Fri..
10-1 Sat. Admission £1.00 (free to SWLA
members).
6th July ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF THE
middle east agm. Natural History Museum.
London. Details from OSME, c/o The
Lodge, Sandy. Bedfordshire SC19 2DL.
2nd-6th September joint meeting of
INTERNATIONAL BIRD CENSUS COMMITTEE AND
EUROPEAN ORNITHOLOGICAL ATLAS COMMIT-
TEE. University of Dijon. France. ‘The
influence of man on forest bird communities.'
Further information from Dr B. Frochot,
Laboratoire d’F.cologie, Batiment Mirande.
Universite. 2100 Dijon. France.
14th- 18th September the 3rd inter-
national WILDLIFE FILM-MAKERS’ SYMPOSIUM.
The L^niversity. Claverton Down. Bath.
Avon. ‘Wildlife and the third age of broad-
casting.’ Details from the British Kinemato-
graph Sound and Television Society. 110-112
Victoria House, Vernon Place. London WC2B
4DJ.
3rd-6th October THIRD ITALIAN CONFERENCE
of ornithology. Salice Terme, Pavia.
Northern Italy. Information from Confer-
ence Secretary. Segreteria III Convegno
Italiano Ornitologia. Dipartimento Biologia
Animate. Piazza Botta9, 27100 Pavia. Italy.
11th- 13th October bto statistics course.
Eaton Hall International. Retford. Notting-
hamshire. Contact John Pern at Eaton Hall
International; tel.: Retford (0777) 706441.
1 2th October RSPB LONDON DAY AND AGM.
Kensington and Chelsea Town Hall. Details
from Mrs Marcella Hume. RSPB. The
284
Diary dates
Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL.
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AND RUTLAND ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY/
LEICESTER POLYTECHNIC ONE-DAY CONFER-
ENCE. Leicester Polytechnic. ‘Seabirds.’
Details from Ron Hickling. 44 Swithland
Lane, Rothlev, Leicester; tel.: Leicester
(0533) 302845.
lst-3rd November Scottish ornitholo-
gists’ CLUB ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND AGM.
Marine Hotel, North Berwick. Details from
Club Secretary', SOC, 21 Regent Terrace,
Edinburgh EH7 5BT.
2nd- 10th November raptor research
FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL MEETING AND
SYMPOSIUM ON THE MANAGEMENT OF BIRDS OF
prey. Capitol Plaza Holiday Inn, Sacra-
mento, California. Information from Dr
Richard R. OlendorfT, LkS Bureau of Land
Management, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacra-
mento, California 95825, USA.
9th November bto/surrf.y bird club one-
day conference. University of Surrey,
Guildford. ‘Man and birds.’ Details from
Mrs Gina Carrington. Applegarth House,
The Hildens, Westcott. near Dorking,
Surrey; tel.: Dorking (0306) 889095.
15th-17th November irish wildbird con-
servancy/bto conference. The Grand
Hotel, Malahide, Co. Dublin. ‘Birds — past,
present and future.’ Information from Jim
Dowdall, 47 Swansnest Court. Kilbarrack,
Dublin 5.
23rd-24th November SCOTTISH RINGERS’
conference. Middleton Hall Conference
Centre, near Edinburgh. Details from
Jacquie Clark. SOC.
29th November- 1 st December bto annual
conference and agm. Hayes Conference
Centre, Swanwick, Derbyshire. ‘BTO in
action.’ Details from Tim Davis, BTO,
Beech Grove, Tring, Hertfordshire HP23 5NR;
tel.: Tring (044282) 3461.
13th- 15th December national exhibition
of cage and aviary birds. National
Exhibition Centre, Birmingham. Details
from Brian Bytes, Editor, "Cage and Aviary
Birds’, Surrey House, 1 Throwley Way,
Sutton, Surrey s.Ml +qq.
3rd-5th January bto ringing and
migration conference. Swanwick. Details
from the Ringing Office, BTO.
25th and 26th January yoc garden
birdwatch. 9.00-10.00 a.m.
26th-29th January third international
pheasant symposium. Chiang Mai, Northern
Thailand. Details from Keith Howman,
World Pheasant Association, Ashmere, Felix
Lane, Shepperton, Middlesex.
31st January Closing date for entries for
"Bird Photograph of the Year’.
31st January Closing date for ‘Best recent
black-and-white bird-photographs’.
14th- 16th February bto populations
conference. Swanwick. ‘Waders.’ Details
from Rob Fuller, BTO.
14th March Closing date lor entries for ‘Bird
Illustrator of the Year’.
18th March- 13 th May YOC MIGRATION
phone-in. Telephone Sandy (0767) 80551.
Tuesdays only, 5 p.m.-7.30 p.m. Records
from adults welcomed.
22nd March (provisional) bou agm. Oxford.
Details from BOU, c/o Zoological Society of
London, Regent’s Park, London N\vi 4RY.
1 1th- 13th April RSPB MEMBERS’ WEEKEND.
University of York. Details from Mrs
Marcella Hume.
12th April BTO ONE-DAY CONFERENCE.
Gamston, Retford, Nottinghamshire. Details
from Ted Cowley, Lincoln Cottage, Main
Street, Clayworth, Retford; tel.: Retford
(0777) 817799.
5th May yoc national sponsored
BIRDWATCH.
22nd-29th June 1 9TH INTERNATIONAL
ORNITHOLOGICAL CONGRESS. Ottawa,
Canada. Information from Dr Henri Ouellet,
Secretary General, XIX Congressus Inter-
nationalis Ornithologicus, National
Museum of Natural Sciences, Ottawa,
Ontario, Canada K1AOM8.
Sheila D. Cobban, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford A IK 44 3NJ
^rUentp-fibe pears; ago...
‘Mr Gurney reports that during the end ofDecember, 1908, and January, 1909, Mr F. Coburn
received from King’s Lynn fourteen examples of Brent Geese, which he identified as belonging
to the American form Bemicla brenta nigricans (Lawrence). All the birds were reported as shot in
the Wash — two on January 19th, 1909, and seven more on the 26th.’ (Brit. Birds 4: 27; June
1910)
PhotoSpot
12. Dupont’s Lark
Some species have a very special appeal, for a variety of reasons. The
attraction of this one is at least partly its elusive quality. It has a very
restricted world range, extending only in a strip through North Africa from
Morocco to Egypt (and in Iberia), and, even where it occurs, is often not
easy (or even impossible) to find. It is vocal and active in daylight hours
only at dawn, though can be heard singing at night. 1 1 stands stationary and
120. Adult Dupont’s Lark Chersophilus duponti , Spain. July 1983 (Arnoud B. van den Berg;)
well hidden, or runs rather than flies, in its very' flat habitat, which does,
however, have low vegetation in which the bird soon vanishes (if it ever
appears). There must be many observers who have heard Dupont s Lark
Chersophilus duponti but not seen it. W hen seen, it has a most distinctive
posture, with an upright stance and the curved bill pointing slightly
upwards. Then, suddenly, the bodv becomes horizontal and the bird
gallops away on its long legs, rather like a two-legged horse. The eastern
race is pale and reddish, but the western race is perhaps even more
attractive, with dark brown upperparts, spangled with pearl-like contrast-
ing spots. We have recently featured this species in a paper by A. Aragiies
285
[Bril. Birds 78: 285-286. June 1985)
286
PhotoSpot
121. Adult Dupont’s Lark Chersophilus duponti, Spain, July 1983 ( Amoud B. van den Berg)
and A. Herranz {Brit. Birds 76: 57-62) and there have been other recent
publications on it in Le Gerfaut (72: 231-235) and Dutch Buding (6: 102-105).
JTRS
Points of view
Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of ‘British Birds’
14. Help for the Snowy Owls
The report on ‘Rare breeding birds in the UK in 1982’ {Brit. Birds 78: 69-92)
mentioned the presence of up to four female Snowy Owls Nyctea scandiaca on
Fetlar, Shetland, throughout the breeding season, and noted that, in the
absence of any males, two individuals laid single unfertilised eggs.
Surely, the time is now right to introduce males from Scandinavia or from
zoo collections into the area and, hopefully, re-establish breeding.
[/fnV. Birds 78: 286-287, June 1985]
287
Points of view
If introduction is not carried out, it will not be long before the female
Snowy Owls disappear altogether. What a sad loss to British avifauna this
would be. Once again, the Snowy Owl would be relegated to the status of
rare vagrant.
Other species, such as White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albici/la, have been
successfully introduced. It can be only a matter of time before they become
established breeders. The same should be done for the Snowv Owl.
Mike T erry
224 Bluebell Road , Swaythling, Southampton S023LJ
We must point out that the White-tailed Eagles are being reintroduced (not introduced) by
conservation bodies, after extermination of the natural population bv man’s activities,
whereas the Snowy Owls are failing to become established as their initial natural colonisation
peters out. I he cases are, therefore, not strictly comparable. What, however, are readers’
opinions on Mike Terry’s suggestion? Eds
Best recent black-and-white
bird-photographs
Our feature — in this, its 26th year — relies heavily on regular contributors,
though we are delighted to welcome two newcomers. Of the ‘estab-
lished’ contributors, Sheila and Brian Bottomley have an entry for the 15th
year, Kevin Carlson for the 14th year (with three selected), Dennis Green
for the 12th year, and Harold Grenfell for the tenth year, while work by
Tony Bond appears for the seventh consecutive year. Our newcomers this
year are S. M. D. Alexander and A. R. Hamblin, to whom go our con-
gratulations. The submissions were such that we are able to present a
varied selection of bird-photographs, most away from the nest, of birds of
such diverse sizes and species as Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus and Blue Tit
Parus caemleus.
Over the years, Dennis Green has let us see many of his shots of Merlins
Falco columbarius, and the one we reproduce here (plate 122) is a worthy
addition to his fine series of photographs of that species. Harold Grenfell
has submitted a number of wader pictures in the past, and this year we have
selected two, both showing the same two species, Dunlin Calidris alpina and
Little Stint C. minuta. The latter, surprisingly, appears for the first time in
this feature. The first of these two photographs (plate 123) makes a
wonderful pattern as a mixed flock of Dunlins with a few Little Stints flies
past, all banking in the co-ordinated wav characteristic of the smaller
waders. The companion picture (plate 1 24) provides a fine size-comparison
[Brit. Birds 78: 287-296.. June 1985]
288
Best recent black-and-white bird-photographs
of Little Stint and Dunlin feeding side-by-side, the watery surround to the
birds avoiding the compositional problem of an out-of-focus foreground.
A visit to Cyprus provided S. M. D. Alexander with a ‘double first’: the
first selection of his work for this feature, and the first time that a Griffon
Vulture has been included (plate 125). The fine underwing detail makes
this both an attractive and a useful picture. We are delighted once again to
be able to include a characteristic and delightful Bottomley wader (plate
126): on this occasion, the result of a recent expedition to Florida. This
particular picture, of a winter-plumaged ‘peep’, would not have been out of
place in the feature ‘Mystery photographs’, the choice (in Florida) being
between Semipalmated Calidris pusilla and Western Sandpipers C. mauri.
The slightly tapering, longish, decurved bill, finely streaked head and nape
lacking any capped effect, and slender, elongated body, all indicate
Western Sandpiper, though for that species this individual has a com-
paratively short bill. Hardly surprisingly, this species also features for the
first time.
A mystery photograph of a different kind is provided by Mark Hamblin’s
interesting shot of a preening Rook Corvus frugilegus (plate 127), presumably
perched by its nest. This bird’s identification is not immediately apparent,
but the obviously early spring, tree-top location is perhaps the best clue to
its identity. The lower photograph on the same page (plate 128) was taken
by a second member of the Hamblin family, A. R. Hamblin. This delightful
shot of a female Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca near its nest, neatly
framed by the branch on which it perches, is a fine entry for this feature, his
son Mark’s first entry being as recent as last year.
Dr Kevin Carlson’s photographs are well known to British Birds’ readers,
and this year we have selected three, all fine examples of his careful,
painstaking technique. The Greenfinch Carduelis chloris (plate 129) is shown
to perfection, with fine plumage detail, unobscured by any surrounding
foliage, while the cock Pheasant Phasianus colchicus (plate 130), an inter-
esting melanistic mutant attracted to bait, is well shown in typical
woodland habitat.
Tony Bond’s photographs this year are both of groups of birds. The first
(plate 131) shows Curlews Numenius arquata , alert, in a compact group, all
the birds within the picture and with enough depth-of-field for all to be in
focus. The second (plate 132), an excited group of Common Terns Sterna
hirundo , attracted to food supplied by the photographer, provides an
original and lively picture; again the shot is well framed, with the centre of
interest well positioned. Kevin Carlson’s third photograph (plate 133) is
also of a bird at bait: a Nuthatch Sitta europaea in a characteristic pose at a
well-chosen site.
We much admired the photograph by Bj^rn Huseby (plate 134): one of
the most delightful pictures of a Blue Tit that we have seen. It is in flight, is
superbly positioned, with every detail of the bird’s plumage shown, and is
framed by a muted but interesting background. We look forward to seeing
more of Huseby ’s work, represented here for the third time.
We much enjoyed examining the photographs submitted for this feature.
Work for next year’s selection should be submitted by 31st January 1986.
289
Best recent black-and-white bird-photographs
We also take the opportunity of reminding potential contributors of the
need to comply with both the spirit and the letter of the Wildlife and
Countryside Act 1981.
R..J. Chandler, Eric Hosking, J. T. R. Sharrock and Don Smith
122. Female Merlin Falco columbarius, Clwyd, June 1980 (Dennis Green) (Hasselblad 500 C/M. 150 mm
Sonnar; Tri-X; fb.3, 1/250)
BgSesj
123. Above. Dunlins Ca/idris a/pina and Little Stints C. mimita , Dorset, September 1984 (Hamid E.
Grenfell ) (Nikon FM2, 300 mm Nikkor; Tri-X; fB.3, 1/1000)
124. Below, juvenile Little Stint Ca/idris minuta and juvenile Dunlin C. alpina, Dorset. September 1984
(Harold E. Grenfell ) (Nikon FM2, 300 mm Nikkor; Tri-X; fb.3, 1/1000)
125. Top right, immature GrifTon Vulture Gyps fulvus, Cyprus, September 1984 (S. M. D. Alexander)
(Canon F-l,400mm FD; XP1; f4.5. 1/2000)
126. Bottom right, winter Western Sandpiper Ca/idris mauri, Florida, USA. October 1984 (/. B. & S.
Bottomlev) (Nikon F. 300 mm Nikkor: XP1; fl 1, 1/1000)
* >
127. Male Rook Coitus frugilegus preening, Worcestershire, April 1984 ( Mark Hamblin) (Pentax MX
300 mm Pentax; f8. 1/250)
128. Female Pied Flycatcher Ficedula brpo/euca. Powvs, June 1984 (A. R. Hamblin) (Olympus OM2N,
Vivitar 70-210 zoom; FP4; electronic flash. (16. 1/60)
29. Female Greenfinch Carduelis clitoris, Norfolk. June 198+ ( K.J . Carlson) (Nikon FE2. 200 mm Micro
Nikkor: FP4; f8. auto)
30. Male Pheasant Phasianus colchicus. Norfolk. March 1984 (K. J. Carlson ) (Nikon FE2
Nikkor: EP4: f5.6. 1/125)
mm
294
Best recent black-and-white bird-photographs
131. Curlews Nurnenius arquata , Mersevside, March 1984 (Anthony J . Bond) (Canon A-l , 400 mm Soligor;
FP4; fl 1 , 1/250)
132. Common Terns Sterna hirando, Norfolk, June 1984 (Anthony J. Bond) (Canon A-l, Canon
70-210 mm zoom; FP4; 1/500, auto)
Best recent black-and-white bird-photographs
295
133. Nuthatch Sittaeuropaea , Norfolk, March 1984 (K.J. Carlson ) (Nikon FE2. 135 mm Nikkor FP4- fl 1
1/250)
296
Best recent black-and-white bird-photographs
134. Blue Tit Pams caemleus. Norway, winter 1984 (Bjjim Husebv) (Hasselblad EL-M, 120 mm. HP-5,
f22, 1/500 electronic flash, 2 lamps)
Notes
One adult Grey Heron killing another on feeding
territory During a study of the feeding ecology of the
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea at Newburgh, Aberdeenshire,
Grampian, I observed a territorial adult fighting with an
immature; it started at about 15.30 GMT and lasted for 25
minutes; the immature, a male weighing 1 , 1 20 g, died four
hours after the fight.
From the beginning of the study, in late October 1981,
three adult herons regularly fished on Foveran Burn, each
defending a territory; they were individually recognisable
by marked differences in plumage characteristics. Two immatures also
used the same stretch of the burn, but were chased off as soon as thev were
detected by the territory-owners. One of these immatures, a first-year, used
the lower section of the burn and intruded on two of the adults; the other, a
second-year, regularly used the upper section, intruding on the third adult.
Physical encounters between these individuals had not been seen
previously. On 14th January 1982, however, the non-territorial second-
year heron was chased by the third adult from the latter’s feeding territory
onto a field 50 m from the burn, where the adult continued the attack: it
took hold of the immature, which was sitting on the grass, stood on its back
and hit its head with the closed bill; it often opened its bill and held the
younger bird’s head crosswise between lower and upper mandibles for up to
40 seconds. This injured the immature: in particular, both its eyes were
damaged and the lid of its left eye destroyed. It attempted weak upward
thrusts with its bill at the throat of the adult; after 15 minutes, these blows
became fewer and it laid its head on the ground. Following this, the adult
began to walk around its victim, attacking it each time the immature raised
its bill. The fight ended after 25 minutes, when the immature was lying
motionless in the grass and the adult flew back to its feeding site. I picked up
the injured heron, put it in an aviary and fed it on fish; when I returned
three hours later, it was dead. Its skull was not broken, but a haematoma
was found at the back of its head. Heinz Richner
Culterty Field Station. L University of Aberdeen. Newburgh AB4 OAA
Mouth and gape colours of singing Marsh and Reed Warblers W. G.
Harvey and R. F. Porter (Brit. Birds 77: 393-41 1) mentioned the overlap in
mouth colour of Acrocephalus warblers. Field observations on a study
population of Marsh Warblers A.palustris and sympatric Reed Warblers A.
scirpaceus confirm that the mouth colour of the two species overlaps con-
siderably, and that the suggestion bvj. Cantelo (Brit. Birds 77: 214-215) of a
clear-cut difference between the species is not supported by the evidence.
Examination in the hand showed that no Marsh Warblers had yellow
mouths, a few had yellow-orange mouths, but most had orange mouths.
The difference between the yellow-orange and orange was extremely slight
and hardly discernible in the field. Thus, the mouth colour of singing
297
298
Notes
Marsh Warblers in the study population appeared orange in the field and
inseparable from that of the local Reed Warblers, which all had orange
mouths.
J. Cantelo cited a note by P. Davis (Brit. Birds 58: 184-188), who in fact
referred not to mouth colour but to gape colour. As Harvey & Porter
pointed out. Marsh Warblers show variation in the colour of the inner edge
of the gape. In my study population, the gape colour of most Marsh
Warblers was yellow, with some showing yellow-orange. Variation did
occur also with Reed Warblers. Most Reed Warbler gapes were orange, but
a few were yellow-orange. The effect of this was that most singing Marsh
Warblers showed considerable contrast between the yellow gape edge and
the orange mouth, whereas there was little contrast between the gape
colour and mouth colour of singing Reed Warblers. Some Marsh Warblers
showed contrast such that the gape appeared as a bold and distinct yellow
boundary to an orange mouth. Little contrast was, however, shown by
those singing Marsh Warblers with yellow-orange gape edges, and one
singing Reed Warbler was seen with yellowish gape edges.
Although the bold gape and mouth contrast might well prove to be
diagnostic for some Marsh Warblers, there appears to be sufficient overlap
to give rise to caution in attempting to separate the two species by this
character.
Since the inner edge of the gape and the mouth are almost invariably
visible only on singing individuals, however, the identification should be
fairly straightforward anyway because of the considerable difference in
quality, structure and delivery of the song. In the rare instance of en-
countering a Reed Warbler with unusually high mimetic ability, mouth or
gape colour cannot be used as an absolute distinction. Correct identifica-
tion of singing spring adults is, however, quite possible on a careful assess-
ment of plumage, jizz and structural criteria, as already described (Brit.
Birds 58: 184-188; 71: 122; 72: 190-191; 77: 393-41 1). ' M. G. Kelsey
Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology, Zoology Department, South Parks Road ,
Oxford 0X1 3PS
Notes on Short-toed Treecreepers from southern Spain I have
examined specimens of Short-toed Treecreeper Certhia brachydactyla from
the collection of the Donana Biological Station, Sevilla, and live birds in
Sierra Morena and Donana National Park, Spain. The specimens are all
from southern Spain (where Treecreeper C . familiaris does not exist), and
notes on the plumage and biometrics of this population may be of interest.
In this region, Short-toed Treecreeper generally prefers areas of sparse
trees such as cork oaks Quercus suber, open forests of stone pines Pinus pinea
with some undergrowth shrub, or groves of olives Olea europaea (Herrera
1978).
Svensson (1984) indicated that the majority of Short-toed Treecreepers
have a complete white border on the outer web of the big feather of the
alula, whereas the white border is lacking or broken on the majority of
Treecreepers. Fig. 1 shows the variation in this feature on the specimens
which I examined, from no white at all (A) to a very obvious white border
(I). Between these extremes, there was much variation which had no
Notes
299
Fie;. 1. Variation in pattern on big feather of alula of 31 specimens of Short-toed Treecreeper
Certhia brachydactyla from southern Spain. Types F and G were most numerous (six and 13
respectively)
relation to age or sex. Of 31 specimens, ten (32%) did not have a complete
white border, this being lacking or broken in the same way as on most
Treecreepers. This shows that this feature on its own is not reliable for
separating the two species in southern Spain, a similar situation to that
elsewhere in Europe (Svensson 1984).
Measurements (in mm) of the hind claw showed a mean value of
7.47 ± 0.4 (N = 28) and a range of 6. 5-8. 4. Measurements of the bill showed
a mean value of 18. 8 ±1.4 (N=34) and a range of
16.5-22.05. The discriminant proposed by Svensson
(1984), concerning the idea that the ratio of the hind
claw to the bill (hind claw length as a percentage of
bill length) is less than 45.6 in Short-toed Tree-
creeper, was correct for all specimens examined. No
difference between sexes was noted, although the sex
of every specimen was not determined.
The discriminant suggested by Mead & Wallace
(1976, and included in Svensson 1984) that the hind
claw of Short-toed Treecreeper is less than 0. 1 4 X bill
length +5.6 (whereas that of Treecreeper is greater)
was doubtful in only two cases and correct in the rest
(93%), as shown in fig. 2.
Fig. 2. Bill/hind claw plotted for 27 specimens of Short-toed Tree-
creeper Certhia brachvdactvla from southern Spain, showing strong
correlation (rs = 0.548, P < 0.01; Y = 0. 15X 4- 4.48). Thick line
represents hind claw: 0.14 X bill 4- 5.6.
As for the coloration of the upperparts (Chapman 1984), the Short-toed
Treecreepers that I examined appeared darker and less striped with pale
than on a single Norwegian specimen of Treecreeper which I have studied.
I am grateful to Juan Manuel de Benito and Rafael Cadenas from
ICONA, who permitted me to stay in the Donana National Park, and to
Carlos Ibanez who arranged access to the specimens in the Donana
Biological Station. M. Rodriguez de los Santos
Grupo Omitologico del Sur , Apartado 1067, Sevilla. Spain
300
Notes
135. Short-toed Treecreeper Certhia brachydactyla, Spain, July 1984, showing complete white
margin on big feather of alula matching type G in fig. 1 (M. Rodriguez)
REFERENCES
Chapman, M. S. 1984. Identification ofShort-toed Treecreeper. Brit. Birds 77: 262-263.
Herrera, C. M. 1978. Evolucion estacional de las comunidades de passeriformes en dos
encinares de Andalucia Occidental. Ardeola 25: 143-180.
M ead, C. J., & Wallace, D. I. M. 1976. Identification of European treecreepers. Brit. Birds
76: 117-131.
Svensson, L. 1984. Identification Guide to European Passerines. 3rd edn. Stockholm.
Further comments on treecreeper identification M S. Chapman {Brit.
Birds 77: 262-263) stated that, compared with Short-toed Treecreeper
Certhia brachydactyla , Treecreeper C. familiaris has uniform, more richly
brown-coloured upperparts with more prominent white streaking, particu-
larly on the nape and upper mantle. When preparing an identification
paper on the two species (Hirschfeld 1984), I came across specimens of
Short-toed Treecreepers which had virtually the same coloration on the
upperparts S.s Treecreepers. They were collected in Spain and Crete, and
were thus from other parts of Europe than those studied by Chapman. The
coloration of the upperparts is a good indication of the identity of tree-
creepers in northern Europe, but may need to be used with care, especially
in southern Europe. The prominence of the streaking can vary, as shown by
the Treecreeper in plate 136. I agree with C. J. Mead’s comment on the
note, that such relatively subtle differences as prominence of streaks and
coloration of upperparts may be of limited use for the field observer viewing
a single treecreeper.
Laurel Tucker {Brit. Birds 77: 263-264) invited comment on bill colour as
a possible criterion for separating the two species. As early as 1937,
Niethammer drew attention to differences in colour of the upper mandible
of treecreepers. Contrary to Tucker, however, he stated that the upper
mandible ofShort-toed Treecreeper is darker than that of Treecreeper, and
plates 137 and 138 show the feature in accordance with Niethammer. The
bill colour apparently varies individually and is therefore of little or no use
as a means of separating the two species.
Notes
301
136. T reecreeper Certhia familiaris of
nominate northern subspecies with dark sides
to upper mandible. Pattern on upperparts of
this individual less contrasting than usual.
Sweden. February 1981 (Sture Persson)
137. T reecreeper Certhia familiaris of
nominate northern subspecies with light
sides to upper mandible. Supercilium is
unusually short, but contrasting. Sweden.
March 1980 {Jan Schutrjr)
138. Short-toed Tree-
creeper Certhia hrachv-
dactvla . Sweden. 1983.
Sides of upper mandible
dark, and streaking on
upperparts quite pro-
minent. Note indistinct,
greyish supercilium
( Mikael Jonassohn)
302
Notes
I agree with Fucker that bill length and shape are a good aid when
identifying adults, but variations occur and I have seen juvenile Short-toed
Treecreepers with bills shorter than those of adult Treecreeper. Again,
judging bill length and shape of a single bird demands care and experience.
I believe that the key to treecreeper identification is in the appearance of
the supercilium. Chapman mentioned that the supercilium of Treecreeper
is broad and contrasting. I should like to put it this way: Short-toed
Treecreeper has a greyish-white to yellowish-white supercilium, whereas
that of Treecreeper is pure white. The supercilia of Treecreeper are longer
and broader, most often extending to the base of the bill and often
(probably only on the northern race C.f familiaris ) joining as a white line
above the base of the bill (see plate 136). The supercilia of Short-toed
Treecreeper are always short and never pure white, and often fade away
towards the bill. They never join above the base of the bill and do not
contrast with the rest of the head as much as those of Treecreeper. I have
seen three juvenile Short-toed Treecreepers which even lacked any
indication at all of a supercilium in front of the eye.
The whiteness of the supercilium is very obvious on Treecreepers of the
northern subspecies familiaris, but even those of the Continental subspecies
C. f. macrodactyla show a white and contrasting supercilium. Since the
British subspecies C. f. britannica is very unlikely to occur in Sweden, I
studied specimens of it only briefly, but this feature seems to apply to it as
well. Erik Hirschfeld
Kristianstadsgatan 13, S-214 23 Malmb , Sweden
REFERENCES
Hirschfeld, E. 1984. Problem att i fait skilja tradkryparen Certhia familiaris och tradgards-
tradkryparen Certhia brachydactyla. Var Fagelvdrld 43: 21-26.
Niethammer, G. 1937. Handbuch der Deutschen Vogelkunde. Vol. 1. Leipzig.
Magpie containing warble-fly insecticide Two recent notes in British
Birds (78: 49-50) raise the subject of Magpies Pica pica perching on
mammals to feed. In this respect, the following event may be of interest.
On 4th November 1984, I was given a Magpie found by a farmer at
Llangaffo, Anglesey, Gwynedd. The bird had been found alive on the
ground, where it was still breathing, but apparently partially paralysed (its
legs were rigidly extended). The farmer killed it.
Post-mortem examination of the whole bird by the Veterinary Investiga-
tion Centre, ADAS, Bangor, Gwynedd, showed no gross evidence of disease
and no significant bacterial infection. Organo-phosphorous analysis of the
gizzard content and liver by the Environmental Chemistry Section, M AFF,
Tolworth, Surrey, detected residues of the chemical compound ‘famphur’
at 3500 mg/kg in the gizzard contents. It was not apparent how the bird
might have ingested the compound.
It is appropriate to mention, however, that, in the period of ‘about
six-eight weeks’ prior to 4th November, the same farmer and two
neighbours found ‘about 20-30 dead Magpies’, also with ‘stiff legs’, in the
same place (about three adjoining fields on the edge of the Malltraeth
Marsh, about 1 km northwest of Elangaffo), where the aforementioned bird
Notes
303
was also collected. On 18th October, the farmer there had treated 32
Hereford cattle with a proprietary ‘pour-on’ dressing against infestation by
warble-fly Hypoderma bovis on 18th October, and other farmers in the
vicinity had treated their cattle similarly around the same date.
1 he dressing has a liquid paraffin base containing the organo-phos-
phorus compound famphur. The dressing is systemic in its action, that is,
having been poured on to the backs of domestic cattle, a proportion is
absorbed through the skin and into the mammalian blood circulation with
the purpose ot killing warble-fly larvae widely distributed in tissues
throughout the body. Such organo-phosphorous compounds are poten-
tially highly toxic to various arthropods (e.g. lice, ticks, keds) present on the
backs of the mammals at the time of application. Warble-fly dressing is
normally applied during September to November, but additionally' in
March to June, if warbles are noticed on the backs of cattle in a given
locality.
D. G. H ewett and M. J. Prince advised me during the preparation of this
note. D. C. Seel
In stitute of Terrestrial Ecology . Bangor Research Station. Penrhos Road ,
Bangor. Gwynedd I.U72LQ.
Carrion Crows taking insect prey on the wing M. J. Rogers’s note on a
Carrion Crow Cowus corone taking flying insects (Brit. Birds 75: 387) prompts
the following. On the hot evening of 7th August 1982, at Lancaster, I
watched two Carrion Crows with a number of Black-headed Gulls Lams
ridibundus pursuing swarming ants in flight. The crows appeared only
slightly less adept than the gulls, although it was impossible to determine
their degree of feeding success. A few minutes later, a Jackdaw C. monedula
was flying among some gulls at a nearby swarm of insects.
Laurence N. Rose
RSPB. The Lodge . Sandy. Bedfordshire SG 19 2DI.
Readers having similar observations that include the bird and insect species involved are
invited to submit them for inclusion in a possible future summary. Eds
Letters
Bill coloration of treecreepers The note by Laurel Tucker (Brit. Birds 77:
263-264) questions if the upper mandible coloration could assist in the field
separation of the two European treecreepers Certhia. Photographs, in Vara
Fdglar i Norden (1942) by C. T. Holmstrom etal. and in Atlas of European Birds
( 1960) by K. H. Voous, show' Treecreepers Certhia familiaris of the northern
race familiaris without the whole upper mandible dark; this was suggested
as a feature indicative of Short-toed Treecreeper C. brachydactyla. A. Pym
The Bungalow. Kites Abbey. Eishers Lane. Cold Ash. Berkshire RG169NF
304
Letters
Identification of Wheatear and Isabelline Wheatear Tye & Tye (Brit.
Birds 76: 427-437) stated that adult male Wheatears Oenanthe oenanthe retain
the distinctive summer plumage during the winter. In fact, after the
complete moult, they attain a quite different plumage: mainly brown
upperparts, paler on ear-coverts (but lores still blackish), more huffish on
underparts, and acquiring pale fringes/edges to wing-coverts and flight
feathers. They are, however, still quite distinctive and should not be
difficult to separate from Isabelline Wheatear 0. isabellina. Tye & Tye also
stated that on female and first-winter male Wheatears ‘the flanks and belly
are white or greyish-white’ and with ‘usually a pale orange-buff wash on the
throat and sides of neck, extending onto the breast’. This is usually so in
breeding-plumaged females, but Wheatears in winter plumage frequently
show a fairly strong huffish tinge to the flanks and belly — like Isabelline.
More typically, Isabelline shows a contrastingly whitish throat, often ex-
tending to the anterior ear-coverts. To my eyes, and contra Tye & Tye (76:
139. Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina. Note shape and tone of supercilium; belly not very
buffish on this individual. Egypt, September 1980 {Uffe Gjjl Sjrensen & lb Petersen)
140. Two first-winter Wheatears Oenanthe oenanthe. one of northern race leucorrhoa (left), and
one of nominate race. Note tone and shape of supercilium. Sweden, September 1982 ( Thomas
Garten )
Letters
305
141. Head of female Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe showing typical head-pattern. Note tone and
shape ofsupercilium; this individual has exceptionally long hill, note that it can he ‘hooked’ at
tip. Israel. March 1984 U rban O/sson )
142. Female Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe 143. Isahelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina
showing very pale plumage, and especially (prohahly male). Note tone and shape of
lores; supercilium typical. Israel. March 1984 supercilium. Israel. March 1984 (Urban
( L Trban O/sson) O/sson)
431), Isahelline normally shows a fairly obvious supercilium. usually
tinged huffish throughout its length, sometimes more buff at rear: it
normally does not extend onto the forehead, and is usually more tapering
behind the eye than on Wheatear. On Wheatear, the supercilium is buffy in
front of the eye, often extending diffusely onto the forehead, and whitish to
paler huffish above and behind the eye. a pattern found on no other West
Palearctic wheatear; it often widens behind the eye. ending rather abruptly.
Finally, I consider the colour of the lores an unreliable character because of
the wide variations in both species (some Wheatears show pale lores).
Per Alstrom
Marholmsv. 105 . S-436 00 Askim. Sweden
306
Letters
Red-rumped Swallow and bird-artists Derek Goodwin’s letter (Brit.
Birds 77: 326-328) reminds me of another species often misleadingly por-
trayed by bird-artists: the Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daunca. Photo-
graphs in, for instance, Gooders (1969-71) and Ferguson-Lees (1963) show
that the rump, sides of rump and vent are all pale, while the tail, uppertail-
coverts and undertail-coverts are dark. In flight, this gives the bird a
distinct ‘long-bodied’ appearance behind the wings, with the sharply
delineated ‘tail’ apparently glued on, an effect visible at long range when
other plumage features are harder to discern. Jonsson (1982) shows it quite
well, but several of the major European field guides portray far too much
dark on the sides of the rump, thereby masking one of the better
characters. K.J.Hall
The Anchorage , The Chalks , Chew Magna , Bristol BS188SN
REFERENCES
Ferguson-Lees, I. J. 1963. Studies of less familiar birds. 125. Red-rumped Swallow. Brit.
Birds 56: plates 62 & 63.
Gooders. J . 1 969-7 1 . Birds of the World 6: 1 830- 1831.
Jonsson, L. 1982. Birds of the Mediterranean and Alps. London.
Amphibian calls and small crakes On 16th June 1984, R. Woods
telephoned me and played a tape-recording of a steadily repeated, high
‘kwek . . . kwek . . . kwek’ call with a nasal quality, reminiscent of a
high-pitched call of a Mallard Anas platyrhynchos. This had been heard from
dusk to midnight over recent evenings, emanating from the base of thick
bushes growing out over the edge of a small marshy pool near Newton
Abbot, South Devon. During the following week, a small band of observers
gathered at the pool, but calls were by then more intermittent, and were last
reported on 2 1 st J une. No views of the caller were obtained.
John Burton and E. D. H. Johnson (Brit. Birds 77: 87-104) listed no
species confusable with birds among the amphibians and insects which
seemed likely to occur in South Devon. We therefore considered a small
crake — Little P organa paw a or Baillon’s P. pusilla — the most likely producer
of the calls. I telephoned the BBC Natural History Unit, who played down
the telephone Little Crake recordings; these seemed to resemble the calls at
Newton Abbot. We subsequently sent our recordings to john Burton. Both
he and Nigel Tucker identified them as belonging to the European tree frog
Hyla arhorea , and commented (in litt.): ‘There have been several intro-
duction attempts with this species, mainly in Southwest England, and it
would seem this individual has either been released into the Newton Abbot
pool or found its way from one of the introduced colonies.’
Burton & Johnson referred to possible confusion between European tree
frog and Little and Baillon’s Crakes (77: 96-97, 99, 104), but few observers
would have expected to meet this amphibian in a feral state in Southwest
England. D. M. Norman
50 Shirhurn Road , Torquay. Devon TQI3JL
Announcements
‘The Birdwatcher’s A-Z’ was named as ‘The “British Birds" Best Bird
Book of the Year’ for 1981 {Brit. Birds 74: 411). The review in British Birds
(74: 409-410) referred to it as ‘a most useful addition to any birdwatcher’s
library’. Its price then was £14.95.
As an exclusive offer to British Birds subscribers, this book can now be
obtained for £10.95 through British BirdShop (see page ix).
‘A Guide to the Birds of Nepal’ By Tim & Carol Inskipp, this new,
substantial book (392 pages, over 670 maps, many line-drawings and eight
very useful colour plates ofdifficult-to-identify warblers and finches) will be
published by Groom Helm next month. The paintings, by Craig Robson
and Richard Grimmett, will be very useful to birders visiting any Asian
country.
Bv a special arrangement — exclusive to subscribers to British Birds and
members of the Oriental Bird Club — you can obtain your copy post free (to
UK & Irish addresses), immediately that it is available, through British
BirdShop, and with a reduction of £2.00 on all prepublication orders. You
must be a British Birds subscriber to take advantage of this offer. Please use
the British BirdShop form on page ix now.
‘Eric Hosking’s Owls’ This book, filled with colour photographs by Eric
Hosking and David Hosking, and with text by Dr Jim Flegg. is now
available in soft cover for only £7.95 (original hardback price was £12.95 in
1982: review Brit. Birds 75: 435). Please order using the British BirdShop
form on page ix.
Huge increase in ‘BB’ subscription price Don’t worry! It isn't planned.
But it would be inevitable if subscribers did not buy their bird books by
using the British BirdShop form. Purchases of bird books using the British
BirdShop form provide a considerable subsidy on the subscription price,
to the benefit of everyone. Please use the British BirdShop form (on page ix
in this issue) whenever you want to buy a bird book. Books on our monthly
list are supplied post free to UK & Irish addresses. Payments can be by
cheque, postal order or Giro transfer in pounds sterling, or in US dollars.
Please have a look at page ix now.
‘BB’ trip to Thailand Would you like to accompany Phil Round and Dr
d im Sharrock on a special two-week British Birds trip to Thailand in
Januarv/Februarv 1986?
If there is sufficient interest, a trip — limited to eight to 14 people (all of
whom will be BB subscribers) — will be arranged, aimed to provide BB
readers with an as-cheap-as-is-sensible visit to the best birding areas in that
exciting country' (see January 1985 issue for potential discoveries, many
Siberian species are ‘certs’). We shall not be roughing it. and accommoda-
tion will be in good (but not luxury-class) hotels in Bangkok and Chiang
Mai. We shall visit a wide variety of habitats, from the coastal lagoons of the
307
308 Announcements
Gulf of Thailand to the jungle of Khao Yai and the forested mountaintops
around Chiang Mai.
The trip will be geared not only to provide non-stop birding for those who
wish to do so, but also to allow a more-relaxed and leisurely approach to
birdwatching for those who want a birdwatching holiday.
The price will be as cheap as we can make it ( British Birds will aim to
recover costs, but not make any profit), but will depend upon the number of
participants, the currency exchange rates later this year, and so on; it will
probably be about £l,200-£ 1,600. The dates are also not yet firm, but will
probably be about 25th January to 10th February.
If you are interested, please write now , and we will send you full details as
soon as they are available. It will be only when we know that this trip is
likely to be popular that we can decide to go ahead with firm plans for it.
Please write NOW, to BB Thai Tour, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham,
Bedford MK44 3NJ.
News and comment
Mike Everett and Robin Prytherch
Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of ‘British Birds’
Oriental Bird Club No less than 129
enthusiasts trekked to that infamous Eastern
city, Norwich, on 23rd March, for the
inaugural meeting of the Oriental Bird Club.
After a welcome and introduction by the
Chairman. Richard Grimmett, we were
transported to the real Orient by Nigel
Redman, with a mouth-watering selection of
slides showing habitats and birds from
Pakistan and Nepal through India and
Thailand to Malaysia and Indonesia. Carol
I nskipp then outlined the grave conservation
problems faced in the region: largely — and
predictably— habitat destruction. James
W olstencroft rounded off the first session
with a detailed look at the birds and
mammals of one small area: Corbett
National Park in Northern India. Suitably
refreshed, the meeting reconvened to hear
Mark Beaman’s entertaining account of two
trips to the forbidden land of China. Atti-
tudes are fast changing and, whilst indi-
viduals may have greater difficulties than a
group, birding in China is becoming a
feasible proposition. After the highly
successful launch of the Club, many
members stayed on to talk exotic birds in the
bar. The next meeting is planned for the late
autumn in London. (Contributed by Ian
Dawson )
Nordmann’s Greenshank in colour The
first-ever photograph of Nordmann’s Green-
shank Tringa guttifer appears in colour in the
April issue of BBC Wildlife. Also for the first
time in the West (so far as we know), there
are colour stills of nesting Great Knot Calidris
tenuirostris , Relict Gull Lams relictus , White-
winged Lark Melanocorypha leucoptera. Eastern
Curlew Numenius madagascariensis and
Eversmann’s Redstart Phoenicums erythronotus.
( Contributed by Jeffery’ Boswall)
New recorder for Somerset From 1st July
1985, the new recorder for Somerset will be
Brian Rabbit ts. 88 Church Road, West
Huntspill, Highbridge, Somerset.
Menorca records Ed Mackrill has asked us
to mention that progress is now being made
on organising recording for Menorca, which
is now being visited by an increasing number
News and comment
309
of birdwatchers. Future visitors are inv ited to
send a note of all they see — common or
rare — to Antonio Escandell, Miranda de
Cala-Fonts 13. Apt. 302, Villa Carlos,
Menorca. Spain.
Siberian Cranes We see from the IUCN
Bulletin (15: 4-6) that over 800 Siberian
Cranes Grus leucogeranus have been found
wintering on Lake Povang in Jiangxi
Province, one of the largest freshwater lakes
in China, an area not surveyed since the
Cultural Revolution. Although a 22.000-ha
nature reserve was established in 1984. the
marshes around the lake are threatened with
drying out through the construction of dams
on the Yangtze River.
‘Lothian Bird Report’ The bulk of the 1983
Lothian Bird Report, the fifth in the series, is
devoted to the systematic list of occurrences
and status of22 1 species recorded in the area,
but there are also 13 short reports or features
on other activities of local interest. It is now
available, price £2.50 (including p & p). from
Michael Leven. 13 Henderson Row.
Edinburgh.
Tyneside Bird Club renamed The
I yneside Bird Club was formed in 1958 and
has grown during the past 26 years to a
membership of 250. The club’s monthlv
bulletin has an uninterrupted publishing
history to the present day. The club's sphere
of influence, however, quickly spread over
Northumberland, and in 1970 Birds in
Northumbria, the official county ornithological
report, was launched, covering Northumber-
land and that part of the old county of
Northumberland now contained within
Tyne & Wear. At its Annual General
Meeting in October 1984. the club's
members decided that a change of name was
required, and the club was renamed "The
Northumberland and Tyneside Bird Club'.
Colin Rhind (1905-1984) Colin died in
December, after being ill for some months.
Born in Middlesex, he was always extremely
keen on all forms of natural history: his
interest in and knowledge of butterflies and
moths was as great as his knowledge of birds.
He was particularly interested in the
education of young, budding naturalists, and
manv people in Ireland can thank him for his
determination to show how much there was
to learn and enjoy in natural history. It was
Colin who founded the Cork Young Natur-
alists’ Association in 1970. and. when in 1978
he moved to Cape Clear Island. Co. Cork,
and became warden of the observatory, he
not only brought life into the place, but also
started running courses for the younger
generation. In 1981. he retired from the
observatory due to ill health and moved to
Skibbereen. where he was regularly visited
by those travelling to and from ‘Cape’. We.
his friends, naturally miss him. but are
grateful to have known him. ( Contributed hr
Christopher J. Wilson)
144. Colin Rhind (1905-1984) (Cathr
0 ’ Sullivan )
Irish mystery slides competition The
British Birds collection of 50 mystery slides,
which have been shown now at a number of
British venues for local societies, were taken
around various Irish Wildbird Conservancy
branch meetings on our behalf by Killian
Mullamey. who conducted the champagne-
prize competitions. The top scores were as
follows. In Wexford on 11th December: 1st
Oscar Merne (39 correct), equal 2nd Dave
Daly and Alyn Walsh (each with 30). At
Cork on 14th December: 1st Mark Shorten
(38 correct), 2nd John Coveney (36) and 3rd
John Lynch (35). In Wicklow on 25th
January: 1st Michael Healy (28 correct). 2nd
Shav Fagan (26) and 3rd Andrew McMillan
(25). In Dublin on 8th February: 1st Paul
Archer (41 correct), 2nd Jim Fitzharris (40)
and 3rd Peter McDermot (38). We gather
that it was often the common birds which
created most problems (perhaps the audi-
ences felt that British Birds would not include
slides of the commonplace!). The BB
Editorial Board has asked us to express its
310
News and comment
thanks to Killian for undertaking these
promotional lectures.
Birds of Turkey The fourth booklet in this
enterprising and valuable series, covering the
birds of the Kizilirmak Delta, is now avail-
able, price £1.50 (including p & p), from the
Ornithological Society of the Middle East,
c/o The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19
2DL The three earlier issues, covering Ercek
Golii. Sevfe Golii and Kizilcahamam, are all
still available from OSME, price £1.00 each
(including p & p).
Owl prowl One of the most imaginative
schemes ever to record the presence and
distribution of a single species was launched
by the London Wildlife Trust, with a great
fanfare of publicity, in March. Quite simply,
the Trust was inviting everyone to write or
phone in with reports of Tawny Owls Strix
aluco heard or seen in the London area. We
know that phone calls began to come in by
the thousand, so we look forward to learning
more about this interesting project in due
course.
Keith Allsopp and Ian Dawson
These are largely unchecked reports,
not authenticated records
The dates in the report refer to March unless
otherwise stated.
Weather and early spring migration
The month began with mild, unsettled
Those misprints Misprints are often
amusing, but are seldom so brilliantly
appropriate as this one from Report No. 2 of the
World Working Group on Storks. Ibises and
Spoonbills : ‘Scared Ibis (Threskionus aethio-
picus ): Endangered in the past, now no recent
information due to war in the area . . .’
Nor are they always so good as the photo-
graph of a Black Noddy Anous minutus in the
journal Bokmakierie (36 (4): 97), which was.
the caption tells us, taken in Australia. It was
(accidentally?) printed upside down.
‘A Rocha’ The project to establish a
Christian Field Centre and Bird Observatory
in Southwest Portugal has just taken a
significant step forward with the purchase of
a large house with accommodation for ten
guests on the Alvor estuary near Portimao.
Anyone interested in staying there when it
opens at the end of this year should contact
Dr R. A. Pullan, 13 YVest Drive, Upton,
Wirral, Merseyside L49 6JX. English versions
of the project’s first bird report are also
available, price £1.00, from the same
address.
Recent
reports
westerly weather, becoming progressively
quieter as pressure rose in the south. The first
311
Recent reports
Wheatears Oenanthe oennnthe began to arrive,
20 at Ballyvaughan (Co. Clare) on 10th
being an exceptional number, most reports
referring to singles. A few Sand Martins
Riparia riparia were seen on the English south
coast and a House Martin Delichon urbica at
Wells (Norfolk) on 9th. Sightings of Chiff-
chaffs Phylloscopus collybita were also very few
and mainly inland. Exceptional records were
of a Ring Ouzel Turdus torquata at Mid Yell
(Shetland) on 9th, a Pied Wagtail Motacilla
alba of the nominate race on Orkney on 3rd, a
Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus at
Harrogate (North Yorkshire) on 5th, a
Cuckoo Cuculus canonis at Eyemouth
(Borders) on 7th. and a Hoopoe t’pupaepops
in Co. Cork from 6th.
From 13th, an anticyclone developed to
the west and, with colder air arriving from
the north, further migration was inhibited.
As the centre of pressure moved eastwards
across into Europe winds turned easterly,
then southeasterly, still bringing cold air.
Undeterred, a Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus
visited Kingswear (Devon) on 17th.
Temperatures recovered on 22nd, as wet
cyclonic westerly weather returned, and a
few more migrants arrived when conditions
were favourable. A Swallow Hirundo rustica
was seen on Guernsey (Channel Islands) on
25th. a Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros at
Sandwich Bay (Kent) on 23rd and a Yellow
Wagtail Motacilla flava on the Ouse Washes
(Cambridgeshire) on 31st. An easterly
movement of winter thrushes Turdus over
Cambridgeshire on 24th, and a northerly
passage of Meadow Pipits Anthus pratensis at
Walnev (Cumbria) on 30th were the only
visible signs of migration.
A Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla. singing in
London, was more likely to have been a new
arrival than a wintering bird.
Wildfowl
Wildfowl migration is less disrupted by
weather, but a flock of 41 Greenland White-
fronted Geese A riser albifronsflarirostris chose
to break their flight north at Meiklewater
(Orkney) on 13th. at the onset of adverse
winds. A Bean Goose A. fabalis was also
present on the islands on 10th. A wintering
flock of Bewick’s Swans Cygnus columbianus
bewickii, which included a ‘Whistling Swan
C. c. columbianus , found in January at South
Slob (Co. Wexford) had departed by mid
month, and the Red-breasted Goose Branta
rufico/Iis was last seen on the Isle ofSheppev
(Kent) on 23rd. Also staying into March
were King Eiders Somateria spectabilis at
Embo (Highland) and at Mullet (Co.
Mayo), a pair being seen on 17th. two male
Surf Scoters Melanitta perspicillata at
Murvagh (Co. Donegal) until 6th, and the
White-billed Diver Gavia adamsii at
Whalsay (Shetland). A Great Crested
Grebe Podiceps cristatus at Sullom (Shetland)
on 1st was a rare find for the islands,
probably a result of the earlier freeze-up of
inland waters. Further winter records of
Red-crested Pochards Netta rufina were of
one at Loch of Harray (Orkney) on 14th and
another in Co. Wexford. Of the Nearctic
species. Ring-necked Ducks Avthya collaris
continued to be the most frequently seen,
with new finds at Norbv (Shetland) on 13th.
one in Lancashire, and four in Ireland. An
American Wigeon Anas americana appeared
inshore at Filey (North Yorkshire) on 31st.
and ‘Green-winged’ Teals .4. crecca
carolinensis were identified at Walthamstow
Reservoir (London), and at Dogmersfield
Lake (Hampshire) on 24th. following an
earlier report of one at Fairburn Ings (North
Yorkshire) on 16th February. Garganevs.l
querquedula were reported on 2nd in Norfolk,
with a scattering of sightings thereafter, four
on the Ouse Washes being the largest
n umber.
Birds of prey
The Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus. reported last
month in Devon, was sighted at Exminster
Marshes on 13th and subsequently at
312
Recent reports
Radipole Lake and Stanpit Marsh (Dorset)
on 27th. Records of other wintering species
included a roost of 16 Hen Harriers Circus
cyaneus at Elmley (Kent) on 19th, Rough-
legged Buzzards Buteo lagopus at Kergord
(Shetland) and two on Orkney, and a Red
Kite Milvus milvus at Martleshain (Suffolk)
on 25th. A very early report of an Osprey
Paridion haliaetus at Clevedon (Avon) on 12th
February was followed by another from
Scunthorpe (Humberside) on 30th. The
most intriguing record was of an Eagle Owl
Bubo bubo in Worcestershire on 27th. but its
wild status may be in doubt.
Wading birds
Wader movements started to be noticeable
during the month. There was a gathering of
4,000 Knots Calidris canutus at Walnev on 1st,
and Greenshanks Tringa nebularia began
passing through there, with two on 10th. On
the same day, a Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
was found at Elmley, with others subse-
quently noted at Filey on 25th and in Co.
Wexford on 23rd. An early Black-tailed
Godwit Limosa limosa reached Shetland also
by 10th, and about 180 had collected on the
Ouse Washes by 30th. Before the change to
colder weather, Lapwings Vanellus vanetlus
were observed moving eastwards over
Cambridgeshire during quite warm settled
weather on 12th. Little Ringed Plovers
Charadrius dubius, as other migrants, were
slow to arrive, being seen mainly after 29th.
A Sociable Plover Chettusia gregaria, which
stayed on Dartford Marshes (Kent) from
19th to at least 30th, was in splendid
plumage.
Gulls and seabirds
The Hermaness (Shetland) Black-browed
Albatross Diomedea melanophris was back at
its usual site by 10th, and a wandering
Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea was
seen off Filey on 9th. At the same locality, a
‘blue phase’ Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis was
present for a few days. Eight adult Ring-
billed Gulls Lams delawarensis were counted
at Belfast on 13th among 20 Common Gulls
L. canus, five in Donegal and, with further
reports of three birds each at Mullet (Co.
Mayo) on 17th and at Plymouth (Devon),
the increase in records over the years does
perhaps indicate more than just increased
observer awareness. The more-obvious
Mediterranean Gull L. melanocephalus was
reported in familiar numbers from southwest
England, with three at Plymouth and a single
at Slapton (Devon). The lack of Iceland
Gulls L. glaucoides and Glaucous Gulls L.
hyperboreus was noticeable this winter in
Shetland waters, and this month the number
of sightings on all coasts was low. The first
migrant Lesser Black-backed Gulls L.
fuscus to reach Shetland were sighted on 9th.
and returning Sandwich Terns Sterna sand-
vicensis became increasingly common
after 23rd. A brief one-day appearance of a
Ross’s Gull Rhodostethia rosea was an exciting
find in Co. Cork.
Winter rarities
The Belted Kingfisher Ceryle alcyon stayed
on the River Shannon near Killaloe (Co.
Clare) until at least 23rd, the Little Egret
Egretta gargetta remained on the River Yealm
(Devon) for yet another month, and the very
obliging Little Crake Porgana parva at the
Cuckmere Valley (East Sussex) stayed until
16th (plates 99-101 & 146). An Arctic
Redpoll Carduelis homemanni could still be
found at Wells until mid month, and, for the
second year running, the Parrot Crossbills
Loxia pytyopsittafus there fledged young. The
only report of a Waxwing Bombvcilta garmlus
was one at Guisborough (Cleveland) on 1 7th
(plate 145). A Shore Lark Eremophila
alpestris, a rarity for Ireland, was present at
Larne (Co. Antrim) from February into
March (plates 147 & 148), and the Belfast
White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albi-
collis could still be found throughout the
month (plates 149 & 150).
145. Waxwing Bombycilla garmlus, Cleveland, March 1985 ( David Contantine)
146. Female Little Crake Porgana parva , East Sussex, March 1985 {Paul Dohertv)
147 & 148. Shore Lark Eremophila alpestris, Co. Antrim, March 1985 (P. Kelly)
314
Recent reports
149 & 150. White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis , Northern Ireland, March 1985 ( Ron
Thompson)
Latest news
Cold, late spring continued, with many
summer visitors hardly in evidence, but
Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis at
Wells (Norfolk), in which county also a few
Pied Flycatchers F. hypoleuca, Wryneck
Jynx torquilla , Hoopoe, Red-backed Shrike
Lanius collurio and over 20 Bluethroats
Luscinia svevica (others in Humberside and on
Teesside); Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica
at Filey; Black Stork Ciconia nigra at Spurn
and over Ouse Washes.
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HO LI DA Y A CCOMMODA TION
J^ansttbtoell I
Country House Hotel
IDEAL FOR BIRD WATCHERS
Spend this Spring or Summer in quiet
luxury near the Helford estuary Own
grounds, secluded cove, excellent food
Write or phone for brochure:
Mawnan, Nr Falmouth, Cornwall
TEL: Falmouth (0326) - 250 - 340
SIBTON (nr Minsmere), Suffolk. The White
Horse Inn. A unique and charming 16th century
freehouse in 2Vi acres, en suite accommodation,
bed and breakfast or weekly rates. Ample car
parking. CC location site. Bar snacks or
restaurant meals available. Tel: Peasenhall 337.
(BB68)
FARM COTTAGES between Lindisfarne Re-
serve and The Fames. Comfortable and well
equipped. Sorry no pets. Brochure: Mr J.
McNish, Outchester Farm, Belford, North-
umberland. Tel: 06683 336. (BB45)
EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK. Come and
enjoy the peace of 77 acre wooded nature reserve
and our smallholding. We have 7 camouflaged
caravans on a secluded site, modern toilet
facilities with showers, utility room, children’s
play area. Nature trails and fresh produce. Sea 4
miles. SAE to: Chris and Babs Johnson, Cowley
Wood, Conservation Centre, Parracombe, N.
Devon EX31 4PQ. Tel: Parracombe 200. Day
visitors to centre also welcome. (BB128)
ISLE OF MULL, Torosay Castle, Craignure.
Golden eagles often seen in the area. 20 species in
the garden and over 200 recorded on the island.
Mull is a paradise. Gardens open year-round.
Castle: 1 May-30 Sept, I flat and gardener’s
cottage to let. Each sleeps 4 plus camp beds.
Special monthly winter terms. For terms apply:
The Secretary. Tel : 068 02421. ( BB 1 5)
NATIONAL TRUST VILLAGE on Exmoor.
Self-catering holiday homes. Centrally heated,
near Porlock. Sea, moors, woods and marshes all
within walking distance. Stamp for brochure.
Sheila Wright, The Pack Horse, Allerford. Nr.
Minehead. Tel: (0643) 862475. (BB72)
SOUTHWOLD AA'* HOTEL. Ensuite bed-
rooms, good food and wines. Ideal base for
Minsmere and surrounding area. Open all year.
Reduced terms for party bookings. Write or tel:
Pier Avenue Hotel, Southwold. Tel: 722632.
(BB32)
xii
ISLES OF SCILLY
TRELAWNEY GUEST HOUSE,
ST. MARY’S
Marjorie and David Townend welcome you
for Spring and Autumn Birdwatching. Home
cooking, good wine, central heating, wood-
burner in lounge, CB reports. Close to Quay
and Town Centre.
£9.00 for B&B (inc. VAT). Special weekly
rates for parties of 8-10. In October SAE or
phone 0720/22377.
(BB267)
ORCHARD HOUSE, N. W. Norfolk nr Titeh-
well Marsh Reserve. Homely Bed and Breakfast
accommodation (E.M. available). Also self-
catering unit in orchard. Tel: Thornham (048
526)259. (BB49)
NORTH NORFOLK COAST, fishermen’s
cottages. Open all year. Oak beams. Colour TV
and open fires Oct/March, Ray Hewitt, Brig
Square Holiday Cottages, Freeman Street, Wells
next the Sea. Tel: 0328 710440. (BB1 7)
EXCELLENT B&B. Own bathroom.
Glorious setting. 4 miles Suffolk coast. 6 miles
Minsmere. 2 miles Snape Concert Hall. £8
per night, per person. Telephone for
reservation. Snape 750. (BB237)
ISLE OF ISLAY. Beautiful island on west coast
of Scotland, come and relax in a luxury 4
bedroomed house and enjoy sandy beaches, w ild
life, home cooking, peat fires, sea and loch fishing,
walking. Three options available. Self catering,
full board or self catering with some assistance.
For brochure contact Mrs Fraser, Bridge House,
Bowmore, Isle of Islav, Argyll. Ring: 049681 248.
(BB257)
LIZARD. Beautiful sea views, close to coves and
coastal path. Good food, comfort, reasonable
rates. Dogs welcome, Treglow House, The Lizard
TR12 7NP. Tel: 0326290472. (BB181)
COUNTRY COTTAGES between Alnwick and
Belford. Sleep up to six, fully equipped,
self-catering, available throughout the year. Well
placed for Holy Island and Fame Islands,
Cheviot Hills and many places of natural beauty.
SAE to Mrs P. Foster, Coxons, Craster South
Farm, Alnwick, Northumberland. Tel: (066 576)
640 (BB27)
NORTH NORFOLK MARSHES
Self-catering cottage near Holt, 2 bedrooms,
sitting room, fully equipped kitchen, 2 WCs,
show'er, 2 wash basins, extra low sink. C.h. &
hot water throughout. Kings Head, with
meals and real ale, 2 mins walk. Cley 5 miles.
J. N. Cozens-Hardy, Glavenside, Lethering-
sett, Holt, Norfolk NR25 7AR. Tel: Holt
(026371) 3181. (BB218)
ISLE OF MULL. A stable converted into 2 warm
comfortable flats. Frachadil Farm, Calgary. Tel:
068 84 265 or (0573) 24852. " (BB120)
BARGAIN BREAKS
Small, recommended, coastal, licensed hotel
facing open countryside. National Trust
cliff walks nearby. All bedrooms with baths/
shower/wc, central heating, colour TV and
tea maker, en suite. Four poster bed. Heated
indoor swimming pool. Dinner choice from
extensive menu. 2/5/7 night Bargain Breaks
from £20 including dinner, breakfast and
VAT. Brochure/reservations: GLENCOE
HOTEL, Gwithian Village (St Ives Bay)
TR27 5BX. Tel: 0736 752216.
(BB42)
CLEY. Attractive house in village, four bed-
rooms, large garden, garage, c.h. Available all
year. Details from Mrs E. Album, 47 Lvndale
Avenue, I^ondon NW2. Tel: 01-431 2942. (BB58)
CLEY. 3 Quality cottages (sleep 4, 6 and 8).
Quiet. Comfortable. Excellent value. Brochure:
(0353) 740770. (BBI71)
ISLES OF SCILLY — Seaview Moorings, St.
Mary’s. Home cooking and personal service from
resident proprietors, Tony and Linda. Over-
looking harbour, close to quay and town —
licensed — in-room tea and coffee making facili-
ties— pets welcome. SAE for details or telephone
Tony or Linda Dingley on 0720 22327. ( BB35)
SOUTHWOLD. ‘Avondale’, North Parade,
overlooking sea. B&b/em, CH, dglazed, licensed.
Open all year. Ideal Minsmere. Havergate,
Walberswick. Good food, friendly atmosphere.
Tel: 0502 722538. (BB1 79)
VISIT BEMPTON RESERVE. Stay for two
days BB/ED from £28 pp inc. VAT. At the
Flaneburg Hotel, Flamborough. The Hotel on
The Heritage Coast — Full Details phone (0262)
850284. (BB168)
COASTAL COTTAGES OF PEMBROKE-
SHIRE, Abercastle, Pembrokeshire National
Park. 75 w'arm and well equipped owners’
cottages, mostly within sight and sound of sea and
seals on Britain’s most beautiful and natural
coastline. Available all year from £60 per week.
Tel: 03483 742. (BB185)
NORTH LAKES — perfect for Caerlaverock and
South Solway Estuary. Six self-catering lodges
overlooking sheltered 30 acre lake. Woodland site
designated oPSpecial Scientific Interest’. Impor-
tant location for large flocks of water birds,
wintering site for duck, wide variety of wildfowl.
Brochure: Lakeshore Lodges, The Lough,
Thurston Field, Carlisle. Cumbria CA5 6HB.
Tel: 0228 76552. (BB38)
NEWPORT, PEMBS. Coastal cottage, adj. Nat.
Park, 5 mins. Sea and Estuary. Sleeps 8. Tel:
0222 752965. jBB70)
xiii
ISLES OF SCILLY. Quiet, modern, comfort-
able guest house offering good food, excellent
views and full central heating. Central location
only 15 mins walk from Hugh Town. Perfect for
early and late season bird watchers. Stephen
Morris, Glandore, Porthloo, St. Marys. Tel:
Scillonia 22535. (BB243)
WELLS, NORFOLK B&B., (Les Routiers
recommended). H. & C., Tea and Coffee facilities
in all rooms. Anne Taylor, The Cobblers (0328
710155). ' (BB111)
NORTH YORKSHIRE. Smugglers Rock,
Country Guest House, Ravenscar Y013 OER.
Homely atmosphere with panoramic views over
country and sea, AA listed. Ideal holiday for
country lovers. Mrs J. Greenfield. Tel: 0723
870044. (BB242)
IN THE GROUNDS of a beautiful house
surrounded by woodlands and unspoiled
countryside. Ideal for birdwatchers. Send SAE
for brochure: Trelowarren Chateau Camping
and Caravan Park, Mawgan, Helston, Cornwall.
(BB133)
SOMEWHERE SPECIAL for your bird-
watching in the Dyfi Valley, Mid Wales. 17th
century manor house hotel in 9 acres of peaceful,
unspoilt and finely timbered valley, in secluded
location. Licensed bar and restaurant. Tradi-
tional and vegetarian/whole food fare. Brochure:
Eileen and David Brown, Plas Dolguog Hotel,
Machynlleth, Powys. Tel: 0654 2244. (BB 169)
YORKSHIRE S HERITAGE COAST
V aried and spectacular bird watching on the 350 ft
cliffs around Flamborough and Bempton. A coast
that’s rich in history and wildlife. Discover fossils,
see the seals, explore the nature trails at Danes Dyke
and South Landing.
Send Jar details and Bridlington Colour Guide to:
Publicity Dept., 107 The Spa, Bridlington,
East Yorkshire YO!5 3JH.
.4 contribution towards postage appreciated
(BB144)
EAST NORFOLK. B&B. Open all year. Also
modernised 17th century fisherman’s cottage.
Tel: 0493 728374. (BB137)
GREYHOMES HOTEL
Torcross, S. Devon
Holiday Accommodation, S. Devon
SLAPTON SANDS, AA and RAC one star.
Small friendly licensed hotel magnificiently
situated in six acres of mature gardens over-
looking the panorama of Slapton Ley Nature
Reserve and Start Bay. Unspoilt coastline
famous for its variety of birds and wildlife.
Also four self-catering holiday bungalows in
grounds. SAE for brochure: Grcyhomes
Hotel, Torcross, Nr. Kingsbridge, S. Devon.
Tel: Kingsbridge (0548) 580220. (BB30)
SHETLAND, YELL. Self-catering holiday
house. Cottage, near Ferry Terminal for Unst
and Fetl^r. Good bird watching, otters and
fishing. Tel: (095 784) 202. (BB236)
ORKNEY. Our Island Hotel, ideal for ornitholo-
gists, habitat, moorland, shore, cliffs,
lochs, attracts 70 breeding species. Excellent
migration, good walking. Brochure: Taversoe
Hotel, Rousay, Orkney. Tel: 085 682 325.
(BB 191)
DISCOVER SHROPSHIRE. Peace and quiet
is guaranteed under the personal supervision of
the owners. All rooms have private bath/shower
and colour TV. In its 3rd year, the Old Vicarage
has been recommended by 100 Great British
Weekends, Ideal Home magazine and 2 American
guide books. The Old Vicarage Hotel, Worfield,
Bridgnorth, Shropshire WV15 5JZ. Tel: 074-64
498. ' (BB234)
ISLES OF SCILLY, Mincarlo Guest House, St
Mary’s. Superbly situated in own grounds
overlooking the harbour. Terms from £8.50
(plus VAT) for B&B £12.75 (plus VAT) BB &
EM. Tel: 0720 22513. (BB140)
BARN HOUSE, Bempton. Pleasantly situated,
comfortable farmhouse style B&B, Schofield, 5
Newsham Hill Lane, Bempton, Bridlington. Tel:
0262 850523. ' (BB73)
SELF-CATERING PROPERTIES. All
personally inspected. Brochure: Rural Vacations
Ltd, Pipworth Lane, Eckington, Sheffield S31
9EY. Tel: 0246 432202. (BB277)
The Shetland
Islands
New and exciting package holidays
to Britain’s frontier in the North.
Shetland Country Homes oilers the
bargain holiday with a difference.
Sail/drive or fiy/drive from Aberdeen,
with self-drive cars included.
Enjoy the personal attention and
home cooking that no hotel can offer.
The scenery’s so compelling that you
will never forget it.
For all this and much more, write to:
Shetland
Country Homes,
Market Cross,
Lerwick, Shetland.
Tel. 0595 3434.
( BB247)
15th CENTURY COACHING INN midway
Ross/Hcreford amidst gentle wooded hills, 2
fields from River Wye. A comfortable and in-
formal place, with proper emphasis on real food,
real ales, civilised prices. Log fire, ch, fourposter.
Egon Ronay, Relais Routier. Green Man Inn,
Fownhope, Hereford. Tel: Fownhope (043 277)
243. (BB21)
NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS National
Park. Coast and country. For the largest selection
of inspected self-catering cottages, farmhouses
etc, contact: Ingrid Flute, White Cottage,
Ravenscar, Scarborough Y013 ONE. Tel:
Scarborough (0723) 870703. (BB67)
NR MINSMERE, Kings Head, Southwold
723829. B&B, packed lunches, Adnams ales.
(BB19)
HEBRIDES. The Hotel, Isle of Coll, Argyll
PA78 6SZ. Tel: 087 93 334. AA* RAC. Open all
year, central heating. Over 100 species to be seen
including skuas, raptors, water rail, etc. May we
send you our brochure? (BB194)
SILVERDALE. Comfortable fully equipped flat.
Sleeps 2-4. Leighton Moss 1 mile. Owner
maintained. Tel: 04482 2395/0468 61400.
(BB172)
COTSWOLD AREA. Fully equipped luxury
holiday flat. Mrs Rowe, Coombe Mount,
Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire. Tel: 0453
843584. (BB182)
WARM WELCOME, B&B/EM optional. Close
to marshes. Heritage Coastal Walks. Central for
Cley and Titchwell reserves. Mrs Court,
Eastdene, Northfield Lane, Wells-next-the-Sea,
Norfolk. Tel: (0328) 710381. (BB25 1 )
WINDMILL and 2 cottages. 5 miles Blakeney.
Sleeps 8, 6 and 4, available all year. S.A.E. 195
East End Road, London N2, 01 :883 8137.
(BB256)
NEAR MINSMERE, delightful converted barn.
Sleeps 6/7. Fully equipped and linen provided.
Turner, Vine Cottage, The Street, Middleton,
Saxmundham: Tel: Westleton 208 after 6pm.
(BB254)
ISLE OF ISLAY. Superior well equipped holi-
day house, sleeps 6. Oil fired Aga. Good central
position in own grounds. Write with SAE: Wilks,
Catesby, Daventry, Northants. (BB233)
ISLE OF MULL. Small comfortable guest house
on island rich in birdlife. Owners keen
birdwatchers. Pets welcome. Baliscate Guest
House, Tobermory. Tel: 0688 2352. (BB252)
KELLING, NR. CLEY. Situated in 4 acres of
own wooded grounds. Double room £11.95 per
person. En suite £13.45. Winter two-day breaks
£27.50 per person, B&B & evening meal.
Applchill Hotel. Kelling. Tel: Weybourne (026
370) 382. (BB159)
MINSMERE. Accommodation at the Eight
Bells, Kelsale A12, B&B. Real Ale, good food.
Tel: Saxmundham 2975. (BB59)
BED AND BREAKFAST. Mrs D. Crowden,
Rosevilla, Middleton, Saxmundham, Suffolk.
Tel: Westleton 489 between 6-7 pm. (BB50)
SCOTLAND, Galloway Isle of Whithorn.
Luxury bungalow picturesque harbour village.
No pets. Sleeps 4/6. Phone: 051-426 2589.
(BB250)
GALLOWAY for coast, Lochs and Hills. Private
Hotel ideally situated for birdwatching and
holidays. Small parties welcome. Comfortable
accommodation and excellent food. Open all
year. Tel: 0556 2173. Merrick Hotel, Castle
Douglas, Kirkcudbrightshire. (BB113)
ISLES OF SCILLY. Migrate to Mount Flagon
on St Mary’s and enjoy the friendly atmosphere
and good food provided by Bas and Nan Cons.
Write or ring for brochure 0720 22598. (BB1 14)
MINSMERE 4m. B&B in comfortable private
house, edge of village. Brochure/terms, Hills, Old
Mill House, Yoxford, Suffolk. Tel: 536. (BB175)
GARA MILL, Slapton. Comfortable, warm self-
catering Cedar Lodges carefully sited in 4 acres
overlooking river and woods. 2 CH flats in 16th C
cornmill available all year. Sleeps 2-6. Dogs
welcome. For coloured brochure ring Stoke
Fleming 770295. (BB157)
SPEY VALLEY — home of the osprey, cross-
bill and crested tit. Impressive Victorian house
Superb views. CH, log fires. Home cooking. Tel:
0479 2201 or write Rossmor, Grantown on Spey,
Moray. (BB190)
NORTH NORFOLK. The George & Dragon
Hotel. Accommodation, bars & meals. Over-
looking the marshes at Cley, towards Blakeney
Point. Tel: Cley (0263) 740652. (BB219)
GALLOWAY LICENSED RESTAURANT
with B&B accommodation available all year. The
Smithy, New Galloway, Castle Douglas DG7
3RM. Tel: 06442 269. (BB281)
HAYLE ESTUARY 10 mins, walk to hide. Bed
and breakfast £5.50 June and from Sept, St Ives 3
miles. Trendreath House, Lower Lelant, St Ives,
Cornwall. Tel: Hayle 753714. (BB288)
WELLS 4 miles. Modernised flint cottage at
Binham. Sleeps 4-6. Children and pets welcome.
Open all year. CH, TV, carport. Tel: 08833 5579.
(BB295)
BOSWEDNACK MANOR, Zennor, St Ives.
Stay in the real Cornish countryside. Our guest
house overlooks sea and moors. Great Bird-
watching. SAE please for brochure. Tel: 0736
794183. (BB297)
NORTH WEST HIGHLANDS, Dundonnell
Hotel, just south of Ullapool, ideal location for
hill walkers, birdwatchers and those who enjoy
the open spaces. Private bathrooms, Col. TV, full
c.h. Send for col. brochure/tariff giving details of
bargain holidays on selected dates, to Selbie
Florence, Dundonnell Hotel, bv Garve, Ross-
shire. Tel: 085 483 204. (BB298)
LUXURY IDYLLIC COTTAGE. Ideal base
Cheviot Hills, Fame Isles and Kielder Forest.
Forster. Tel: 01-904 9107 and 0669 30265.
(BB1 1)
ELIZABETHAN FARMHOUSE set in a
beautiful position near Welsh Border. Enjoy
complete relaxation. Excellent food. Marvellous
walking country. Close to coast and golf course,
and Offa’s Dyke. Ideal place for birdwatching,
pony trekking (lessons available) etc; open
Easter onwards. Reduced rates for children.
Contact Mrs E. Venables, Rorrington Hall,
Chirbury Powys (093 872) 223. " (BB299)
xv
BIRD WA TCH1NG HO LI DA YS
ISLE OF COLL, ARGYLL. “Tighnamara”
Bird watching at its best. Over 120 species.
Breeding Arctic Skuas, Little Terns, Kittiwakes,
Divers, Corncrakes, Ravens. 6 resident raptors
including Merlin & Peregrine. Unique island
scenery. Otters, seals. Excellent cuisine.
Brochure. Tel: (08793) 354 (BB104)
CALF OF MAN BIRD OBSERVATORY.
Hostel type accommodation from April to
October. Details from: The Secretary, The Manx
Museum, Douglas, Isle of Man. Tel: (0624)
75522. (BB176)
SKOKHOLM AND SKOMER ISLANDS,
Pembrokeshire, Dyfed. Full board accom-
modation; birdwatching/photography courses.
Send s.a.e. to Dept BB, WWTNC, 7 Market
Street, Haverfordwest. (BB116)
BIRDWATCH CORNWALL. Sept 28th-
Oct 4th 1985. £105.00 inclusive. Five days of field
trips. Local RSPB leaders. Evening films and
talks. Special help for beginners. Exciting
seabirds, waders, ducks and birds of prey.
Discounts for parties. Two star hotel with
Scandinavian leisure centre. For brochure and
birdlist, phone Pauline Boss, 0736 795294,
Karenza Hotel, St Ives, Cornwall. (BB290)
Holidays for the discerning naturalist
TURKEY and GREECE for 1985
North West Turkey and North Greece
12 days Aug and Sept £488
Central Turkey & Bosphorus Migration
18 days Sept £680
Bosphorus Migration and Lakes
1 1 days Sept £460
Programme for 1986
SRI LANKA
21 days Jan/Feb £950
AUSTRIA Neusiedl am See
12 days April £430
CENTRAL & SOUTHERN TURKEY
16 days April/May POA
EASTERN TURKEY 2 trips
16 days May and June POA
SPECIAL INTEREST TRIP
16 days July and Aug POA
Privately organised parties catered for,
special trips arranged. Details available from
CHRIS L. SLADE
8 The Grange, Elmdon Park, Solihull,
West Midlands B92 9EL.
Tel: 021-742 5420/021-705 5535.
In conjunction with Regent Holiday U.K. Ltd.
(D506)
WILDLIFE HOLIDA YS
WHINCHATS and Stonechats nesting either
side of a patch of Long-leaved Sundew could be
one of the many enjoyable experiences you could
have by staying at this Observatory. Regular
conducted field trips all year round to find
interesting birds and to enjoy studying them. For
full details of accommodation and 1984 observa-
tions SAE to Tony Miller, Bodmin Moor Nature
Observatory, Ninestones Farm, Liskeard,
Cornwall PL 14 6SD. Tel: 0579 20455. (BB285)
KENYA. Personally escorted 2-week tented Bird
Watching/Wildlife Safari departing 23rd August
visiting Lakejipe, Tsavo West and East, Shimba
Hills and Amboseli Gameparks with the Indian
Ocean. Inclusive £985. Adventure Africa, The
Square, Ramsbury, Wiltshire (0672 20569).
(BB278)
CRUISES
VISIT SCOTTISH ISLES— even (weather
permitting) St Kilda — aboard comfortable 8-
berth motor sailing yacht with qualified
skipper/guide. Details: Seabird Cruises, High-
minton, Hillside, Cromer NR27 0HY. (BB186)
COURSES
Breeding Birds of Great Britain
and Ireland
A Fieldguide Companion
A set of 7 laminated cards in a handy
plastic wallet ( 120 mms X 75 mms)
225 breeding birds covered
• Laying period • No. of Broods • No. of
Eggs • Size and Shape • Incubation days
• Colour • Location of nest.
only IR£2.50/Stg£2
(post free anywhere in U.K. /Ireland)
Send cheque, P.O., money order to: Barvane Lid.,
2 Cloughcarrigeen, Kilsheelan, Clonmel.
Co. Tipperary, Ireland.
(BB284)
BIRD REPORT
1983 KENT BIRD REPORTS. £3, Kent
Winter Bird Survey 1977-80 (published 1984).
£2.50. Each post paid from R. W. George, 10
Dence Park, Herne Bay, Kent. (BB265)
HERTS BIRD REPORT 1983 — £2 from 6
Castle Hill, Berkhamsted, HP4 1HE. (BB266)
CUMBRIA BIRD REPORT 1984. £1.75p (inc
p&p) from M. Hutcheson, Garden Cottage,
Sizergh Castle, Kendal I.A8 8AE. Back issues
(1974-83) still available. (BB283)
PROPERTY FOR SALE
TOWY ESTUARY, seven miles Carmarthen.
Chalet, plus contents (1950), with its feet in the
water where river meets sea, saltings and sand.
All mod cons (just!), and sleeps four. For sale at
£5,000. Please phone Bristol 622175. (BB282)
xvi
PERSONAL
THE HAWK TRUST cares about all birds of
prey. Why not help us with our conservation
projects? For information, contact The Member-
ship Secretary (JB), The Hawk Trust, FREE-
POST, Beckenham, Kent. (BB52)
SCILLY BIRDERS. Why not become a member
of the Cornwall Bird Watching and Preservation
Society? Members receive Scilly and Mainland
Reports free of charge. Membership fee from £5.
Contact Mrs D. Inch, 9 Compass West,
Tregadillett, Launceston, Cornwall. (BB248)
BOOKS
‘BIRD BOOKS’. Good secondhand books
bought and sold. Free catalogue from, and offers
to Briant Books, 94 Quarry Lane, Kelsall,
Tarporley, Cheshire CW6 ONJ. Tel: 0829 51804.
(BB18)
THE BIRD BOOKSHOP
SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB
Wide range of titles in stock
Free catalogue from: 21 Regent Terrace,
Edinburgh EH7 5BT. Tel: 031-556 6042
(BB239)
ORNITHOLIDAYS GUIDES in the Let’s look
at . . .’ series. Majorca, SW Spain, The
Camargue, Montenegro, Eastern Austria, South
Morocco, North East Greece, Vancouver and
The Rockies, Sri Lanka, Lapland and Arctic
Norway, The Gambia, and North West Turkey.
£2.80 per copy- Ornitholidays, 1-3 Victoria
Drive, Bognor Regis, Sussex P021 2PW.
(BB153)
BIRD BOOKS 1847-1982. Large S.A.E. for
catalogue. Crack Books, Sawmill Cottages,
Burton-in-Lonsdale, Carnforth, Lancs. (BB255)
BANNERMAN & LODGE
Birds of the British Isles, Yols YI-XII
£7 each or £40 for all 7 vols
Available only from:
SOC Bird Bookshop
21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh
EH7 5BT.
(BB292)
FIELD CHECKLISTS with 15 columns to keep
your holiday daily bird records easily and
attractively. Available so far: Britain, Gambia,
Greece, Israel, Morocco, Norfolk, Scilly, Spain &
Portugal. 75p each from D. J. Fisher, or S. J. M.
Gantlett, 18 Old Woman’s Lane, Clev-next-the-
sea, Norfolk NR25 7TY. (BB286)
BIRDWATCHER’S LOGBOOKS. Still a few
copies of the first, hard back edition still
available price only £2.50 including p&p from
Coxton Publications, 23 West Hill Road.
Foxton, Cambridge CB2 6SZ. ( BB287)
HENRY SOTHERAN LTD
London ’s leading ornithological book stockists.
Now In: B\\ P Vol. 4. £60.00. Robert’s Birds of
Southern Africa. New Edition. £13.50.
Dictionary of Birds. £35.00.
Finch Davis: Bird Paintings. £65.00,
Superb Stock available for browsing.
2, 3, 4 & 5 Sackville St, London W1X 2DP.
01-734 1150. Just oil' Piccadilly. Mon-Fri 9.00-5.30.
(D507)
BOOKS ON Birds, Natural History', Gardening,
Field Sports, etc. Bought and sold. Catalogues
issued. Books on most subjects purchased. Blest,
Wateringbury, Maidstone, Kent. Tel: 0622
812940. (BB39)
BOOKS ON BIRDS. New and secondhand,
catalogue 30p stamps. Surplus books urgently
sought. BB bought and sold. Open Monday to
Saturday. Bird Books of Sevenoaks, 67 London
Rd, Sevenoaks, Kent. Tel: 0732 455899. (BB245)
The £1000 cheque and Zeiss ?
West 10x40s have been won,
but if you would be intrigued to
see The 'British Birds ' Mystery
Photographs Book (and the full
solution) you ran gel it now tor
£ 1 .50 (previous price was £4.80).
Send cheque or PC) (payable to
British Birds) to: MPB. Foun-
tains. Park Lane, Blunham.
Bedford M K.44 3NJ. ( BB 1 30)
FINE NATURAL HISTORY BOOKS tx.ughi
and sold. R. Norman. The Book-Squirrel, Harl-
on-the-Hill, Dalton Piercey, Hartlepool, Cleve-
land. (BB14)
STAMPS
BIRD STAMPS 100 = £1 500 = £9.00. Send for
14 page bird stamp list. A. Grainger, 42 Lee Lane
East, Horsforth, Leeds. (BB279)
REPAIRS
BINOCULAR AND TELESCOPE REPAIRS
without corner-cutting. Backed by 23 years’
experience. Send or call in to: Kay Optical.
89B London Road, Morden, Surrey. (01-648
8822). For Sales, see our advertisement on page
iv. (BB269)
WE REPAIR BINOCULARS. And cameras.
And projectors. We’ve been at it for thirty years
and we’re very, very good. Perfect? N’o.
Perfectionists? Yes. Burgess Lane & Co. Ltd,
Thornton Works, Thornton Avenue, London W4
1QE. 01-994 5752. (BB223)
ARE YOU a cross-eyed birdwatcher? We offer a
cleaning and re-aligning service for any make or
size of hand held binocular or telescope at a
special price of £15.50 including return postage.
Full repair service available. Charles Frank Ltd.,
Repair Division, Office 413/415, 93-Hope Street,
Glasgow G2 6LD. (BB161)
xvit
FOR SALE
BIRD JOURNAL BACKNUMBERS SUP-
PLIED. (BB, Bird Study, County Reports etc)
Morgan, Whitmore, Umberleigh, Devon.
(BB226)
HAWKINS, Winit, Tecnic, Bogtrotters, walking
boots and shoes. Sprayway waterproofs, SAE for
brochure. B. Timson, 111 Hinckley Road, Earl
Shilton, Leicester. (BB135)
BINOCULAR AND TELESCOPES. Send lor
free colour brochure: Dept Bl, Sherwoods
Binocular Centre, 11-13 Western Arcade,
Birmingham B2 5HU. (BB151)
QUERCUS, Wi llow Road,
Whitstable CT5 3DW oiler
Traditionally styled Smocks.
Ideal work or leisure. Novel
pouch pocket keeps possessions
safe during active wear. Mens or
womens. 100% Blue cotton.
State chest size.
£12 + £1 p&p.
(BB293)
BIRDS AND THE ECOLOGY OF THE
SOUTH WEST COASTLINE
Sunday 1 lth-Saturday 17th August
A field-based course in South Devon with
Gordon Waterhouse and guest speakers,
studying birds in a variety of habitats. Held
in an elegant Victorian villa overlooking the
beautiful Teign estuary, with excellent
cuisine and comfortable accommodation.
BISHOPSTEIGNTON HOUSE
Centre for Leisure Interest Courses
Bishopsteignton. Tel: 06267 5270.
(BB84)
BRITISH BIRD VOCABULARY. A twelve-
cassette series of 6 vols. in book/album form (127
species, 710 examples). Also single cassette
Sound Gifides — the British tits, hawks and
falcons, breeding waders, warblers, thrushes,
finches. S.A.E. to Lewis, Rosehill House,
Lyonshall HR 5 3HS. (BB275)
BRITISH WARBLERS & GARDEN BIRDS
are two, hour-long stereo cassettes in a series ol 5
titles. Only £3.25 each inch p&p. SAE details.
Also, Parabolic Reflector specially designed for
recording birdsong. Hand or tripod mounting.
£26 incl p&p. SAE details. Richard Margoschis,
80 Mancetter Rd, Atherstone GV9 1NH (BB177)
BINOCULARS FOR SALE. A good range of
new and used quality glasses usually available,
21 Crescent Grove, London SW4 7AF. (BB280)
BIRD PAINTINGS. Originals from stock (from
£15). Illustrated catalogue from: Birders, 46
Westleigh Drive, Sonning Common, Reading
RG49LB. (BB289)
TELESCOPE. Bushnell Spacemaster, 20-45X
zoom lens. Immaculate condition, £125. Also
tripod £25. Reading 580827. (BB291)
NESTING BOXES. A Hand Crafted hollowed
log in six different styles to accommodate most
species. Small Tit: Great Tit, Redstart, etc:
Robin, Wagtail, etc: Treecreeper: Blackbird,
Thrush: Martins, Swifts. All at £4.99 inc VAT
p&p. Three or more £3.99 each. From
QUERCUS, Willow Road, Whitstable CT5
3DW. (BB294)
COMPLETE VOLUMES BRITISH BIRDS’.
Complete unbound volumes for 12 years: 1946,
1948-53, 1958, 1965 and 1970-72; plus complete
unbound volumes (except for index) for four
years: 1960-62 and 1964; also almost complete
unbound sets for the other 12 years 1946-73 (over
300 issues in total). For sale en bloc to the highest
bidder. These were donated to BB by Miss Violet
Maxse, and the proceeds will be devoted to extra
pages in the journal. Send your bid to: Maxse
Donation Bid, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham,
Bedford MK44 3NJ. (BB296)
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OPTOLYTH
30 x 75 £229.00
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Telephone: (0727) 59392
HERTS
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xviii
With one of these, an apiarist can
see the bees' knees at 10 yards
Just think what an ornithologist
could see with it . . .
(Better still, try one locally (ask us where).
You'll be AMAZED.
(D512)
Mirorl/v
min uviv/i
Tokyo London Paris Los Angeles
Purveyors of fine optics to the world since 1947
55-61 Brewery Road, London N7 9QU Telephone 01-609 3013
British Birds
303
304
306
306
307
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307
307
307
Volume 78 Number 6 June 1985
269 Dartford Warblers in 1984 Britain Mark Robins and Colin J. Bibby
28 1 Mystery photographs 102 Pectoral Sandpiper A. R. Dean
283 Diary dates Mrs Sheila D. Cobban
284 Seventy-five years ago . . .
285 PhotoSpot 12 Dupont’s Lark Dr J. T. R. Sharrock
286 Points of view 14 Help for the Snowy Owls Mike Terry
87 Best recent black-and-white bird-photographs Dr R.J. Chandler ,
Eric Hosking, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock and Don Smith
Notes
One adult Grey Heron killing another on feeding territory Dr Heinz Richner
Mouth and gape colours of singing Marsh and Reed Warblers M. G. Kelsey
Notes on Short-toed Treecreepers from southern Spain M. Rodriguez de tos Santos
Further comments on treerreeper identification Erik Hnschfetd
Magpie containing warble-fly insecticide Dr D. C. Seel
Carrion Crows taking insect prey on the wing iMurence N. Rose
Letters
Bill coloration of treecreepers A. Pvm
Identification of Wheatear and Isabelline Wheatear Per Alstrom
Red-rumped Swallow and bird-artists K. J. Hall
Amphibian calls and small crakes D. M. Norman
Announcements
‘The Birdwatcher’s A-Z’
‘A Guide to the Birds of Nepal’
‘Eric Hosking’s Owls’
Huge increase in ‘BB’ subscription price
‘BB’ trip to Thailand
mm
Pal ’
308 News and comment Mike Everett and Robin Prytherch
3 1 0 Recent reports Keith Allsopp and Ian Dawson
Line drawings: 269 Dartford Warbler {fane Brewer ); 3 10 Sociable Plover
Red-breasted Goose and 312 Parrot Crossbill (D. Numev)
Front cover: Sedge Warbler singing. Horsey Marshes, Norfolk (D. .1.
Thelwell ): the original drawing of this month’s cover design is for sale in a
postal auction (see page 56 in January issue for procedure)
British Birds
1
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jt » i : . ■
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J-K 1
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British Birds
Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock
Personal Assistant Sheila D. Cobban Assistant Editors David Christie & P. J. Grant
Editorial Board Stanley Cramp, P. J. Grant, Dr M. A. Ogilvie 8c DrJ. T. R. Sharrock
Photographic Consultants Dr R. J. Chandler 8c Don Smith
Rarities Committee P. J. Grant (Chairman), D. J. Britton, A. R. Dean, R. H. Dennis,
D. J. Holman, T. P. Inskipp, P. G. Lansdown, S. C. Madge, I. S. Robertson 8c
K. E. Vinicombe; Michael J. Rogers (Honorary Secretary)
Notes Panels behaviour Dr C. J. Bibby, Dr J. J. M. Flegg, Dr C. H. Fry,
Derek Goodwin, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, DrJ. T. R. Sharrock 8c Dr K. E. L. Simmons;
identification P. J. Grant, S. C. Madge, Dr M. A. Ogilvie 8c DrJ. T. R. Sharrock
© British Birds Ltd 1985
Copyright of photographs remains with
photographers. British Birds is
published monthly by British Birds Ltd,
93 High Street, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire
ISSN 0007-0335
Publishing Manager,
Production & Promotion
Dr J. T. R. Sharrock
Circulation Manager
Erika Sharrock
Design
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Advertising
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Addresses
Please keep correspondence on different items separate. Please address your
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Papers, notes, letters, drawings & photographs for publication DrJ. T. R. Sharrock, Fountains,
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Rarity descriptions M. J. Rogers, Flat 4, Pentland Flats, St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly
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British Birds publishes material dealing with original observations on the birds of the west Palearctic. Except lor
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Papers should be typewritten with double spacing, and wide margins, and on one side of the sheet only. Authors
should carefully consult this issue for style of presentation, especially of references and tables. English and scientific
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plants follow Dony el at. (1980, English Names of Wild Flowers); names of mammals follow Corbet & Southern
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(Discoverer) TEXON CASE
Slikmaster D2 Tripod
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OUTFIT PRICE £229.00
01-4491445
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TRIPODS AND
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£
OPTOLYTH
£
ACCESSORIES
Dialyt 8 x 20 B
155.00
Alpin 8 x 30 BGA
119.00
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2895
Dialyt 8 x 20 BGA
21900
Alpin 8 x 40 BGA
129.00
Slik 35S
34 95
Dialyt 10x25 B
169.00
Alpin 10 x 40 BGA
131.00
Slik 35D
41.95
Dialyt 8 x 30 BGAT
313.00
Alpin 7x42 BGA
135 00
Slik Master D2
51.95
Dialyt 10x40 BGAT
Phone
Alpin 10x50 BGA
150 00
Slik 88
51 95
Standard or close
for
Slik SL67
84 95
focus
price
TELESCOPES
Slik Tripod Strap
5.95
Dialyt 7 x 42 BGAT
dby.uu
KowaTSN-1
21000
Car Window Mount
17.00
Dialyt 8 x 56 BGAT
410.00
Kowa TSN-2
198.00
Universal Mount
17 50
15x60 Porro BGAT
675.00
20 x, 25 x, 40 x x Zoom
Monopods from
9.95
LEITZ
from 39.00
Binocular Lanyards
2.00
Trinovid 8x20 BC
175.00
Kowa TS-1
119.00
Rainguards
1.00
Trinovid 8 x 20 BCA 189.00
Trinovid 10x25 BC 189.00
Trinovid 10 x 25 BCA 204.00
Trinovid 7x42 BA Phone
Trinovid 8x40 BA for
Trinovid. 10 x 40 BA price
CARL ZEISS JENA
Deltrintem 8 x 30 57.95
Dekarem 10x50 88.95
HABICHT
Diana 10 x 40 B 239.00
WSL/M 10x40 269.00
Eye pieces from 29.00
Optolyth 22 x 60 BGA 145.00
Optolyth 30x75 BGA 239.00
Optolyth 30x80 BGA 273.00
Spacemaster Zoom 174.00
Spacemaster 22 x 60 154.00
Mirador 15 x- 60x60 174.95
Habicht 30 x 75 BGA 339.00
Habicht 23x70 BGA 179.00
Opticron HR 20 x - 60 x 134.00
Criterion 4000
Bausch & Lomb Mirror Scope
399.00
Also in stock, Opticron, Bushnell, Pentax, Greenkat, Kowa, Swift,
Hartmann. Prices correct 5.6.85.
CAMERA LENSES
Now in stock
The Novo Flex System
400 mm lens C/W Follow
Focus Grip 810.75
600 mm lens C/W Follow
Focus Grip 822.25
Full details and price list
on application
All equipment sent on 14 days
approval upon receipt of full
remittance
Please add £2.00 p&p if
ordering by mail.
BINOCULARS AND TELESCOPES
a
REPAIRED ON THE PREMISES
(D522)
i
FIRECREST
TELESCOPES AND
BINOCULARS
Choose from 20 scopes and over
40 binoculars
From Alpin, Bushnell, Helios,
Kowa, Mirador, Opticron,
Optolyth, Panorama, Swift,
Televari, Zeiss Jena
Fast mail order service.
Easy access to M6 & M62.
Callers welcome.
14 day approval.
For details ring
Pam or Cliff Gibson on
(0925) 817874 or write to:
FIRECREST
8 Chapelcross Road, Fearnhead,
Warrington, Cheshire WA2 OPP.
(D465)
The Quarterly Ornithological Journal
ALAUDA
The Trench ornithological journal
ALAUDA contains scientific papers on
field studies of wild birds concerned with
their anatomy, ethology, feeding, moult,
reproduction, migration, population dyna-
mics. vocal behaviour, etc
Coverage is world-wide but mainly
western palearctic and particularly French
Papers have an English summary There is
a selected review of recent ornithological
publications
Copies of most back numbers exist,
these can be supplied on request
An annual subscription of 160 FF entitles
a private member to four copies of
ALAUDA Institutional subscription 180 FF
Also available: Sound recordings of some
of the more difficult West African birds — A
complete set of 10 LP Records (specially
produced by ALAUDA) and accompanying
notes 420 FF
Please contact:
J. F. Dejonghe or Tony Williams
Alauda,
Ecole Normale Superieure,
46 rue d’Ulm,
75230 PARIS Cedex 05 if interested.
(D144)
ORNITHOLIDAYS
1986
MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATION OF
BRITISH TRAVEL AGENTS
Holidays Organised
by Birdwatchers for Birdwatchers
Twenty-one years’ service to birdwatchers & naturalists
Programme will include:
Kenya
The Seychelles
Tanzania
Zimbabwe
Zambia
Okavango Delta
Rwanda
South Africa
Morocco
Madagascar
Southern India
Northern India &
the Himalayas
Kashmir
Nepal
Assam & Sikkim
Sri Lanka
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Spanish Pyrenees
Andorra
Majorca
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ORNITHOLIDAYS
DEPT. 2, 1 -3 VICTORIA DRIVE, BOGNOR REGIS, SUSSEX, ENGLAND, P021 2PW
ATOL LICENCE No. 743 Tel: 0243 821 230 (D5231
11
/
A Dictionary
of BIRDS
Edited by
BRUCE CAMPBELL and
ELIZABETH LACK
Compiled by the editors for the
British Ornithologists’ Union the
work includes contributions from
over 280 ornithologists and other
specialists from around the world.
There are major, authoritative
articles covering the field of
modern ornithology and related
subjects, with, in addition, articles
on all the bird families, almost all
of which are illustrated by a
representative species.
The text of over a million words is
supported by more than 500
photographs and drawings. Eric
Hosking has selected the
photographs to illustrate different
activities of birds, and Robert
Gillmor has assembled over 200
drawings of birds by various
artists, almost all of which were
drawn for the book.
28x21 cm, 704 pages, publication
17 May, £35.00 net (£39.00 net
from 1st October )
T & A D POYSER
(D517)
FOCALPOINT
Complete range of optics chosen
by birdwatchers
FOR birdwatchers
KOWA
77 mm TSN System
TSN-1 (45' angled body only)
210.00
TSN-2 (straight body only)
198.50
Eyepieces 20 x W/A
62.75
25 x
38.75
40 x
38.75
20 x - 60 x zoom
92.50
TSN-PA2 Photo-attachment
62.75
TSN-IIAI Adaptor 60 mm eyepieces on
77 mm telescopes
16.25
TSN-1 Case
16.95
TSN-2 Case
16.95
60 mm TS System
TS1 (45' angled) body (inc case)
125.00
TS2 (straight) body (inc case)
108.00
TS6 (compact straight) Body (inc case)
125.00
Eyepieces 20 x HR
35 50
25 x
26.00
25 x HR
29.50
40 x
30.25
Binoculars
Kowa 9 x 35
125 00
These superb razor sharp optics now from stock.
OTHER RECOMMENDED TELESCOPES
Bausch & Lomb Criterion (complete)
399 00
Optolyth 30 x 80
273.00
Optolyth 30 x 75
239.00
Bausch & Lomb Discoverer (inc case)
195 00
Spacemaster inc zoom
174.00
Spacemaster inc 22 x W/A
155.00
Optolyth 22x60
145.00
Opticron H R (45 ) 20-60 x 60
141.00
Opticron HR. (straight) 20-60 x 60
134.00
Opticron 75 mm Classic zoom
112.00
Opticron 75 mm Classic 30 x 75
87.50
Opticron Piccolo 15-45x60
104.00
Opticron Piccolo 20 x
94.00
ALL POSTAGE, PACKING AND
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Tony & Enid Murphy
FOCALPOINT
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Tel: 0606 891098
(D526)
iii
Turkey • Greece 'Austria • Sri Lanka -Thailand
&WikIlifc
' Holidays for the discerning naturalist
TURKEY and GREECE for 1985
North West Turkey and North Greece
12 days Aug and Sept £488
Central Turkey & Bosphorus Migration
18 days Sept £680
Bosphorus Migration and Lakes
1 1 days Sept £460
Programme for 1986
SRI LANKA
21 days Jan/Feb £950
AUSTRIA Neusiedl am See
12 days April £430
CENTRAL & SOU! HERN TURKEY
16 days April/May POA
EASTERN TURKEY 2 trips
16 days May and June POA
SPECIAL INTEREST TRIP
16 days July and Aug POA
Privately organised parties catered for,
special trips arranged. Details available from
CHRIS L. SLADE
8 The Grange, Elmdon Park, Solihull,
West Midlands B92 9EL.
Tel: 021-742 5420/021-705 5535.
In conjunction with Regent Holiday U.K. Ltd.
(D506)
DUTCH
BIRDING
Quarterly journal
for every keen
birder!
□ Excellent papers on identification,
distribution, movements and
behaviour of Palearctic birds.
□ Latest news on rare birds in the
Netherlands and Belgium.
1/ In English or with English summaries.
□ Well produced with numerous high
quality photographs.
Ask for a free sample copy from
Peter de Knijff , Dutch Birding Association,
Postbus 473, 2400 AL Alphen aan den
Rijn, Netherlands.
(D468)
BINOCULARS and TELESCOPES f
, 9x35 Elite
from
KAY OPTICAL SERVICING S?"
Service to the Naturalist for over 23 years
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ZEISS (West)
8x20 B Dialyt 153
1 0 x 25 B Dialyt 165
8x30 BGAT Dialyt 305
10 x 40 BGAT Dialyt 340
(Standard or Close Focus)
7x42 BGAT Dialyt 350
LEITZ
8 x 32 BA Trinovid 340
8 x 40 BA trinovid 374
7x42 BA Trinovid 388
0PT0LYTH
8 x 40 Alpin 129
10x40 Alpin 131
10x50 Alpin 150
SWIFT £
81/2 x 44 Audubon 145
71/2 x 42 Osprey* 110
HABICHT (Swarovski)
10 x 40 WM ‘Diana’ 239
7x42WSL/M* 239
1 0 x 40 WSL/M* 269
10x50 WSL/M* 294
HARTMANN
Compact, 8x30 197
wide 8 x 40 234
angle 10x40 234
7 x 42 247
TELESCOPES
Optolyth 30x75 BGA
Optolyth 30x80 BGA
Spacemaster Zoom*
Mirador 15-60x60*
KowaTSN-1 (20x WA)*
KowaTSN-2Zoom*
KowaTS-1 Body*
KowaTS-2 Body*
TS Eyepieces from
Opticron HR 20-60x60*
Opticron HR
20-60x60 (45°)*
Piccolo (eg 40x60)*
Piccolo 20-60x60*
Optima Super 60
(eg 30x60)*
Habicht 23x70*
‘Price without case/pouch TRIPOD Stitz CV330
£
157
69
239
273
179
175
265
280
115
100
25
134
160
90
120
135
165
55
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ra.mu.ju
iv
PARADISE REGAINED
r
Albeit temporarily, with one of our
wilderness, wildlife and cultural tours. Join
Quintin Bloxham of the Jersey Zoo to
Madagascar, Reunion and Mauritius on
18th November; Heather Angel, leading
wildlife photographer in China on 28th
September; or one of our many journeys
to Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana
throughout the year.
Telephone for our worldwide brochure.
Twickers World
•WILDLIFE, CULTURAL & WILDERNESS JOURNEYS-
Twickers World Brochure — 01-892 8164.
22 Church Street. Twickenham TW1 3NW. Tel: 01-892 7606. Telex: 25780
A Guide to the Birds of Nepal
Carol and Tim Inskipp
This book is a complete guide to Nepalese
birds It gives a fully-illustrated analysis of the
distribution and status of Nepal's 835 bird
species and also includes 676 distribution
maps that cover all but the rarer and more
localised birds
£25.00 0-7099-1316-8 392 pages August 85
210 black and white drawings 8 colour plates
676 maps
«*«£$*«*
order now
rdSfoF
(D516)
Helm
13 Day Christmas Birdwatching Trip to Israel
From 22.12.85-03.01.86 we are running
our 4th English speaking birders tour to
Israel. Included are the most rewarded
areas such as Maagan Michael, Hula-Re-
serve, Mount Hermon, Ein Gedi, Dead Sea,
Negev and Eliat. Last year 191 different
species were seen, amongst them: Brown
Bobby, Black Stork, Marbled Teal, Imperial-,
Spotted- and Bonelli’s Eagle, Pallid Harrier,
Barbary Falcon, Lanner, Black Francolin,
Sand Partridge, Greater Sand Plover, Great
Black-headed Gull, Lichtenstein’s and
Spotted Sandgrouse, Hume's Tawny Owl,
Smyrna Kingfisher, Hoopoe Lark and Bar-
teailed Desert Lark, Long-billed Pipit, Black-
start, Isabelline-, Mourning-, Hooded-,
Finsch’s and White-crowned Black
Wheatear, Rock Trush, Arabian Babbler,
Scrub-, Clamorous Reed-, Arabian-,
Cyprus-, Spectacled Warbler, Palestine
Sunbird, Sombre Tit, Sinai Rosefinch, Sy-
rian Serin, Desert Finch, Pine Bunting, Dead
Sea Sparrow, T ristram's Grackle, Fan-tailed
Raven. . . A good chance also to see Hou-
bara in the Negev!
Guide: once again Eckhard Moller together
with local experts. The price of DM 2.980-
includes ELAL flight Frankfurt - Tel Aviv -
Frankfurt; accomodation in double rooms
in good hotels and kibbutz-guesthouses;
full board; own coach for daily disposal; all
entrance fees; airport tax; detailed infor-
mation for example checklists, former bird
reports.
Meeting point: 22.12.85 Frankfurt Airport
Price for trip excluding flights: DM 2.190,-
Bookings and detailed English itinerary
obtainable from
Natur-
Studienreisen GmbH
Untere Dorfstrasse 12,
D-3410 Northeim 1.
Tel. 55 51 / 50 69.
Telex 965 574 natur d.
Please ask for 1 04-page birdwatching pro-
gramm 85 with more than 70 destinations
worldwide (in German).
(D51 5)
COOPER ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Objectives
The observation and cooperative study of birds
The spread of interest in bird study
The conservation of birds and wildlife in general
The publication of ornithological knowledge
Incorporated December 6. 1 934
Membership (includes THE CONDOR) $18 00 ($12 00 students) Advance payment in US
dollars required Subscriptions are entered for the calendar year
Subscription address Charles T Collins, Treasurer - EA, Department of Biology, California
State University, Long Beach, CA 90840 USA
PUBLICATIONS — THE CONDOR - A Quarterly Journal of Ornithology Established in 1899
STUDIES IN AVIAN BIOLOGY - Devoted to papers of unusual length
Supersedes Pacific Coast Avifauna Established in 1900
Status and Distribution ol Alaska Birds By Brina Kessel and Daniel D Gibson 100 pp SAB No 1 November
1978 . $9 00
Shorebirds m Marine Environments Edited by Frank A Pitelka 261 pp SABNo 2. June 1979 Out ol Print
Bird Community Dynamics in a Ponderosa Pine Forest By Robert C Szaro and Russell P Baida 66 pp SAB
No 3. October 1979 $6 50
The Avifauna of the South Farallon Islands California By David F DeSante and David G Ainley 104 pp SAB
No 4, April 1980 $10 00
Annual Variation of Daily Energy Expenditure by the Black-billed Magpie A Study of Thermal and Behavioural
Energetics By John N Mugaas and James R King 78 pp SABNo 5 May 1981 $8 00
Estimating Numbers ol Terrestrial Birds Edited by C John Ralph and J Michael Scott 630 pp SAB No 6.
October 1981 Out of Print
NEW TITLES
Population Ecology ol the Dipper (Cmclus mexicanus) in the Front Range ol Colorado By Frank E Price and
Carl E Bock 84 pp SABNo 7, November 1983 $9 00
Tropical Seabird Biology Proceedings of an International Symposium ol the Pacific Seabird Group Edited by
Ralph W Schreiber 114pp SABNo 8, December 1983 $12 00
Prices above include postage and handling Prepayment in US dollars only is required
Make cheque payable to Cooper Ornithological Society
Cooper Ornithological Society - EA, P O. Box 368, Lawrence, KS 66044 USA
(D388)
V
(D519)
•' A member of the F ield & Trek Group) *
ft
Compare our prices . . .
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Please add £2.00
p&p on all orders
HERON 8x40 BWCF C43.00
CARL ZEISS 10x40 B DIALYT
(Hard Case) £358.80
CARL ZEISS 10x40 BGA
(Soft Case) £364.35
LEITZ 10x40B
(Hard Case) £376.00
OPTOLYTH 8x40GA
(Soft Case) £129.00
OPTOLYTH 10x40GA
(Soft Case) £132.00
HABICHT DIANA
10x40
£239.95
MIRADOR 8x40BCF £46.55
SWIFT TRILYTE 10x40 Roof
Prism £106.95
SWIFT AUDOBON 8 5 x 44 £145.30
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£86.10
ZEISS JENOPTEM 8x30 £45.45
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BUSHNELL DISCOVERER
15-60x60 no case £194.95
1 l
MIRADOR 15x 60x 60 with case
(Similar to Discoverer) £179.95
OPTOLYTH 30 x 80 £273.00
OPTOLYTH 30x75 £239.00
BUSHNELL SPACE MASTER with
ZOOM no case £179.00
Case for Spacemaster £12.90
HERON OPTICALWS^ COMPANY
Dept. BB7 23/25 KINGS RD. BRENTWOOD ESSEX CM14 4ER
Tel. (0277) 233122 (Mail Order) 222230 (Showroom)
BOOKS
ON BIRDS
Catalogue on request
WHELDON &
WESLEY LIMITED
LYTTON LODGE
CODICOTE
Nr. HITCHIN
HERTS. SG4 8TE
Tel. Stevenage (0438) 820370
(D269)
Artificial
House Martin’s
Nest
Remarkably successful readily accepted
by martins, they also encourage the
construction of natural nests. Made of
hard cement compo with hardboard roof
and back easily fixed to eaves of house or
barn with special nails supplied
Price £9 for 1
£16.50 for 2
including post and packing & VAT
NERINE NURSERIES
Welland, Worcestershire
(D463)
vi t
“Very balanced, comfortable to hold
and superb optical performance.
One of the finest binoculars for
ornithology, hunting and
general use we have come
across.
COUNTRY SPORT November 1983
Swift Osprey 7.5 x 42 Binoculars
Sole UK Distributor:
Fyser Ltd., Fircroft Way,
Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 6HA
Telephone: Edenbridge
864111 (8 lines)
BRITISH BIRDS 1984
“Optically these
binoculars are
superb .
fine details as
well as any
binoculars I have
used. There is no
indication of
colour fringes
or any other
distortion at
the edge of the
field of view,
nor is there
any colour
cast ”
viii
(D495)
British Birds
VOLUME 78 NUMBER 7 JULY 1985
What you think of ‘BB’
In general, we seem to be producing a British Birds which is liked by its
readers. Over 600 subscribers filled in the pull-out questionnaire in the
centre of our March 1985 issue, and the results (table 1) will be taken fully
into account in the coming year or so, as we plan future issues.
Table 1. Results of March 1985 survey of subscribers’ likes and dislikes
RESUI TS (%) OF
SUBSCRIBERS’ VOTES
THAT THE SPACE
Space DEVOTED TO THIS
occupied topic is currently
Topic
during
1983-84
Too
much
About
right
Too
little
Main papers (behaviour, food, ecology , etc.)
15%
23
57
20
Notes and letters (behaviour, food, ecology, ete.)
13%
29
60
11
Main papers (identification)
11%
16
42
42
Annual report on ‘Rare birds in Great Britain'
9%
in
76
14
'Recent reports’
8%
1.5
66
19
‘News and comment’
6%
8
74
18
Notes and letters on identification points
5%
10
60
30
Papers and notes on rare bird occurrences
4%
13
58
29
Annual report on 'Rare breeding; birds in the I K’
4%
10
73
17
'Mvsterv photographs’
4%
13
79
8
Main book reviews
4%
11
73
16
‘European news’
2%
20
54
26
'Best recent black-and-white bird-photographs’
2%
19
67
14
'PhotoSpot'
2%
15
65
20
Short book reviews
1%
11
72
17
‘Studies of West Palearctic birds’
1%
4
52
44
‘Bird Photograph of the Year’
1%
11
77
12
‘Personalities’ profiles
1%
33
54
13
‘Product reports’ and product survevs
1%
15
56
29
'Bird Illustrator of the ’tear’ and ‘The Richard
Richardson Award’
1%
20
75
5
‘Points of view’
1%
10
76
14
‘Seven tv-five vears ago'
1%
31
62
7
‘Requests’
1%
5
87
8
‘Expeditions’
1%
23
60
17
‘Diarv dates’
< 1%
15
80
5
'Recent prosecutions’
< 1%
20
65
15
Cartoons
< 1%
22
68
10
Oui77P<\
< 1%
26
60
14
316
What you think of ‘BB ’
We have noted in particular that many subscribers would like to see more
papers and notes on identification and rarities, ‘Studies of West Palearctic
birds’, and articles on birdwatching products. The least popular feature is
‘Personalities’, but even that has two-thirds of readers wanting the same or
more space allotted to it in future and only one-third wanting less. ‘Seventy-
five years ago . . .’ is also relatively unpopular, even though it is usually a
space-filler occupying a part of the page which would otherwise be blank.
Nevertheless, we have noted readers’ views, and shall not be expanding
either of those two features.
As well as the completed questionnaires, we received so many letters with
suggestions and detailed comments that we could not answer them all. We
are, nevertheless, most grateful to the writers concerned, and many of the
ideas will be followed up. A surprising number of subscribers criticised the
space used for advertising and promotion of special offers of books and
recordings, suggesting that this should be cut and the saved space devoted
to extra papers and notes. As we hope most readers are aware, the income
from advertising and sales through British BirdShop enables us to keep the
BB subscription price lower, and, in fact, allows us to have extra pages of
articles and photographs.
Table 2. Membership among ‘British Birds’ subscribers of British and Irish
ornithological societies
SUBSCRIBERS WHO HAVE TAKEN ‘BB’ FOR
Society
1-3 years
4-6 years
over 7 years
ALL SUBSCRIBERS
BOU
2%
4%
19%
11%
BTO
45%
55%
63%
56%
IWC
2%
3%
3%
3%
soc:
7%
12%
15%
12%
RSPB
86%
86%
82%
84%
It was interesting to see the membership of ornithological societies, and
to note how this changed from new to long-standing BB subscribers (table
2). Whereas only one in 50 of new ‘BB’ subscribers are also members of the
BOU, one in five of long-established subscribers are members of Britain’s
senior ornithological body: presumably a sign of maturing interest in
ornithology (as perhaps also indicated by their stronger desire for more
‘European news’ compared with the probably younger and less-experi-
enced new ‘BB’ subscribers). BTO membership shows a similar
progression, with nearly two-thirds of our ‘old hands’ also being BTO
members. RSPB membership is staggeringly high: it is good to know that so
many ‘BB’ readers support Britain’s main bird conservation body.
Once again, we thank all those who sent us their opinions, on which the
‘BB’ of the future will be based. Eds.
g>cUcntt>-fibc prats ago...
‘Of the birds there was no doubt, and in spite of niv terribly bad ear for distinguishing closely
allied bird-notes, I was at once able to pick out the song of the male from the chattering chorus
of Reed- and Sedge-Warblers. I will at once confess to an honest doubt whether I should have
done so without the knowledge that the Marsh-Warbler was there!’ (Brit. Birds 4: 37; July
1910)
‘Bird Illustrator
of the Year’ and ‘The
Richard Richardson
Award’
With more entries than last year, and a generally higher standard all
round, we found this the most difficult competition to judge since
the first in 1979. The winners were as follows:
Bird Illustrator of the Year, 1985
1st Ian Lewington (Didcot, Oxfordshire)
2nd Nicholas Pike (Grundisburgh, Suffolk)
3rd= K. H. E. Franklin (London)
3rd= Martin Hallam (Reading, Berkshire)
T he Richard Richardson Award. 1985
1st Ian Lewington (Didcot, Oxfordshire)
Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
( Ian Lewington )
There were many good sets of illustrations, and we should like to record
the runners-up: Nik Borrow, R. A. Hume, H. A. Knott and Darren Rees. A
further seven artists were short-listed: John Davis. YV. Neill. D. R. Powell,
Philip Snow, Miss T. K. Sykes. Guy Troughton and Frederick J. Watson.
In the Richard Richardson Award, there were four runners-up: Malcolm
Marsh Sandpipers Tringa stagnatilis (Nicholas Pike)
f Bnl. Birds 78: 3l7-.122.July 1985]
317
318
Bird Illustrator of the Year
Juvenile Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator ( Ian Lewington)
Ausden, A. J. Mackav, Ian Owens and Dave Showier.
Many of these, and others, submitted excellent individual drawings, but
the competition is for a set of four, done to a precise set of measurements.
We were pleased to find an increase in submissions for the Richard
Richardson Award, although we still feel there must be many more artists
under the age of 21 who could take part. There was no doubt as to the
winner when Ian Lewington’s quartet appeared. He has a superb tech-
nique, good sense of design, and his birds were well-observed and well-
drawn. It was clear that his set of drawings would also be a close contender
for the main award, and so it proved, with Ian eventually becoming the first
person to win both awards in the same year. His cover design of a pair of
Bird Illustrator of the Year 3 19
Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major (Nicholas Pike)
Reed Buntings Emberiza schoenic/us appears on the front of this month's issue
and as the frontispiece to volume 78.
Nicholas Pike, placed second, submitted two small drawings, of Glossy-
Ibis Plegadis falcinellus and Marsh Sandpipers Trmga stagnatilis, which were
extremely simple but effective, and admirably captured the ‘jizz’ of the
birds. His two cover designs were boldly conceived, unfussy. and would
give no problems to the printer.
Tving for third place, K. Franklin and Martin Hallam produced sets of
drawings with great merit, and. although not without faults, drawn with
obvious understanding and knowledge of the birds. Franklin has a free and
fresh use of the pen and an acute eye for bird character which appealed.
320
Bird Illustrator of the Year
Hallam’s technique is more straightforward, but reveals an ornithologist’s
eye and a good sense of design, shown particularly in his white Barn Owl
Tyto alba flying against the angled shape of a dark barn.
Artists had clearly taken note of our comments made in previous reports
about presentation, and only one drawing was done at the wrong size.
Technically, most were suitable for reproduction, but a few were over-
detailed and would certainly have darkened in reduction. A black ballpoint
pen is not a suitable medium for line-drawings, unless the artist is aware of
the techniques required, and is looking for special effects or textures.
Scraperboard is very popular. One entrant who uses black scraperboard
with considerable skill is D. E. Swithenbank, and his panel of feeding
Bullfinches Pyrrhula pyrrhula, in well-observed postures, was very
satisfactory. But black scraperboard is full of traps for the unwary, and is
not recommended.
Brent Geese Branta bemicla ( K . //. E. Franklin)
Bird Illustrator of the Year
321
Barn Owl Tyto alba (Martin Hallam )
Comments made in previous reports about scale are still very relevant.
Even the most experienced artists can find themselves drawing small birds
which dwarf their immediate surroundings or background.
Many of the illustrations were based on personal observations by the
artist which were recorded on the back of the drawing. It is usually clear
when an artist has first-hand knowledge of the subject, and it is much better
to draw a species which the artist knows well than to attempt a more ‘exotic’
species that is unfamiliar. We are looking for drawings suitable for repro-
duction in a book or a magazine such as British Birds , which means they
must be technically adequate and ornithologicallv ‘right’. That, however.
322
Bird Illustrator of the Year
leaves enormous scope to the artist to draw in any way he chooses and, for
the covers, there is the opportunity for a bold and imaginative approach.
There could hardly be a greater contrast between designs for the cover than
a carefullv detailed drawing of an Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida by
John M. Waters and a very simple, boldly textured drawing of Shags
Phalacrocorax aristotelis by A. Birkby. These are planned to appear on the
September 1985 and June 1986 covers respectively. We find no difficulty in
finding suitable cover designs for the coming year, and many other illustra-
tions from the competition will be used inside the magazine.
All the entries by the winners will be exhibited throughout the ‘22nd
Annual Exhibition of the Society of Wildlife Artists at the Mall Galleries,
The Mall, London SW1, during 4th-20th July 1985.
Robert Gillmor, Keith Shackleton and J. T. R. Sharrock
Expeditions
Mark Beaman and Richard Porter
This is the fourth of these features on ornithological expeditions, the
previous ones having been in April 1979, May 1981 and April 1983
[Brit. Birds 72: 139-142; 74: 218-223 and 76: 182-185). Once again, leaders
| Bnl Birds 78: 322-327. July 1985]
Expeditions
323
ol expeditions within the Western Palearctic or elsewhere in the world are
in\ ited to submit details of their plans so that we can announce forthcoming
expeditions, or details of the results so that we can summarise their
achievements*. We hope in this way to aid the development of ornitho-
logical investigations by fostering the interest of potential participants and
also potential sponsors, whilst providing a showcase for valuable reports
which too often circulate to onlv a few enthusiasts.
W hat qualifies as an expedition?’, we are frequently asked, ‘And where
is the borderline between that and a birdwatching trip?’ Full-blooded
surveys of little-visited regions lasting several months and with clear scien-
tific objectives are clearly at one end of the spectrum, whereas a short
birdwatching trip to a well-known region with the main aim being enjoy-
ment is perhaps at the other. Many birdwatching trips do, however,
provide useful ornithological information, especiallv where the findings can
be collected and collated with other reports. Indeed, we would go so far as
to say that some trips produce more valuable scientific results than do some
so-called expeditions. In future, we plan to include news of the more-
interesting birdwatching trips, but in general only where there is a report
which can be made available (at a price if necessary) to others. We hope
that those engaged in birdwatching trips will write up their results and let
us have a copy. In recognition of this expanded coverage, ‘Expeditions’ is to
be renamed ‘Expeditions and trips’.
Alberta, Canada A report short Iv to be
printed describes the Royal Air Force Orni-
thological Society’s expedition in Mav-Junc
1983 to the prairies of the South Saskatche-
wan River and to the Waterton Lakes
National Park in the Rocky Mountains. It
contains an annotated species list and
illustrations, and will stimulate other birders
to v isit this rich area in the breeding season.
For a copy contact Major David Counsell.
8 Darnley Drive. Southborough, Tunbridge
Wells. Kent.
Belize The Army Birdwatching Societv
carried out an expedition. ‘Exercise King
Vulture’, to Belize from 23rd February to
16th March 1982. led by Major Tim Hall-
church. A total of 306 species was recorded,
one of which (Green-fronted Hummingbird
Amazillia viridifrons) had not prev iously been
reported in Belize. A total of 1.151 birds was
netted, of 1 14 species; 859 of those that were
migrants were ringed using rings prov ided by
the US Department of the Interior Bird
Banding Laboratory. The report, published
in Adjutant, is available, price £2.00. from the
Secretary of the ABWS. Ministry of Defence
Lands 3. I olworth I ower. Surbiton. Surrey
KT6 7I)R
Brunei A RAF Ornithological Societv expe-
dition was in Brunei throughout Mav and
June 1984. camping both in the jungle and
near the coast. The expedition carried out
ringing studies at Lamunin. a jungle area
previously studied bv Kidd and Beales, in
jungle at Labi, and in the remote Temburong
district. They used helicopters to reach sites
normally inaccessible to ornithologists, and
reports are being compiled. Contact Major
David Counsell for further information (for
address see ‘Alberta").
Cyprus The RAF Ornithological Societv
mounted an expedition to Cyprus from 1st to
29th April 1982 to carry out an ornithological
survey, including ringing, on parts of the
island with particular regard to spring
migration. The main areas surveyed were in
the south, including the whole of the Akrotiri
Peninsula extending west to Episkopi and
Paramaii coastal areas and east towards the
outskirts of Limassol. This encompasses a
range of diverse habitats including sea clifFs.
rockv scrub-covered slopes, freshwater pools.
* Pressure of his work with the RSPB has forced Richard Porter to relinquish co-authorship of
this feature after this fourth contribution. His successor, joining Mark Beaman as joint
compiler of ‘Expeditions and trips’, will be Nigel Redman.
Items for possible inclusion should be sent to either Mark Beaman. 8 Albert Road East. Hale. Altrincham.
Cheshire WA159AL. or Nigel Redman. I Westfields. Saffron Walden. Essex CBn ADZ.
324
gravel-pits, a reservoir, reedbeds. mixed
agricultural land, saltflats and the Akrotiri
Salt Lake itself. A comprehensive report has
been produced, which, in addition to the
systematic list and ringing details, contains
notes on bird-shooting, the Akrotiri colony of
Dead Sea Sparrows Passer mnabiticus. the
breeding of Spectacled Warbler Sylvia con-
spici/lata. and the sighting of the first
Bimaculated Lark Melanocorypha bimaculata
for the island. Anyone interested in obtaining
a copy of the expedition report should con-
tact Major David Counsell (for address see
‘Alberta’).
Djibouti A two-man expedition visited
Djibouti between 13th March and 4th April
1984 to carry out research into the little-
known. endemic Djibouti Francolin Fran-
cohnus ochropectus. Prior to this study, the
population was thought to number only a few
hundred, and. apart from seven specimens
collected between 1952 (when it was first
discovered) and 1970. almost nothing was
known about the species. The francolin was
found to be present in good numbers, pos-
sible up to 5.000 individuals, but its only
known habitat, the Foret du Day National
Park, is disappearing at an alarming rate due
to a combination of overgrazing, timber
removal and climatic change. So. despite this
apparent rise in population, the continued
survival of the species is far from assured.
Besides work on the francolin. daily records
of all bird and mammal species were kept and
some evidence of raptor migration was noted.
In total. 160 species of birds were recorded,
many apparently new for the country. This
project was endorsed by ICBP and sup-
ported by the World Pheasant Association
and the Fauna and Flora Preservation
Society. Full details of the observations are
included in the expedition report, copies of
which are available (price on request) from
Geoff and Hilary Welch, c/o 28 Coleman
Avenue. Hove. Sussex BN.'i 5NB
Egypt F rom mid April to mid May 1983. a
small expedition comprising M. C. Jennings.
D. Parr. P. C. Heathcote and R. Frost, spon-
sored by the Holyland Conservation Fund.
The LIS Fish & W ildlife Service and British
Petroleum, visited the Red Sea province of
Egypt to study resident and migratory birds.
In addition, they carried out a survey of oil
pollution in the area, including an assess-
ment of its effect on bird communities. The
coast was visited in many places between
Suez and Marsa Alam, the adjacent Red Sea
mountains were explored, and landings
made on 24 separate islands at the mouth of
Expeditions
the Gulf of Suez. About .36 half degree
squares were visited for the atlas of Egyptian
breeding birds project. A total of 162 species
was observed, including 1 1 breeding seabirds
and shorebirds. and 49 breeding landbirds. A
census was made of birds breeding on the
islands, including Brown Booby Sula leuco-
gaster. Western Reef Heron Egret la gularis,
Spoonbill P/ata/ea leucorodia, Osprey Pandion
haliaetus. White-eyed Larus hemprichi and
Sooty Gulls L. leucophthalmus and Caspian
Tern Sterna caspia. Migrating raptors and
storks were counted. Oil pollution was a
dominant feature of all coasts, the main
centre being the Ras Gharib area. Most
islands were heavilv polluted, at least on
their western and northern shores: pollution
gradually decreased southwards towards
Marsa Alam. Some pollution appeared to be
from the 1982 major spill, but much evidence
was collected of fresh contamination. Oiled
birds were frequently encountered, espe-
cially on the islands, involving 35 different
species. The influence of tar residues on
intertidal flora and fauna was also studied. A
full report is being prepared for publication.
Separate papers on oil pollution and breed-
ing seabirds are planned. Specialist reports
will be made to the organisers of the Atlas of
Egyptian Birds, the Holarctie Avian Specia-
tion Atlas and the Site Register Schemes of
the Ornithological Societv of the Middle
East. Anyone wishing to receive information
of the publication of the results in due course
should contact Michael Jennings. 10 Mill
Lane. Whittlesford. Cambridgeshire.
Expedition Advisory Centre The EAC 1 is
jointly financed and administered by the
Royal Geographical Society and the Young
Explorers’ Trust to provide an information
and training service to those planning an
expedition. In addition to seminars on
planning small expeditions, there are
specialist courses on catering and photo-
graphy as well as on expeditions to
mountain, forest, desert and polar regions.
The EAC also publishes some verv helpful
booklets (for example, fund-raising for
expeditions, including ways of approaching
grant-giving organisations, insurance for
expeditions, and a guide to writing expedi-
tion reports). Leaflets, a list of publications
and training programmes are available from
Mrs Shan Winser. Expedition Advisory
Centre. 1 Kensington Gore. London SW72AR
Gibraltar & Morocco The Army Bird-
watching Society expedition ‘Exercise Rock
Thrush’ visited Gibraltar and Morocco from
21st April to 10th May 198.3. Over 400 birds
Expeditions
were ringed in Morocco using French ring-
ing-scheme rings provided by the Institut
Scientifique in Rabat. Areas visited included
Merja Zerga, Larache marshes, the Rif
mountains and Rastinga Smir. The report of
this expedition is published in Adjutant and
can be obtained, price £2.00 (for address see
‘Belize’).
Herm The RAF Ornithological Society con-
ducted the first ornithological survey of the
island of Herm, in the Channel Isles, in April
and May 1984. A total of 93 species was
identified, including a female Red-breasted
Flycatcher Ficedula pan<a, and 1 30 birds were
ringed. Contact Major David Counsell for
further information (for address see
‘Alberta’).
ICBP Conservation Expedition Competi-
tion This competition has recently been
established to promote conservation thinking
and objectives among expedition groups. 1 1 is
open to any ornithological teams planning
work in a foreign country and the best two
proposals will each receive £ 1 .000 from ICBP
as well as helpful backing. Projects which
have the greatest chance of success are those
identified by ICBP as being of highest con-
servation priority. Any expedition organisers
wishing to learn more should write (ask for a
copy of Guide for the ICBP Consewation
Expedition Competition, price £2.00) to ICBP.
219c Huntingdon Road. Cambridge ( BtoDI..
Inaccessible Island, Tristan du Cunha
The Denstone College expedition to Inacces-
sible Island in the Tristan da Cunha group
was partly orientated towards ornithology.
The expedition visited this exceedingly
remote island from October 1982 to
February 1983. During this period, studies
were made of the huge colonies of Yellow-
nosed Albatross Diomedea chlororhynchos and
Great Shearwater Pujfinus gravis. Enormous
numbers of breeding Great Shearwaters were
found to be present in the thick tussock grass
and counts of occupied burrows in measured
quadrats were carried out. (Tristan islanders
reported that the numbers of this species
seemed to have increased greatly within the
island group in recent years.) A virtually
complete census was made of the Yellow-
nosed Albatross breeding population, and
also of the much smaller breeding popula-
tions of Sooty Albatross Phoebetria fusca and
Wandering Albatross D. exulans. Studies
were also made of the endemic landbirds.
and over .3.000 birds of lb species were
ringed, including ncarlv 1.700 Y ellow-nosed
Albatrosses and nearly 1.100 Great Shear-
waters. A summary of the ornithological
325
studies is given in the expedition report.
Anyone interested in obtaining the report or
further information should contact Michael
Swales. Denstone College. L ttoxeter. Staf-
fordshire STI4 5HN.
Japan As yet only a comparatively small
number of foreign birdwatchers have visited
Japan, a group of islands with a diverse and
fascinating avifauna. .Japan has a consider-
able number of endemic bird species as well
as many winter or summer visitors of par-
ticular interest to Palearctic-orientated
birdwatchers. Now that the islands are
attracting much more interest overseas, a
recently produced report by Rodney Martins
on an extended birdwatching trip in March
to May 1980 is especially welcome. The 50-
page report consists of a detailed systematic
list covering the observations of the author
and some other observers, plus a very useful
account of birdwatching localities of particu-
lar interest to overseas visitors. Copies of the
report are available, price £1.00. from the
author at 75 Stafford Street. Norwich NR2
UBG.
Kenya A joint ICBP/l niversitv of East
Anglia expedition was undertaken in July
and August 1983 to study the Arabuko-
Sokoke forest on the coast of Kenya. No fewer
than six species listed as rare in the Inter-
national Bird Red Data Book occur in the
forest, namely Sokoke Scops Owl Otus ireneae.
Clarke’s Weaver P/oceus go/andi. Sokoke Pipit
Anthus sokokensis, Amani Sunbird Anthreptes
pa/lidigaster. Spotted Ground Thrush Turdus
fischeri and East Coast Akalat Sheppardia
gunningi. The forest is considered to be the
most important site for bird species conserva-
tion in Kenya. In addition to studying the
population density, distribution and habitat
requirements of each species, a survey was
made of the human pressure, which included
the results of discussions with forestry
officials and others on forestry policies and
practices: extensive logging in the past has
severely modified much of the habitat. A 76-
page report The Conservation of the Arabuko-
Sokoke Forest. Kenya (which includes a syste-
matic list of all species recorded) by Martin
Kelsev and Tom Langton is available, price
£3.00 from ICBP. 219c Huntingdon Road.
Cambridge.
Ladakh, India The ornithological studies
carried out by the members of Southampton
University at Tikse. Ladakh (in the north-
western Himalayas), during 1977-81 (see
Brit. Birds 76: 184) were continued until July
1982. Spring migration was found to be
rather different in composition from that
326
experienced in autumn, with some families,
particularly warblers, found in smaller
numbers, but others, particularly pipits and
wagtails, much more abundant. Similar
variations were noticed at species level.
Amongst the more interesting species
recorded were Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur.
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops superciliosus,
Whitethroat Sylvia communis. Redstart
Phoenicurus phomicurus. Lesser Grey Shrike
Lamus minor and Linnet Carduelis cannabma. A
preliminary report of the studies carried out
in 1981-82 has been prepared, and a final
report is in preparation. The final report of
the studies carried out in 1980 has now been
published. This comprehensive 204-page
report represents a most valuable contribu-
tion to our knowledge of the ornithology of
Ladakh and gives full details of the ringing
programme and other observations carried
out at Tikse from August to November 1980.
as well as details of a study of the breeding
birds of the Suru Valley in western Ladakh.
The report is available, price £7.00 (£8.50 for
overseas enquirers) from the University of
Southampton Ladakh Expedition 1980. De-
partment of Biology' (Building 44). Univer-
sity of Southampton. Highfield. Southamp-
ton S05 9NH.
Morocco (1) Following the studies carried
out in spring 1981 (see Bril. Birds 76: 188). the
Netherlands Wader Expedition to Morocco
observed the spring migration of waders at
Sidi Moussa and Merja Zerga in March and
April 1982. Counts were on average lower
than in 1981. w ith maximum counts of over
4.500 waders of all species at Sidi Moussa on
30th March and over 20.000 at Merja Zerga
on 18th March. Visible migration was more
obvious than in 1981. and there was evidence
to suggest that the migrant flocks travelled
over the sea rather than following the
shoreline. Over 900 waders were ringed and
80 controls were made. The preliminary'
results of the expedition have already
appeared (Wader Study Group Bulletin 86: 12-
14). but a more detailed report is in
preparation. Anyone interested in further
information should contact Theunis
Piersma. Korte Nieuwstraat 4. 9724 LAI
Groningen. Netherlands.
Morocco (2) The University of London
Natural History Society expedition to
Morocco visited Cap Rhir north of Agadir
during August 198.8. Systematic seawatching
revealed large numbers of Cory’s Shear-
waters Calonectris diomedea moving north
(over 21,000 in 17 days) and sizeable south-
ward movements by several species of gulls
Expeditions
and terns. In total. 41 species of seabirds and
waders were seen: the expedition report
analyses the data collected and discusses the
identification problems posed by 49 Lesser
Crested /Crested Terns Sterna bengalensis/
bergii and seven Royal Terns S. maxima
observed by the expedition. Details ol the
birds seen in other areas in Morocco visited
bv the expedition are also included in the
64-page report available, price £2.50. from
Paul Thompson. 87 Leicester Road. East
Finchley. London N2.
Morocco (3) See ‘Gibraltar & Morocco’.
St Vincent Between June and August 1982.
an ICBP-endorsed expedition from the
University of East Anglia surveyed this
Lesser Antillean island to determine the
status of the endemic St Vincent Parrot
Amazona guildingii. The survey revealed that
the parrots’ population had decreased by
some 20% since 1978. to an estimated 421
individuals. Of the six areas where St
Vincent Parrots were found in 1978. only
four had parrots in 1982. It was concluded
that the decline in the parrot population was
primarily as a result of habitat destruction.
Hurricane Allen has destroyed vital nesting
trees in the windward forests in 1980. whilst
both shifting and permanent agriculture
were encroaching into remaining parrot
habitat. One region which held parrots in
1978 had been converted to agriculture by
1982. Charcoal burning was also responsible
for the loss of many suitable nesting trees.
Contrary to expectations, the eruption of
Mount Soufriere in 1979 was found to have
caused little habitat damage to areas fre-
quented by parrots, although it undoubtedly
caused the asphyxiation of a number of
individuals in peripheral areas. The pet trade
still persisted: at least eight St Vincent
Parrots were removed from their nests in
1982. The expedition has made a number of
recommendations concerning the conserva-
tion of the St Vincent Parrot. These include
the establishment of a parrot reserve in a
specified area, and the enforcement and
strengthening of laws related to the capture
of parrots. These recommendations have
been submitted to WWF and it is hoped that
they will give financial assistance to the St
Vincent government, which is keen to initiate
a project to conserve this endangered bird.
Information concerning this expedition can
be obtained from F. R. Lambert. 15 Bramble
Rise. YVestdene. Brighton, or from ICBP. A
full report of the expedition has been
compiled and is obtainable, price £3.00. from
IGBP. 219c Huntingdon Road. Cambridge.
327
Expeditions
Western Isles The major RAF Ornitho-
logical Society expedition in 1985 will he a
return in May and June to the uninhabited
islands of Bernerav and Mingulav in the
Outer Flebrides (Western Isles). Projects
will include surveying the seabird colonies,
and ringing. The first RAFOS expedition to
these two islands was in 1979. and this saw
the most comprehensive survey ever under-
taken there. The 120-page report contains a
great deal of valuable information not only
on birds, but also on other forms of w ildlife
studied (e.g. plants, mammals, insects.
Crustacea and molluscs). Nesting seabird
censuses, especially of Fulmars Futmarus
g/acialis , Shags Phalacrocorax arislotelis.
Kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla. Razorbills A lea
torda. Guillemots Uria aalge and Puffins
Fratercula arctica, showed in several cases good
increases in numbers (perhaps due to better
counting?) since the ‘Operation Seafarer'
work of 1969. Clearly, it is important that
these counts are repeated in 1985. and the
precise counting techniques used in 1979 will
facilitate meaningful comparison. Anyone
interested in obtaining a copy of the 1979
report should contact Major David Counsell
(for address, see ‘Alberta’), who will also
supply details of future RAFOS expeditions
and reports of past ones.
Mark Beaman , 8 Albert Road East , Hale, Altrincham , Cheshire WA159AL
R. E. Porter, c/o RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy. Bedfordshire SG 19 2DL
Ring-billed Gulls in Britain
and Ireland
On 14th March 1973, a then post-graduate geography student. Rob
Hume, noticed a pale gull amongst a large flock of Common Gulls
Larus cams resting on the beach at Blackpill, Swansea, West Glamorgan. To
his eternal credit, he followed up the bird, took detailed notes, and
identified it as Britain’s first Ring-billed Gull L. delawarensis , an American
species whose occurrence here had long been expected, but never proved
f Brit. Bmfr 78: TJ7-:OT. Julv |«W5|
328 Ring-billed Gulls in Britain and Ireland
Table 1. Annual totals of Ring-billed Gulls Lams de/awarensis recorded in Britain and
Ireland from 1973 to 1983
1973 74 75 76 77 78 79 * 80 81 82 83
3 3 5 5 4 9 9 6 55 75 84
(Hume 1973). During the subsequent three years, a small group ol Swansea
students found more Ring-billed Gulls at Blackpill and by the end ol 1975 a
total of 1 1 individuals had been recorded (Vinicombe 1973, 1975). In 1976,
the Blackpill monopoly was finally broken, and by the end ol 1980 the
British and Irish total had risen to 44 individuals from 1 1 counties, exactly
half of these having been at Blackpill. Ireland recorded its first in 1979, with
the first five coming from the Belmullet area, Co. Mayo. Subsequently,
however, numbers in Britain and Ireland have increased dramatically:
there were an astonishing 55 in 1981, 75 in 1982 and 84 in 1983 (table 1).
What, therefore, has caused this sudden upsurge? Was there a genuine
influx in 1981-83, or was the increase purely a result of greater observer-
awareness of the species’ identification features? If the influx was genuine,
what caused it? W hat are the occurrence patterns? W hat ol the future?
Annual fluctuations
There can be little doubt that Ring-billed Gulls were occurring here well
before 1973, as evidenced by earlier ringing recoveries in the Azores in 1945
and in Spain in 1951 and 1965 (B WP), as well as a record of one in Germany
in 1968 (J. Orn. 109: 438-440). The initial occurrences at Blackpill resulted
in a wider understanding of the subtle field characters of the species, a
process assisted by the coincidental appearance, in the March 1973 issue of
British Birds , of a paper on its identification (Grant 1973). The sudden
upsurge in 1981 was, however, quite remarkable, especially considering
that only six had been recorded during 1980. Was the increase connected in
any way with greater observer interest following the publication of a series
of papers by P. J. Grant on the identification of gulls (Grant 1978-81),
followed by their eventuaj publication in book form (Grant 1982)? To
answer this question and to explain the recent increase, it is necessary to
analyse the age structure of the records.
In any gull which takes three years to mature, the majority of individuals
will be adult, followed by a smaller proportion of first-years and a small
minority of second-years. This pattern may not, of course, hold true for
vagrants, as most will probably be inexperienced first-years that are more
susceptible to wandering ofT-course. If, however, the Ring-billed Gulls
which arrive in Europe stay here, then a more normal age structure would
be expected. A complication does arise from the fact that first-years tend to
be less readily identified than adults and second-years. Table 2 shows an
analysis of the age structure of the original 44 individuals, plus a breakdown
for the three peak years, 1981, 1982 and 1983. The original records reveal a
predictable pattern, bearing in mind that, in the early years, first-years
were probably overlooked more than they are now. If the 1981 influx was
genuine, then it would be logical to assume that the majority of new arrivals
Ring-billed Gulls in Britain and Ireland
329
151. Second-winter Ring-billed Gull I. ants de/awarensis. Co. Cork. March 1982 ( Richard T.
Mills)
Table 2. Age-structure of Ring-billed Gulls Lams detawarensis recorded in Britain and
Ireland in 1973-80 and the three peak years, 1981, 1982 and 1983
The 1981 Northern Ireland records referred to as ‘second-summer’ in Brit. Birds (75: 508)
were, in fact, first-summer (P. Vizard in lilt.)
Years
First-year
Second-year
Adult
1973-80
29.5%
29.5%
41%
1981
65%
22%
13%
1982
21%
44%
35%
1983
18%
16%
66%
would have been inexperienced first-years, and that, if these remained on
this side of the Atlantic and did not return home, there would have been a
preponderance of second-years in 1982 and a preponderance of adults in
1983. This is exactly what table 2 reveals: 65% of Ring-billed Gulls in 1981
were first-year, 44% in 1982 were second-year, and 66% in 1983 were
adult.
Table 3 shows the number of first-years recorded from 1973 to 1983;
these totals should reflect the numbers of Ring-billed Gulls new ly arriving
in Europe. Although 1981 stands out as an influx year, good numbers
330
Ring-billed Gulls in Britain and Ireland
Table 3. Numbers of first-year Ring-billed Gulls Lams delawarensis recorded in Britain
and Ireland from 1973 to 1983, reflecting the numbers of new arrivals occurring in
Europe
1973 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83
1 0 1 0 1 3 3 4 36 16 15
continued to be recorded subsequently, but it must be assumed that this
was partially due to the fact that observers had ‘got their eye in’ during the
1981 influx and had, in some areas, taken more interest in their local gull
populations.
Causes of the 1981 influx
Having established that the 1981 influx was genuine, I have consulted the
‘Changing seasons’ reports in the journal American Birds to try to ascertain
its causes. These accounts refer consistently to recent large increases in the
Ring-billed Gull populations, and there are repeated references to
increased colony sizes, consolidation and spread into new areas (e.g. Amer.
Birds 35: 918, 921, 940, 942; 37: 968, 970). So great has been the population
explosion that five new colonies discovered in Ontario in 1983 included
some 1 ,500 nests on an active rubbish dump, none of which, needless to say,
was successful (Amer. Birds 37: 984). Against this background, a gradual
increase in Ring-billed Gull numbers on this side of the Atlantic would
perhaps have been expected, but the sudden influx in 1981 appears to have
been due almost entirely to the weather.
152. Adult winter Ring-hilled Gull Lams delawarensis moulting to adult summer, USA.
February 1980 (/. B. & S. Bnltomley)
331
Ring-billed Gulls in Britain and Ireland
Ring-billed Gulls from the Great Lakes and northeast Canadian popu-
lation winter mainly down the American eastern seaboard. Under 1%
remains in the northeastern United States, but 40-45% winter between the
Carolinas and Florida, falling to about 12% in Texas (BWP). The winter of
1980-81 was bitterly cold in eastern North America. The cold weather
arrived in December 1980 and remained throughout January' 1981. In
Ontario, one locality measured a record 231 cm of snow in December alone,
while at loronto Airport an all-time low of — 31.3°C was recorded in
January ( Amer . Birds 35: 295). Farther south, the Hudson-Delaware region
recorded exceptionally low precipitation and low temperatures and, on the
coast, saltwater bays and estuaries were largely frozen by New Year’s Dav,
forcing many birds to move to the ocean or farther south {Amer. Birds 35:
282), resulting in an unprecedented scarcity of many waterbirds. Even in
Florida, temperatures reached freezing or below on 35 occasions and, on
the night ol 1 2th/ 1 3th January, the weatherstation at Tallahassee noted its
second-lowest temperature on record: — 13°C {Amer. Birds 35: 293). The
effect of this weather on Ring-billed Gulls is not well documented, although
larger numbers than usual were reported inland in parts of North Carolina,
while ‘thousands’ were seen on a new refuse dump near Tallahassee {Amer.
Birds 35: 291, 294). There can be little doubt that this severe weather,
affecting as it did the main wintering areas in the southeastern USA,
resulted in a dispersal which led to the European invasion.
The following winter, 1981/82, was also extremely cold, although it failed
to produce such a large influx. Unlike the previous year, the cold did not
generally set in until January, and many areas reported relatively mild
spells in December and February {Amer. Birds 36: 261-262). It seems,
therefore, that, despite severe cold in mid winter, the less protracted nature
of the cold failed to provoke a more widespread transatlantic exodus. In
total contrast, the winter of 1982/83 was exceptionally mild, with good
numbers of Ring-billed Gulls lingering in many northern and inland areas
{Amer. Birds 37: 279, 280, 292, 304).
Occurrence patterns
The early Blackpill records soon established a regular pattern of
occurrence: (1) wintering adults from about late November to late March;
(2) additional ‘passage’ adults in late March and April; (3) ‘passage’
second-years in April and May; and (4) summering first-years in June and
July. Fig. 1 illustrates the occurrence patterns for Britain and Ireland, split
into the three age groups; but to understand fully what is happening it is
advisable to concentrate initially on fig. 2. which splits the arrival dates of
first-years occurring in Cornwall and Dorset for the years 1981-83. Pro-
jecting as it does into the Atlantic, Cornwall is in a prime position to receive
newly arrived Nearctic vagrants. The arrival dates in Cornwall fit neatly
into three groups. First, there is an October record which was no doubt an
inexperienced first-year bird that became caught up in a rapidly moving
depression and swept across the Atlantic during the optimum migration
period. The main arrival, however, was in the winter months, from
December to the beginning of February , and it seems that some of these
Ring-billed Gulls in Britain and Ireland
332
Fig. 1. Presence of first-year, second-year and adult Ring-hilled Gulls Lams detawarensis in
Britain and Ireland. 1973-83. (The cut-ofi'date between first-summer and second-winter has
been taken as 1st September)
arrived in Cornwall as cold-weather refugees from North America. The
third crop of records occurred in spring, from mid March until May; both
areas recorded a spring influx although it was particularly marked in
Dorset, which, being farther east, produced only one midwinter individual
in that particular three-year period.
In North America, the spring migration of adult Ring-billed Gulls lasts
from late February to early April, with colonies reoccupied from late March
to early May ( BWP ). The pronounced late-March peak for all age groups
(fig. 1) would, therefore, tie in with the timing of their normal migrations.
There are two possible explanations for the spring peak in Britain and
Ireland: it could be the result of a transatlantic crossing at that time, or it
may result from a passage of birds that have wintered farther west or south.
There is strong evidence that at least some American gulls that turn up in
the English southwest peninsula move east up the English Channel in
spring. In particular, a first-winter Bonaparte’s Gull L. Philadelphia at
Penzance, Cornwall, in March 1981 and a first-winter Franklin’s Gull L.
pipixcan at Plymouth, Devon, from January to March 1982, both turned up
subsequently in Weymouth, Dorset (Brit. Birds 75: 506 and 76: 499). In
view of this, it seems likely that some of the Weymouth Ring-billed Gulls
had wintered in Devon and Cornwall. This suggestion may, however, be an
over-simplification, as other areas also recorded a small spring passage. It
seems highly unlikely that the spring peak relates to birds that have newly
arrived in Europe following a spring Atlantic crossing, as 78% of those
recorded in late March were experienced adult and second-year birds
which would not be so likely to make errors of navigation on such a large
scale. It must be remembered that the main wintering range of the Ring-
333
Ring-billed Gulls in Britain and Ireland
hilled Gull in the USA lies at a latitude equivalent to that of Spain and
northwest Africa and it seems probable that many Ring-billed Gulls which
cross the Atlantic hit Europe at a more southerly latitude; the records from
Spain, the Azores, and more recent ones from Morocco (O’Sullivan 1984),
F ranee [Brit. Birds 75: 57 1 ) and the Azores, where there were as manv as 50
in 1980 (G. Le Grand in lift, to P. J. Grant), must surely confirm this
suggestion. It seems, therefore, that the spring peak partially related to
individuals which have wintered farther south, subsequently following
their northerly migration instinct and heading up the west European coast.
I he adults and second-years may well have established a regular north-
south migration route on this side of the Atlantic. It should be mentioned,
however, that this spring peak may be emphasised by the fact that
increased spring day-length will allow gulls more time to loaf around in
non-feeding flocks and, therefore, facilitate easier detection. Similarly,
longer spring evenings and finer weather may provoke greater observer-
activity. Concentrated daily observations at intensively watched localities,
such as Radipole Lake (Dorset) and Blackpill, firmly indicate, however,
that the spring passage is real and not merely a result of increased observa-
tion. Indeed, M. Cade (in lilt.) has suggested that the spring peak may even
be to some extent under emphasised, since short-staying migrants may easily
be missed. The departure of adults following the spring peak is abrupt, with
very few recorded after the beginning of May (fig. lc). Records of adults in
mid summer are decidedly unusual. Second-years follow the same pattern,
but their spring departure is inevitably rather more leisurely. There is a
gradual reappearance of adults in late summer and early autumn, an
occurrence pattern which is consistent with their return from northern
areas with the Common Gull Hocks. Numbers then level off in mid winter.
In America, some first-years remain south during the summer ( BWP ).
and this is a phenomenon clearly reflected in the British and Irish records.
The spring influx of first-years is a protracted affair, with individuals
appearing from late March right through to earlv June, with a peak in late
M ay. They often spend the summer loafing aimlessly amongst residual
flocks of Common and Black-headed Gulls L. ridibundus, but records at this
153. First-winter (left) and second-winter Ring-billed Gulls Lams delawarmsis. Co. Cork.
March 1982 {Richard T. Mills)
334 Ring-billed Gulls in Britain and Ireland
Cornwall
•
• • •
• • • •
•
•
••
•
• •
1
Dorset
•
J
•
I
•
•
t.
ttm M —
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Fig. 2. Arrival dates of first-year Ring-billed Gulls Larus detawarensis in Cornwall and Dorset,
1981-83. (A few Mav records in Dorset could relate to earlier individuals reappearing)
time of year may be exaggerated to some extent because they will be easier
to locate. Records decrease markedly in mid August, when there appears to
be a dispersal.
It is interesting to note that the occurrence-patterns of Ring-billed Gulls
are remarkably similar to those of the Mediterranean Gull L. melanocephalus
(Hume 1976). In particular, the similar pattern of spring occurrences of
first-years may further confirm that both species move north after wintering
in southwestern Europe.
Geographical distribution
Fig. 3 clearly illustrates that most Ring-billed Gulls occur in southwest
England, south Wales and Ireland: a pattern of occurrence to be expected
of a transatlantic visitor. Notable, however, is the almost total lack of
records in eastern and southeastern England, particularly the well-watched
coastal counties from Lincolnshire to Sussex. The main areas of occurrence
are based upon the centres of human population, which not only attract
good numbers of gulls, but also produce suitably keen observers to check
through them: Weymouth, Plymouth, Penzance, Swansea, Cork, Dublin
and Belfast.
Allowing for the fact that a lot of Ring-billed Gull records relate to
northward-moving birds in spring, it does seem odd that they are not more
widely recorded at that time, particularly since there is a large-scale
passage of Common Gulls through southeast England, thought mainly to
involve Danish birds that have wintered on the west coast of France
(Vernon 1969). Observers in eastern and southeastern England have been
on the lookout for them, so maybe the bulk of returning Common Gulls with
which they associate overfly these areas. This latter suggestion is borne out
by radar evidence, which suggests that flocks migrate to the Continent in
one continuous flight, usually too high for visual detection (Bourne &
Patterson 1962). It does seem possible, however, that Ring-billed Gulls
follow their American migration instincts and keep on a more direct south-
north route, tagging on to British Common Gulls which head north through
western Britain and the Irish Sea. L. A. Tucker and M. Cade (in litt.) have,
however, suggested that the association between Ring-billed and Common
Gulls may have been overemphasised. Ring-billed Gulls appear to be
rather more versatile in their feeding habits than Common Gulls, and MC
has noted that a number of the Weymouth birds have consistently fed
around the town, rather than joining the daily exodus of field-feeding
Common Gulls to the adjacent Dorset countryside. Dr M. A. Ogilvie (in
litt.) also noted that the second-winter Ring-billed Gull at Slimbridge,
Ring-billed Gulls in Britain and Ireland
335
9
1
2 4
5-10
11-20
21 30
31-40
41-50
Fig. 3. Distribution by counties of Ring-billed Gulls Imtus delawarmsis in Britain and Ireland
during 1973-83
Gloucestershire, in January 1982 fed with a few hundred Black-headed
Gulls and not with the approximately 50.000 Common Gulls on the nearby
Cotswold pastures. It could well be that Ring-billed Gulls are also rather
more independent on migration than is generally supposed.
Relative abundance
At Blackpill in the mid 1970s, wintering adult Ring-billed Gulls were
occurring in Common Gull flocks at a rate of one or two in about 2,000-
154. F irst-winter Ring-hilled Gull Larus delawarensis moulting to first-summer. L’SA. March
1 9H 1 ( Jurgen Palmgren )
3,000. At the Weymouth roost, the corresponding winter figure is about one
per 5,000 (M. Cade in lift.). Inland, this figure appears to drop con-
siderably. At Chew Valley Lake, Avon, only one or two adults have been
found wintering amongst a roost of up to 13,000 Common Gulls that feed
mainly on upland pasture on the Mendips (Avon/Somerset) and Salisbury'
Plain (Wiltshire).
What of the future?
With a population explosion in North America and ever-increasing gull-
awareness by British and Irish birdwatchers, there can be little doubt that
the Ring-billed Gull will never return to its former extreme rarity status. It
does seem, however, that the 1981 influx was exceptional, and that the high
totals in the following two years resulted to a large extent from birds left
over from that influx. Periodic influxes of this nature will no doubt recur,
but it seems likely that, in the immediate future. Ring-billed Gull numbers
will stabilise at a slightly lower level than at present. The current high
numbers must inevitably increase the probability of future breeding in
Europe, and spring adults have already been seen displaying at Blackpill
(Davies et al. 1984, and personal observation) and at Radipole (M. Cade in
/id.). Observers in northern areas would, therefore, be well advised to
scrutinise Common Gull colonies during the summer. If the Black-headed
Gull can colonise Canada, there would seem to be no reason why the
Ring-billed Gull should not follow that initiative on the opposite side of the
Atlantic.
336
Ring-billed Gulls in Britain and Ireland
337
Ring-billed Gulls in Britain and Ireland
Acknowledgments
I am very grateful to Martin Cade for his useful comments on the first draft: to Sheila Cobban
lor her help in finding some of the references; to Pat Vizard for clarifying some of the Northern
Ireland information; to P. J. Grant, and to Laurel Tucker for help with the first draft.
Summary
I he first Ring-billed Gull Lams delawarensis to be recorded in Britain and Ireland was in 1973.
Between then and 1980, 44 individuals were recorded. In 1981 there was a major influx of at
least 55 individuals, followed by 75 in 1982 and 84 in 1983. The 1981 influx occurred against a
background of substantial population increase in North America, but the invasion was
thought likely to have been provoked by severe freezing wreather on the North American
eastern seaboard. 1 he large numbers in the two subsequent years are thought to have manik-
in voiced birds left over from the 198 1 influx since the majority in 1981 were first-vears. while in
1982 the largest proportion were second-years, and in 1983 most were adults.
1 he occurrence-patterns ol Ring-billed Gulls are analysed. The main arrival of first-vears is
apparently in mid winter, but a pronounced spring passage of all ages probably involves
mainly individuals which have wintered farther south. Adults and second-years subsequently
disappear in mid summer, and it seems that they must head north with Common Gulls /..
canus. first-summer Ring-billed Gulls often spend the summer around British and Irish coasts.
I he vast majority of Ring-billed Gulls have been recorded in southwest England, south Wales
and Ireland, mostly around centres of human population. V'erv few have been recorded in the
rest of Britain, with none on the east and southeast coasts from Lincolnshire to Sussex.
Ring-billed Gull numbers will probably eventually stabilise at a lower level than at present,
but it seems likely that they may breed on this side of the Atlantic.
References
Bourne, W. R. P.. & Patterson, I.J. 1962. The spring departure of the Common Gull from
Scotland. Scot. Birds 2: 1-15.
Davies, R. H.. Akers, P. G., & Tew, I. F. 1984. Ring-billed Gulls displacing in West
Glamorgan. Bril. Birds 77: 208.
Grant. P. J. 1973. Field identification of Ring-billed Gulls. Brit. Birds 66: I 15-1 18.
1978-81. Field identification of west Palearctic gulls. Brit. Birds 71: 145-176; 72: 142-182:
73: 1 13-158; 74: 1 1 1-142 & 363-394.
1982. Culls: a guide to identification. Calton.
Hume, R. A. 1973. Ring-billed Gull in Glamorgan: a species new to Britain and Ireland. Brit.
Birds 66: 509-512.
1976. The pattern of Mediterranean Gull records at Blackpill. West Glamorgan. Brit.
Birds 69: 503-505.
O’Sullivan, (4. 1984. Ring-billed Gull in Morocco in April 1983. Dutch Birding 6: 54.
Vinicombe, K. E. 1973. A second Ring-billed Gull in Glamorgan. Brit. Birds 66: 513-517.
1975. Ring-billed Gullsat Blackpill. Goicer Birds 2: 157-164.
Vernon, J. D. R. 1969. Spring migration of the Common Gull in Britain and Ireland. Bird
Study 16: 101-107.
K. E. Vinicombe . 3 Be! grave Road. Clifton. Bristol BS82AA
European news
Records have been supplied by correspondents in 23 countries for this.
the seventeenth, six-monthly report on interesting occurrences and
status changes in Europe. We are pleased to welcome information for the
first time from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. This feature is intended
as a news service: anyone requiring further information or quoting records
[Brit. Birds 78: 887-346. July ll>85]
338 European news
in other publications should refer to the literature of the relevant country.
Records awaiting formal verification by national rarity committees are
indicated by an asterisk(*).
Unless otherwise stated, all records refer to single individuals
Great Northern Diver Gavia immer Greece
First record: dead on Evros Delta on 5th
August 1983.
White-billed Diver Gavia adamsii Sweden
Highest-ever annual total: 22 in 1983 (peaks
of 15 in May and four in October), prev ious
grand total about 190.
Slavonian Grebe Podiceps auritus Belgium
First summering: single near Antwerp from
late May to late July 1984*.
Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis
spain Large winter concentration dis-
covered: at one locality on Formentera in
Balearics. 3.900 on 6th December 1981 and
2,950 on 10th January 1984.
Black-browed Albatross Diomedea melano-
phris spain Second record: Vivero in Lugo on
6th- 7th August 1984*.
Bulwer’s Petrel Bu/weria bulwerii spain First
records for Peninsular Spain: Torremolinos
in Malaga on 7th February 1980. V igo in
Pontevedra on 1st June 1983, and flock of 14
at Blanes in Gerona on 29th April 1984*.
Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea
Denmark Fifth record: Raring in North
Zealand on 6th November 1981. faeroe
islands Second record: Akraberg on 13th
May 1984*. Sweden First record: Varberg in
Flalland on 31st August 1984*.
Great Shearwater Puffinus gravis swedf.n
Fifth to seventh records: 19th October 1983,
29th July 1984* and 28th August 1984*.
Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus Denmark
High daily total: 120 at Blavand in West
Jutland on 7th October 1984. italy Fourth
record: dead at sea off Capo Murro di Porco,
Siracusa, in Sicily in March 1982*.
Little Shearwater Puffinus assimi/is spain
First record for Peninsular Spain: Malaga
Bay on 2nd November 1981*.
Storm Petrel Hydro bates pelagicus Switzer-
land Second record: adult male at Basel on
9th February 1984.
Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aelhereus
Netherlands First record: fresh tideline
corpse near Egmond in Noord-Holland on
27th January 1985*.
Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Estonian ssr
First breeding: five nests, three with eggs (2,
1 & I), on small islet in Vainameri (Moon-
sund) in early July 1984. but no young
reared*. Luxembourg Increasingly common
on migration (especially in Moselle Valley):
21st March to 22nd May 1984 (maximum 42
on 12th April) and 20th September to 23rd
October (maximum 250 on 21st October).
(Cf. increased breeding numbers in
Denmark and the Netherlands. Brit. Birds 77:
233.586.)
Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus
italy First breeding: two nests at Punta
Alberete. Ravenna, in Romagna on 4th June
1981. yligoslavia Fifth record for Slovenia:
Ptuj and Ormoz during 31st December 1981
to 15th April 1982. with largest-ever flock of
37 on 1st January 1982 (previous records in
1841. 1854. 1908 and 1922).
White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus Latvian
ssr Fourth or fifth record: May 1984 (one in
1983. Brit. Birds 76: 567, dismissed as an
escape).
Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus Finland
Fourth record: juvenile in Virrat on 13th
October 1984 (transported to Spain by
aeroplane).
Night Heron Nydicorax nycticorax Denmark
Tenth record: Skagen in North Jutland
during 24th-27th May 1981. italy Breeding
census: in 1981. about 17,350 pairs, mainlv in
Po vallev (cf. 7.000-10,000 pairs in 1978. Brit.
Buds 72: 275).
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides italy
Breeding census: in 1981. about 270 pairs,
mainly in Po valley (cf. 400-500 pairs in 1978.
Brit. Birds 72: 275). Sweden Fifth record:
Varberg in Halland on 1 1 th November 1983.
Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis Greece
First record: Porto Lagos on 17th August
1982 (second, not first, was on 20th August
1983: Brit. Birds 11: 233) (cf. spate of recent
records in Austria. France and the Federal
Republic of Germany, Brit. Birds 11: 233.
586).
Little Egret Egretta gargetta France Very
high mortality during severe winter of 1984/
85, especially in Camargue, southern France,
and on Atlantic coast, italy Breeding
census: in 1981, about 6,650 pairs, mainly in
Po valley (cf. 3,500-4.000 pairs in 1978. Brit.
Birds 72: 275).
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea italy Breeding
European news
census: in 1 98 1 . about 680 pairs, of which 650
in northwest (Piedmont and Lombardv) (cf.
400-500 pairs in 1078, Brit. Birds 72: 276).
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea Belgium
Second breeding record: two pairs in
Flanders in 1984 (first was in 1948). itai.y
Breeding census: in 1981, about 480 pairs
(cf. 1,645-2.165 pairs in 1978. Brit. Birds
72:276).
Black Stork Ciconia nigra Sweden Highest
recent annual total: 37 in 1983.
White Stork Ciconia ciconia Austria Pair
released from captivity bred successfully at
Hohenems in Vorarlberg (reintroduction,
after extinction around 1900). spain
Decrease: Spanish National Census (1979-
81) revealed minimum of 5.776 pairs. 21%
less than in 1974 census and 55% less than
in 1957 census.
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus Sweden
Third and fourth 20th-Century records:
three at Skalderviken in Scania on 19th May
1983, and one at Hjalstoviken in Uppland
during 6th-9th October 1984.
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber
France About 4,500 killed in severe winter
of 1984/85 in Camargue and the Midi.
Latvian ssr Third record: spring 1984.
mai.ta Unusual influx: flocks of 20 and four
on 9th December 1984 and 21st December
1984. spain Best breeding season ever:
with good water levels in 1984. 3.500-3.800
fledged in Guadalquivir Marismas and per-
haps 5,000 more in now-protected lagoon of
Fuente de Piedra.
Mute Swan Cvgnus olor Malta Unusual
influx: 12 on 8th. three on 9th. five on 13th
and one on 15th December 1984 (pre-
viously only seven documented records).
Bewick’s Swan Cvgnus columbianus
Bulgaria Second record: Durankulak in
Tolbuchin on 15th January 1985.
Bean Goose Anser fabalis LUXEMBOURG
(Overwintering flock of about 1 (90 near
French border, apparently regular for at
least past 30 years, but. until now. over-
looked by birdwatchers.
Greylag Goose Anser anser spain
Highest-ever wintering number: 120,000 in
Guadalquivir Marismas in aerial survey in
December 198.3.
Snow Goose Anser caerulescens Italy First and
second records: five in Venetia during
December 1978 to February 1979. and six
near Parma in Emilia on 9th- 10th January
1980. Latvian ssr First record: flock ol five in
August 1984.
339
Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis Estonian
ssr Breeding in 1984: two sites, nest with four
eggs at SE-Saaremaa and two young from
two eggs and five young from five eggs reared
in Vainameri* (cf. breeding in 1981-83. Brit.
Birds 75: 569; 76: 273. 567; 77: 234).
Brent Goose Branta bemicla Denmark Strong
spring passage: 12.000 at Kolding in East
Jutland on 1st June 1984 (cf. Finland.
Brit. Birds 77: 587). France First record of
B. b. nigricans: lie de Re in Charente-Mari-
time from 12th January 1985*. Sweden
First and second records of B. b. nigricans:
adults at Ottenby in Oland on 4th October
1983 and at Ljunghusen in Scania during
29th October to 1st November 1984. (Cf.
paper on European records of B.. b. nigri-
cans. Bril. Birds 77: 458-465).
Wood Duck Aix sponsa Poland Correction:
record noted Brit. Birds 77: 587 w as first post-
war record (earlier three, in 1907. 1911 and
1935).
Garganey Anas querquedula Luxem-
bourg First breeding since 1950s: female
w ith three young in May 1984.
Blue-winged Teal Anas discors Denmark
Second record: adult male at Borrebv Mose
in Zealand during 5th- 1 6th Mas 1981 (first
was in 1886).
Redhead Avthya americana Sweden Only
European record now rejected: after review .
record of 1 1 th- 1 9th October 1984 is now-
rejected .
Ring-necked Duck Avthya collaris faeroe
islands First record: Vagi during 20th-27th
September 1984*.
King Eider Somateria spectabilis Sweden
Highest-ever annual total: 51 in 1983 (in-
cluding onlv three females, and second-ev er
inland record).
Steller’s Eider Polvsticta stellen Belgium
Second record: male near Nieuwpoort on
1 7th- 18th June 1984* (first was in December
1983. Brit. Birds 77: 587).
Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata faeroe
islands Third record: adult male shot at
Sundalagro in May 1979*.
Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca Yugoslavia
Third record for Slovenia in last 30 vears:
three at Ptuj on 21st December 1983 (pre-
vious records in 1955 and 1979).
White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocepbala
Netherlands Seventh record (first since
1965): Amsterdam on 24th February 1985*.
spain Continued increase: 99 in Cordoba on
I 7th October 1984.
340 European news
Honey Buzzard Pemis apivorus faeroe
islands Third record: Fuglov on 11th Julv
1984*.
Black Kite Milvus migrans Austria Pair bred
successfully on River Salzach in Upper
Austria, where never recorded before.
Luxembourg Breeding peak: seven con-
firmed breeding pairs in 1984 (previous
maximum two or three). (Cf. breeding in
Belgium since 1976. Brit. Birds 78: 257; 75:
57(4)
Red Kite Milvus milvus Denmark Highest-
ever daily count: 26 on migration at Sterns in
Zealand on 29th September 1984.
White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla
Czechoslovakia First nesting for over 20
years: unsuccessful (two unfertilised eggs
laid) in Trebon pond basin in Bohemia in
1984 (perhaps originating from introduced
population in Federal Republic of Germany,
where seven young reared in 1978-84. which
winters in Trebon basin). Norway Increased
breeding population: now minimum of 800
pairs, many previously overlooked, but big
increase in South (e.g. in M0re & Romsdal
22 pairs in 1974 increased to 40 pairs in 1988)
(cf. increasing in Finland and as winterer in
France and Greece. Brit. Birds 74: 260; 75:
570; 77: 587).
Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus
Norway Second record: Oppland in Sep-
tember 1984 (first was in July 1982. Brit.
Birds 77: 587). Spain Breeding population of
M enorca in the Balearics seems to be seden-
tary: 140 estimated to overwinter there, and
up to 92 in single roost on 6th March 1984.
Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus Austria Pair
from freeflying population at Salzburg zoo
nested 1 5 km away at Untersberg. and reared
one young.
Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gal lints Finland
Third record: Joutseno on 21st April 1984
(first two were in October 1979 and August
1980. Brit. Birds 78: 258; 74: 260).
Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus Luxem-
bourg Second and third records: April 1988
and at same locality on 16th April 1984.
Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus Swit-
zerland Seventh record: Fanel in Bern on
8th .April 1984 (most-recent West European
records of which we have note were in France
in Julv 1979 and Julv 1980. Brit. Birds 74:
261). ’
Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina
Netherlands About tenth record: near
Wassennar in Zuid-Holland from 15th to
20th November 1984*. caught on 20th and
died that day in a bird hospital; all previous
records currently under review.
Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga Portugal Only-
recent observation: near Silves in Algarve on
1st October 1988.
Tawny/Steppe Eagle Aquila rapa.x Denmark
Fifth and sixth records: Skagen in North Jut-
land on 26th May 1981. and Gedser in
Lolland on 15th October 1981 (previous
records were in 1975 and 1979. Brit. Birds 78:
258). Greece Tenth record: shot near
Thessaloniki in October 1982. Poland First
to third records: adult near Klodzko in
Bialskie Mountains, Lower Silesia, on 1st
May 1978. immature near Gorlice in Car-
pathian Mountains on 18th July 1980, and
immature female of nipalensis group caught
near Kofo in Konin on about 14th May 1984
and sent to Poznan zoo (where a fourth,
another immature, is kept, said to be from
Pomerania). Sweden Ninth to 11th records:
at Blekinge from 15th Januarv to at least 8rd
Ma rch 1984 (perhaps an escape), immatures
in Scania during 1 8th-8 1 st August 1984, and
at Ottenbv in Oland on 14th August and.
same individual, in Scania from 21st August
to November.
Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca Denmark Fifth
record: Stevns in Zealand on 24th August
1981 (cf. fifth Swedish record in Scania
during 29th July to 23rd August and at Fal-
sterbo on 24th August 1981). spain Correc-
tion: figure in fifteenth ‘European news’
(Brit. Birds 77: 235) referred to breeding
pairs, not to individuals.
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus spain
Breeding population of Menorca in the
Balearics seems to be sedentary': minimum
winter number estimated to be 130. Sweden
Eighth and ninth records: 28th August 1983.
and 26th September 1984* (previous records
in 1960, 1964, and five in 1980, Brit. Birds 75:
26; but none accepted for 1982, contra Brit.
Birds 75: 570).
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni Denmark
Fourth record: Rubjerg in North Jutland on
1 1th May 1981 (cf. sixth Swedish record on
3rd June 1981. Brit. Birds 75: 570). Italy
First wintering for about a centurv: Sicilv in
1981. 1982 and 198.3.
Peregrine Falco peregrinus Belgium First
breeding since 1967: three young reared (cf.
increases in Federal Republic of Germanv,
Finland and Norway, and on passage in
Denmark. Brit. Birds 73: 575; 74: 261 ; 76: 567:
77: 588). faeroe islands Eighth record:
juvenile at Sumba on 13th September and
28th- 29th September 1981*.
European news 34 1
155. Great Bustard Otis tarda. Netherlands. February 1985 (David Tomlinson)
Spotted Crake Porzana porzana faeroe
islands Fifth record: male found dead in
October 1984*.
Baillon's Crake Porzana pusilla Sweden
Fourth record: calling at Fardume marsh in
Gotland on 22nd-23rd June 1983.
Crested Coot Fulica cristata Spain First proof
of breeding for decades: adult with five chicks
in Guadalquivir Marismas on 15th June
1984.
Siberian White Crane Grus leucogeranus
Estonian ssr First record: flock of seven (6
adults, I juvenile) flying southwest past Tal-
linn on 30th September 1984*.
Great Bustard Otis tarda Netherlands
Small influx: about 15 in January-February
1985 (plate 155). about same as in winter
1981/82 (Brit. Birds 75: 570).
Oystercatcher Haemalopus ostralegus Yugo-
slavia Third 20th-century record for
Slovenia: Ankaran on 5th May 1984 (pre-
vious records in 1976 and 1980).
Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicncmus Sweden
First for ten years: Ottenbv in Oland on 2nd
June 1981 ( 19th record).
Black-winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni
spain First record: adult at Torremolinos in
Malaga on 3rd October 1982*. Sweden
Ninth record: Yarberg in Halland on 21st-
22nd May 1983 (eighth was in July- August
1982. Brit. Birds 75: 570).
Lesser Sand Plover C.haradrius mongo I us
spain First record: adult in full breeding
plumage at Alcazar de San Juan (120 km
SSF. of Madrid) on 21st June 1981 ( La Gar-
cilia 64: 54-56) .
Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii
Malta Sixth record: Ghadira in August
1984. Norway First record: Rogaland in
June 1984. Poland Fourth record: near Puck
during 5th-8th April 1984. (Cf. second Dutch
record in August 1984. Brit. Birds 77: 588.)
Caspian Plover Charadrius ast aticus Italy
Third record: caught near Catania on Sicily
on 30th March 1978 (cf. first Norwegian
record in June 1978. Brit. Birds 72: 591 ).
Dotterel Charadrius morinellus Italy First
breeding in Italian Alps: pair at Yal Pusteria
in Trentino-Alto Adige in July 1978. A small
colony of less than ten pairs breeds in
342
Apennines. Spain First proved breeding: fol-
lowing discovery on French side of Pyrenees
in 1980. adult with three chicks seen in
Maranges, on Spanish side, on 17th
June 1981.
Lesser Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica
italy 17th record (and first for Sicily):
caught near Siracusa on 6th October 1979.
Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris Spain First
European record: adult in breeding plumage
on saltpans at Sant Antoni on the Ebro Delta
on 7th April 1979*.
Western Sandpiper Calidris maun Poland
First record(s): adult at Jastarnia on FTel
Peninsula on 4th July 1984. and, perhaps the
same bird, at Rewa near Puck, close to Hel
Peninsula, on 5th October 1984.
Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos
Sweden Spring/summer records: Narke on
14th May 1983. Halland on 4th June 1983.
Halland during 2nd-15th May 1984*. Skane
on 1 2th- 13th May 1984* (also usual autumn
records) (previous ‘Fiuropean News’ have
noted spring/summer records in Austria.
Faeroe Islands. Finland. Norwav. Malta and
Poland. Brit. Birds 71: 584; 73: 258; 75: 269.
570:77:236.588).
Dunlin Calidris alpina Belgium Continued
breeding: after suspected breeding at
Antwerp in 1981 and first proved breeding
(pair with two chicks) in 1982 (Bril. Birds 76:
274). two pairs in 1983 and at least two pairs
in 1984 at same locality.
Stilt Sandpiper Micropalama himantopus
Belgium First record: Zeebrugge during 1st-
6th September 1984*. spain First record:
adult at Salinas de Levan te on Mallorca in
the Balearics on 6th May 1983* (cf. first
Finnish record in June 1983. Brit. Birds 76:
568).
Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruji-
collis Belgium First record: Zeebrugge during
27th August to 11th September 1984*.
Denmark Fifth and sixth records: Skagen in
North Jutland on 30th May 1981. and
0lsemagle in Zealand on 8th September
1981. italy Fifth to seventh records: found
dead at San Daniele Po in Lombardy on 19th
October 1980, found dead at Saline di Cervia
in Romagna in November 1980. and caught
at Porto Badisco in Apulia on 9th October
1982.
Great Snipe Gallinago media federal repub-
lic of Germany Sixth Heligoland record in
last 20 years: 4th June 1984*.
Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolo-
paceus Finland Fourth record: Pori on 29th
European news
September 1984* (previous records were in
Mav 1980. and two in September 1983).
Correction: record in May 1980 {Brit. Birds
77: 588) was^first. not second.
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa italy
Nested in 1980-83 in Valli of Comacchio
north of Ravenna.
Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatihs Sweden
Highest-ever annual total: six in 1983 (also
best-ever vear in Finland, where 20 in 1983.
Brit. Birds'll: 236).
Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes italy First
record: Laguna di Orbetello in Tuscany
during 1 5th-25th October 1978.
Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus Belgium
Fourth record: Zeebrugge on 17th- 18th May
1984*. Denmark Eighth record: Aflandshage
in Zealand on 28th June 1981 .
Turnstone Arenaria inlerpres Yugoslavia
Third record for Slovenia: Bukcovci near
Ptuj on 25th August 1984 (previous records
in 1976 and 1980).
Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus
Greece Ninth record: pair at Messolonghi on
21st August 1983.
Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocepbalus
spain Winter census: 18.279 counted in
January 1984. with 98.7% in Catalonia and
Valencia, on Mediterranean coast. Sweden
Third breeding attempt: paired with Com-
mon Gull L. canus in Oland in Mav-June
1983.
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus spain
First breeding in Mediterranean: adults
showing characters o f L.f. graellsii incubating
at three nests in colony of Herring Gulls L.
argentatus in Ebro Delta in May 1983 (terri-
torial behaviour had been noted at this
locality in April 1981 and April 1982).
Sweden Second and third records of L. f.
graellsii-. Oland on 28th March 1983 and 7th
October 1983 (‘probably overlooked!’).
Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus Sweden
Highest-ever annual total: about 70 in 1983.
Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus
France Southernmost breeding record: pair
bred successfully on lie de Re in Charente-
Maritime in spring 1984.
Lesser Crested Tern Sterna bengalensis italy
Third and fourth records: Livorno in Tus-
cany during 6th- 1 7th August 1982*. and
near Siracusa on Sicilv on 3rd-4th August
1983*.
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus
Denmark Second and third records: Vejlerne
in North Jutland on 21st May 1981, and
European news
Klitholm in Mrtn on 23rd May 1981 (first
was in May 1977, Brit. Birds 71: 584).
Black Tern Chlidonias niger federal
republic of Germany Decrease in breeding
numbers in Schleswig-Holstein: 150 pairs in
41 colonies in 1981 and I (SO pairs in 89
colonies in 1982. compared with 800 pairs at
101 sites in 1966-69. an 80% decrease (over
last 80 years. 90% decrease).
Briinnich’s Guillemot I 'ria lomvia Sweden
14th record: live bird in Halland on 5th
November 1988.
Little Auk Alle alle Sweden Highest-ever
numbers along western coast in November
1984 (e.g. 60 passing Getteron in Halland on
5th).
Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Denmark
Highest-ever daily total: 70.000 on migration
at I'tterslev in Zealand on 18th October
1984.
Rufous I urtle Dove Streptopelia orienlalis
Finland f irst record: near Helsinki from
16th January to at least mid February 1985.
Sweden Fifth record: Halland from 25th
December 1976 to 6th April 1977 (none
since). (To add to a strange set of winter
records, the third Norwegian record was
during 21st Februarv to 20th March 1978.
Brit. Birds 73: 259.)
Eagle Owl Bubo bubo Luxembourg Breeding
resumed: ‘May now be considered reinstated
as breeding species after long absence’ (cf.
first breeding for 70 years in Belgium in 1982.
Brit. Birds 75: 571).
Hawk Owl Sumia ulula Denmark Irruption of
1 9813 included 600 sightings of about 200 dif-
ferent individuals, most in November 1983,
last one at Skagen in North Jutland on 5th
June 1984 (cf. irruption also to Norwav and
Sweden in 1983/84. Brit. Birds 77: 238).
Little Owl Athene noctua Sweden First for 30
years: freshly dead in Skane on 29th
November 1981 (second Finnish record was
in May 1983. Brit. Birds 76: 568).
Tengmalm’s Owl A ego I i us Junereus spain
First records for Spanish Pyrenees: found at
three localities in subalpine forests of
mountain pine Pinus unanata at l ,850-2,000 m
in May 1983 to January 1984.
Alpine Swift Apus melba Sweden Fifth and
sixth records: April 1984* and June 1984*
(annual now since first in 1980. Bnt. Birds 73:
576; 75:571; 77:238.589).
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops superciliosus
Italy Ninth record: caught near Siracusa on
Sicilv in May 1979 (this is the first record of
343
this species to be noted in ‘European news’).
Bee-eater Merops apiaster Sweden Good
influx: at least 29 in eight localities in May-
June 1984.
Dupont’s Lark Chersophilus duponti malta
Deletion: record in April 1984 (Brit. Birds 77:
589) has not been accepted by Maltese
rarities committee.
Sand Martin Riparia rtparia Luxembourg
Disastrous population crash in 1984.
Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daunca
Switzerland Eighth record: near Watt in
Zurich on 4th June 1984.
Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni faf.roe
islands First record: Hattarvik on Fugloy on
4th October 1984*. Finland Fourth record:
mist-netted at Signildskar bird-station on
20th September 1984 (previous records were
in October 1978. October 1980 and Septem-
ber 1982. Brit. Birds 77: 239). Malta Third
record: ringed in November 1984 (previous
two were in October 1977 and November
1983. Brit. Birds 77: 239).
Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flora Sweden
Ninth and tenth records of M. f. feldegg:
Skane on 5th May 1983. and Ottenby in
Oland on 14th Nlav 1983.
Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola Nether-
lands First record: trapped, near Castricum
in Noord-Holland from 24th August to 8th
September 1984*. Sweden Spring records:
Gotland on 30th April 1983. Narke on 1st
May 1983. and Oland on 30th Mav 1983
(most of previous 24 records were in
autumn).
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea Finland
Increasing: best-ever vear in 1983. with 17
records (bringing grand total to 103): one or
two breeding records annually since 1975 (cf.
increases and range expansion in Denmark.
Norway and Sweden. Brit. Birds 71: 585: 72:
279; 73: 577: 75: 572).
Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus Norway Larger
than usual invasion in October-November
1984 in south, ‘but most passed through
quickly, doubtless due to failure ofberry crop
of rowan Sorbus. and very few remained in
January 1985.’
Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris Finland
Correction: record at Lagskar bird-station
(Bnt. Birds 77: 589) was on 29th April 1984.
not 29th August 1984. Sweden Seventh
record: Oland on 30th April 1983.
Thrush Nightingale Luscinia luscinia Den-
mark Common Birds Census in 1984 showed
first decrease since censuses started in 1976.
344
European news
Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos faeroe
islands First record: Husar on Kalsoy on 5th
October 1984*. Sweden 13th and 14th
records: caught in Halland on 19th April
1983. and singing in Uppland during 3 1st
May to 26th June 1983.
Bluethroat Luscinia svecica faeroe islands
Fifth to seventh records: Su&uroy on 18th.
21st and 23rd September 1984*. Italy First
breeding: two pairs in Lombardy in July
1983*. nest in French Alps near Piedmont
frontier in July 1983*. both L. s. svecica.
Black-eared Wheatear Oenanlhe hispanica
Switzerland Seventh and eighth records:
white-throated male near Ascona in Tessin
during 3rd-8th April 1984, and black-
throated male at Alvaschein in Graubiinden
on 11th May 1984.
Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserli Norway
First record: Jaeren in Rogaland in mid
December 1984. Sweden Sixth record (first in
spring): Sormland on 21st April 1983.
Eye-browed Thrush Turdus obscurus Fin-
land Second record: Parainen from 1st
December to mid December 1984.
Black-throated Red -throated Thrush
Turdus ruficollis Spain First record: adult of
race T. r. ruficollis at Mieres in Asturias on
12th February 1983*. Sweden 11th record:
o
Angermanland on 27th April 1977.
Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola
Sweden 11th and 12th records: Flalland on
6th August 1983 and Smaland on 17th
September 1983 (tenth was in August 1980.
Brit. Birds 75: 28).
Paddyfield Warbler Acrocephalus agricola
Netherlands Second record: trapped.
Makkum in Friesland on 13th October
1984*.
Blyth’s Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dume-
torum France First record: caught in Baie de
Seine in Seine-Maritime on 26th August
1984.
Booted Warbler Hippolais ca/igata Finland
Second record: singing male caught and
ringed at Lagskar bird-observatory on 26th
May 1984 (first was in June 1981. Brit. Birds
75: 29). France First and second records:
Ouessant in Finistere on 1.5th September
1984*. and Olonne in Vendee on 23rd Sep-
tember 1984*.
Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata
France First record outside breeding range:
Ouessant in late October 1984*. Greece
Fourth record: two near Karystos on 23rd
November 1984. Netherlands First record:
I Jmuiden in Noord-Holland on 2nd Novem-
ber 1984*.
Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans federal
republic of Germany Sixth to ninth records
for Heligoland: 15th June 1978. 24th June
1981, 6th July I98l'and 1 1th July i982.
Sweden Tenth and 1 1 th records: Nidingen in
Halland on 24th May 1983 and 8th July 1983
(sixth to ninth records were in Mav-June and
October 1981, Brit. Birds 77: 241).’ '
Arctic Warbler Phvlloscopus borealis faeroe
islands First record: Sumba during 13th-
15th September 1984*. France First record:
Ouessant in Finistere in late October 1984*.
Yellow-browed Warbler Phvlloscopus
inornatus Belgium Influx: at least nine on east
coast from 29th September to third week of
November 1984*. Denmark Good influx: 16
in autumn 1984. last on 18th October*.
Estonian ssr 14th and 15th records: in
autumn 1984. Italy Tenth and 1 1th records:
Salo in Lombardy on 2nd January 1980. and
hit by car at Capo Murro di Porco on Sicily
on 2nd December 1980. Latvian ssr
Highest-ever number: 12 trapped at Pape in
autumn 1984. Portugal First and second
records: ringed at Odelouea in Algarve on
15th October 1983 and 26th October 1984.
Dusky Warbler Phy/loscopus fuscatus Finland
Tenth record: Aspskar seabird-station on
I 7th October 1984.
Chiffchaff Phvlloscopus collybita Estonian ssr
First to fifth records of eastern race P. c. tristis:
in 1984. three caught at Kabli (where large-
scale ringing started in 1970) and two at
Sorve.
Bearded Tit Panurus biarmicus Finland
Second record: male at Lagskar bird-station
from 23rd October to 5th November 1984
(only previous record was 35 years ago,
despite growth in Swedish breeding popula-
tion).
Penduline Tit Rernig pendu/inus Finland
Seventh record: three mistnetted together
and ringed at Lagskar bird-station on 30th
September 1984. staying until 8th October
(fifth and sixth records were in October 1981 ,
Brit. Birds 75: 271). Luxembourg Autumn
passage: 60 trapped during 26th September
to 24th October 1984 (three with Heligoland
rings); autumn passage first noted in 1982.
(Cf. increases, passage and vagrancy in
Belgium. France, Federal Republic of
Germany, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal,
Sweden. Switzerland and Yugoslavia, Brit.
Birds 72: 592; 73: 578; 74: 262; 77: 590).
Isabelline Shrike Lanius isabellinus swf.den
345
European news
Second record: first-winter Halland on 3rd
October 1984*.
Red-backed Shrike L anius collurio Denmark
barge concentration: 615 on 12th June 1984.
of which 425 departed over the sea at Ham-
meren on Bornholm.
Masked Shrike /. anius nubicus Sweden First
record: first-winter caught at Ottenbv in
Oland on 1st October 1984* (cf. first Finnish
record in October 1982, Brit. Birds 76: 276).
Avadavat Amandava amandava spain
Breeding population firmly established: first
observation near Madrid in 1974 (where still
present in 1984), but now established in irri-
gation areas along I 10km of River Guadina
in Badajoz; breeding takes place from August
to November; several roosts, containing total
of 4.000 individuals in January 1984.
Arctic Redpoll Carduelis homemanni faeroe
islands Second record: Fuglov on 3rd
October 1984*.
Crossbill Lo xia curvirostra Luxembourg Still
common (and breeding reports) in early
1984. following irruption in autumn 1983.
but almost entirely absent since August.
(The 1983 irruption was also noted in
Belgium and France, Brit. Birds 76: 570, as
well as Britain.)
Scarlet Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus
Denmark Best-ever year: total of about 160,
with more than five at ten localities in spring
1984. (Almost every ‘European news’ has
included reports of increases or range expan-
sion of this species.)
Tennessee Warbler Vermivora peregrina
faeroe islands First record: ringed on
Sumba during 21st-29th September 1984*.
Little Bunting Emberiga pusil/a Estonian ssr
Second record: Sorve on 13th October 1984
(first record concerned a pair in April 1979.
Brit. Birds 72: 593). Latvian ssr Second
record: Pape in October 1984. Switzerland
Ninth record: Allaman in Yand on 25th
March 1984. Yugoslavia First record for
Slovenia: Klece near Ljubljana on 9th
February 1985.
Black-headed Bunting F.mberiza melanoce-
phala Sweden Ninth to 13th records: four in
southern Sweden between 23rd May and
19th June 1984* and one in Norrbotten on
26th July 1984* (eight previous records were
at similar times of year, and considered to
refer to wild birds; also cf. Finnish records
during 1980-84. three in May and one in
August. Brit. Birds 77: 591).
Correspondents
Austria Peter Prokop. Osterreichische Gesellschaft fur Vogelkunde, c/o Naturhistorisches
Museum Wien. A- 1014 Wien 1. Burgring 7. Postfat h 41 7
Belgium Rene de Liedekerke & Drs Franklin L. L. Tombeur, rue des Haies 20. B-5296 Pailhe
Bulgaria Dr Tanyu Michev. Research and Coordination Centre for Preservation and
Restoration of the Environment. Gagarin Street 2, Sofia 13
V y B
Czechoslovakia Dr Karel Stastnv. Institute of Landscape Ecology . Czechoslovak Academy
of Sciences. Bezrucova 927. 251 01 klcany
Denmark Dr Lasse Braae. Rprvigveg 102. 4500 Nvktfbing Sj.
Estonian ssr Dr V. Lilleleht. Academy ofSciences of the Estonian SSR. Institute of Zoology
and Botany. 21 Vanemuise St, SL -202400 Tartu
faeroe islands Mrs Dorete Bloch, Museum of Natural History , Debesartrod, Torshavn
federal republic of Germany Alistair Hill. Dachverband Deutscher Aviiaunisten. Bundes-
deutscher Seltenheitenausschuss. Albrecht-Haushofer-Str. 10. 3200 Hildesheim
Finland Martti Hario. The Finnish Ornithological Society . P. Rautatiekatu 13. SF-00100
Helsinki 10, Finland
France Dr Philippe J. Dubois. LeCabestan. 73 avenue Robespierre. 17000 La Rochelle
grand duchy of Luxembourg David Crowther. 18 rue des Eglantiers. L-8227 Mamer
Greece George I. Handrinos. 50 El Yenizelou Street. 166 75 Glvfada
Italy Fulvio Fraticelli & Marco Gustin. Stazione Romana per L'Osserx azione e la Protezione
Degli Uccelli. c/o Oasi Naturale WWF Boscodi Palo. Yia Palo Laziaele2. 00055 Ladispoli
(Rome); Dr Azelio Ortali & Dr E. A. Di Carlo. Societa Ornitologica Italiana. Loggetta
Lombardesca. 48100 Ravenna
Latvian ssr Dr Janis Baumanis. Laboratory of Ornithology . Miera 3. Salaspils
Malta Joe Sultana & Charles Gaud. The Ornithological Society', PO 448, Valletta
Netherlands Kees Scharringa. Trompenburg 15. 1852 CB Heiloo
Norway Geofirev Acklam. Nordliveien 18. 1320Stabekk
Poland Dr L. Tomialojc, Wroclaw University, Museum ofNatural History, Sienkiewicza 21,
50-335 Wroclaw
346 European news
Portugal Dr Antonio Teixeira, CEMPA, Servigo National de Parques. Reservas e
Conserva^ao da Natureza, Ruada Lapa 73. 1200 Lisboa
spain Dr Eduardo de Juana, Departamento de Zoologia, Facultad de Ciencias, C-XV.
L niversidad Autonoma. Madrid 34
Sweden Per Alstrom & Magnus Ldlman. Marholmsvagen 105. S-43600 Askim
Switzerland Dr N. Zbinden. Sehweizerische Vogelwarte, CH-6204 Sernpaeh
Yugoslavia Iztok Geister. 64202 Naklo. Pokopaliska pot 13
No information was received from Albania, the German Democratic Republic, Hungary.
Iceland or Romania.
PhotoSpot
13. Corn Bunting
Corn Bunting Miliaria calandra is one of those passerines with a single
complete annual moult in autumn (August to October), and also one of that
small and oddly mixed group of species which has a complete post-juvenile
moult, after which adults and young are inseparable. These two excellent
portraits not only capture the distinctive personality of the species, but also
illustrate a couple of more academic points: the distinctive bunting bill-
structure (sharply arched cutting edges on the upper and lower mandibles),
and the change of appearance, through wear of pale feather fringes, from
the sharply streaked and wing-barred appearance of the fresh plumage in
156. C lorn Bunting Miliaria calandra, Worcestershire, January 1979 (A/. C. Wilkes )
\Brit. Birds 78: 346-347. July 19831
PhotoSpot
347
157. C 'orn Bunting Miliaria calandra, Portugal, May 1980 ( Michael Gore)
late autumn and winter (plate 156) to the comparatively drab and less-
defined patterns in summer (plate 157). In fresh plumage, the sometimes
well-marked head can be striking, with the central crown-stripe, super-
cilium, and moustachial and malar stripes surprisingly — for this sup-
posedly ‘plain’ bunting — recalling that of other female and immature
buntings. PJG
Mystery photographs
/\ O The slim body and bill, long tail and legs, and habitat of last
X month’s mystery- bird (plates 1 18 & 119, repeated here as 158 &
159) clearly indicate a species of pipit Anthtis. The prominence of the pale
supercilium and submoustachial stripe should narrow the field to Richard’s
A. novaeseelandiae or Tawny Pipit A. campestris. The boldness of the dark
markings on the breast and upperparts seems to lead us straight to
Richard’s Pipit, but there’s a catch. It is in fact a Tawny Pipit in juvenile
plumage, photographed by Knud Pederson in Denmark on 22nd July 1982.
f Bril. Birds 78: 347-350. July 1983)
348
Mystery photographs
158 & 159. Juvenile Tawny Pipit Anlhus campestns, Denmark. July 1982 (Knud Pederson)
While full juvenile plumage is unlikely to be seen in Britain and Ireland,
some individuals may retain a large part of it into late autumn and then
cause confusion with Richard’s because of their dark and streaked appear-
ance.
Juvenile Tawny Pipits start the moult to first-winter plumage in late July
160. T awnv Pipit Anlhus campestris moulting from juvenile to first-winter plumage. Nether-
lands. September 1981 (Rene Pop)
Mystery photographs 349
or August. It involves usually all of the head and body feathers, a variable
amount of wing-coverts and tertials, but not the primaries, secondaries or
tail leathers. Full first-winter plumage closely resembles adult-winter
plumage (the latter acquired by a usually complete moult during July to
September). It is possible that some juveniles may complete the post-
juvenile moult quickly, so that it may not be safe to age adult-like indi-
viduals alter the end of August, as pointed out by Nick Riddiford (Brit. Birds
70: 83-84). In practice, however, most young Tawny Pipits retain at least a
few of the distinctively juvenile-patterned breast feathers, scapulars, wing-
coverts and tertials during their migration in late August to November and
they can then be safely aged. The individual in plate 160 (photographed on
28th September) is showing at least three prominently spotted juvenile
breast-side feathers, at least a dozen dark-centred juvenile scapulars, and
all the sharply pale-fringed juvenile wing-coverts and tertials. It is. there-
fore. clearly a juvenile moulting to first-winter plumage, and it may well
continue to retain some of these age-diagnostic feathers well into the winter.
At all ages, Richard’s Pipit (plate 161) is best told from Tawny by its pale
lores (dark line from bill to eye on Tawny); extensively pale ear-coverts
(tend to be more uniform on Tawny); and broad pale area around eye ( thin
pale eve-ring on Tawnv): the bare-faced expression of Richard's recalls that
of a Skylark Alauda arvensis , whereas Tawny Pipit's is more like that of a
juvenile or winter Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava (though the brown
ear-covert patch can also be reminiscent of Skylark). Other features
of Richard’s may be more difficult to discern, such as its rufous-washed
flanks (usually pale bull or creamy on lawny), stronger malar stripe,
stouter bill, straighter and longer hind claw, and white outer tail feathers
(off-white or buff on Tawny). Both Richard’s and Tawny can give
161. Ric hard's Pipit Anthus novaeseetandiae. Netherlands. September 1981 (C.J. B reek
+*+<6*4*
350 Mystery photographs
rather similar half-hearted chirpy calls when feeding or making short
flights, but the classic full flight calls are usually diagnostic once they have
been learned: a loud throaty ‘schreep’ from Richard’s, and a chirpy ‘teeuk
from Tawny. PJG
162. M ysterv photograph 104. Identify the species. Answer next month
Notes
Petrels eating contraceptives, polythene and plastic
beads As part of a more detailed study on the food and
feeding ecology of the Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis,
regurgitations from adults and chicks from colonies on the
Firths of Forth and Clyde, Scotland, have been collected
and analysed. Preliminary results show Fulmars to be
feeding regularly and naturally at night, and scavenging
opportunistically from the sea surface by day. Among the
more unnatural items I have recorded are rubber contra-
ceptives, from adults and chicks, probably picked up by
adults in mistake for polychaets (Nereidae) or squids (Cephalapoda), and
sheet polythene from what looks like carrier bags. Bubbles of expanded
polystyrene are frequently ingested, in quantities which almost fill the
stomach; I have also found these in regurgitations of Storm Petrels
Hydrohates pelagicus from the same areas. Adult and nestling Fulmars, while
being ringed, have also disgorged numbers of plastic beads (up to 20 from
one chick). These are discoidal coloured beads, about 5mm in diameter,
used industrially in bulk for injection moulding and the like; they are
composed of polyethylene resin which solidifies on contact with water
Notes
351
during manufacture, and they float. The beads find their way into the
marine environment when malfunctions in the filtration process occur,
sometimes resulting in millions being discharged. At Grangemouth on the
Forth, there is a plastics factory producing polyethylene beads, and this is
probably the source ol the pollution in the Forth sea-area. I have also taken
these beads from the stomachs of Manx Shearwaters Puffinus pufjxnus from
Wales, and from Storm Petrels. In the case of one Storm Petrel, the single
bead had blocked the duodenum, which may have reduced or stopped the
digestive processes to the extent that the petrel became so weak that it
eventually died.
I hese items reflect the amount of waste material finding its way into the
sea, and the resin beads are a possible source of concern. Petrels in general
seem unable to differentiate between digestible foods and indigestible
human artefacts which simulate such foods. Bernard Zonfrillo
28 Prodie Road, Glasgow G21 3SB
We have also received a letter from J. B. Kemp reporting his discovery of two gull pellets
containing four and two condoms, respectively, and another with a tight hunch of three rubber
bands, at Welney, Norfolk, in March 1985. Kds.
Woodpigeon alighting on water apparently to avoid Carrion Crow
On 18th May 1982, while walking beside the lake in St James’s Park,
London, my attention was drawn to two birds flying close together near the
surface of the lake. As I turned to look at them, the leading one splashed
down on to the surface of the water and I saw that it was a Woodpigeon
Columba palumbus. The bird following was a Carrion Crow Conms corone,
which continued to the bank and landed; after a few seconds, it flew back
over the lake and swooped down towards the pigeon, which flapped its
wings but did not take off'. The crow returned to the bank and landed, but
after a short pause flew away. The pigeon remained on the water for
possibly as long as two minutes and then, without hesitation or difficulty,
took ofl from the water and flew strongly up to a tree. There are a number of
records of feral Rock Doves Columba livia swimming (e.g. Brit. Birds 68:
467-468; 71: 138-139), while, according to Miss Stainton (Brit. Birds 71:
138), it is not unusual for Woodpigeons to alight on the lake in St James’s
Park. This particular instance seems remarkable in that the pigeon may
have deliberately alighted on the water to avoid the crow. P. J. Oliver
1 Albany Court, Palmer Street. London SW7
Derek Goodwin has commented as follows: ‘I suspect that the alighting in/on water may
have been accidental in attempting to avoid the crow, but I may be wrong in this. The
interesting thing is that, accidental or deliberate, the behaviour was effective. Especially in
view of the recent note (78: 235) on failure of Peregrine Falco peregrinus to pick up a Feral Pigeon
[Rock Dove) that had fallen into water, similar observ ations would be useful.' Eds
Cuckoo drinking Having photographed adult Cuckoos Cuculus canorus at
the same site at Swindon, West Midlands, for three years, it came as a great
surprise w hen, in May 1984. a male Cuckoo, which had been feeding about
15cm awav from a prepared bathing pool by my hide, suddenly walked a
352
Notes
few paces forward to the water and drank very briefly. Luckily, I had my
camera set up and was able to capture the moment (plate 163). The
surprise 1 express is due to the fact that, although over a dozen different
Cuckoos fed within a metre of the pool day after day for the three seasons.
163. Male Cuckoo Cuculns canorus momentarily drinking at artificial pool. West Midlands.
May 1984 (A. T. Moffett )
this was the only time that one had shown any interest in water. From the
hide, I observed mating, swaying, fighting and calling, but no Cuckoo ever
bathed or attempted to bathe at the pool which I had built expresslv for that
purpose. A. T. Moffett
122 Parkes Hall Road, Dudley , West Midlands DY1 3RJ
Ian W'yllie commented that he has never seen a Cuckoo drinking, nor a photograph of one
doing so; Eric Hosking has. on several occasions, observed — but never photographed — a
Cuckoo drinking; Mike Kendall of the BBC Natural Historv I'nit has drawn attention to the
filming ot a Cuckoo drinking at an artificial pool in Buckinghamshire in 1977. Thus, while
Cuckoos may drink more often than the photographic record suggests, we are pleased to be
able to publish A. T. Moffett’s photograph. Eds
Rock Pipit associating with man During March 1982, on Jethou,
Channel Islands, one of the island staffhad been engaged for several weeks
on removing tons of granite beach pebbles which had accumulated against
the landing pier. He worked, with shovel and tractor, from about 50 m
below high-tide mark, up to the top of the tideline, shifting pebbles from a
depth of about 1 m against the jetty wall. Intermingled with the pebbles was
much rotting seaweed, mostly bladder wrack Fucus vesiculosus and knotted
wrack Ascophyllum nodosum. After some weeks, the workman mentioned that
he was constantly accompanied by one little bird, which waited for his
arrival each day and had become so tame as to be likened to a Robin
Erithacus rubecula following a gardener’s spade. The bird would potter down
the beach, in front of the tractor, and then perch on a nearby stone, waiting
for the pebbles and seaweed to be disturbed so that it could feed on the
abundant supply of marine creatures thereby exposed. In particular, it fed
greedily on sea-slaters Ligia oceanica . even the largest ones over 2.5 cm long,
seizing each one crossways in its beak and flying a short distance to rocks to
swallow it. I went down to identify the bird and was not particularly
surprised to find that it was a Rock Pipit Anthus spino/etta petrosus.
J. S. Kendrick
Isle of Jethou. PO Box No. 5. St Peter Port. Guernsey. C.I.
Rasping calls of Dunnock in presence of Cuckoo At about 08. 1 5 GMT
on 8th May 1982, in a small moorland valley near West Bagborough.
Taunton, Somerset, I heard the repeated, shrill, piping alarm calls of a
Dunnock Prunella modularis. I investigated and found a Dunnock reacting to
a perched Cuckoo Cuculus canorus. In a short time, however. I heard
repeated, low-pitched rasping calls, in addition to the high-frequency ones.
At first, I thought that the rasps were uttered by a Wren Troglodytes
troglodytes , although they did not have the normal quality of sound for that
species and were slightly higher in pitch. I then saw that they were being
made bv a second Dunnock, apparently one of a pair. After the Cuckoo had
flown off, the agitated Dunnocks continued calling for a few more minutes. I
then found a Dunnocks’ nest containing one egg in a low bush, in the centre
of the area where the birds had been calling. As both sexes of the Dunnock
354
Notes
look alike, I could not tell if the rasps were produced by the male or the
female; the bird giving them was not heard to make any other sounds at the
time. I have not previously heard these rasping calls; perhaps they are given
only in the presence of a Cuckoo which has intruded into the breeding
territory of a pair of Dunnocks. A. P. Radford
Crossways Cottage , West Bagborough , Taunton . Somerset TA43EG
Dr Barbara Snow has commented as follows: ‘So far as 1 know, the rasping call described
has not previously been documented for the Dunnock. The only observation I have which
might be relevant was when I saw a Dunnock nest containing small young being preyed on by
a weasel Mustela nivalis : besides the alarm “seep” by both members of the pair, the male sang
very low-volume song without any intervals; this form of song, which sounds very different
from normal Dunnock song, is well known to us, as it occurs during territorial boundary
conflicts between males. I doubt if Dr Radford would have interpreted this as a rasping call.’
Eds
Persistent attack on potential nest predator by Blackbird In 1981 and
1982, a pair of Blackbirds Turdus merula nested low down in a small conifer
near the top of my parent’s garden near Southampton, Hampshire. In
May- June 1981, the male frequently drove off my parents’ Siamese cat
whenever it appeared in the garden. On 12th June 1982, following similar
behaviour to that of the previous year, the male Blackbird attacked the cat,
which was fully 10 m from the nest, and drove it into the house: flying very
low (about 30 cm) above the cat’s back, and a short distance behind its
head, the Blackbird pursued the cat through the conservatory door, right
through the kitchen and into the hall (i.e. through three doorways and
around one right-angled corner), all the while flying low over the cat’s back,
but not calling once inside the house; it did not land, but, when the cat had
scuttled to a safe hiding-place, flew back to the garden without any
difficulty with doors, walls or other obstacles. The cat appeared quite
terrified. I was surprised at the persistence of this Blackbird in penetrating
so far inside a house. David A. Christie
4 Steventon Road , Harefield, Southampton S025HA
Blackcaps foliage-bathing in gardens Regular observations during
1980-82 on the drinking and bathing habits of the birds in a suburban
garden at Tring, Hertfordshire, have shown that passage migrant and
wintering Blackcaps Sylvia atricapilla are infrequent visitors to the centrally
placed pond, where they sip water. Short spells of active bathing at the
pond have been watched twice in autumn, but on seven occasions I have
seen individuals in March, May, August, and September (four records)
bathing by brushing their head, wings and body feathers vigorously against
and through the saturated leafy branches of flowering cherry Prunus , mock
orange Philadelphus coronarius , white dogwood Swida alba and ivy Hedera helix.
In every case, the bout of bathing activity followed, or took place during, a
rain shower. David Glue
BTO. Beech Grove, Tring, Hertfordshire HP235NR
Letters
Origin of British Glaucous Gulls I read with interest A. R. Dean’s
comments on the possible origins of Glaucous Gulls Larus hyperboreus in
Britain and related incidences of occurrences of hybrid Glaucous X
Herring Gulls L. argentatus {Brit. Birds 77: 165-166). Both Glaucous and
Iceland Gulls L. glaucoides are annual winter visitors to southwest England.
Virtually without exception, the former is the more numerous, Devon and
Gornwall producing ten or more in most years, mainly around the more
important fish-landing areas of Plymouth, Falmouth and those of the far
west of Cornwall. I have long been unconvinced by the theory that these are
of Icelandic origin. First, very few ever show any trace of hybridisation, and
hybrids are certainly not annual in either county: even in years when 30 or
more Glaucous are recorded, they still may not muster a single hybrid. (I
would refute thoughts of overlooking hybrids, other than an individual with
its Glaucous parentage so repressed by back breeding that dominant
Herring features almost completely mask them; even exceptionally small
females or runts not much larger than Herring Gull have occurred, but
display all the other classic features of the species.) Secondly, I have
consistently noted that Glaucous Gull influxes, which in southwest
England normally occur between late December and early March, coincide
throughout this period with severe and sometimes prolonged (five or more
days) northwesterly airstreams from Arctic North America and Greenland,
when the gulls’ arrival is predictable. Such conditions are uncommon and
not necessarily annual.
I consider that occurrences of white-winged gulls in certain areas of the
Southwest are caused in part by the gulls’ need to seek shelter and to feed
after tracking with northwesterly airstreams. Such Glaucous Gulls from
seas off southeast Greenland would soon reach western Britain, and
Ireland, eventually meeting inshore trawlers (those from southwest
England range about 80 km out to sea) which would encourage them to
pursue a food source into harbour. BU’P (3: 842-844) states that the east
Greenland population of Glaucous Gull is migratory, and that its wintering
range, although not known, is thought to be Iceland (other populations are
much less or not at all migratory). It is not inconceivable that these
migratory gulls — of much purer stock than Icelandic Glaucous — are the
ones that track with northwesterly gales to western Britain; and even winds
not directlv from Greenland could still produce wandering Glaucous of this
population, from wintering areas around southern Iceland, on other
suitable weather systems.
Many Glaucous Gulls arriving in December- January in the Southwest
are first-winters. These are probably of the same Greenland population,
having left the breeding area in December, long after the adults {BUT 3:
844), and are perhaps more liable to wander farther, as do other stages of
immature Glaucous Gulls which visit the Southwest far more frequently
than do adults.
I suspect that the higher incidence of Glaucous and Iceland Gulls in
western Britain and Ireland in relatively recent times may be due to these
355
356
Letters
opportunistic wandering gulls attaching themselves to trawlers after first
following suitable westerly winds, rather than to a definite migration
(which would surely involve thousands annually, rather than tens or
occasionally hundreds) only comparatively recently detected by British
birdwatchers, as postulated by A. R. Dean. Vic Tucker
Periglis , 4 C/ovelly View , Tumchapel , Plymouth, Devon
A. R. Dean has commented as follows: ‘Vic Tucker’s considered opinions on the origins of
Glaucous Gulls reaching southwest England provide a valuable addition to the discussion.
Although I would not like to speculate on the exact mechanism of their arrival, I am pleased to
see that the conditions and timing of arrivals in southwest England support the idea that
Greenland is an important source region. As indicated in my original letter (77: 165-166),
however. I suspect that, within Britain as a whole, there are important geographical differ-
ences in the origin of Glaucous Gulls. Thus, in the West Midlands region, arrivals of Glaucous
Gulls and apparent Arctic Herring Gulls I., a. argentatus tend to correlate, suggesting a
common origin in the northeast. It is of interest that, farther to the southwest, at Chew Valley
Lake, Avon, both L. a. argentatus and Glaucous Gulls remain relatively scarce (K. E. Vinicombe in
lilt.). A careful (and cautious) study of all such specific-and geographical correlations could be
illuminating.’ Eds
Jizz as an aid to identification I agree with much of Andrew Harrop’s
‘Points of view’ (Brit. Birds 77: 16), but ‘overcoming false assertions con-
cerning “jizz” ’ calls for some comment. I am sure he is referring to difficult,
usually rare, species, but I hope the impression that jizz should be
ignored — and its use discouraged — is not carried through into general
birdwatching advice and literature. One can identify a bird on jizz only
after previous experience (which is why it may fail with vagrants), but it
may, nevertheless, serve to isolate an unexpected bird amongst its
commoner fellows. The difficulty is not so much recognition of jizz as its
description. It is, so often, more or less indefinable. Anyone who has lectured
about birds, written about them — or simply taken comprehensive notes —
will have struggled with this problem. We all know the jizz of a Robin
Erithacus rubecula or a Blue Tit Parus caem/eus, but putting it across in words
to someone who doesn’t is tricky. Think of something more subtle, such as a
Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella or a Dunlin Calidris alpina , and the
problem may be more easily appreciated. But that is not to say that jizz
should be thrown out of the window. Who ever identifies passing Kitti-
wakes Rissa tridactyla on anything else?: St Ives seawatchers probably don’t
bother to check their leg colour! Merlin Falco columbarius is another bird
almost always 90% jizz, and Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea can be too.
Awkward species can often be resolved by jizz better than anything else; it is
just difficult to say why! Judgment of size, structure, and so on can be
difficult, as already discussed in BB, but I would not like to think that
‘constant, real and observable plumage criteria’ (much as I appreciate
them) become the only means of identifying birds, or of satisfying critics
that one had done so. I am sure that many readers will know of birds
misidentified, even over several days, until someone comes along, with
prior experience of the species, to say ‘Of course it isn’t — it just doesn’t look
like one.’ Remember Bill Oddie’s example (in his Little Black Bird Book,
1980) of a description reading equally well for Skylark Alauda arvensis.
Letters
357
Rk hard s Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae and Pectoral Sandpiper C. melanotos —
a I ) 1 1 extreme, but illustrating the point. Seabird experts have long been
trying to move in the opposite direction (often with too little support), and I
hope this continues where relevant. It is the sharing of knowledge in this
field which will prove the stumbling block. With beginners developing their
identification skills, learning commoner birds, I would suggest that
appreciation of jizz should be encouraged from the start. Another question
then arises. If we do develop better ways of describing it, should it be fed to
everyone in books, or is it better that they spend a few years learning jizz for
themselves? R. A. Hume
15 Cedar Gardens, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 1EY
I fully concur with Dr J. T. R. Sharrock’s comments (‘Points of view’. Brit.
Birds 77: 204): jizz must have its rightful place as one aid to identification;
this is how many rarities and vagrants are first noticed. The reasons that
scorn is sometimes poured on it as a method of identification on finding an
unusual bird are perhaps, first, that it is not a craft easily learnt, and,
secondly, that many — though thankfully not all — birders are interested
only in seeing birds, not watching them. T. W. Parmenter
22 The Kiln. Burgess Hitt. Sussex
The more experienced and skilled the observer, the more jizz is used to
identify familiar birds. Probably the majority of visual identifications are
made in quick or distant views without a single plumage feature being seen.
Caution is surely advisable, however, when jizz is used to distinguish an
unfamiliar rarity from a similar common species. While features of stance,
posture, behaviour, flight action and so on may provide useful initial
pointers to ‘something different’, confirmatory plumage details are vital.
Identification of vagrants, such as Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis or
Blvth s Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum. need ‘minutiae’, but if vou
understand a bird’s plumage topography, and own a good telescope, thev
are actually not all that ‘minute’. P. J. Grant
14 Heath field Road. Ashford. Kent TN248QD
Announcements
Payments to ‘BB’ by GIRO We should like to remind all subscribers that
payments can be made to British Birds Ltd by means of GIRO. Our UK
Post Office GIRO account number is 37 588 6303. This method of pavment
may be particularly useful to subscribers who do not have sterling or US
dollar bank accounts. When arranging payment, please do not forget to
write to us as well, so that we know why the money has been deposited in our
358
Announcements
account. In addition to GIRO payments, we can accept cheques (checks),
postal orders and international money orders in £ sterling or in US$, but
not book tokens.
‘A Guide to the Birds of Nepal’ By Carol & Tim Inskipp, this new,
substantial book (392 pages, over 670 maps, many line-drawings and eight
very useful colour plates of difhcult-to-identifv warblers and finches) will be
published by Groom Helm this month. The paintings, by Craig Robson
and Richard Grimmett, will be very useful to birders visiting any Asian
country' (see black-and-white copy of one of the colour plates).
Crftij Rot>Son'84-'
Announcements
359
By a special arrangement — exclusive to subscribers to British Birds and
members of the Oriental Bird Club — you can obtain your copv post free (to
UK & Irish addresses), immediately that it is available, through British
BirdShop, and with a reduction of £2.00 on all prepublication orders.
Please use the British BirdShop form on page ix now.
David Hunt (Bryan Bland )
One of many illustrations
by Bryan Bland in Confes-
sions of a Scilly Birdman
David Hunt’s autobiography As many of his
friends will be aware, the late David Hunt had
completed his autobiography shortly before his
tragic death in India. The book, titled by David
Confessions of a Scilly Birdman, will be published in
September.
The publishers, Croom Helm, have agreed to
donate 50p to a fund in David’s memory for every
copy of the book sold through British BirdShop. We
know that there will be many BB readers who will
want to buy a copy. Books ordered now will be
despatched (post free to UK & Ireland) as soon as
copies become available. Please use the form on
page ix.
Requests
Sightings of White-tailed Eagles The number of W hite-tailed Eagles Haliaeetus albicilla
released from the Isle of Rhum in the Inner Hebrides has now reached 72. with a final ten to be
freed in 1985. Each bird is individually marked w ith a BTO ring and coloured rings (although
some of these may now have been lost). The last 30 to be liberated were fitted with large
patagial wing-tags of coloured plastic, numbered 0 to 9. Some of the eagles have now dispersed
from Rhum. a few as far as Shetland Both the NCC and RSPB carefully monitor the birds after
release, but we suspect that many birdwatchers may not have felt it worthwhile reporting
sightings of these birds. Casual records are. however, extremelv useful in building up a
detailed picture of the White-tailed Eagles' dispersal and survival. We would be pleased to
receive any records, including details of place, date, number and approximate age of the birds,
what they were doing and any colour marks identified. Please supply details of observations to
John A. Love, NCC, 9 Culduthel Road, Inverness; Roy H. Dennis, RSPB. Landberg, North
Kessock, Inverness IV1 !XD; or Roger A. Broad, RSPB. 6 Birch Road, Killearn, Glasgow.
Spanish rare birds committee A rarities committee (Comitede Rarezas) has been estab-
lished by the Spanish society, Sociedad Espanola de Omitologia. Birdwatchers who have
visited or will be visiting Spain are requested to send details of rare birds to Dr Eduardo de
Juana. Sociedad Espanola de Omitologia. Facultad de Biologia. Tercer Pabellon. Planta IX.
Cuidad Universitaria, 28040 Madrid. Spain, or to Andrew M. Paterson. Edificio San Gabriel.
2-4°-A, Escritor Adolfo Reyes, 29000 Torremolinos, Malaga, Spain.
Transparencies request Anyone w ith high-quality colour transparencies of a 1984 rarity is
asked to loan the originals to us for possible use (perhaps in colour) in the next rarities report.
To be considered, transparencies must arrive with Dr J. T. R. Sharrock (Fountains. Park Lane.
Blunham. Bedford MK44 3Nj) before 1st August.
News and comment
Robin Prytherch and Mike Everett
Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of ‘British Birds’
Hayle inquiry The Department of the
Environment has now called for a Public
Inquiry in early July to review planning
permissions on the Hayle Estuary, Cornwall.
John Waldon tells us that this was due to
pressure from birdwatchers; letters were
received from all over Britain, some, we
hope, in response to John’s appeal which
appeared in January’s ‘News and comment’
(Brit. Birds 78: 59). Let us now hope for a
positive result to the inquiry.
Poole Harbour well? British Petroleum has
been given permission for an appraisal well
to be drilled on Furzey Island, Poole
Harbour, Dorset. It is disappointing that the
opportunity to assess the overall possible
environmental impact of the drilling was not
taken now. If the well proves to be good, as is
likely, then the pressure will be on to get the
oil out. One positive note was sounded by the
Planning Inspector, who was not keen on
drilling taking place on the southern shores of
the harbour or on Studland. Poole Harbour
and its surrounding shores are of national
and international importance to many bird
species, and we should watch the progress of
the present activity with great vigilance.
Siberians in China We have been informed
by Jeffery Boswall of the first-ever official
British ornithological expedition to the
People’s Republic of China, which is
spending mid March to early June studying
migration at Beidaihehaibin, on the coast of
Hebei province (250 km east of Peking). The
leader is Martin Williams of Darwin College,
Cambridge, and six other UK ornithologists
are involved for varying periods. The latest
news received by Jeffery is that by 12th April
the passage of cranes had included 4,376
Cranes Grus grus. 303 Hooded Cranes G.
monacha , 244 Japanese Cranes G. japonensis
and no less than 652 Siberian Cranes G.
leucogeranus — probably over half the world
population. These, and all other observa-
tions, will be compared with the work done
by the Danish ornithologist Axel Hemming-
sen at the same location from 1942 to 1945
while interned by the Japanese. The Siberian
Cranes are no doubt some of the 800 or so
recently discovered to be wintering at Lake
Poyang in Jiangxi province (central south-
east China). Another, much smaller, popula-
tion winters in Iran and India.
Young Ornithologists of the Year The
1984 award ceremony was held at The
Lodge. the three prizewinners later
accompanying Peter Holden and Dr J. T. R.
Sharrock on an afternoon birdwatching trip
(plate 164). We are glad that British Birds will
again be sponsoring this annual event in
1985. Members of the Young Ornithologists’
Club can find the rules of the competition in
their magazine. Bird Life.
The Stock Pigeon Various moves to
rationalise the English names of species on
the British and Irish list include the possibil-
ity of calling all species in the genus Columba
‘pigeon’, and all species in the genus Strepto-
pelia ‘dove’. Naturally, that expert on pigeons
and doves, Derek Goodwin, was consulted.
His response was as follows:
With apologies, but not many, to Wordsworth
I hear a Stock Dove sing or say
‘I’ve kept this name for many a day.
But egg-heads now. at British Birds,
Who like to mess about with words.
Propose to change mine to Stock Pigeon.
Which rhymes with nothing but religion
And that aquatic bird, the Wigeon.
Who then, hearing pa/umbus coo.
Will write an ode, without ado.
Immortalising my new name
To echo down the Halls of Fame?
No one! the answer’s very clear.
Such change will spell the end. I fear.
Of me and mine in poetry.
Oh. curse the blighters! Woe is me!’
Derek Goodwin did. however, in an
accompanying letter, say: ‘I would certainly
not oppose the idea of calling it Stock Pigeon.’
I his is but one of many possible changes
currently under consideration. (Contributed by
JTRS )
How fast do migrants travel? A recently
published paper by Olavi Hilden and Pertti
Saurola (Omis Fennica 59: 140-143) includes a
360
News and comment
361
164. Y oung Ornithologists of the Year. 1984: Helen Parr (intermediate winner). Robert Frav
(senior winner) and Imogen Wade (junior winner), with Peter Holden and Dr (. T. R.
Sharrock. Bedfordshire. December 1984 ( RSPB & Chris Sargeant)
table giving average speed for a selection of
species, based on the 200. 000-odd birds
ringed annually in Finland. On autumn
migration, the ten relevant recoveries of Blue
Fits Pams caeruleus, for instance, showed a
rate of 8 km per day. compared with 59km
per day for the 100 Robins Erithacus mbecula.
The fastest speed on autumn migration was
shown by Little Stint Calidris minuta ( 1 12 km
per dav). Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe and
Turnstone Arenaria interpres (both 109km per
day) and Curlew Sandpiper Calidris fermginea
(108km per day); the slowest was that for
Blue Tit (noted above). These average speeds
should not be confused with some of the high-
speed recoveries which have been noted,
such as a Dunlin Calidris alpina which
travelled 1.028 km in one day. These excep-
tional records tend, perhaps, to influence
birdwatchers’ v iew of the general speed of
migration, which, from these figures, seems
often to be a rather leisurely affair. For full
details, consult Omis Fennica. (Contributed bv
JTRS)
‘Spring is sprung. The grass has riz; I
wonder where the birdies is?’ As I write,
in the second half of April, most summer
migrants are exceptionallv scarce and many
expected species are almost absent. If. as
seems possible, this is not merelv reflecting
late arrival in an admittedlv cold and late
spring, but includes a serious decline in the
numbers reaching Europe after the in-
creasingly hazardous crossing of the
increasingly wide Sahara, one conclusion
seems essential. Moral (and. one must hope,
multi-governmental) pressure must be
applied without delay on all countries (parti-
cularly those bordering the Mediterranean)
where migrants arc trapped or shot as luxury
food or for entertainment. These outmoded
practices should have ceased years ago. but
now they can certainly no longer be
tolerated. The ICBP's 'Stop the Massacre
Committee’ (see Brit. Birds 78: 202) has never
had a more vital and urgent job of education
to perform, nor a better opportunity to press
home its campaign. (Contributed by JTRS)
362
News and comment
How to spend £1,000 I n mid March, we
were delighted to receive an airmail letter
with Kenyan stamps from Nick Pike, our
Mystery Photographs Book £1,000 winner, and
to hear news of his African trip. We are
delighted that Nick, who is a freelance
wildlife artist, as well as being a BB
subscriber, chose such a splendid way of
spending his prize money.
Hook Head A new publication of the Irish
Wildbird Conservancy. Birds of Hook Head,
Co. Wexford, sets out in a typical 60-page
bird-report format the observ ations particu-
larly of migrants at this increasingly popular
watch point on the southern coast of Ireland.
Copies can be obtained (£2.50 including
p&p) from the compiler/author John Lovatt.
52 Grange Park Road. Raheny. Dublin 5.
Republic of Ireland.
RSPB goes west A beautiful university
campus is not necessarily the most practical
venue for a conference, but a coach .shuttle-
service, ingenuity, and organisation over-
came potential problems at Exeter for the
RSPB Members’ Weekend on 1 9th-2 1 st
April. With over 980 residents and hundreds
more visitors, the whole event ran remark-
ably smoothly. The scale is amazing: 75
volunteer helpers. 39 coaches, 7.175 meals.
4.750 cups of coffee, and a whole lake of beer.
After a warm-up welcome to the region by
Stan Davies, the weekend got under way and
into the star turn of Friday night, with
Magnus Magnusson masterminding the pre-
sentation of the Iceland Saga — not much
about birds, but his rich voice and super-
professional delivery evoked matters Ice-
landic splendidly. Appropriately, Icelandair
gave generous sponsorship for the event, as
did Collins Publishers, and both had major
stands in the mini trade fair, which, with the
art exhibition and sales stands, stayed busy
from early morning until late each night.
Whiteways gave sponsorship in the shape of
a bottle of wine in each room, greatly
appreciated by the members. Trevor
Gunton, Marcella Hume and their ‘team’ are
grateful for such sponsorship, and this must
set the pattern for these expensive events in
future. On the Saturday. James Hancock
stole the show with his superbly illustrated
trip around some of the world’s greatest
wetlands, weaving in his researches into his
beloved egrets. The message was less satis-
factory: even the Bharatpurs and Everglades
of this world are being severely damaged, so
what hope is there for the rest? We need more
people with the knowledge and passion of
James, who are equally willing to point the
finger at the root causes of the problems in
order to get something done. After Bryan
Pickess showed us wildlife at Arne, some
1. 000 children and their parents descended
for the YOC Bird Afternoon with Tony
Soper. Most of the residents wisely chose one
of the 20 coaches organised for trips, some
even seeing a Little Egret Egretta gargetta.
David Houston gave a memorable evening’s
presentation, looking at vultures in Africa
and South America: the perfect conference
talk, thoroughly entertaining yet heavily
spiced with the fascinating results of his
painstaking research. Sunday-morning-
after-the-night-before was an ‘RSPB in
Action’ session, with Ian Prestt and his stafT
updating members on the Society’s progress,
especially in the international field and in
reserve purchase and management. (Non-
members please note?) Question time pro-
duced a warm round of applause for Peter
Holden, who explained that YOC members
often lose interest in their teens because they
discover sex, and ‘a large national organisa-
tion is not necessarily the body to which they
will turn’. For those who stayed on. this
excellent conference rounded off with a
return to Iceland with Johann Sigurdsson
late on Sunday night. As usual, hundreds
went home with a tombola prize (the stand
made £1.700 for conservation) and a lucky
few won anything from binoculars to week-
long or weekend holidays for two for the price
of a ticket in the raffle (which made another
£1,000); and all went home with happy
memories of a vers busy, very friendly
weekend. The BB Mystery Photographs
competition was won. with four correct
answers out of five, by Tim Cleeves. (Contri-
buted by Rob Hume)
The dates in this report refer to April unless
otherwise stated.
rhe month began with unsettled weather
and southwesterly winds until 8th. when a
high formed to the northwest, bringing cooler
northwesterlies. This area of pressure moved
south over England, causing the first really
warm spell from 16th to 18th. until a further
anticyclone, developing to the northwest,
resulted in a return of cold winds from the
Arctic through to about 28th. The month
closed with little change.
Summer visitors and migrants
As always in April, the year list rises rapidly
as most of our summer visitors put in their
first appearance. This year, however, num-
bers of most species remained low, with the
major influx still to come. Tree Pipits Antkus
trivia /is and Pied Flycatchers Ficeduta hypo-
lenca suddenly appeared in numbers on their
Cumbrian breeding grounds on 17th. A
general influx of Pied Flycatchers, Red-
starts Phoenicurus phoenicurus. Whinchats
Saxicola rubetra and Ring Ouzels Turdus
torquatus took place on the Isle of Wight on
20th. Hengistbury Head and Portland (both
Dorset) had their best fall on 25th. with 85
Redstarts, 6-1 Whinchats and 1 ,500 Willow
Warblers Phvlloscopus trochilus at Hengist-
burv Head, and 76 Redstarts at Portland.
Further north. 5th was an exciting day on
North Ronaldsav (Orkney), with eight
Black Redstarts Phoenicurus ochruros. fixe
Chiffchaffs Phvlloscopus collvbita. 21 Red-
polls Carduelis flammea of the race C. J.
flammea . about 300 Robins Enthacus rubeada.
and a Green Sandpiper Tnnqa ochropus. The
following dav saw a Hawfinch Coccothraustes
coccothraustes on North Ronaldsav. followed
by three more in Orkney, and a Shetland
total of 16 from 8th. Also involved in these
Recent reports
Ian Dawson and Keith Allsopp
These are largely unchecked reports,
not authenticated records
movements in the Northern Isles were
Yellowhammers Emhenza atrinella. rare
birds there, and other finches, including a
Redpoll of the Greenland race C.f. rostrata
on North Ronaldsav on Pith. Linnets C.
cannabina passed north through Sandwich
( Kent) daily in three figures, with maxima of
838 on 10th and 1.023 on 15th.
Dorset had its earliest-ever Nightingale
Luscinia megarhynchos at Christchurch on 3rd.
and other notably early birds included a
Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca at Sand-
wich Bay on 3rd. a Garden Warbler S. borin
at Barnsley (South Yorkshire) on 5th. four
Swifts Apus apus at C '.lev (Norfolk) on 3rd.
and a Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus in
Sussex on 15th.
A total of 103 Yellow Wagtails MotacUla
flava was counted in part of the Trent \ alley
(Nottinghamshire) on 7th. part of a wide-
spread movement of wagtails and pipits
Anthus. w hich included ten males of the blue-
headed race M.J. flava at Sandw ich on 12th.
and good numbers of Pied Wagtails \1. alba
of the race M. a. alba. with, for example. 1 1 at
Sandwich on 1st and ten at Bedford (Bed-
fordshire) on 1 1th: Rock Pipits A. spmoletta
of the Scandinavian race A. s. littoralis.
including four at Bams Ness (Lothian) at the
start of the month, and of the Continental
mountain race .4. j. spinoletta. with five at
Bedford on 11th; and Meadow Pipits. A.
pratensis. with over 900 through Sandw ich on
1st and 800 at Walnev (Cumbria) the next
day.
Sand Martins Riparia riparia showed no
signs of recovering their lost numbers, with
flocks of 24 on the River L’sk (Gwent), on
18th. and 20 at Hoveringham (Nottingham-
shire) on 7th the largest reported, while one
on Walnev on 9th was the only record there
all month, and Sandwich totalled onlv 22
363
364
individuals. Sandwich also drew a blank with
Nightingales Sedge Warblers Acrocephalus
schoenobaenus also seem to be low again, with
one only on VValnev on 22nd. and a total of
only nine through Sandwich. A stretch of the
River Ivel at Blunham (Bedfordshire), which
in recent years has held 19-23 pairs of Sedge
Warblers, mustered only four singing males
by early May.
Scarcer migrants
Rather fewer exotic and scarce migrants were
reported than normal. Perhaps vicars no
longer have large lawns, for only about ten
Hoopoes Upupa epops came to our notice, two
of these at Hengistburv Head on 9th. A
Wryneck Jynx torquilla at The Needles (Isle
of Wight) on 18th was follow ed by a series on
Portland, including two on 25th. and at
Saltee (Co. Wexford), while the only Golden
Oriole Oriolus oriolus was on Scillv around
26th. Serins Serinus serinus arrived along the
English south coast from Selsey (West
Sussex) to Prawle Point (Devon), and also at
Wells (Norfolk) on 20th. on which date there
were two others Firecrests Regulus ignicapil-
lus turned up in some unusual localities,
including a singing male in Chorlton
Meadows (Greater Manchester) on 25th. A
Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor on South
Uist (Western Isles) on 15th was the first for
that island, while Shetland had around halfa
dozen individuals passing through. Dart-
ford Warblers Sylvia undata turned up in
several places on the Isle of Wight — from
New Forest or Brittany populations?
The icing on the cake
If not quite holding a monopoly, southwest
England certainly cornered the market in
rarities, the highlight undoubtedly being
Britain and Ireland’s third Calandra Lark
Melanocorypha calandra, on St Mary’s (Isles of
Scillv) from 26th to 29th, the weekend after a
male Pine Bunting Emberiza leucocephalos
had been singing on the same island from
19th to 23rd (plate 1 70). Scillv also boasted a
female Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator from
19th to 27th. a Red-throated Pipit Anthus
cennnus on Brvher. and a Little Bunting E.
pusilla on 2 1st on St Mary’s. Could this be the
start of a double ‘Scillv season’, with April
rivalling October on these magical islands?
Close by, a Little Bunting was at Land’s End
(Cornwall) on 20th, and a Suhalpine
Warbler Sylvia cantillans was seen to fly in off
the sea at Porthgwarra (Cornwall) the same
day. A few days later, its close but consider-
ably rarer (in Britain) cousin, the Spec-
Recent reports
tacled Warbler S. conspicillata. popped up
brieflv near Land’s End for one lucky
observer. Farther east along the south coast,
there was another Woodchat. at Portland on
25 th, a Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo
daurica at Radipole (Dorset) on 27th. and a
first-vear Rose-coloured Starling Stumus
roseus at Southsea (Hampshire) from 26th
March to 24th.
Farther afield. another Suhalpine
Warbler was at Spurn (Humberside) from
17th to at least 20th. and a Woodchat
Shrike reached Co. Wexford; early in the
month, an Alpine Swift Apus melba per-
formed for many along the north Norfolk
coast for about a week (plates 172 & 173).
finally being seen heading south along the
Essex coast, and others appeared at Barnsley
on 3rd and Liverpool (Merseyside) on 13th;
and a Bee-eater Merops apiaster on the
evening of 22nd at Malltraeth. Anglesey
(Gwynedd). reappeared the following
evening. The Belfast (Co. Down) White-
throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albico/lis
continued to please, but the star bird across
the water was a Fan-tailed Warbler Cisticola
juncidis on Cape Clear Island (Co. Cork) fora
day. At the end of the month, there was a
Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla at
Wraysburv (Berkshire), and. finally, an
intriguing report of a Crested Lark Galerida
cristata at Orpington (Kent) on 31st March.
It would perhaps be appropriate to men-
tion here a considerable and widespread
early invasion of painted lady butterflies
Cynthia cardui from late March through April.
S<-j-
Large wading birds . . .
A Little Egret Egretta garzetta seen on a sea-
watch at St Catherine’s Point (Isle of Wight)
on 18th heralded a mini-invasion of this
species along the English south coast, with
others at Dungeness (Kent), at least three in
Devon, and two at Marazion (Cornwall),
with one in southern Ireland, while a
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides performed
at Bude (Cornwall) from 10th through to
May (plate 175). A Glossy Ibis Plegadis
Recent reports
falcinellus at Dungeness from 20th March had
previously been seen in East Sussex and
might have been a new arrival rather than
one of the established Kent duo. Single
Cranes Grits grus enlivened the Ouse Washes
(Cambridgeshire/Norfolk) on 20th and 21st.
and — perhaps the same bird — at Cley. also
on 21st. and one on 25th soaring over Chorl-
ton Meadows before heading off northwest.
I he Coniston Cold (West Yorkshire) White
Stork Ciconia ciconia was still present: much
rarer was the immaculate Black Stork C.
nigra seen at South Huish (Devon) on 27th.
and refound in the lower Ernie Valiev on
28th and into May. to the delight of many
birders.
. . . and not so large
Black-winged Stilts Himantopus himantopus
graced Looe (Cornwall) and Radipole at
either end of the month. Two Avocets
Recurvirostra avosetta from 28th into May were
unusual visitors to Hanningfield Reservoir
(Essex), while the same locality had a male
Kentish Plover C.haradrius alexandrinus on
18th. and a good passage of Redshanks
Tringa to/anus on 15th and 17th. with 80 and
100 respectively. The Dartford (Kent)
Sociable Plover Chettusia gregana remained
until 17th (plate 169). A Lesser Golden
Plover Pluvialis dominica was on the Havle
Estuary (Cornwall) mid month, and
365
165-167. Little Gulls Larus minutus.
Merseyside. April 1985 {Steve Young)
Dotterels Charadrius morinellus passed
through Flookburgh (Cumbria) on 20th. and
Scilly. where there were two on 27th. A
wandering Stone-curlew Burhinus oedimemus
visited Cley on 20th.
A summer-plumaged Pectoral Sand-
piper Calidris melanolos was seen at Stanton
Harcourt (Oxfordshire) on 20th and 21st.
when it moved to Farmoor Reservoir for a
few days. Where are all the other American
waders presumably still on this side of the
Atlantic? The only others reported were
Long-billed Dowitchers Limnodromus scolo-
paceus on The Fleet (Dorset), and in summer
plumage at Sandwich on 1 7th and 22nd.
The more regular migrant waders
appeared on cue. with 22 Little Ringed
Plovers Charadrius duhius at seven sites in
Nottinghamshire in the first week; and a
steady but unspectacular passage of Whim-
brels Numenius phaeopus inland and on the
coast, with 47 at Sandwich on 20th and 40 or
more on Scilly on 27th.
Gulls, terns and skuas
Some ten Iceland Gulls Larus glaucoides w ere
reported, almost as numerous as at any time
during the winter, including an adult at Sea-
forth (Merseyside) throughout (plate 174).
and a second-summer individual in Dublin.
Small numbers of Ring-billed Gulls L.
delawarensis were mainly in the west as usual,
including a pair displaying at Blackpill
(West Glamorgan) on 6th (where are thev
now?), while a first-winter bird at Mussel-
burgh (Lothian) from 7th to at least 13th was
also noteworthy. A Ross’s Gull Rhodostethia
rosea put in a brief appearance at Sandv-
mount (Co. Dublin), and high numbers of
Little Gulls L. minutus were present
throughout at Seaforth (plates 165-167).
366
Recent reports
168. Black Tern Chlidonias niger. Mersovside.
April 1985 (Steve Young)
peaking at 350 on 24th. A Black Tern
Chlidonias niger graced the same place from
20th to 26th (plate 168). Towards the month
end. there was a spectacular movement of
Arctic Terns Sterna paradisaea through
eastern England, with, on 28th. up to 240 at
Grafham Water (Cambridgeshire), over 140
at Stewartbv ( Bedfordshire) and 47 at Han-
ningfield. although large numbers occurred
from the previous day through into May. The
28th also saw 472 Sandwich Terns S. sand-
vicensis and 920 Herring Gulls L. argentatus
north past Sandwich. During snow flurries
on 27th. 32 Kittiwakes Rissa trulactvla headed
southwest over Hilton (Cambridgeshire),
and over 100 in the same direction over
Bedford, all adults.
The first Great Skuas Stercorarius skua
returned later than usual to Orkney and
Shetland, on 3rd and 4th respectivelv. Four
passed Walney on llth. along with five
Arctic Skuas S. parasiticus, and the first
Pomarine Skua .9. pomarinus at Portland was
noted on 27th.
Other water birds
A drake Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata
was in Gosford Bay (Lothian) late in March,
and another appeared close inshore at St Just
(Cornwall) in April. Inland, a Velvet Scoter
M. fusca remained at Hanningfield to 8th.
after three there in March. A drake King
Eider Somateria spectabi/is at Loch Fleet
(Highland) is expected; less so a female in
Lerwick Harbour (Shetland) in the last week
of April. We periodically report the con-
tinued presence of long-staying rarities, so it
is perhaps appropriate to report the absence
of one old friend: the South Cist Steller’s
Eider Polysticta stelleri. which has boosted
many a life list, has not been seen now since
15th July 1984. South Uist will, however, no
doubt continue to attract vagrant birders to
tick the Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podi-
ceps still there this month.
A drake Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris
remained on Norby Loch (Shetland) all
month, as did a Bewick’s Swan Cvgnus
columbianus on Loch Spiggie (Shetland), a
great local rarity. Two drake Mandarins Aix
galericulata on Papa Westrav (Orkney) on 6th
provided onlv the second Orkney record, and
a Long-tailed Duck Clangula by cm a! is at
Prawle was the first for that locality. Two
single Brent Geese Branta bemicla of the
dark-bellied race B. b. bemicla in the Dublin
area were also excellent ‘local birds’ (plate
171).
Raptors
The returning warden to Rathiin Island (Co.
Antrim) was greeted by first-winter White-
tailed Haliaeetus albici/ta and Golden Eagles
Aquita chrysaetos. the latter staying for over a
week. Southern vagrants were a Red-footed
Falcon Falco vespertinus through Dungeness
on 20th. and Black Kites Mitvus migrans at
Spurn on 19th and Prawle on 27th. while
migrant Red Kites M. mitvus passed over
Sandwic h on 1 3th and Horsev (Norfolk) on
1.5th. A wide scatter of Hobbies F. subbuteo
included three on 20th. on which date an
Osprey Pandion ha/iaetus flew over Whinfell
Tarn (Cumbria), one of about a dozen
reported including two each at Hanningfield
Reservoir, and in Cumbria and Bucking-
hamshire. A female/immature Marsh
Harrier Circus aeruginosas on ( iolonsav. I nner
Hebrides (Strathclyde) on 18th had
wandered farther than usual: and Rough-
legged Buzzards Bitten lagopus were seen at
Holme (Norfolk) on 4th and on West Main-
land (Orkney) on 5th. Remaining in the
Northern Isles, at least two Snowy Owls
Nyctea scandiaca were frequenting Fetlar
(Shetland).
Latest news
After a Daurian Starling Stumus stuminus on
Fair Isle in early May, another potential
addition to the British and Irish list turned
up in June: a first-summer female Oriental
Cuckoo Cuculus saturatus which stayed at
least a week after being trapped at Spurn on
2nd. Three Rose-coloured Starlings 5.
roseus . at Fair Isle and elsewhere in Shetland,
and Needle-tailed Swift Hirundapus caudacutus
at Fairburn Ings (North Yorkshire) in late
May. Single Marsh Warblers Acrocephalus
palustris at Cley and Holme in June were only
the third and fourth Norfolk records.
Recent reports
367
169. Sociable Plover C.hettusia gregaria. Kent. March 198.') (David \1. Cntlridge)
170. Male Pine Bunting; Emberiza teucocepbatos. Scillv. April 1985 ( John Hru ilt )
171. Brent Geese Branta bemicla. dark-bellied B. b. bemicla with pale-bellied B. b. hrnla. Go.
Dublin. March 198.5 (P. Kelly)
368
Recent reports
172 & 173. Above. Alpine Swift Apus melba.
Norfolk. March 1985 (David M. Cottridge)
174. Right, adult Iceland Gull Larus
glaucoides. Merseyside. April 1985 (Sieve Young )
175. Below. Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides,
Cornwall. April 1985 (Graham Sutton)
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King, Dickinson & Woodcock A Field Guide to the Buds of South-East Asia (Collins) Paperback £7.95 [f
McCanch A Lighthouse Notebook (Michael Joseph) £12.95| [
National Geographic Society Field Guide to the Buds of North America Best Bird Book of 1984 £9.95 Q
Oddie Bill Oddie’s Little Black Bud Book (Methuen) Paperback £ 1 .50 1 |
Oddie Gone Buding (Methuen) £6.95 [ |
Oddie & Tomlinson The Big Bird Race (Collins) £3.95 EH
Peterson, Mountfort & Hollom A Field Guide to the Buds of Britain and Europe (Collins) £7.95 EH
Richards The Birdwatcher's A-Z (David & Charles) Best Bird Book of 1981 (usual price £14.95) £ 1 0.95 1 |
Sharrock The ‘British Buds ’ Mystery Photographs Book + The Solution Prize won, so now £ 1 .50
Simpson & Day The Buds of Australia (Croom Helm) £25.00, but reduced prepublication price to ‘bb’
subscribers £22.95 CD
Sinclair Ian Sinclair ’s Field Guide to the Buds of Southern Africa (Collins) £9.95 EH
Wallace Budwatching in the Seventies (Macmillan) (usual price £7.95) £3.95 1 |
Warren Shorelines (Hodder & Stoughton) £ 1 4.95 1 |
Wood Birds in Your Garden (Hamlyn) £7.95| |
British Birds The ‘British Buds' List of Buds of the Western Palearctic
1978 edn £0.60 ED 1984 edn, if other books ordered. £1.00 I 1 1984 edn £1.85 EH
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HO LI DA Y A CCOMMODA TION
15th CENTURY COACHING INN midway
Ross/Hereford amidst gentle wooded hills, 2
fields from River Wye. A comfortable and in-
formal place, with proper emphasis on real food,
real ales, civilised prices. Log fire, ch, fourposter.
Egon Ronay, Relais Routier. Green Man Inn,
Fownhope, Hereford. Tel: Fownhope (043 277)
243. (BB21)
KELLING, NR. CLEY. Situated in 4 acres of
own wooded grounds. Double room £11.95 per
person. En suite £13.45. Winter two-day breaks
£27.50 per person, B&B & evening meal.
Applehill Hotel, Kelling. Tel: Weybourne (026
370) 382. (BB159)
ISLES OF SCILLY. Migrate to Mount Flagon
on St Mary’s and enjoy the friendly atmosphere
and good food provided by Bas and Nan Cons.
Write or ring for brochure 0720 22598. (BB1 14)
MINSMERE 4m. B&B in comfortable private
house, edge of village. Brochure/ terms, Hills, Old
Mill House, Yoxford, Suffolk. Tel: 536. (BB175)
GARA MILL, Slapton. Comfortable, warm self-
catering Cedar Lodges carefully sited in 4 acres
overlooking river and woods. 2 CH flats in 16th C
cornmill available all year. Sleeps 2-6. Dogs
welcome. For coloured brochure ring Stoke
Fleming 770295. (BB157)
SPEY VALLEY — home of the osprey, cross-
bill and crested tit. Impressive Victorian house.
Superb views. CH, log fires. Home cooking. Tel:
0479 2201 or write Rossmor, Grantown on Spey,
Moray. (BB190)
NORTH NORFOLK. The George & Dragon
Hotel. Accommodation, bars & meals. Over-
looking the marshes at Cley, towards Blakeney
Point. Tel: Cley (0263) 740652. (BB219)
MINSMERE EXCELLENT B&B. Own
bathroom. Glorious setting. 4 miles Suffolk
coast. 6 miles Minsmere. 2 miles Snape
Concert Hall. £8 per night, per person.
Telephone for reservation. Snape 750.
(BB237)
NR. NTH NFK RESERVES. Guest House run
by birder for birders. Haydn House, Avenue
Road, Hunstanton. Tel: 331 15. (BB308)
MEON SHORE BIRD SANCTUARY, Hill-
head. New chalet on mainland beach opposite
Cowes. Fully equipped with shower, fridge, 4
bunk beds in 2 bedrooms. To let weekly. Walker,
The Coach House, Warsash. Tel: Lockshcath
84017. (BB307)
SKOMER ISLAND BOAT 5 MINUTES
WALK. Six berth caravan to let with an inside
flush toilet. On a farm beside. Pembrokeshire
coastal path. Magnificent views. Choughs,
Peregrine’s, Buzzards, Ravens can be seen
regularly. Telephone Dale 424. (BB300)
x
HAYLE ESTUARY 10 mins, walk to hide. Bed
and breakfast £5. 50 June and from Sept, St Ives 3
miles. Trendreath House, Lower Lelant, St Ives,
Cornwall. Tel: Hayle 753714. (BB288)
WELLS 4 miles. Modernised flint cottage at
Binham. Sleeps 4-6. Children and pets welcome.
Open all year. CH, TV, carport. Tel: 08833 5579.
(BB295)
BOSWEDNACK MANOR, Zennor, St Ives
Stay in the real Cornish countryside. Our guest
house overlooks sea and moors. Great Bird-
watching. SAE please for brochure. Tel: 0736
794183. (BB297)
NORTH WEST HIGHLANDS, Dundonnell
Hotel, just south of Ullapool, ideal location for
hill walkers, birdwatchers and those who enjoy
the open spaces. Private bathrooms, Col. TV, full
c.h. Send for col. brochure/tariff giving details of
bargain holidays on selected dates, to Selbie
Florence, Dundonnell Hotel, by Garve, Ross-
shire. Tel: 085 483 204. (BB298)
LUXURY IDYLLIC COTTAGE. Ideal base
Cheviot Hills, Fame Isles and Kielder Forest.
Forster. Tel: 01-904 9107 and 0669 30265.
(BBI 1)
ELIZABETHAN FARMHOUSE set in a
beautiful position near Welsh Border. Enjoy
complete relaxation. Excellent food. Marvellous
walking country. Close to coast and golf course,
and OfFa’s Dyke. Ideal place for birdwatching,
pony trekking (lessons available) etc; open
Easter onwards. Reduced rates for children.
Contact Mrs E. Venables, Rorrington Hall,
Chirbury Powys (093 872) 223. ' (BB299)
YORKSHIRE’S HERITAGE COAST
Varied and spectacular bird watching on the 350 ft
cliffs around Flamborough and Bempton. A coast
that's rich in history and wildlife. Discover fossils,
sec the seals, explore the nature trails at Danes Dyke
and South Landing.
Send for details and Bridlington Colour Guide to:
Publicity Dept., 108 The Spa, Bridlington,
East Yorkshire Y015 3JH.
.4 contribution towards postage appreciated
EAST NORFOLK. B&B. Open all year. Also
modernised 17th century fisherman's cottage.
Tel: 0493 728374. (BB137)
YOU WILL FIND A WARM WELCOME and
every comfort in this attractively situated and
secluded country hotel. Excellent birdwatching
amidst moorland, forest and river. Home
cooking, home produce. Full central heating, h&c
and electric blankets in all bedrooms. Terms £84
db& b for week. Brochure from Old Manse Hotel,
Duthill, Cambridge, Inverness-shire PH'23 3ND.
Tel: (047 984). (BB230)
WELLS, NORFOLK B&B., (Les Routiers
recommended). H. & G., Teaand Coffee facilities
in all rooms. Anne Taylor, The Cobblers (0328
710155). (BB111)
IF YOU RENT Holiday Accommodation in a
bird watching area then you should advertise in
BRITISH BIRDS; the leading ornithological
monthly in Britain.
With over 30,000 genuine bird enthusiasts
reading BRITISH BIRDS every month, where
else would you find such a unique and specialised
readership.
The continued expansion of the BRITISH
BIRDS holiday section shows that advertising
really works.
Fake advantage of our special reduced offer for
series advertisements and let BRITISH BIRDS
take care of your holiday bookings.
Phone Sandra on 0621 815085 for details.
(BB338)
LAKE DISTRICT
Small tasteful two-star Hotel superbly
situated in lovely and peaceful riverside
setting. Many commendations for
excellent standards throughout, delici-
ous food, and warm, friendly atmos-
phere. Riverside Hotel & Lodge,
Near Rothay Bi ’ ’ge, Ambleside,
Cumbria. Tel: (0966) 32395. ( BB3 18)
THE BALCARY HOTEL
Auchencairn, nr Castle Douglas
A A, RAC***. Ashley Courtenay. Family run
country house in magnificent setting on the
shores of the bay. Tel: 055 664 217. (BB316)
BED AND BREAKFAST. Mrs D. Crowdcn,
Rosevilla, Middleton, Saxmundham, Suffolk.
T el: Westleton 489 between 6-7 pm. ( BB50)
IN THE GROUNDS of a beautiful house
surrounded by woodlands and unspoiled
countryside. Ideal for birdwatchers. Send SAE
for brochure: Trelowarren Chateau Camping
and Caravan Park, Mawgan, Helston, Cornwall.
( BB133)
SOMEWHERE SPECIAL for your bird-
watching in the Dyfi Valley, Mid Wales. 17th
century manor house hotel in 9 acres of peaceful,
unspoilt and finely timbered valley, in secluded
location. Licensed bar and restaurant. Tradi-
tional and vegetarian/whole food fare. Brochure:
Eileen and David Brown. Plas Dolguog Hotel,
Machynlleth, Powys. Tel: 0654 2244. (BBI 69)
LUNDY ISLAND
Stay in the Castle Keep, the Old Light (1819)
or one of our other 19 cottages on Lundy.
Millcombe House Hotel is very comfortable.
Transport to the Island by helicopter on
Saturdays, or by the M.V. Polar Bear from
Bideford. One of Europe’s most important
seabird colonies, famous spring and autumn
migrations, and many rare visitors.
For bookings and information tel: 062 882
5920, or write to Mrs B. B. Glover. The
Landmark Trust, Shottesbrookc, Maiden-
head, Berkshire SL6 3SW. (BB310)
XI
GREYHOMES HOTEL
Torcross, S. Devon
Holiday Accommodation, S. Devon
SLAPTON SANDS, AA and RAC one star.
Small friendly licensed hotel magnificiently
situated in six acres of mature gardens over-
looking the panorama of Slapton Ley Nature
Reserve and Start Bay. Unspoilt coastline
famous for its variety of birds and wildlife.
Also four self-catering holiday bungalows in
grounds. SAE for brochure: Greyhomes
Hotel, Torcross, Nr. Kingsbridge, S. Devon.
Tel: Kingsbridge (0548) 580220. (BB30)
NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS National
Park. Coast and country. For the largest selection
of inspected self-catering cottages, farmhouses
etc, contact: Ingrid Flute, White Cottage,
Ravenscar, Scarborough Y013 ONE. Tel:
Scarborough (0723) 870703. (BB67)
ISLES OF SCILLY. Derek and Mary Scofield
welcome you to their comfortable family guest
house, situated on the shore with unrivalled
views. We offer a happy atmosphere, home
cooking and a select wine list. Ideal for spring and
autumn birdwatching. Send stamp for brochure
to Beachfield House, St. Mary’s. Book Now for
October. Tel: 0720 22463. (BB92)
ISLE OF ISLAY — Outstanding winter bird-
watching. 18,000 geese — Barnacle, White Front,
Grey-lag. Large numbers of wintering duck and
waders. Nine different raptors, choughs, etc.
Enjoy them from our farm cottages. Double
glazing, wood burning stoves. Sleeps 2/4 and 5/6
with facilities for disabled. G. & M. Jackson,
Coultorsay, Bruichladdich, Isle of Islay, Argyll,
Scotland PA49 7UN. Tel: (049685) 444.(BB323)
HOTEL LAWNS— Holt— North Norfolk-
Central for bird watchers, £29 two-day bargain
breaks from October to May. Excellent food.
Tel: 026 371 3390. (BB336)
NR MINSMERE, Kings Head, Southwold
723829. B&B, packed lunches, Adnams ales.
(BB19)
HEBRIDES. The Hotel, Isle of Coll, Argyll
PA78 6SZ. Tel: 087 93 334. AA* RAC. Open all
year, central heating. Over 100 species to be seen
including skuas, raptors, water rail, etc. May we
send you our brochure? (BBI94)
SILVERDALE. Comfortable fully equipped flat.
Sleeps 2-4. Leighton Moss 1 mile. Owner
maintained. Tel: 04482 2395/0468 61400.
(BB172)
NEAR MINSMERE, delightful converted barn.
Sleeps 6/7. Fully equipped and linen provided.
Turner, Vine Cottage, The Street, Middleton,
Saxmundham: Tel: Westleton 208 after 6pm.
(BB254)
MINSMERE. Accommodation at the Eight
Bells, Kelsale A12, B&B. Real Ale, good food.
Tel: Saxmundham 2975. (BB59)
PIED FLYCATCHERS, BUZZARDS and
B&B at Appletree Cottage, Mansel Lacy,
Hereford. Tel: 098 122 688. (BB312)
FIND PEACE and real comfort in exclusive
country guest house of hotel standard. Fine
cuisine, own eggs and produce, attractive dining
room, comfortable lounge, TV, central heating.
Bedrooms have h&c, electric blankets, tea
facilities. Wonderful birdwatching and flora
among forests, lochs and mountains, good
touring. DB&B from £12 daily. Keeper’s Cottage
Guest House, Carrbridge, Inverness-shire. Tel:
047 984 621. (BB313)
SEE PUFFINS, skuas, seals and a lot more.
Private boat takes you among otherwise inacces-
sible colonies. A nature-lover’s dream. Full board
in castle, or self-catering cottages. Send for
details: Balfour Castle, Shapinsay, Orkney. Tel:
085 671282. (BB315)
HEBRIDES. The Hotel, Isle of Coll, Argyll
PA78 6SZ. Tel: 087 93 334. AA* RAC. Open all
year, central heating. Over 100 species to be seen
including skuas, raptors, water rail etc. May we
send you our brochure? (BB317)
WEST DORSET. AA/RAC listed. Fully licensed,
small country guest house near Fleet and Radi-
pole Lake. All rooms colour TV, en suite
showers. Home cooking, centrally heated. Ashley
Courtenay recommended. Millmead, Portesham.
Tel: Abbotsbury (0305) 871 432. (BB319)
LAKE DISTRICT, between Kendal/Winder-
mere, 1 7th century manor house in own grounds.
All bedrooms colour TV, tea-making facilities
and h&c. Dinner, bed, breakfast £18 per person.
Aitken, High Hundhowe, Burneside, Kendal
LA8 9AB. Tel: 0539 22707. (BB320)
RINGWOOD — Little Moortown House Hotel,
small family run hotel on the edge of the New
Forest, and convenient to coastal areas. Full a la
carte restaurant, colour TV and tea-making
facilities in all bedrooms. Tel: Ringwood 3325.
(BB328)
NEAR SHERINGHAM. Secluded guest house
set in 2 acres wooded garden. All h&c, some
private bathrooms. Adjacent National Trust.
IV2 miles sea. From £8.50. Evening dinner avail-
able. Licensed. J. Lee, Woodlands, Holt Road,
Aylmerton. Tel: W'est Runton (026 375) 480.
(BB329)
BETWEEN CROMER AND SHERINGHAM.
3 bedroomed cottage. Pleasant coastal village.
A. Lee, “Woodlands”, Holt Road, Aylmerton
NR1 1 8QA. Tel: West Runton (026 375) 480.
(BB330)
PENNAL. Between Machynileth/Aberdovey.
Secluded cottage in peaceful valley. B&B & em.
Mrs Valentine, Cwm Dwr, Pennal, Machynlleth,
Powys. Tel: Pennal 610. (BB334)
DARTMOOR. Middlestoke Farm, Holne, Ash-
burton. Comfortable accommodation, good food,
warm welcome. B&B/em. Excellent birdwatch-
ing. Moors, farmland, woodland, rivers, sea.
SAE or tel: Poundsgate (036 43) 444. (BB335)
xii
BARN HOUSE, Bempton. Pleasantly situated,
comfortable farmhouse style B&B, Schofield, 5
Ncwsham Hill Lane, Bempton, Bridlington. Tel:
0262850523. (BB73)
SOUTH WOLD AA** HOTEL. Ensuite bed-
rooms, good food and wines. Ideal base for
Minsmere and surrounding area. Open all year.
Reduced terms for party bookings. Write or tel:
Pier Avenue Hotel, Southwold. Tel: 722632.
(BB32)
ORKNEY. Our Island Hotel, ideal for ornitholo-
gists, habitat, moorland, shore, cliffs,
lochs, attracts 70 breeding species. Excellent
migration, good walking. Brochure: Taversoe
Hotel, Rousay, Orkney. Tel: 085 682 325.
(BB191)
NATIONAL TRUST VILLAGE on Exmoor.
Self-catering holiday homes. Centrally heated,
near Porlock. Sea, moors, woods and marshes all
within walking distance. Stamp for brochure.
Sheila Wright, The Pack Horse, Allerford. Nr.
Minehead. Tel: (0643) 862475. (BB72)
ISLES OF SCILLY, Mincarlo Guest House, St
Mary’s. Superbly situated in own grounds
overlooking the harbour. Terms from £8.50
(plus VAT) lor B&B £12.75 (plus VAT) BB &
EM. Tel: 0720 22513. (BB140)
SELF-CATERING PROPERTIES. All
personally inspected. Brochure: Rural Vacations
Ltd, Pipworth Lane, Eckington, Sheffield S31
9EY. Tel: 0246 432202. ' (BB277)
SIBTON (nr Minsmere), Suffolk. The White
Horse Inn. A unique and charming 16th century
freehouse in 2 Vi acres, en suite accommodation,
bed and breakfast or weekly rates. Ample car
parking. CC location site. Bar snacks or
restaurant meals available. Tel: Peasenhall 337.
(BB68)
NORTH YORKSHIRE. Smugglers Rock
Country Guest House, Ravenscar Y013 0ER.
Homely atmosphere with panoramic views over
country and sea, AA listed. Ideal holiday for
country lovers. Mrs J. Greenfield. Tel: 0723
870044. ' (BB242)
COTSWOLD AREA. Fully equipped luxury-
holiday flat. Mrs Rowe, Coombe Mount,
Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire. Tel: 0453
843584. (BB182)
ISLE OF MULL, I orosay Castle. Craignure.
Golden eagles often seen in the area. 20 species in
the garden and over 200 recorded on the island.
Mull is a paradise. Gardens open year-round.
Castle: 1 May-30 Sept, I flat and gardener's
cottage to let. Each sleeps 4 plus camp beds.
Special monthly winter terms. For terms apply:
The Secretary. Tel: 068 02 421. ( BB 1 5)
ISLES OF SCILLY
TRELAWNEY GUEST HOUSE,
ST. MARY’S
Marjorie and David Townend welcome you
for Spring and Autumn Birdwatching. Home
cooking, good wine, central heating, wood-
burner in lounge, CB reports. Close to Quay
and Town Centre.
£9.00 for B&B (inc. VAT). Special weekly
rates for parties of 8-10. In October SAE or
phone 0720/22377.
(BB267)
FARM COTTAGES between Lindisfarne Re-
serve and The Fames. Comfortable and well
equipped. Sorry no pets. Brochure: Mr J.
McNish, Outchester Farm, Belford, North-
umberland. Tel: 066 83 336. (BB45)
ISLES OF SCILLY. Quiet, modern, comfort-
able guest house offering good food, excellent
views and full central heating. Central location
only 15 mins walk from Hugh Town. Perfect for
early and late season bird watchers. Stephen
Morris, Glandorc, Porthloo, St. Marys. Tel:
Scillonia 22535. (BB243)
ISLES OF SCILLY — Seaview Moorings, St.
Mary’s. Home cooking and personal service from
resident proprietors, Iony and Linda. Over-
looking harbour, close to quay and town —
licensed — in-room tea and coffee making facili-
ties— pets welcome. SAE for details or telephone
Tony or Linda Dingley on 0720 22327. ( BB35)
SOUTHWOLD. ‘Avondale’, North Parade,
overlooking sea. B&b/em. CH, dglazed, licensed.
Open all year. Ideal Minsmere, Havergate,
Walberswick. Good food, friendly atmosphere.
Tel: 0502 722538. (BBI79)
VISIT BEMPTON RESERVE. Stay for two
days BB/ED from £28 pp inc. VAT. At the
Flaneburg Hotel, Flamborough. The Hotel on
The Heritage Coast — Full Details phone (0262)
850284. (BB168)
COASTAL COTTAGES OF PEMBROKE-
SHIRE, Abercastle, Pembrokeshire National
Park. 75 warm and welk equipped owners’
cojtages, mostly within sight and sound of sea and
seals on Britain’s most beautiful and natural
coastline. Available all year from £60 per week.
Tel: 03483 742. (BB185)
NORTH LAKES — perfect for Caerlaverock and
South Solway Estuary. Six self-catering lodges
overlooking sheltered 30 acre lake. Woodland site
designated of’Special Scientific Interest’. Impor-
tant location for large flocks of water birds,
wintering site for duck, wide variety of wildfowl.
Brochure: Lakeshore Lodges, The Lough,
Thurston Field, Carlisle, Cumbria CA5 6HB.
Tel: 0228 76552. (BB38)
xiii
ORCHARD HOUSE, N. W. Norfolk nr. Titch-
well Marsh Reserve. Homely Bed and Breakfast
accommodation (E.M. available). Also self-
catering unit in orchard. Tel: I'hornham (048
526)259. (BB49)
NORTH NORFOLK COAST, fishermen’s
cottages. Open all year. Oak beams. Colour TV
and open fires Oct/March, Ray Hewitt, Brig
Square Holiday Cottages, Freeman Street, Wells
next the Sea. Tel: 0328 710440. (BB1 7)
LIZARD. Beautiful sea views, close to coves and
coastal path. Good food, comfort, reasonable
rates. Dogs welcome, T reglow' House, The Lizard
TR 1 2 7NP. Tel: 0326 290472. (BB181)
COUNTRY COTTAGES between Alnwick and
Belford. Sleep up to six, fully equipped,
self-catering, available throughout the year. Well
placed for Holy Island and Fame Islands,
Cheviot Hills and many places of natural beauty.
SAE to Mrs P. Foster, Coxons, Craster South
Farm, Alnwick, Northumberland. Tel: (066 576)
640. (BB27)
BARGAIN BREAKS
Small, recommended, coastal, licensed hotel
facing open countryside. National Trust
dill walks nearby. All bedrooms with baths/
shower/wc, central heating, colour TV and
tea maker, en suite. Four poster bed. Heated
indoor swimming pool. Dinner choice from
extensive menu. 2/5/7 night Bargain Breaks
from £20 including dinner, breakfast and
VAT. Brochure/reservations: GLENCOE
HOTEL, Gwithian Village (St Ives Bay)
TR27 5BX. 'Tel: 0736 752216.
(BB42)
CLEY. Attractive house in village, four bed-
rooms, large garden, garage, c.h. Available all
year. Details from Mrs E. Album, 47 Lyndale
Avenue, London NVV2. Tel: 01-431 2942. (BB58)
CLEY. 3 Quality cottages (sleep 4, 6 and 8).
Quiet. Comfortable. Excellent value. Brochure:
(0353) 740770. (BB171)
NEWPORT, PEMBS. Coastal cottage, adj. Nat.
Park, 5 mins. Sea and Estuary. Sleeps 8. 'Tel:
0222 752965. (BB70)
To Advertise
PHONE
0621 815085
BIRD WA TCH1NG HOLIDAYS
CALF OF MAN BIRD OBSERVATORY.
Hostel type accommodation from April to
October. Details from: The Secretary, The Manx
Museum, Douglas, Isle of Man. Tel: (0624)
75522. 1 (BB176)
SKOKHOLM AND SKOMER ISLANDS,
Pembrokeshire, Dyfed. Full board accom-
modation; birdwatching/photography courses.
Send s.a.e. to Dept BB. WWTNC, 7 Market
Street, Haverfordwest. (BB116)
BIRDWATCH CORNWALL. Sept 28th-
Oct 4th 1985. £105.00 inclusive. Five days of field
trips. Local RSPB leaders. Evening films and
talks. Special help for beginners. Exciting
seabirds, waders, ducks and birds of prey.
Discounts for parties. Two star hotel with
Scandinavian leisure centre. For brochure and
birdlist, phone Pauline Boss, 0736 795294,
Karenza Hotel, St Ives, Cornwall. (BB290)
BAIRD’S SANDPIPER! Will one turn up on
the Moor for the 3rd year running? Come and
watch the autumn wader passage in quiet and
peaceful surroundings by staying at the Observa-
tory. For full details of accommodation and 1984
observations S.A.E. to Tony Miller, Bodmin
Moor Nature Observatory, Ninestones Farm,
Liskeard, Cornwall PL14 6SD. Tel: 0579 20455.
(BB305)
£77: CORNWALL FOR BIRDS. 12-19 Oct
1985, Trevone Hotel, Newquay. Centrally
heated. Excellent food, talks, films and outings
with popular leaders Eric Grace and Jack Wright.
£77, inclusive price for the week inc DB&B. New
for 1985 Oct 5-12, Cornish Saints & Sinners:
visiting old churches and pubs; £89 DB&B and
pub lunches. Tel: Pamela Chegwin 063 73 3039.
(BB311)
WILDLIFE HO LI DA YS
KENYA. Personally escorted 2- week tented
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xiv
BORNEO ’86 A unique holiday oppor-
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17 days, plus five days in spectacular Ml.
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xv
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xvi
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1985
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XVI 1
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British Birds
Volume 78 Number 7 July 1985
What you think of ‘BB* Editors
Seventy-five years ago .
‘Bird Illustrator of the Year* and ‘The Richard Richardson
Award* Robert Gillmor, Keith Shackleton and Dr J. T. R. Sharrock
Expeditions Mark Beaman and Richard Porter
Ring-billed Gulls in Britain and Ireland K. E. Vinicombe
European news
PhotoSpot 13 Com Bunting P.J. Grant
Mystery photographs 103 Tawny Pipit P. J. Grant
Notes
330 Petrels eating contraceptives, polythene and plastic brads Bernard
35 1 VVoodpigeon alighting on water apparently to avoid ( 'a man ( ‘row P J. Oliver
35 1 Cuckoo drinking A . T. Moffett
353 Rock Pipit associating with man Miss J. S. Kendrick
353 Rasping calls of Dunnock in presence of Cuckoo Dr A. P. Radford
354 Persistent attack on potential nest predator b\ Blackbird David A. Christie
334 Blackcaps foliage-bathing in gardens David Glue
322
327
337
346
347
355
356
357
358
359
359
359
359
360
363
Letters
Origin of British Glaucous Gulls k7t Tucker
Jizz as an aid to identification R. .4. Hume ; T. W. Parmenter; P.J. Grant
Announcements
Payments to ‘BB’ by GIRO
‘A Guide to the Birds of Nepal’
David Hunt’s autobiography
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Sightings of White-tailed Eagles John A. Love. Roy H Dermis and Rosier A. Broad
Spanish rare birds committee Dr Eduardo de Juana and Andreu M. Paterson
Transparencies request Dr J. T. R. Sharrock
News and comment Robin Prytherch and Mike Everett
Recent reports Ian Dawson and Keith Allsopp
Line-drawings: 327 Common Gull with Ring-billed Gulls ( Laurel Tucker ): 363 Haw finch and
364 Wryneck (D. Numey)
Front cover: Reed Buntings ( Ian Lewington ): the original drawing of this
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British Birds
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British Birds
Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock
Personal Assistant Sheila D. Cobban Assistant Editors David Christie 8c P. J. Grant
Editorial Board Stanley Cramp, P. J. Grant, Dr M. A. Ogilvie 8c Dr J. T. R. Sharrock
Photographic Consultants Dr R. J. Chandler 8c Don Smith
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IDENTIFICATION P. J. Grant, S. C. Madge, Dr M. A. Ogilvie 8c Dr J. T. R. Sharrock
© British Birds Ltd 1985
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369
Appearance and
behaviour of
immature
Guillemots and
Razorbills at sea
\ P. Hope Jones and E. I. S. Rees
The young of both Guillemot Uria aalge and Razorbill Alca torda have an
intermediately precocial pattern of development (Sealy 1972). That is,
the juvenile is led out to sea by one adult, usually the male parent (Birkhead
1984), when its wing development is sufficient for fluttering down from the
cliff and diving, but when it has reached only one-third to one-half of the
adult weight (Birkhead 1977). Although the departure of the juveniles from
the colonies has been described by several authors (e.g. Greenwood 1964),
very little has been recorded about their life over the next few months. The
departure has often been referred to as fledging, though Burger (1980)
considered that the term fledging should be reserved for the stage when they
actually fly and become independent of the adult. The primaries, secondar-
ies and tail feathers are grown for the first time during the post-juvenile
moult of wing-coverts and body feathers in July to October: the first proper
flight is therefore achieved with the development of first-winter plumage.
This paper describes some aspects of the appearance and behaviour of these
immature auks seen at sea off western Britain in the period between early
July and mid September, when the adults undergo their complete moult to
winter plumage. Throughout this paper, the word ‘adult’ refers to indi-
viduals at least 12 months of age (i.e. in their first summer or older).
A series of cruises was made, mainly in the Irish Sea, during 1979-83 with
the main aim of studying the distribution and abundance of the auks during
the late summer, when the whole population is flightless. Noting appear-
ances and behaviour was supplementary to the primary objectives, but the
paucity of knowledge prompts us to publish data that are often more
anecdotal than systematic. Most of the data presented here were gathered
in 1983, but additional observations extending back to the early 1970s have
also been drawn upon.
Virtually all the observations were made from ships. The influence of the
observer’s relatively massive platform cannot, therefore, be ruled out; nor
was it possible to observe birds for more than a few minutes, even when the
ships were stationary. Reaction varied from near panic to apparent indif-
ference. Occasional birds were seen actively to approach the stationary or
slow-moving research vessels and to dive under them. Trawler-following by
370
[Brit. Birds 78: 370-377, August 1985]
Immature Guillemots and Razorbills at sea
371
Guillemots in the Irish Sea has been reported by Hillis (1973) and Watson
(1981). It seems that, particularly in areas where the birds are used to ships,
and when the observer is on a vessel not moving too fast or throwing up a
big bow wave, the behaviour is likely to be fairly normal. In the channels
into the Mersey, we have seen auks apparently unconcerned by the passing
of large ships. By contrast, in more remote localities off the west ofScotland,
they seem to react at longer ranges.
Distinguishing juveniles and first-winters from adults
I hroughout .July, there was normally no problem in distinguishing the
juvenile Guillemots at ranges up to 30()m and beyond (with 10x binocu-
lars). The main criteria were their small size, relative to the adults, which
they usually closely accompanied, and their high-pitched calls. The call is
so distinctive and penetrating that, when light and sea conditions make
birds on the water inconspicuous, the juveniles are often detected from their
calls before being spotted. Subsidiary distinguishing features stem from
their behaviour and head colour. Through August, juvenile Guillemots
continued to be distinguishable by the same four criteria, but by mid
August juvenile Razorbills were accompanying their apparent guardians
less closely or joining the parties of adults (first-summers and older) so that
they became less obvious in the time available for scrutiny from moving
ships. By mid September, the immatures ofboth species (then mainly in full
first-winter plumage) had grown to be almost as big as the adults. Both
birds of such couples were almost always in full winter plumage, so that,
although on behavioural grounds it was often suspected that couples seen
together were a first-winter and its guardian, they could not certainly be
ascribed as such. When identified by call, the September first-winter
Guillemots looked sleeker than the fuller-shaped adults, with no flank
streaks; they also looked distinctly whiter about the head, though by no
Table 1. Group size of Irish Sea Guillemots l 'na aalge. where the two age-classes for all
individuals were firmly established, July- August 1983
Groups larger than nine may be under-represented because of the need for rapid recording as
the ship moved past; there was little time for careful separation into age-classes, and many
larger groups were separated only by species: those in the table were 1 1 and 26 (each with one
juvenile) and 16 (with two juveniles).
No. of accom-
panying Number of juveniles
adults 1 2 3 4
1
377 (75%)
0
0
0
2
67 (13%)
24(55%)
0
0
3
32 ( 6%)
8(18%)
3
0
4
1 1 ( 2%)
4 ( 9%)
0
1
5
7 ( 1%)
3 ( 7%)
1
0
6
4 ( 1%)
1 ( 2%)
0
0
7
3
1 ( 2%)
0
0
8
3
0
0
0
9
0
2 ( 3%)
0
0
>9
2
1 ( 2%)
0
0
Total no.
of records
506
44
4
1
372
Immature Guillemots and Razorbills at sea
means all of them showed white on the nape. (Flank streaks on adult
Guillemots in the Irish Sea varied from distinctly dark to barely visible.)
Group size
During at least the first month after the time they would have left the
colonies, the juveniles of both species were usually found accompanied by
only one adult. Tables 1 and 2 show numbers ofjuveniles and adults where
the two age classes for all individuals were firmly established. September
records have been omitted owing to the difficulties of positive age diagnosis
in that month. The proportions were not different between July and
August, so data for the two months have been combined.
For 555 groups containing juvenile Guillemots, 68% comprised just one
juvenile and one adult, whereas, for 21 1 groups of Razorbills, the equiva-
lent proportion was higher, at 84%, though the difference between the
species was not significant. Often, when more than one adult was grouped
with a juvenile, it was obvious which of the adults was the real guardian,
from the relative proximity of the two adults to the juvenile. In areas where
there were large numbers of adults, the adult/juvenile pairs tended to swim
slightly apart from the rafts of adults.
Moult and head plumage
Nestling Guillemots have completely dark heads in the down plumage; this
is replaced by juvenile feathering which is dark over the crown and nape but
white on the chin and throat. They depart from the colonies in this juvenile
plumage. In the Irish Sea, during the summer of 1983, it became obvious
that the juvenile plumage was variable, and we classified the head plumage
into three categories (fig. 1). By September, all the identified immatures
were in first-winter plumage, and were very similar to the winter adults,
and presumably, in many cases, indistinguishable from them.
Fig. 1 . Categories of head plumage shown by juvenile and first-winter Guillemots Uria aa/ge:
left, dark; centre, intermediate; right, white
During the period from mid July to mid September, adult Guillemots are
progressing through their complete moult to winter plumage (Birkhead &
Tavlor 1977). Swennen (1977) showed, with captive birds, that this moult
becomes progressively later in the summer with the increasing age of the
birds, loss of primaries and secondaries starting in mid June for first-
summers and in late July for third-summers. In the Irish Sea, first signs of
wing moult were noted on 21st July on birds not with juveniles, but those
accompanying juveniles rarely seemed to flap their wings, and we have no
dates for commencement of wing moult in this group. Individuals with
Immature Guillemots and Razorbills at sea
373
traces of winter-like plumage in the head feathering can be seen at any time
of the summer; most of these may be sexually immature (first- to fourth-
summers), though one case is known of such a bird incubating an egg ( PH J
personal observation). The following categories of head plumage were
used: ( 1 ) full summer plumage, without any trace of white visible on a dark
head; (2) full winter plumage; and two intermediate categories: (3) s/w.
closer to summer than winter, and (4) w/s for the converse. Razorbills do
not seem to have been so well studied, but, for convenience, we classified
them according to the same criteria.
Table 2. Group size of Irish Sea Razorbills Atca torda, where the two age-classes for all
individuals were firmly established, July and August 1983
No groups over 8 included juveniles, but see caveat under table 1
No. ofaccom-
panying
adults
Number
1
of juveniles
2
3
i
177 (88%)
0
0
2
14 ( 7%)
8
0
3
3 ( 1%)
0
2
4
5 ( 2%)
0
0
5
0
0
0
6
1
0
0
7
0
0
0
8
1
0
0
>8
0
0
0
Total no. of records
201
8
2
Head-plumage patterns for juveniles/first-winters of these species are
shown, according to date, in table 3. Although suggesting that the dark
phase develops by post-juvenile moult through intermediate to white in
Guillemots, there remains the possibility that juveniles do not show
sequential changes, but remain in one category until they moult through to
first-winter plumage. Variability in the throat plumage of juvenile auks has
been recorded by Gaston & Nettleship (1981) for Briinnich’s Guillemot
Uria lomvia , whilst Hudson (1984) suggested the possibility of genetic
control of this factor in the case of the Razorbill. Hudson (1984) also
recorded that just over half of a sample of 51 juvenile Razorbills from
Skomer had white throats; this proportion is similar to our early August
sample from a part of St George’s Channel to which the Dvfed birds may go.
but an earlier sample from farther north included more than three-quarters
with dark faces.
For adult Guillemots, there is an indication that those accompanying
juveniles are in general slower in their moult than those not so occupied: by
late August, only 4% of the former were in full winter plumage, compared
with 40% of the latter. Various points need clarification, in particular the
extent to which the head colour of the juveniles — in different sub-popula-
tions— is part of a post-juvenile moult that is more or less advanced at the
time they go to sea.
A difference in upperpart coloration between juvenile Guillemots and
their guardians was noted in a few cases. In late July, the juvenile tended to
be the darker (presumably an adult’s upperparts would have faded since
Immature Guillemots and Razorbills at sea 375
Table 3. Head patterns of juvenile and first-winter Guillemots Una aalge and Razorbills
Alca torda, Irish Sea, in four periods in autumn, 1983
Modal values are underlined
18-28 July
2- 1 1 Aug.
24-26 Aug.
12-17 Sept.
GUILLEMOT
Number
109
126
16
16
% dark
23
12
0
0
% intermediate
73
73
31
0
% white
4
15
69
100
RAZORBILL
Number
36
44
2
1
% dark
81
52
(50)
0
% intermediate
19
48
(50)
0
% white
0
0
0
(100)
the moult to summer plumage), and this difference was reversed by mid
September, when the adults were well into their moult to winter plumage.
The difference was, however, often slight, and not safely noted except under
the best possible light conditions.
Call and behavioural traits
The calls of the juvenile Guillemots were usually disyllabic, with the accent
on the first syllable, and often repeated several times. There was consider-
able individual variation: ‘clee-oo’, ‘pree-pree’, ‘quee-roo’, ‘pee-arr'. and so
on, with occasional trisyllabic calls, noted as ‘wee-ree-oo’ and ‘ker-wee-oo’,
with the accent on the middle syllable. These calls have been heard until the
third week of September, but we have spent little time at sea in late
September. Strangely, no calls were heard which could unequivocally be
ascribed to juvenile Razorbills.
At sea, the juveniles stayed close to their accompanying adults. Guille-
mots often being within 1 m, but Razorbills — though still within a few
metres — tended not to be in quite such close company. Where Guillemots
of a presumed adult/juvenile couple were seen to surface some distance
apart, they would quickly move towards each other, usually with much
calling on the part of both birds. The juvenile call is audible to the human
ear over at least 300 m in typical conditions of ship- and sea-noise. In calm
conditions, the calls have been heard by one of us (EISR), in the bays of
southwestern I reland, at ranges over 1 km. The call is obviously vital for the
maintenance of contact between the juvenile and its guardian, particularly
when the pair may be separated at night or in rough weather, and when the
birds surface some distance apart after a dive.
A juvenile could often be recognised, even when seen only in silhouette,
by its attitude, swimming very close to the bird in front, with a hunched
appearance (fig. 2), which suggested a begging or submissive posture.
Feeding of a juvenile by an adult has been observed on several occasions
176-178. Head pattern of auks moulting from down to juvenile plumage: top. Guillemot Una
aa/ge ‘intermediate’; centre. Guillemot ‘white’; bottom. Razorbill Alca torda ‘dark’. Photographs
all taken at breeding colony Gwynedd. June 1984 (P. Hope Jones)
376
Immature Guillemots and Razorbills at sea
Fig. 2. Appearance of juvenile Guillemot Una aalge following its adult guardian
in the case of Guillemots, and twice in Razorbills. In all cases, the adult
passed small fish to the juvenile without any obvious behavioural prelimin-
aries, except contact calling if they were apart. It was not possible to
identify the fish species. In addition to the occasions when food was actually
seen being passed, there were frequently other occasions when the adults
were seen carrying a fish but it was not clear whether it was passed to the
young or was swallowed. On some occasions, the adults dived while
holding the fish and emerged without it. Active feeding of the juveniles was
observed in 1983 between late July and late August; we spent less time at
sea in September that year, but have previously observed supplemental
feeding on dates up to mid September in Liverpool Bay. The ending of the
period of dependence has been assumed to coincide with the end of the
flightless period, but this has vet to be confirmed. Indeed, during auk
movements in late September at Point Lynas, Anglesey, a proportion
seemed to fly past in twos, with a smaller bird accompanying a larger one.
No aggression was noticed between any individuals, but there was not
much social interaction of any kind except between the juveniles and their
guardians. The line-abreast type ofdisplay (Birkhead, in Cramps/ al. 1985)
is not restricted to the breeding season and the proximity of the colonies.
Throughout July and August, adults are quite often seen in these forma-
tions in fine weather. On two occasions in September, parties of seven and
14 Guillemots (the second group including four definite first-winters) were
seen to hold station for a minute or so in line abreast. Young Guillemots can
obviously be introduced to this display long before they attain adult
plumage. Patently, the normal behaviour of both species needs competent
description and analysis at this critical period of the year.
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to the masters and crews of the various ships, in particular the research vessel
Prince Madog, who facilitated our observations. We also thank Dr T. R. Birkhead for comments
on an early draft of this paper.
Summary
Juvenile and first-winter Guillemots Uria aalge in the Irish Sea were distinguishable from
adults (first-summers and older) often up to early September, mainly by their small size and
distinctive calls, though often by behaviour and head colour; juvenile and first-winter Razor-
bills Alca lorda were distinguishable mainly on size and behaviour. Most juveniles of both
species were accompanied by one adult, though small numbers were in mixed-age groups.
Further clarification is needed on the appearance of juveniles and the post-juvenile moult of
both species, and on the calls of juvenile Razorbills.
References
Birkhead. T. R. 1977. Adaptive significance of the nestling period in Guillemots. Ibis 1 i9:
544-549.
Immature Guillemots and Razorbills at sea 377
^ Distribution ol the bridled form of the Gommon Guillemot Una aalge in the North
Atlantic. /. Zool., Land. 202: 165-176.
& 1 aylor, A. M. 1977. Moult of the Guillemot Uria aalge. Ibis 1 19: 80-85.
Burger. J. 1980. 1 he transition to independence and postfledging parental care in seabirds.
In Burger, J., Oi.la, B. I., & Winn, H. E. (eds.) Behaviour oj Marine Animals, vol. 4, Marine
Birds, pp. 367-447. London.
Gramp, S., el at. 1985. The Birds oj the Western Palearctic. vol. 4. Oxford.
Gaston, A. J . , & Netti.eship, D. N. 1981. The Thick-hilled Murres oj Prince Leopold Island — a study
of the breeding ecology of a colonial , high arctic seabird. Monograph Series No. 6, Canadian
Wildlife Service, Ottawa.
Greenwood, J . 1964. The fledging of theGuillemot Uria aalge with notes on the Razorbill Alca
torda. Ibis 106: 469-481.
Hillis, P. 1973. Sea-birds scavenging at the trawler in the Irish Sea, 1971-1972. Irish Nat. /. 17:
416-418.
Hudson, P. 1984. Plumage variation of Razorbill chicks. Brit. Birds 77: 208-209.
Seai.y, S. G. 1973. Adaptive significance of post-hatching developmental patterns and growth
rates in the Alcidae. OmisScand. 4: 113-121.
Swennen, C. 1977. Laboratory research on seabirds. Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Texel.
Watson, P. S. 1981. Seabird observations from commercial trawlers in the Irish Sea. Brit.
Birds 74: 82-90.
P. Hope Jones & E. I. S. Rees, Marine Science Laboratories, University College of
North Wales, Menai Bridge, Gwynedd 1.159 5EH
!§>cUcntp-fiUe pears ago...
‘A few years ago the continued existence of the Kite (Milvus ictinus) as a British species seemed
doomed. The bird (except for a rare straggler at long intervals) was, and indeed still is,
confined to Wales, and in 1905 the total number surviving was believed to be only five. Those
who had up to that time done their best to keep the Kites alive were fain to admit that their
doom seem sealed, and some even suggested that eggs should be imported from the Continent
and placed in the nests of Buzzards! Had this been done, and had the experiment been
successful, it need hardly be pointed out that the Kite as an indigenous species would have
immediately been lost, and been replaced by an introduced bird. Fortunately, in 1905. Mr
E. G. B. Meade-Waldo took up the duty of protecting the Kites on behalf of the British
Ornithologists’ Club, and the result of five years of unremitting care, and the expenditure of
much money, has been that the British Kite, if not now safe, is at all events so far increased in
numbers that its extinction is unlikely . . . Thus in five years the number of Kites has been
raised from five to well over twenty.
It is painful to have to admit that this result has only been achieved by force. That is to say,
the nests have been watched night and day to prevent their being robbed by the collector of
rare British eggs or his agent. The extinction of any creature in any area is a deplorable loss to
science, vet manv of those who would not hesitate to jeopardise the existence of any rare British
breeding-bird by taking its eggs have the audacity to call themselves scientific, and it has
become necessary for those who take a more correct view to spend their time and money in
protecting ornithology from “ornithologists”!
The collecting of “British taken” eggs is a mania, and it can be called nothing else, which is
an undoubted and dangerous menace to the science of ornithology. H . F. Witherby’
(Brit. Birds A: 84-85: August 1910)
Mystery photographs
~t f\A Last month’s mystery bird was a tern, photographed by Dr
JL U1 R. J. Chandler in Cornwall in August 1983 (plate 162, repeated
here as 179). It looks a delicate, compact bird; the tail is grey, with white
outer feathers, and has only a slight notch, rather than a fork; the plumage
also is essentially greyish, with a dark ‘saddle’. All these features indicate
that it is a marsh tern Chlidonias , rather than a sea tern Sterna. Before making
a specific identification, however, it is a good idea to age the bird: its dark
saddle (slightly vermiculated paler), its dark carpal bar and, particularly,
its neat, pristine plumage all indicate that it is a juvenile.
Three marsh terns have to be considered: Whiskered C. hybridus , Black C.
mger and White-winged Black C. leucopterns. Whiskered Tern can quickly be
eliminated: it is larger and bulkier than the other two, with a proportionally
179. Juvenile Black Tern Chlidonias niger. Cornwall, August 1983 ( R.J. Chandler )
180. Juvenile White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterns moulting to first-winter plumage,
Dorset. September 1982 ( P . Vines)
378
[Brit. Birds 78: 378-380, August 1983]
Mystery photographs
379
181. Juvenile Black Tern Chlidonias niger, Norfolk, August 1979 ( R.J. Chandler )
182. J uvenile White-winged Black Tern Ch/idonias leucopterus moulting to first-winter plumage.
Dorset. September 1982 (P. Fines)
shorter and stubbier bill (although males have longer bills than females,
with no overlap between the two), broader wings, proportionally shorter
tail (with a deeper notch), and paler plumage more like a sea tern. Juvenile
VVhiskereds also have dark saddles, but these are moulted soon after
fledging, so that species is predominantly grey-backed by early autumn,
although some brown scapular feathers are often retained.
YVe have to choose, therefore, between Black Tern and White-winged
380
Mystery photographs
Black Tern; but which is it? On first glance, it appears to show a contrasting
dark saddle and a white rump, characters one normally associates with
White-winged Black, but, unfortunately, it is not possible to see one of the
key identification features: the presence or absence of a shoulder patch
(plates 181 and 182 show this feature well, along with the slightly whiter
underwing of White-winged Black). We must turn, therefore, to other
characters to clinch the identification. Its wings, although grey, are not
especially pale, and there is a strong dark carpal bar along the front of the
wing; the mantle is not as clear-cut or as contrasting as on most juvenile
White-winged Blacks; its rump, although white on the sides, is distinctly
grey down the middle; its bill is rather long and pointed; the black on the
head is solid and rather extensive, and, although marginal, the wings look
rather long and pointed. All these features indicate conclusively that our
mystery bird is a juvenile Black Tern.
It is, however, rather a contrasty individual, and it should be borne in
mind that juvenile Black Terns vary in plumage tone and that their
appearance also varies according to light conditions. Some may appear
rather whiter on the rump and have a more contrasting upperpart pattern
than those illustrated in the standard field guides. Conversely, some
juvenile White-winged Blacks do not look so strikingly dark-saddled as
many observers seem to expect. Later in the autumn in particular, the
mantle may fade slightly, and the appearance of the first grey winter
feathers will make the mantle look generally paler and less contrasting
when viewed at a distance (e.g. see plate 180, showing a late September
individual) . Finders of White-winged Black Terns should also bear in mind
the remote possibility of hybrid Black X White-winged Black Terns. Birds
showing mixed characters of the two species have been recorded in Avon in
1978 and 1981 {Brit. Birds 73: 223-225; 75: 579-580). The 1978 individual
showed a puzzling combination of plumage characters, with the dark
saddle, pale wings and white rump of a White-winged Black, but its
structure and shoulder patch indicated that at least one of its parents must
have been a Black Tern. Keith Vinicombe
183. Mystery photograph 105. Identify the species. Answer next month
Pallas’s Warblers and other
migrants in
Britain and
Ireland in
October 1982
I). H. Howey and M. Bell
During the period 1 Oth- 12th October 1982, the east coast of Britain
experienced an impressive influx of Siberian vagrants and
European passerines. The numbers were so huge that the apt term
‘megadrift’ was coined to describe it, for not since the 1950s and early 1960s
had such a large influx occurred along the eastern coastline. Migrants were
noted increasingly from Norfolk northwards, with peak numbers being
recorded in southeastern Scotland and northeastern England.
To understand this movement, it is necessary not only to examine the
weather conditions prevalent at that time, but also first to analyse the
weather patterns over Eurasia which resulted in many Siberian vagrants
moving into northwestern Europe and becoming part of the Fenno-Scandia
movement.
Pallas’s Warblers in Britain
The most remarkable happening of all was the unprecedented number of
Pallas’s Warblers Phylloscopus proregulus that occurred in Great Britain.
Prior to 1958, there were only three British records of this species, and
influxes of 18 in 1968, 29 in 1975 and 33 in 1981 were considered remarkable
at the time (Sharrock 1976; Rogers et al. 1983). The autumn 1982 total ofat
least 127 can only be described as phenomenal, compared with the grand
total of 181 prior to that year. The influx was unusual not only because of
the high numbers, but also as it was both farther north and earlier than
previous ones. For example, Shetland (including Fair Isle) had recorded
onlv eight individuals prior to 1982, but achieved a total of 29 in 1982.
Studies of Pallas’s Warbler records during 1958-72 (Sharrock & Sharrock
1976) and for 1974 and 1975 (Baker 1977) both showed that the main
influxes occurred after October 15th. This pattern was maintained in 1981,
but the 1982 influx was at least four days earlier than previously
experienced.
In 1982, the first British arrival was recorded on Fair Isle on 6th October.
The main arrival, however, was around 1 1th, and was centred particularly
[Bnl. Birds 78: 381-392, August 1985]
381
382
Pallas’s Warblers in October 1982
©0 00 @0
©*
©« ©5 ©* ©«
Fig. 1 . Regional distribution by two-day periods of Pallas’s Warblers Phvlloscopus proregulus in
Britain in October 1982
on Shetland, southeastern Scotland and northeastern England. A possible
second influx occurred around 15th October, centred this time on Norfolk,
although Pallas’s Warblers were still being recorded in Orkney and
Shetland at this time. Some also appeared in southwestern England around
15th October, possibly as a result of onward filtration. None, however, was
recorded in Ireland, where the only record was as long ago as 1968
(Sharrock & Preston 1969). The daily totals of Pallas’s Warblers recorded
in Britain (divided into 1 1 regions) are given in table 1 , with the data for the
period 6th-21st October shown pictorially in fig. 1.
Other West European records
The records of Pallas’s Warblers in Finland, the Estonian SSR, Sweden,
Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands during the autumn of 1982 are
summarised in table 2. Although the individual numbers were not as high
as those in Britain, the Continental total was substantial, with some record
national totals.
The main arrival in Finland appears to have been around 3rd-7th
October, following the first on 29th September. In Sweden, the recorded
dates are much more scattered, and no clear picture emerges. It is,
however, noteworthy that the first record (on 1st October) came from the
northernmost point of the Gulf of Bothnia. The Norwegian records ( 1 1 of
Pallas ’s Warblers in October 1982 383
which refer to the west coast) are much more in accord with the British
dates, as would be expected.
Reverse migration
Rab0l (1969) postulated that the West European occurrences of Pallas’s
Warbler and Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inomatus were due to
reverse migration in a westward direction by a part of the population.
Sharrock ( 1974) expanded this theory (with particular reference to Yellow-
browed Warblers), to provide possible explanations as to why the arrivals
in southern England were later than those in northern Scotland.
Although not universally accepted, the theory of reverse migration does
Table 1 . Regional distribution of Pallas’s Warblers Phvlloscopus proregulus in Great Britain
in October and November 1982
Figures in brackets refer to records which are considered to be re-sightings of individuals seen
on earlier dates rather than new arrivals
SCOTLAND ENGLAND WALES
Shetland East
Date & Orkney N S NE NW E Central Anglia SW SE
OCT
6
7
8
9
10
1 1
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
NOV
1
2
3
4
5
6
2
1
3 1
2 (1)
9 3 9
6 1 (3)
3 1
2 1
2
3 (2)
1
2
1
(2)
1
2
13
2
(1)
2
2
4
2
2
1
1
(1)
1
1
1
6
3
(2)
l I
7 3
(4)
(6)
(2) (1)
1
1
3 1
1
(2) 1
1
1
4 1
(1)
(1)
I
1
384
Pallas’s Warblers in October 1982
Fig. 2. Breeding range (dotted) and wintering range (vertical lines) of Pallas’s Warbler
Phvlloscopus proregulus together with the breeding ranges only of Dusky Warbler P. fuscatus (full
line) and Radde’s Warbler P. schwargi (broken line) (after King et al. 1975; Harrison 1982;
Mead 1983). The arrows indicate the two routes suggested as those used by Pallas’s Warblers
appearing in Western Europe in October 1982
appear to match many of the facts surrounding the influx of Pallas’s
Warblers in October 1982. From the breeding and wintering ranges of
Pallas’s Warbler (fig. 2), it can be seen that, if birds from the western end of
the breeding range were to migrate on the reciprocal of the direction of their
winter quarters, they would appear in Europe. Reverse migration theory
has been applied particularly to juveniles, and again this accords with the
Fig. 3. Synoptic chart for 00.00 hours on 21st September 1982. The dotted arrow indicates the
route suggested as that followed by Pallas’s Warblers Phvlloscopus proregulus
Pallas's Warblers in October 1982 385
fact that all the Pallas’s Warblers ringed in Britain in October 1982 for
which we have details were juveniles.
Baker (1977) queried Rabpl’s theory and concluded that the degree of
westward displacement of Siberian migrants is largely dependent on the
size and reach of anticyclones over the central USSR. He further concluded
that, in years in which such anticyclones remained too small to have any
effect, or moved quickly out of the area, there would be little if any westward
displacement. Certainly, in the years which he investigated, this was
probably true, with the anticyclones being centred at the southern edge of
the West Siberian Plain. An initial study of the synoptic charts for the
period prior to the 1982 influx of Pallas’s Warblers to Western Europe
showed no such anticyclone. Other conditions prevailing during the
periods 2 1 st-28th September and 2nd-5th October would, however, have
been ideal for drifting birds out of southern Siberia into Western Europe.
Table 2. Distribution of Pallas’s Warblers Phvlloscopus proregulus in Western Europe
in September and October 1982
Estonian
Finland
SSR
Sweden
Norway
Denmark
Netherlands
TOTALS PRIOR TO 1982
92
5
65
—
19
13
1982
SEPT
29
2
30
1
OCT
1
3
1
2
1
-
3
5
2
4
1
5
4
1
6
7
3
7
3
2
8
3
1
9
3
3
10
2
9
2
3
1 1
1
2
3
12
3
4
1
2
13
4
14
I
2
1
15
1
1
2
1
16
1
1
1
1
17
1
1
2
1
1
18
19
20
21
1
22
2
5
2
23
3
1
24
4
25
2
26
27
1
1
1982 TOTAL
43
3
48
13
16
2
386
Pallas’s Warblers in October 1982
Fig. 4. Synoptic chart for 00.00 hours on 28th September 1982. The dotted arrow indicates the
route suggested as that used by Pallas’s Warblers Phylloscopus proregulus
Weather conditions in the USSR in late September and early October
1982
In normal years, an area of high pressure establishes itself over the USSR
by November. The year 1982 was exceptional, in that a high-pressure area
was already established by mid September (with a strong anticyclone
extending from north of the Black Sea to northwest Mongolia), although
this was farther south than normal and was disturbed by cyclonic activity.
On 19th and 20th September, a shallow depression (with its associated
fronts bringing fog, rain and hail) moved eastwards from the Caspian Sea
towards Lake Baikal and slowly filled. By 21st, the anticyclone had begun
to re-establish itself, but there was now a corridor of strong winds of 15 m/s
(30 knots) flowing eastwards out of Mongolia towards the Caspian Sea (fig.
3). This anticyclonic airflow, although weakening, remained until 28th-
29th September.
The westerly movement of several species in association with the easterly
airflow on the southern flank of such anticyclones has been quoted by both
Baker (1977) and Elkins (1983). We contend that some Pallas’s Warblers
actively moved with this easterly flow (although it was farther south than
normal), from which they were unwilling to depart. Such birds would have
been diverted northwestwards as the airflow itself was diverted in that
direction by a secondary mean low (and its frontal system) which stretched
from the Caspian Sea to Moscow on 27th-28th September (fig. 4).
On 29th-30th September, another depression formed over the West
Siberian Plain and moved eastwards to Lake Baikal. A further depression
formed to the north of the Caspian Sea and moved north and east,
deepening as it did so. By 5th October, a depression (including its
Pallas ’s Warblers in October 1982
387
Fig. 5. Synoptic chart for 00.00 hours on 3rd October 1982. The dotted arrow indicates the
route suggested as that used by Pallas’s Warblers Phylloscopus proregulns
secondary mean low) extended from Lake Baikal to the Urals. The
situation at 00.00 hours on 3rd October is shown in fig. 5, when easterly
winds to the north of the frontal system reached 10 m/s (20 knots).
Conditions generally during the period 2nd-5th October appear to have
been ideal for drifting birds out of southern Siberia into Western Europe,
although they could clearly not have been instrumental in the arrival of
birds in Sweden as early as 29th September.
Calculations we have performed based upon the formulae for migratory'
range, developed by Pennycuick (1969), showed that the weather condi-
tions prevailing over the Western USSR around 3rd October could indeed
have been responsible for the major influx of Pallas’s Warblers in Britain
around 11th October. Our calculations also showed that the weather
conditions prevailing during the period 2 1 st-29th September could equally
have been responsible for the earlier influx of Pallas’s Warblers in Western
Europe from 29th September and in Britain on 6th October.
On 6th October, a high-pressure area over northern Scandinavia was
established and began to extend its influence to cover virtually the whole of
Scandinavia and the Baltic by 1 1th, resulting in still, calm weather. Mean-
while, a depression which had moved into northern Germany from the
Atlantic on 6th, began to move slowly back across Denmark and became
virtually static over the North Sea on 1 0th- 1 1th (fig. 6). It was this low-
pressure system, with its light east to northeast winds, accompanied by
extremely poor visibility and showers, that resulted in the ‘megadrift’. The
very light south to southwest winds over Scandinavia were ideal conditions
for the southerly movement of small passerines, and encouraged migration
to begin. An occluded front across the Skagerrak, however, had resulted in
388
Pallas’s Warblers in October 1982
fog banks there, off the Dutch coast and over most of the North Sea, causing
the migrant flocks to be swept southwest and west, off their usual south to
southeast flight paths. The recoveries during this period of a Danish-ringed
Blackbird Turdus merula and Norwegian and Finnish Robins Erithacus
rubecula on the Isle of May, and of a Dutch Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla at
Rattray Head (Grampian) help to indicate the point of origin of many of the
birds that arrived in Britain.
If birders in Britain had known in early October that Pallas’s Warblers
had already started to arrive around the Baltic, it would have come as less of
a surprise that so many should be associated with such an influx of Fenno-
Scandian migrants.
The influx into Britain
The weather conditions described above would have permitted Pallas’s
Warblers to reach Western Europe along two routes and by two differing
dates. Those departing earlier by the southern route would account for the
arrivals at the end of September and the first few days of October. The main
body of the influx would have arrived in the Baltic countries slightly later,
having set off later on the northern route. Further movement across north-
western Europe would have depended on the same synoptic situations
which controlled the passage of European migrants.
That the right weather conditions did occur is witnessed not only by the
synoptic chart for 1 1th October (fig. 6), but also by the massive influx of
birds into Britain on that date. Quite apart from Pallas’s Warblers,
phenomenal numbers of Fenno-Scandian migrants arrived on the British
east coast, particularly in Scotland and northeast England. Table 3 shows
the most numerous of the species involved.
Following the main arrival on 11th October, Pallas’s Warblers continued
to be recorded in Britain until 6th November, but it is difficult to be sure
which of those records referred to the new arrivals and which to onward
filtration. There is an apparent weekend bias to the records after the main
influx (on a Monday), which may well also account for the dearth of records
Table 3. Numbers and distribution of six most numerous Fenno-Scandian
migrants involved in influx into Britain on 1 1th October 1982
Species Peak numbers at key localities
Robin
Erithacus rubecula
Fieldfare
Turdus pilaris
Redwing
Turdus iliacus
Blackcap
Sylvia atricapilla
Goldcrest
Regulus regulus
B rambling
Fringilla montifringilla
4,000 Isle of May (Fife); 250 Holy Island (Northumberland)
4.000 Isle of May; 500 Fair Isle (Shetland); 350 Holy Island
2,500 Holy Island; 1,250 Fair Isle; 800 Isle of May
600 Isle of May; 150 Fair Isle; 150 Holy Island
15.000 Isle of May; 2,000 Fair Isle; 1,500 St Abbs Head (Borders);
1.000 Montrose (Tayside); 1,000 Hauxley (Northumberland); 550
Holy Island
500 Fair Isle; 400 Isle of May
Pallas’s Warblers in October 1982
389
ol other Siberian species along eastern England and Scotland from Spurn to
Fair Isle, an area with no fully manned observatories. This in turn may
obscure the genuine arrival dates of a number of the Pallas’s Warblers.
Although there are only limited published data on the weights of Pallas’s
Warblers, details of the birds ringed in October 1982 do provide some clues.
Williamson (1962) gave the range as 4.5-7.5g; the minimum weight coin-
cides with the two lightest (live) birds weighed in Britain in October 1982.
One which weighed 4.9g when first caught had increased to 5.8g when
retrapped 40 hours later. Another which weighed 4.6g (on 6th) was found
dead weighing 4.3g the following day, apparently having been unable to
increase its body weight fast enough to survive.
So far as Orkney and Shetland are concerned, all except one of those
trapped after the main influx were light enough to suggest that they had
only recently completed a migratory flight.
The apparent second influx, in Norfolk on 1 5th/ 16th, is more difficult to
explain. We know the weight of only one individual: at 6.0g, it is very
unlikely that it had recently completed a major migratory flight. From this
it cannot be concluded, however, that all the Norfolk records around 15th
October resulted from onward filtration within Britain. One possibility is
that the later, more southerly arrivals were part of the main movement, but
came from a more southerly part of the breeding range, and would have
390
Pallas ’s Warblers in October 1982
started later and had farther to travel. An alternative is that the onward
movement could have been from the Netherlands or France, after some
re-orientation (Sharrock 1974).
It would be easy to dismiss all the later records from southeast and
southwest England as being due to onward filtration from farther north in
Britain. This is probably true in most cases, but is unlikely to be true of one
caught in Kent on 25th October weighing only 4.6g. The second alternative
given above could well be a more accurate interpretation in this case.
Other Siberian species
Apart from Pallas’s Warblers, several other Siberian vagrants arrived in
Britain and Ireland in October 1982 (Rogers et al. 1983). Both Radde’s
Warbler Phylloscopus schwarzi and Dusky Warbler P. fuscatus exceeded their
previous annual totals, with 14 and seven respectively; the Radde’s
Warblers included the first for Ireland, at Hook Head, Co. Wexford
(Mullarney 1984). Nine of the Radde’s Warblers and four of the Dusky
Warblers were in the period 8th- 12th October. This coincidence with the
influx of Pallas’s Warblers is not unexpected in view of the breeding ranges
of the three species (fig. 2).
Two Black-throated Thrushes Turdus ruficollis and three Olive-backed
Pipits Anthus hodgsoni also arrived in October 1982, and other eastern
vagrants in Britain and Ireland from the end of August onwards were
Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta ( 1 ), Little Whimbrel Numenius minutus ( 1 ),
Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola (1), Stonechats Saxicola torquata of one of
the eastern races maura/ stejnegeri (6), Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka (2),
Lanceolated Warbler Locustella lanceolata (3), Booted Warbler Hippolais
caligata ( 1 ) and Isabelline Shrike Lanius isabellinus ( 1 ). There was a similar —
though less varied — collection of vagrants in other West European
countries, the star bird, perhaps, being a Yellow-browed Bunting Emberiza
chrysophrys in the Netherlands ( Dutch Birding 6: 50).
It is perhaps — initially at least — surprising that no Arctic Warblers
Phylloscopus borealis or Greenish Warblers P. trochiloides were recorded in
Britain and Ireland during the influx, and that relatively few Yellow-
browed Warblers occurred. Arctic and Greenish Warblers, however, are
comparatively early autumn migrants from their breeding areas and, thus,
would have departed before the weather conditions which produced the
influx of Pallas’s Warblers. Yellow-browed Warblers, having a predomi-
nantly more northerly distribution, would have been generally outside the
area of the synoptic situations which so affected Pallas’s Warblers.
Acknowledgments
VVe gratefully acknowledge the help given by the numerous people who provided data which
enabled this paper to be written, especially A. S. Dorward of the Newcastle Weather Centre
and Keith Allsopp, for providing synoptic charts; D. G. Bell, G. Catley, D. A. Dorling, P M.
Ellis, M. S. Hodgson, N. Riddiford and M. J. Rogers, for providing data on records; Dr Lasse
Braae, Karno Mikkola, Kees Scharringa, Ian Ove Gjershang, and Lars Svensson & Per
Alstrom, who provided details for Denmark, Finland, Norway, the Netherlands and Sweden;
Tom Ennis and Jim Eitzharris, who provided data for Ireland; and Dr J. D. Parrack and P.
James for constructive comments on the original manuscript.
Pallas’s Warblers in October 1982
391
Summary
During October 1982, an unprecedented influx of Pallas’s Warblers Phylloscopus proregulus
occurred in Britain and other Western European countries. The main influx in Britain
occurred on 11th October, although some arrived as early as 6th October in Britain and 29th
September in Finland. Study of the synoptic charts suggests that the influx had two com-
mencement dates and occurred along two different routes: (a) a southerly route along the
southern edge of an anticyclone, which produced the early arrivals; and (b) a northerly route
to the north of a depression, which resulted in the major influx. This major influx involved the
onward movement of Pallas’s Warblers across northern Europe, accompanying a major influx
of Fenno-Scandian migrants into Britain. The occurrence, and absence, of other Siberian
species in this influx is discussed.
References
Baker, K. 1977. Westward vagrancy of Siberian passerines in autumn 1975. Bird Study 24:
233-242.
Elkins, N. 1983. Weather and Bird Behaviour. Waterhouses.
Harrison, C. 1982. An Atlas of the Birds of the Western Palaearctic. London.
King, B., Woodcock, M., & Dickinson, E. C. 1975. .4 Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia.
London.
Mead, C. 1983. Bird Migration. Feltham.
Mullarney, K. 1984. Radde’s Warbler — a species new to Ireland. Irish Birds 2: 526-531 .
Pennycuick, C. J. 1969. Mechanics ofbird migration. Ibis 1 1: 525-556.
Rab0l, J. 1969. Reversed migration as the cause of westward vagrancy by four Phylloscopus
warblers. Brit. Birds 62: 89-92.
Rogers, M. J., & the Rarities Committee. 1983. Report on rare birds in Great Britain in
1982 Brit. Birds 76: 476-529.
Sharrock, J. T. R. 1974. Scarce Migrant Birds in Britain and Ireland. Berkhamsted.
& Sharrock. E. M. 1976. Rare Birds in Britain and Ireland. Berkhamsted.
& Preston. K. 1969. Pallas’s Warbler on Cape Clear Island: a bird new to Ireland. Irish
Nat.J. 16: 173-174.
Williamson, K. 1962. Identification for Ringers: the genus Phylloscopus. BTO Identification Guide
No. 2. Tring.
[The inclusion of colour plates 184-186 has been subsidised by Zeiss West Germany ]
392
Pallas’s Warblers in October 1982
186. First-winter Pallas’s Warbler Phylloscopus proregulus , Finland, October 1982 ( Antero Topp)
185. First-winter Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inomatus , Finland, October 1982 ( Antero Topp)
D. H. Howey, No. 1 Railway Cottages , Hardham , Pulborough , West Sussex RH20 1 LB
M. Bell , 11 A Ashjield Grove, Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear NE26 IRT
PhotoSpot
14. Ross’s Gull
I his portrait of a flying adult summer Ross’s Gull Rhodostethia rosea (plate
187) is a tribute to David Hunt’s photographic skills. The species’ beauty
and elegance are superbly captured, and it is easy to see why it is perhaps
the most sought-after of all Arctic birds. David took this photograph in
Iceland in June 1980. Two inner primaries are missing, so the timing of the
start of this species’ complete moult to winter plumage is indicated, a useful
technical point which is a bonus to its aesthetic appeal. P. J . Grant
187. Adult summer Ross’s Gull Rhodostethia rosea. Iceland. June 1980 ( David Hunt)
[The inclusion of colour plate 187 has been subsidised by Zeiss West Germany ]
Obituary
David Bassil Hunt (1934-1985)
David Hunt’s tragic death on 23rd February this year robbed British
birdwatching of one of its best-known and most colourful personalities.
Living in Scilly, now visited annually by thousands ofrare-bird enthusiasts,
he was probably known personally by more birdwatchers than anyone else.
393
[ Bril. Birds 78: 393-396, August 1983]
394
David Hunt ( 1934-1985)
188. David Hunt (1934-1985) (supplied by Marianne Hunt, photographer unknown)
For many, news of David’s death left that feeling of stunned disbelief and
irreplaceable loss reserved for a great friend. The circumstances of the
tragedy were so dramatic that they attracted newspaper headlines across
the world. Leading a Cygnus Wildlife tour in Northern India, he left the
group and its armed warden in the Corbett National Park to investigate the
cause of the sound of some mobbing birds. He disappeared behind a
rise in the ground only 150m away. There, he was attacked and killed by a
female tiger which had three cubs nearby. An obsessive enthusiasm and
total involvement in whatever he did was a notable and attractive part of
David’s personality, evident even to the last.
After a cremation ceremony on 25th February in New Delhi, his ashes
were brought home to be scattered by his family on the waters ofTTresco.
Our deepest sympathy goes to his wife, Marianne, and his sons, Nicholas
and Martin.
Born on 8th May 1934, David’s early interest in wildlife during his
childhood in south Devon was encouraged by his father (O. D. Hunt,
himself a naturalist and professional marine biologist). Most of David’s
teenage years were spent at boarding school — Gresham’s, at Holt in north
Norfolk — and he often told of his meetings with the ornithological big
names of the area at that time, who were clearly the major influence in
395
David Hunt (1934-1985)
sharpening his knowledge and love of birds. At Gresham’s, he also acquired
an interest in jazz, which, after periods of National Service and at the
Central School of Arts and Crafts in London, developed into a successful
career, playing trombone with bands in Germany and London during eight
years up to 1962. At the end of this period, he also worked at various other
jobs, including assistant gardener on the roof garden of Derry & Toms in
London. That experience helped him to succeed when he applied for the
position of gardener at the Island Hotel on Tresco.
1 he move to T resco, in 1964, with his wife Marianne (whom he had met
in his jazz days in Germany) and his then young sons, was a complete
change, and the start of that part of his life for which he was best known to
birdwatchers. With mediocre accommodation, and only £10 a week from
his gardening, life was hard for several years. He started selling his bird
paintings, and Marianne her shellcraft items, to augment the meagre
family income. Later, with local boatmen, he started weekly ‘seabird
special’ trips for the holiday visitors, and the modest success of these sowed
the seeds ofa plan to run wildlife holidays in St illy. Mainly with this project
in mind, he left the Island Hotel on Tresco and moved to the main island of
St Mary’s in 1969. There, he increased the frequency of the ‘seabird
specials’ and generally tried to establish himself as the birdwatching ‘Man
on the Spot’, as he liked to be known. The wildlife holidays eventually took
off in 1971, and continued with steady success. All this was backed by
various entrepreneurial bird ventures, including some television work,
writing, bird slide-shows for visitors, lecture tours, and leading various bird
tours abroad. At other times and in the tourist ofT-season, he used his
trombone-playing skills in The Mermaid, and took on various temporary
work, such as coastguard and flower-picker. He was appointed RSPB local
representative in 1968, became the Isles of Scilly Regional Representative
for the BIO, and co-edited the Isles of Scilly Bird Report from 1973 onwards.
He was a regular contributor of photographs and other items to the pages of
British Birds , the last — a self-portrait photograph — nostalgically appearing
in print in this year’s March issue, only days after his death (plate 61 , page
159). Bill Oddie’s profile of him appeared in the ‘Personalities' feature in
1983 {Brit. Birds 76: 401-402).
With apparently premonitive timing, as it seems in retrospect, David
finished writing his autobiography, Confessions of a Scilly Birdman , only last
year. The book, to be published later this year by Groom Helm, gives the
detailed background to the brief summary' of his life related in the previous
two paragraphs, and reveals an astonishing degree of ups-and-downs of
life-experience which would have overwhelmed any ordinary person.
Most birdwatchers knew David from the annual ‘Scilly season’ which
took ofl'in the mid 1970s. At first, he preferred to shun this invasion, taking
holidays abroad at peak time, but latterly, and especially since the opening
of The Porthcressa restaurant and cellar-bar in 1981, managed by
Marianne, he took the leading organisational hand in birdwatching activi-
ties. The Porthcressa quickly became established as the centre for evening
get-togethers, and he was the instigator of entertainments such as the
annual ‘Birders’ Ball’ (come dressed as your favourite bird) and ‘Birdbrain
396
David Hunt ( 1934-1985)
of Scilly ’ identification quiz, as well as the main organiser of a varied
programme of slide talks and discussion evenings, all much appreciated by
the 1,500 birdwatchers who now visit Scilly each'autumn. The Porthcressa
was also the main centre for bird information, from David’s chalked ‘latest
news’ items on the board outside, to his establishment last year of its CB
radio home-base.
In these latter years, David had achieved his ambition of a financially
viable career built around his lifelong passion for wildlife; he also owed
much to Marianne’s loyalty and strength ‘in some pretty bleak times’, as he
touchingly acknowledges in his book, of which the publishers have kindly
allowed me to see an advance copy. The book was a revelation to me, as I
am sure it will be to many others who thought they knew David well. Most
of us knew things had been tough in his early days in Scilly, but not that
tough!
Many envied David’s lifestyle as they saw it each October: established,
successful and apparently carefree, he was ever-enthusiastic over any new
idea or rare bird. Yet he always had time for a friendly word with old friends
and newcomers to Scilly alike. Not many, however, will realise how much
he deserved that position, earned through tenacity and hard work over
many years. He was too extrovert for some (over-compensation for his
childhood introversion and fostered by his ‘show-biz’ years, perhaps), and
he was verbally very short with any who, by their misdemeanours,
threatened the good birder-islander relations that he had helped so much to
establish.
As a birdwatcher, David’s list of rarity-finds was second to none. In fact,
he found so much in the early years in Scilly that the Rarities Committee
seemed to disbelieve some of his claims and rejected them (not an uncom-
mon difficulty for hard-working pioneers in new areas). His response to
these setbacks was not to take his ball home, however, but to get others to
corroborate his findings, and in this way he soon established his credibility
and acquired a high reputation for rare-bird identification. He recently
re-submitted (and got accepted) some of those old rejections, and, to his
even greater credit, withdrew two past acceptances where he realised he
had made a mistake. While he was expert on birds and excited by rarities
(his book is full of mouthwatering accounts), he was highly knowledgeable
about all forms of wildlife (especially the flora and fauna of Scilly) and an
accomplished photographer.
Plans are already under way for the ‘David Hunt Memorial Hide’ to be
erected in 1986 by the Great Pool on his beloved and beautiful Tresco. The
‘David Hunt Memorial Fund’ has also been established: contributions may
be sent to Martin Goodey, Treasurer DHMF, ‘Hilbre’, Telegraph, St
Mary’s, Isle of Scilly TR21 ONS.
Fortunately, David’s book records in full his life, something impossible to
achieve in the space available here. What the book does not say is how
greatly he will be missed, especially by all of us who knew him from our
visits to Scilly. Without his presence, those isles will never be quite the same
again. P.J. Grant
Notes
Pink-footed Geese feeding on school playing-fields
During the exceptionally severe winter of 1981/82, un-
precedented numbers of Pink-footed Geese Anser brachy-
rhynchus were present on the southwest Lancashire and
north Merseyside feeding grounds, notably in January
1982, when well over 30,000 were found. The frozen
ground and partial snow cover made food harder to
obtain, and the large flocks broke into smaller groups and
dispersed over a wide area. Not only did they turn to
unusual food sources, but they also visited unlikely
feeding locations, often close to human activity. A striking example was the
use of school playing-fields at Southport and Crosby, on the fringe of the
normal feeding area. C. R. Tubbs (1981, Wildfowl World 85: 14-15) drew
attention to the recent use of playing-fields by dark-bellied Brent Geese
Branta bernicla bemicla around Portsmouth, Hampshire, but the habit
appears not to have been noted previously for Pinkfeet.
Derek Forshaw
46 Bakers Lane , Chnrchtown. Southport. Merseyside PR99R.X
Dr M. A. Ogilvie has commented that he has not previously heard of this behaviour by
Pink-footed Geese, although he has seen Greylag Geese A. anser on playing-fields. Eds
Tertial patterns of Wigeon and American Wigeon According to my
experience of American Wigeon Anas americana (several hundred on the east
coast of the USA in August/September 1980 and late August to mid
October 1981, plus skins in the collections at the Museum of Comparative
Zoology, Harvard, and the Naturhistoriska Riksmuseet, Stockholm) and
Wigeon A. penelope , the differences in tertial pattern between females and
immature males of the two species described by D. I. M. Wallace (Brit.
Birds 73: 218-219) are not completely reliable. Wallace claimed that: ‘On
Wigeon, the centres are no darker than a full brown and the indistinct,
narrow margins (only about 2mm wide) are buff to off-white; on American
Wigeon, the centres are almost black and the distinct, less narrow' margins
(about 4mm wide) are almost pure white.’ On these points I agree with
Wallace only to some extent. I think that there is merely a tendency for
American Wigeon to have more contrastingly patterned tertials, but the
overlap between the two types described above is too great to use the tertial
pattern as a good distinguishing character. The blackness of the centres is
individually variable within both species (males tend to have darker-
centred tertials than do females), and some Wigeons look darker than do
some American Wigeons; the margins of the two species' tertials very often
look equally distinct to me. The width of the margins varies considerably
within both species: I have measured a few' specimens of both species, and
among them there were a first-year male American Wigeon in September
with margins only 1 mm wide (measured where it was widest on the
innermost tertial), an adult female American Wigeon in September with
397
398
Notes
margins only 2 mm wide, and two adult female Wigeons (in August and
October respectively) with margins 3 mm wide. Nor is the colour of the
margins consistent within each species, and 'it is frequently buff on
American Wigeons (particularly on juveniles). Another complication is
that adult male Wigeons in eclipse plumage have tertials with black outer
vanes (inner vanes slightly paler) and usually distinct, white margins.
Per Alstrom
Marholmsmgen 105 , S-436 00 Askim, Sweden
Dr M. A. Ogilvie has commented as follows: ‘Since D. I. M. Wallace published his note, both
he and I have had the opportunity of examining more American Wigeons, including some in
North America, which I visited in spring 1982. We have both found more birds separable on
the characteristics given. Following valuable discussions with Aarno Salminen, however, who
has recently published a guide to ageing and sexing wildfowl (alas, as yet available only in
Finnish), it is obvious that the picture is far more complicated than it first appeared. Salminen
has shown that both species moult their tertials twice each year, and that the tertials of the
different age- and sex-classes (of which there are six to eight in each species) can differ in wavs
not yet fully worked out. Thus, the conclusion seems to be that the distinction noted by
DIMW. and confirmed by me from live birds and skins at Slimbridge, is valid mainly for adult
females in spring, but much less so for immatures or adults in autumn and winter, when there
is a considerable degree of overlap, as recorded by Per Alstrom.
‘It is clear that, while DIMW has provided a useful pointer, there is still plenty more to be
learnt about separating female and immature American Wigeon from Wigeon. As a further
encouragement, though, DIMW suggests that observers pay careful attention to the narrow
black band that many American Wigeon have running up the sides of the base of the upper
mandible (see BWP. vol. 1. p.483). It will be easy to see.’ Eds
Identification pitfalls of a juvenile Cinnamon Teal In their article on
distinguishing Blue-winged Anas discors and Cinnamon Teals A. cyanoptera
{Brit. Birds 70: 290-294), Dr M. A. Ogilvie and D. I. M. Wallace described
the field characters of these two species. We believe, however, after close
study of a juvenile Cinnamon Teal at Amwell Gravel-pit, Hertfordshire,
that identification of this plumage can sometimes be far from straight-
forward.
The bird was found on 10th August accompanying an eclipse male
Cinnamon Teal. Our first impression was that it was another Cinnamon
Teal, and close observation over the next few days convinced us that this
was the correct identification. Some observers, however, identified it as a
Blue-winged Teal.
The following description is from notes taken during 1 1th- 15th August:
size and shape Just larger than Teal A.
crecca. No difference in bulk from accompany-
ing male Cinnamon. Bill longer than Teal,
appearing same length as male Cinnamon,
but with side flaps less apparent.
head Nape and crown to forehead blackish,
streaked paler brown. Thin dark eye-stripe.
Lores off-white and unstreaked, showing as
prominent pale spot at base of bill. Obvious
off-white eye-ring. Side of face including
supercilium light buff, rather ‘cold’ in most
lights, thinly streaked with darker brown.
Chin and throat pale and unstreaked.
upperparts Mantle feathers and scapulars
all centred dark brown and edged pale buff.
Rump slightly darker with thinner edgings.
Tail feathers brown, edged whitish. Bright
blue forewing. Speculum blackish, lacking
any green gloss and bordered in front by
whitish edgings of greater coverts.
underparts Upper breast pale buff, with
gorget of brown streaks and spots. Fore-
flanks slightly warmer, with mid-brown
feathers and broad pale buff edges; feathers
of rear flanks larger but colour similar.
bare parts Iris brown. Legs dull grey-
ochre. Bill blackish.
Notes
399
By consulting Ogilvie & Wallace, the plumage indicated Blue-winged
Teal, particularly the contrasting head pattern, the gorget and the general
colour tone. On bill-shape (the single most important distinguishing
feature according to Ogilvie & Wallace), however, the bird was clearly a
Cinnamon Teal. Cinnamon Teals have longer bills than Blue-winged, and
males average longer than females. Had the disputed Amwell bird been a
Blue-winged, the contrast in bill length and shape should have been at or
near its greatest. As stated earlier, there was no noticeable difference in bill
length from that of the accompanying Cinnamon Teal. Blue-winged can
show slight spatulate bill flaps, but the presence of these on a juvenile
female point to Cinnamon Teal. These flaps were best seen when the bird
faced obliquely away.
The bird was aged as a juvenile on plumage and leg colour (grey not
yellow), and probably (later confirmed) female. By mid September, a few
feathers with a more rufous colour had appeared on the upper breast and on
the flanks. The sides of the head (including the lores and fore-supercilium),
throat and breast were washed orangey-buff and streaked darker, thus
bringing the first-winter plumage of this bird more in line with the standard
adult female Cinnamon Teal description. By this stage, everyone was
agreed it was a Cinnamon Teal.
189. Female and male Cinnamon Teals Anas cyanoptera. Hertfordshire. 22nd August 1983 (John
Miller)
The above suggests that great care should be taken when identifying
female-type Blue-winged Teals in early autumn, because juvenile
Cinnamon Teal may not display the plumage features described for first-
winter and adult females. As emphasised by Ogilvie & Wallace, critical
assessment of bill-shape and bill-size is clearly the best starting point. All
observers concerned agreed that, had this bird turned up alone and stayed
for a shorter period of time, it would have been claimed as a Blue-winged
Teal. G. J. White and T. P. Andrews
28 Rochford Close, Tumford . Hertfordshire
Oystercatcher hawking for flying ants At about 14.00 gmt on 3rd
August 1982, from my garden at Lymington, Hampshire, I heard an
Oystercatcher Hnematopus ostralegus calling overhead. At this time, large
numbers of Black-headed Gulls Larus ridibundus , Swifts Apus apus and
Starlings Stumus vulgaris were swirling overhead hawking flying ants Lasius
400
Notes
alienus. The Ovstercatcher joined the throng and for two or three minutes
circled with the gulls, calling frequently; it dipped in flight, as if attempting
to catch ants, although I could not be certain that any were actually
caught. J. M. Jones
9 Lentune Way, Lymington, Hampshire S04 9PE
Common Sandpiper feeding from hippopotamus injuries On 26th
August 1982, on the Luangwa river at Chinzombo, Zambia (13°S), a
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos landed on the back of a partially
submerged hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius. It began to pick at the
open sores scarring the animal, but whether it was eating some kind of
insect in the wounds or picking at the raw flesh I was unable to tell. The
sandpiper also picked at various places on the uninjured back, perhaps at
some micro-organism, but was particularly attentive to the injured areas.
This feeding lasted for about 15 minutes, with the hippopotamus quite
unconcerned, apparently unaware of the bird. At this time, three other
species of birds were seen on the backs of hippos in the Luangwa National
Park: both Red-billed Buphagus erythrorhynchus and Yellow-billed Oxpeckers
B. ajricanus were feeding, while African Jacanas Actophilomis ajricanus merely
walked over them when the animals were largely submerged.
P. A. Gregory
Box 23484, Kitwe, Zambia
Wing-clapping by Mistle Thrush At 08.00 GMT on 25th July 1982, at
Nursling, near Southampton, Hampshire, I heard two wing-claps in quick
succession and looked up expecting to see a displaying Woodpigeon
Columba palumbus. I was surprised to see instead a single Mistle Thrush
Turdus viscivorus towering off high, with its body swinging from side to side,
reminiscent of the escape flight of the Snipe Gallinago gallinago, but without
the zig-zag pattern. As it towered, the thrush gave one more wing-clap and
twice uttered the normal churring call. At that moment, a large female
Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus glided overhead, some distance below the
thrush, which it obviously was not pursuing. Both birds went their separate
ways and disappeared into cover. Although there was a post-breeding flock
of Mistle Thrushes in the general area, none reacted to the behaviour of the
wing-clapping individual. I had not previously observed towering flight by
Mistle Thrush and have found no reference to it in a limited search of the
literature. Tom W. Dougall
7 Glen Street, Edinburgh EH39JD
Possible mimicry of Corn Bunting song by Grasshopper Warbler A
large willow Salix at the eastern end of Pennington Flash, Greater
Manchester, serves as a regular evening gathering point for roosting Corn
Buntings Miliaria calandra, some of which occasionally sing; at other times of
the day, Corn Buntings are not present. An area of adjacent rough
grassland sometimes attracts migrant Grasshopper Warblers Locustella
naevia, and breeding has occurred (but not in 1980).
Notes
401
At 11.10 GMT on 26th August 1980, having walked past the large willow,
my attention was drawn by a sudden burst of song which was very similar to
a Corn Bunting’s but sufficiently different to warrant investigation. On
approaching the ‘gathering tree’, a Grasshopper Warbler flew to the side of
a small bush close to the willow, delivered the Corn Bunting song phrase,
and immediately dropped into thick cover (nettles Urtica and willow-herb
Epilobium) . I believe that this ‘jangling’ song — best described as being
almost identical in length and rhythm to a Corn Bunting’s, but sweeter in
tone and with a decidedly ‘off-key’ ending — was probably similar to that
described bv A. S. Norris (Brit. Birds 70: 502-503) and referred to by T.
Milbled (Brit. Birds 71: 139).
4 he facts that this unusual song closely resembled that of the Corn
Bunting and was delivered from a place where Corn Buntings occasionally
sing may be entirely coincidental, but do raise the interesting possibility
that the Grasshopper Warbler may, on rare occasions, mimic other bird
species. J. David Wilson
10 Hoy lake Close. Lei oh. Lancashire WN73UC
Reed Bunting feeding on decaying potato In the winter of 1979/80,
when observing birds in unharrowed potato fields near Marazion Marsh,
Cornwall, I noticed many discoloured and hard potatoes which were
greenish-brown in colour, and others with soft skins and decaying blackish-
brown centres. Many were partly concealed by prostrate plants, and
among these I sometimes found Meadow Pipits Anthus pratensis. Reed
Buntings Ernheriza schoeniclus and House Sparrows Passer domesticus. I
watched a male Reed Bunting which extracted small pieces from the
putrefying potatoes and slowly munched these in its bill before swallowing
them. This behaviour was repeated very' many times while the fields
remained unharrowed, and individual periods of such feeding lasted up to
15 minutes (I could not, of course, be sure that it was always the same
bunting). Bernard King
Gull Cry. 9 Park Road. Newlyn, Penzance. Cornwall TRI8.5DZ
Letters
Distinctive bird names It was the fine article on ‘Canary Islands Stone-
chat’ Saxico/a dacotiae (Brit. Birds 77: 467-474) that finally pushed me over
the edge into writing this letter. There we had a remarkably excellent article
by a well-researched observer, who went out of his way to propose a very
acceptable English name for Saxico/a dacotiae (Canarian Chat), and yet you
402
Letters
persisted in plastering the unacceptable ‘Canary Islands Stonechat’ all
over the magazine and photo captions.
British Birds and British birders are admired around the world; I am not
the only American that believes your magazine is the finest of its kind in the
world and who admires the ‘state-of-the-art’ skills exhibited by Brits I have
known. But when are you going to come out of your stone-age provincialism
and accept English names with international acceptance? There are at least
80 species of swallow in the world, and in most parts of this globe one can
meet a friend and say ‘I just saw a swallow’ and mean just about anything;
to call the common species on one tiny island ‘the Swallow’ robs the word of
its meaning and is snobbish to a degree beyond reason. If there is more than
one swallow in the world, then all swallows must be modified to avoid
unnecessary confusion: ‘I just saw a Barn Swallow’ has the same meaning
throughout the world. You in Britain may have no problem understanding
what ‘a Swallow’ is, just as you probably know what ‘a Tystie’ is (Black
Guillemot, I am told), but both terms are local colloquialisms and have no
place in serious international journalism (of which, I trust, British Birds is a
part).
This autumn we were very fortunate in California to have a co-operative
Numenius minutus to enjoy, a first North American record. Most of the
English-speaking world calls this a Little Curlew, but, because the best
identification literature on the bird was found in British Birds (76: 438-445),
confusion has reigned supreme. We ask each other: ‘Did you get to see the
Little Whimbrel, I mean Little Curlew, or whatever it is?’ There should be
no need for this confusion. There is in the world already a Whimbrel. If
there are now two whimbrels, we must, following any sensible rules of
nomenclature, modify both birds: a Little Whimbrel and a Common or
Northern or Greater Whimbrel. But why saddle Numenius phaeopus with an
unnecessary modifier — it has been just the Whimbrel on all continents for
centuries. It follows, then, that N. minutus must be known by the perfectly
acceptable alternative name available — Little Curlew — to avoid this un-
necessary name change, because N. arquata is already internationally
known (except in Britain!) as Eurasian Curlew. It all seems so clear, but the
British provincialism stands in the way of any progress on international
English names. The very same type of reasoning goes for the poor Canarian
Chat — there is already one Stonechat which we do not want to burden with
an unnecessary modifier. Therefore, ‘Canary Islands Stonechat’ is not only
overly long and tedious, but completely unacceptable.
Americans have made progress toward international usage. Despite
heavy criticism from provincial Americans, the 6th edition AOU Check-List
changed our ‘Common Gallinule’ for Gallinula chloropus to the international
Common Moorhen and our ‘Northern Phalarope’ for Phalaropus lobatus to
the international Red-necked Phalarope, to name just two of many
changes. During a recent trip to Papua New Guinea, I learned that the New
Guinea birders and the Australian birders had worked out most of their
name conflicts, preferring for the most part internationally acceptable
English names. Only the British seem set in the Victorian era, even when it
comes to discussing birds on an island off Africa! That those on the
Letters
403
frontiers of bird identification’ should persist in this antiquated view is to
me as mysterious as, well, the puzzle in The ‘ British Birds’ My sten Photographs
B°°k\ Don Roberson
Woodcock Publications , PO Box 985 , Pacific Grove. CA 93950. USA
Having recently moved to Malawi, I am finding that one of the most
confusing areas of local ornithology lies not in identification ofbirds, but in
their names, both English and scientific: that the former may varv over a
large geographical area I can accept, but, to compound the problem, it is
evident that taxonomists seem to be unable to agree in many cases on either
specific or generic names.
I therefore find it somewhat disconcerting to read David Collins’s paper
on Canary Islands Stonechat Saxicola dacotiae {Brit. Birds 77: 467-474) in
which he wishes to introduce yet another name, Canarian Chat, for the
species. I was pleased to see that this was resisted by the editors of British
Birds.
Rather than bowing to the whims of personal opinions, should not
ornithologists be attempting to standardise English names?
Bob Medland
PO Box 470, Blantyre, Malawi
The BOU Records C iommittee is currently considering revisions of the English names of
birds on the British and Irish list; in due course, the BOURC’s recommendations will be
made available for discussion. Eds
Captive female Corncrake uttering craking call BWP (2: 575-576)
attributes the monotonous rasping call of the Corncrake Crexcrex only to the
male. It is, therefore, of interest that both individuals of a pair of
Corncrakes that successfully bred at the Scottish National Zoological Park
in Edinburgh, in 1962 ‘were seen and heard uttering the well-known,
rasping, two-note call, crek-crek. This is a particularly interesting record as
The Handbook of British Birds mentions only the male giving this call, giving
rise to the belief that both the Park birds were males. As they proved to be a
true pair, however, and . . . were seen calling together in the open, it can be
stated that both male and female utter the crek-crek call with equal clarity
and persistence’ (G. Fisher, 1963, Rep. Roy. Zoo. Soc. Scotland 51: 13-14).
Jeffery Boswall
Natural History Unit. BBC. Whiteladies Road. Bristol BS82LR
This reference was not overlooked by Dr C. J. Cadbury in his account of the 1978-79
Corncrake census (Bird Study 27: 204). but we welcome Jeffery Boswall’s letter drawing
attention to it.
Measurement of wing-span Since 1970, I have measured both the wing-
length (the distance from the carpal joint to the tip of the longest primary)
and also the wing-span (the distance from wing-tip to wing-tip) of over 200
dead birds because, until the publication of BWP. this latter measurement
was seldom included in reference books. Since reading D. I. M. Wallace’s
404
Letters
comment on the wing-span of the White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus (Brit.
Birds 77: 323), that the calculations in BWP were ‘often without precise
references’, I thought it worth setting down some of the figures I have
collected and comparing them with those in BWP.
The wing-span is a less precise measurement than the others included in
BWP and is open to personal interpretation. I have always stretched both
wings to their maximum open position and measured a straight line from
the tips of longest primaries without exerting undue pressure.
Table 1. Wing-span measurements (in mm, measured by author) compared with those
in ‘BWP’
Average Average Theoretical
Species
No. of
specimens
wing-
length
wing-
span
Index
range of
wing-span
Wing-span
given in BWP
Great Crested Grebe
Podiceps cristatus
2
204
785
3.8
638-794
850- 900
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
3
266
877
3.3
832-983
810- 980
Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisus
2
217
583
2.7
502-702
550- 700
Kestrel
Fatco tinnunculus
7
244
703
2.9
591-789
710- 800
Water Rail
Ra/tus aquaticus
2
120
360
3.0
330-396
380- 450
Ringed Plover
Charadrius hiaticula
3
129
364
2.8
347-403
480- 570
Dunlin
Calidris alpina
3
114
340
3.0
315-375
380- 430
Snipe
Gallinago a at tin ago
2
133
406
3.1
391-446
440- 470
Woodcock
Sco/opax rusticola
3
195
578
3.0
546-654
560- 600
Black-headed Gull
Larus ridibundus
4
298
886
3.0
846-969
1000-1100
Table 1 shows the number of specimens that I have measured; the
average wing-length; the average wing-span; the wing-span divided by the
wing-length given as an index; the theoretical range of wing-spans (the
largest and smallest wing-lengths given in BWP multiplied by the index);
and finally the wing-span quoted in BWP for comparison. I have included
only species for which I have two or more records.
From table 1, it is apparent that, in the majority of cases, the average
wing-spans of species that I measured do not fall within the range given in
BWP. the greatest discrepancies being those for Great Crested Grebe
Podiceps cristatus, Water Rail Ra/lus aquaticus , Ringed Plover Charadrius
hiaticula. Dunlin Calidris alpina and Black-headed Gull Lams ridibundus.
Peter Holden
111 High Street. Blunham. Bedford MK44 3NN
In a letter urging Peter Holden to publish this contribution. D. I. M. Wallace commented
that ‘although occasionally racial differences will account for some of the discrepancies, your
figures must be real’. Peter Holden has agreed to collect and collate information on wing-span
measurements. Anyone finding a recently dead bird is asked to make careful note of the
measurements described by Peter Holden and to send details to him (address above). Eds
Letters
405
Avocet correction ‘ There was a notable disruptive movement of Avocets
[ Recurvirostra avosetta]' {Brit. Birds 78: 121). Really? They’ll be joining the
miners’ picket lines next! Surely the right word is ‘eruptive’?
Geoffrey Gore
12 Spaniards End, London NW3 7JG
‘Disruptive’ was certainly wrong. Since birds erupt out of an area and irrupt into a new one,
‘irruptive’ would have been the correct word, rather than ‘eruptive’; these Avocets were,
however, normal migrants (perhaps weather-diverted or grounded on their usual routes), so
all three words are incorrect. VVe apologise for careless editing. Eds
Care with non-avian identifications 1 was surprised that the note bv
Paul Shimmings {Brit. Birds 78: 109), concerning a Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
attempting to catch a bat in mid air was unequivocal concerning the bat’s
identity. The only way one can be certain about the identification of most
bats is to examine them in the hand or record their voices.
Whilst it is likely that Mr Shimmings was correct in assuming that his bat
was a pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus, may I express the hope that British
Birds will in future apply the same rigour to the identification of other
groups of animals and of plants as it does to birds. Noel J ackson
4 Deanery View , Lanchester , Durham DH70NH
VVe have been accused of such lack of caution concerning mammal identifications in the
past, and must plead guilty — and apologise — again. Eds
Announcements
Irish subscribers can now make payments for their subscriptions or for
books in Irish pounds if they wish, by cheque, payable to British Birds Ltd.
Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford mk44 3nj. To our prices quoted
in pounds sterling, please add one-quarter to obtain price in Irish pounds
(e.g. Stg£ 17.25= IR£21.56).
From plastic macs to dirty raincoats Following the success, usefulness
and popularity of the British Birds ‘Binoculars & telescope surveys’ {Brit.
Birds 71: 429-439; 76: 155-161; 78: 167-175), we now aim to assess the
qualities of various other items of birdwatchers’ equipment in a series of
future surv eys of British Birds readers’ opinions.
We hope that many readers will return to us the first of these question-
naires, which deals with anoraks, cagoules, coats, jackets, windcheaters
and similar garments worn by birdwatchers (see page xi).
‘The Frontiers of Bird Identification’ — SPECIAL OFFER This much-
sought-after book, with key identification papers from British Birds
reprinted with updating postscripts by the authors themselves, will shortly
be available again, as a paperback at £9.95. (The text of this paperback
version is unchanged from the previous hardback.) British Birds subscribers
can obtain it at a special prepuhlication price of £7.95. Order your copy now,
saving £2.00, and it will be despatched to you as soon as it is available.
Please use the British BirdShop form on page xiii.
406
Announcements
‘Birds in your Garden’ This new 160-page book by Nigel Wood
(Exhibitions Officer at the RSPB) includes excellent chapters on ‘Planning
and planting’, ‘Feeding garden birds’ and ‘Nests for all’, dealing with the
provision of natural nest-sites as well as giving a variety of detailed nest-box
designs. Full of useful ideas and helpful illustrations, it is also cheap (only
£7.95). It is now available (post free to UK and Irish addresses) through
British BirdShop (see page xiii).
‘The Birds of Australia’— SPECIAL OFFER This new hefty book
(nearly 2 kg), edited by Ken Simpson and illustrated by Nicholas Day, lives
up to its subtitle as a ‘book of identification’. The text is brief (often less
than 10 lines per species), but there are 128 superb colour plates, with over
2,000 bird illustrations of Australia’s 758 species. It will be published in late
August, and the publishers, Groom Helm, have made it available, exclu-
sively to ‘BB’ subscribers, at a prepublication reduced price of £22.95.
Please obtain your copy by using the British BirdShop order form on page
xiii.
News and comment
Mike Everett and Robin Prytherch
Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of ‘British Birds’
New risk for Derwent No sooner has the
conservation world breathed a sigh of relief at
the Agriculture Minister’s decision not to
grant-aid a controversial pumped drainage
scheme on the internationally important
Derwent Ings SSSI in Yorkshire than poten-
tially far more serious threats loom large on
the horizon. In December 1984, an organisa-
tion of navigation enthusiasts called the
Yorkshire Derwent Trust filed evidence in
the High Court aimed at opening up the
River Derwent for general navigation from
Sutton to Malton and beyond. The original
navigation was closed by Order of Parlia-
ment in 1935 and since then the river has
remained largely undisturbed. The Nature
Conservancy Council identified the River
Derwent as the unparalleled example of a
‘classic river’ in this country. Its wildlife
includes otters Lutra lulra and internationally
important numbers of wintering wildfowl;
indeed, the NCC is scheduling most of the
River itself as an SSSI, in addition to the
existing sites. If the claim for a right of
general navigation is not successfully con-
tested, it will open the way fora considerable
change. There will be demands for marinas,
fuel service points and other ancillary
services. Research on other rivers shows that
navigation on the Derwent would have
serious repercussions for its fragile wildlife
systems. Fortunately, four riparian owners
are prepared to defend the case. To help
them, the River Derwent Appeal has been
launched by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust,
the Conservation Society of the Yorkshire
Derwent, the National Farmers’ Union, the
Country Landowners’ Association, and the
York Amalgamation of Anglers. The Appeal
is supported by many other organisations,
including the BTO, the RSPB. the RSNC,
the World Wildlife Fund, and the Ramblers’
Association, and by the Poet Laureate, Ted
Hughes. The Appeal target is £35,000. If you
would like to help the River Derwent Appeal,
donations, requests for information and
offers of help should be sent to: lan Carstairs.
Appeal Organiser, River Derwent Appeal,
c/o Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, 20 Castlegate,
York, or by phone to: 065 382 542.
News and comment
407
190. Presentation of The Famous Grouse Scotch whisky trophy to Chris Knights. 1985 winner of
‘Bird Photograph of the Year’ award, by Tony Soper, London, May 1985 (/?./. Chandler)
Chris Knights gets the bird from Tony
Soper The splendid Red Grouse trophy pro-
vided annually by Matthew Gloag & Son
Ltd. proprietors of The Famous Grouse Scotch
whisky, was presented to Chris Knights, the
1985 winner of our ‘Bird Photograph of the
Year’ award, by Tony Soper, at a Press
reception at the Scotch Whisky Association
headquarters in London on 8th May (plate
190). The ceremony provided the usual
enjoyable occasion for the 70 members of the
Press and bird-photographers present as
British Birds' guests. The closing date for
entries for the 1986 competition (up to three
colour transparencies taken during 1985)
will be 3 1st January 1986.
Keswick mystery photographs The BB
mvsterv photographs competition at the
BT’O’s one-day conference at Keswick
attracted only 19 entries (was it too difficult?
Or are Cumbrian observers shy? Or too
modest to think they might win?). The
winner of the traditional bottle of cham-
pagne, with three of the five photographs
correctlv identified, was David fhexton.
Large print books Subscribers who know
someone with poor eyesight may like to know
that ‘Isis Large Print Books’ have now pro-
duced a special edition o ['Feathered Friends by
Ian Niall (reviewed Brit. Birds 77: 639).
When ordering, quote ISBN 1 85089 052 8:
the cost is £8.00.
Woodland handbook Bird and Broadleaves
Handbook: a ouide to further the conserration of
birds in broadleaved woodland, by Nicholas
Smart and John Andrews, summarises the
environmental effects of different silviculture
systems and discusses the ecology of birds in
woodlands. Practices w hich are beneficial to
conservation interests are identified, and
means of implementing them are described
with reference to actual management
examples. The publication should provide a
source of information and advice to the
owner who is considering improvement ofhis
woodland for birds. Excellently produced
and copiously illustrated, it is available, price
£9.00 including p&p. from the RSPB. The
Lodge. Sandy, Bedfordshire SG 19 2DI..
408
News and comment
Adrian Cawthome Appeal About 50km
WSW of Fair Isle lies North Ronaldsav,
northernmost island of the Orkneys. It has
much to offer birdwatchers for its migrants
and rarities, its breeding seabirds and
waders. At present, it is underwatched, even
during peak migration periods. The resident
GP, Dr Kevin Woodbridge, is a keen bird-
watcher, helped by infrequent visitors,
including Adrian Cawthorne from the BTO,
who made regular expeditions there each
September. When Adrian died suddenly in
January 1985, it seemed a most fitting
memorial to start an appeal to collect money
to build a bird observatory on North Ronald-
sav — a project which Kevin and Adrian had
frequently discussed.
Donations to the ‘Adrian Cawthorne
Appeal Fund’ should be sent to Dr W. Caw-
thorne, 17 Church View, Long Marston,
Tring, Hertfordshire. Donors will be in-
formed of the progress of the appeal. Initial
acknowledgment will not be sent unless
specially requested (with SAE). Forms for
making single-payment covenants are avail-
able on request.
African checklists David Pomeroy of the
East African Natural History Society tells us
that official EANHS Checklists of the birds of
Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania are now avail-
able: details from EANHS, Box 44486.
Nairobi, Kenya.
Good news for penguins? Penguins
glancing at th t Journal of Wildlife Management
(48) might initially be as misled as we were
by two titles contained therein: ‘An Inex-
pensive Depth Gauge for Penguins’ and ‘An
Inexpensive Speed Meter for Penguins at
Sea’.
Polish birding This month’s'senior author
has just got back from the Bia/owieza Forest
and the Biebr?a Marshes in Poland, scouting
things out for Sunbird holidays, so expect
developments in that direction . . .
Changes of Recorder Ian J. Andrews, 36
Lutton Place, Edinburgh EH8 9PG, has taken
over from A. W. & M. Brown as Recorder for
West Lothian, Midlothian and Forth islands
(except May). Steve Henson, 86 Bedale
Road, Sherwood. Nottingham NG5 3GW, has
taken over from Austen Dobbs as Recorder
for Nottinghamshire.
‘The Bulletin of the Oriental Bird Club’
Appearing swiftly after the inaugural meet-
ing of the Oriental Bird Club (Brit. Birds 78:
308), the first Bulletin of the OBC, for spring
1985, was published in late May. It is due to
appear twice yearly, and the 28-page first
issue includes articles on records of the
Asiatic Dowitcher Limnodromus semipalmatus
in Thailand (by P. D. Round), migration
across the Nepalese Himalaya (by Carol
Inskipp) and Milky Storks Ibis cinereus and
birds of the Javan Plain (by S. A. Wilson and
G. Allport). There are also features —
obviously destined to become regular — of
‘News and views’, ‘Announcements &
requests’, ‘Recent reports’, ‘Book reviews’
and ‘Birdwatching areas’ (the first one
covering Ranthambhor Tiger Reserve by M.
Cocker). Details of membership can be
obtained from the Secretary, Oriental Bird
Club, c/o The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire
SG19 2DL.
That other BBC In its latest Bulletin, the
Bangkok Bird Club notes that it has never in
the past charged any membership fee, and
the newsletters have been supplied free.
Now, one can officially join the Club and, for
a payment of a modest US$5.00 (or equi-
valent), receive the Bulletin by air mail. Send
cheques or money orders, payable to Bang-
kok Bird Club, to M. R. Parcharjakorn
Voravan, 656 Friendship Village, Sukhum-
vit 77, Bangkok 10260, Thailand.
News and comment
409
Wildlife sounds Ron Kettle, Curator of the
British Library of Wildlife Sounds has com-
mented to us that, with so many notes, letters
and even a ‘Points of view’ being concerned
with bird sounds (British Birds April issue),
readers should know about the many
thousands of recordings available for study in
‘BLOWS’ at the National Sound Archive, 29
Exhibition Road. London SW7 2 AS (01-589
6603). Copies of nearly all the tape record-
ings and BBC Sound Archives recordings
can be supplied for private study. Most are
well-documented with behaviour notes,
which will please Mike Rogers. All the re-
cordings, including the almost complete
world-wide collection of published discs and
cassettes, can be listened to free on the
premises. Furthermore, the NSA now has the
latest sophisticated sound spectrograph for
producing sonagrams from specified or sub-
mitted recordings. Although we doubt if
Mike sees them as replacing verbal descrip-
tions, sonagrams may do so, when we are
familiar enough with them; they do have the
merit of objectivity and are, at their best,
exact.
Some nest We are grateful to RSPB
Librarian Ian Dawson for telling us about
many amusing things he unearths in the
dozens of journals and periodicals that he
sees. One recent one merits reproduction in
full: it is a short note from Honey guide (3 1 : 49).
by Pat Lorber of the National Museum in
Bulawavo, Zimbabwe. It reads: ‘What
Makes a Hamerkop’s Nest: if. all your life,
you have wondered what goes into the
making or decorating of the huge mass of a
Hamerkop Scopus umbrella nest, here is the
answer. Mr King of Bulawayo came into the
National Museum with news of the extra-
ordinary variety of material from a
Hamerkop nest which had fallen down on his
property. He was asked, if he had the time, to
detail the contents which he kindly did. as
follows: A pan brush, a broken cassette tape,
a glove, a plastic dish (plant), a plastic cup.
two peacock feathers, chicken feathers, two
socks, rabbit fur. forty-five rags, four mealie
cobs, one piece of glass, four bits of wire, a
plastic comb, one pair of underpants (male),
a typewriter ribbon, a piece of leather belt,
four bits of stocking, two bits of tin, two bits of
foam rubber, seven bits of hose pipe, nine bits
of plastic pipe (electrical), six bits of asbestos
(roofing), eleven miscellaneous bones (T-
bone. etc.), twelve pieces of sandpaper, four
bits of insulation tape, ten plastic bags, nine
pieces of paper, fifty-six scraps of tinfoil, six
bicycle tyres, six lengths of insulating wire,
and not to mention about 100 kg of twigs,
sticks and grass.’
Tailpiece We end with another quote, this
time from part of a letter, about a walk along
the Tamar, in the Western Mail of 27th April
1985: ‘I also saw a bird with a white rump fly
out of the river bank and believe it was a
storm petrel, it was certainly not a jav.'
Short reviews
The National Trust Book of British Wild
Animals. Edited by John A. Burton.
(Jonathan Cape, 1984. £12.95) A review of
the mammals, birds and other wildlife of
Britain, produced under the auspices of the
National Trust, in co-operation with the
Fauna and Flora Preservation Society, and
illustrated with numerous colour photo-
graphs of the wildlife and their habitats, was
a marvellous idea. The texts are by more
than a dozen renowned experts. Llnfortu-
natelv — and I wish that I could say other-
wise— this excellent concept has failed in the
production. The texts cover too much, too
superficially and rather boringly, perhaps
because the authors were given briefs which
were too confining. The opportunities for
including magnificent photographs (after all,
Britain’s wildlife is spectacular, and our
scenery' is among the best in the world) seem
to have been lost, partly by bad design (verv
wide margins, resulting in rather small
photographs) and partlv by mediocre colour-
reproduction. (I could not help comparing
the printing of this book with the marvellous
results achieved for The Wildlife of the Royal
Estates, published by Hodder & Stoughton.)
Thus, the National Trust book is ‘quite
good’, whereas it ought to have been really
magnificent. A pity. Owls of the World:
their evolution, structure and ecology.
Edited by John A. Burton. (Eurobook
Limited. 1984. £12.95) Previously reviewed
by Stanley Cramp (Brit. Birds 67: 480-481).
410
Short Reviews
this revised edition has a number of new
photographs, as well as revisions to the text.
It provides an excellent summary of this
group, set at a popular level. Unfortunately,
very few references are given (just 14 ‘Books
for further reading’). The price was £5.95 in
1973; this 1984 edition is still very good value
at £12.95. Just a Lark! Jim Flegg, Norman
Arlott, Eric and David Hosking. (Croom
Helm, 1984. £8.95) While I am sure that
birdwatchers enjoy birds as much as they
ever did. it often seems to me that some of the
pure fun and the humour has gone from our
hobby/obsession/profession, at least if the
ornithological written word is anything to go
by. So much of what we read is very boring
and dry. We ought, therefore, to welcome a
humorous look at a selection of the world’s
birds — a ‘fun guide’, as the book’s Introduc-
tion has it. Unfortunately, this book fails
miserably. Jim Flegg’s characteristically deft
touch is there in the short descriptive texts,
but there is not much which is new; I’m
afraid that Norman Arlott’s cartoons just
don’t strike me as particularly funny. The
selection of photographs by the Old Master
and his son, and particularly the way they are
produced, does them both less than justice. It
looks as if somebody at the publishers had an
‘Idea’ which simply hasn’t worked, and the
four authors had a real struggle to satisfy his
or her whims. I can think of countless better
ways of spending £8.95 than buying this
book. [Mike Everett] British Birds in
their Habitats. By Ron Freethy (The
Crowood Press, 1985. £10.95) Aimed at the
popular market, this much-illustrated book
concentrates on threats to the environment
and its flora and fauna, with word-sketches of
many relevant birds, arranged under their
habitats. The Cambridge Encyclopedia
of Life Sciences. Edited by Adrian Friday
and David S. Ingram. (Cambridge Univer-
sity Press, 1985. £25) There is no doubting
that this text is authoritative, but the title
would mislead me. This is not a book into
which one can dip to find interesting snippets
or articles, nor is it suitable for reference
purposes (of five appropriate subjects which
I looked for in the index, only one was to be
found). This is really a textbook, which
would form excellent background reading for
anyone engaged in or contemplating under-
taking a biological course or career. Know
the Game: birdwatching. By Arthur
Gilpin. (Adam & Charles Black, 1978.
Paperback. £1.25) In just 40 fact-packed and
highly illustrated pages, this small booklet
touches on subjects ranging from binoculars,
field-guides, identification and nest-boxes, to
societies and further recommended reading,
whilst providing a flavour of the more eye-
catching species to be seen in a dozen of the
main habitats in Britain. An ideal gift for a
young beginner or older person who may be
showing a glimmer of interest in what could
become a flourishing life-long hobby. [David
Glue] Die Vogelwelt des Landkreises
Stade: Seetaucher (Gaviiformes) bis
Spechte (Piciformes). By Gerhard Gross-
kopf and Dieter Klaehn. (Verlag Friedrich
Schaumburg, 1983. DM 29.80) First half of
the avifauna of the Stade district near the
mouth of the Elbe in West Germany (wild-
fowl, breeding waders, 150-200 pairs of
Long-eared Owls, etc.). Standard introduc-
tory chapters, systematic list. Numerous
splendid photos, many of habitats. Loose
insert map (large scale) of the whole area.
Magnificent area. An excellent book. [DAC]
Forests of Britain. By Thomas Hinde.
(Gollancz, 1985. £10.95) This book as-
sembles a wealth of information on the
history of some 40 of the old forests of
England, Scotland and Wales. While not
quite reliable on the trees, and saying
nothing of importance about birds, this book
should not be missed by anyone who visits
any of these forests. [Alan Mitchell]
Callanish. By William Horwood.
(Penguin, 1985. Paperback, £1.95) Novel, by
the author of Duncton Wood , inspired by
‘Goldie’, the Golden Eagle which escaped
briefly from Regent’s Park in 1965. Eric
Hosking’s Owls. By Eric Hosking with
Jim Flegg. (Pelham Books, 1985. Paper-
back, £7.95) Previously reviewed {Brit. Bird f
75: 435), and now available in soft cover.
Capital of Happiness: Lord Grey of Fal-
lodon and the charm of birds. By Jan
Karpinski. (Michael Joseph. London, 1984.
£12.95) This is in two parts: a brief bio-
graphy, followed by extracts from Grey’s
writings. Struck by blindness and other
tragedies, Grey drew on his memories of
birds — his ‘capital of happiness’ — to write
his Charm oj Birds and other gems. For those
who cannot get secondhand copies of the
originals, Karpinski’s volume is an excellent
introduction to Grey’s political and private
life and to his insights on bird behaviour.
[R. A. Cheke] Johann Friedrich von
Brandt. leones Avium Rossico — Ameri-
canarum Tabulae VII, Ineditae: with
comments on birds, expeditions and
people involved. By Bemt Loppenthin.
(Scandinavian Fine Editions, 1984. D.Kr.
385) Seven unpublished lithographed plates
Short Reviews
411
of 44 species found in the Northern Pacific
area and its coastal territories, painted bv W.
Pape in 1835, are reproduced with scholarly
accounts of ornithological expeditions in the
area before 1835. Detailed bibliographical
research. [Robert Gillmor] Die
Wacholderdrossel. By Wolfgang Liibcke
and Robert Furrer (Die Neue Brehm-
Bucherei 569. A. Ziemsen Verlag. 1985.
Paperback, DM22.00) Number 569 in this
famous series of German monographs deals
with the Fieldfare Turdus pilaris. With 87
figures, 30 tables and 1 1 pages of condensed
references, this — as with previous volumes in
the series — provides an invaluable summary
of knowledge on this species. There are no
English summaries, which must decrease
potential sales by several hundred copies.
The World Encyclopedia of Animals. By
Elena Marcon 8c Manuel Mongini. (( )rbis.
1985. £12.95) The blurb modestly refers to
this as a ‘magnificent book’, with ‘superb
colour paintings’, but both descriptions are
wholly appropriate. The price genuinely is
modest, considering the size and the amount
of colour: this is a splendid book for the
youngster (or household) interested in wild-
life. A total of 72 pages is devoted to birds,
with full-page colour paintings of represen-
tatives of each family facing a page of text,
with a map) showing the world distribution of
the families. A great book for browsing, par-
ticularly among the groups of animalswhich
are least well known to the reader. Reference
books translated from a foreign language are
not always successful, but in this case
Richard Lister’s translation from the original
Italian has led to a smooth-flowing and
readable text. Minor errors (e.g. a painting of
an Aquatic Warbler mis-identified as a
Marsh Warbler by both English and scien-
tific name) should not deter potential pur-
chasers, for this sort of book can help to
enthuse a new generation of naturalists. Die
Mehlschwalbe. By Heinz Menzel. (Die
Neue Brehm-Biicherei 548. A Ziemsen
Verlag, 1984. DM 18.00) The usual very full
account (160 pages) of the House Martin
Delichon urbica and its ecology, in German,
ranging from taxonomy to predators, and
from breeding to behaviour. There are some
excellent black-and-white photographs, and
a long but incomplete bibliography. [SC]
British Birds from Nature: the Tresco
collection of early Victorian paintings
and observations. By Frances Mary Isa-
bella Smith (Hamlvn, 1985. £9.95) Charm-
ing paintings ot Yellow Wren and Waxen
Chatterer (Willow Warbler and Waxwing)
among others, prettily perched on holly and
mallow. I first thought this book to be vet
another follower of Diary of an Edwardian
Lady, but it is a serious cut above that. The
background information on Frances Smith is
intriguing, and the book is beautifully pro-
duced. [Laurel Tucker] More Mysteries
8c Marvels of Nature. Insect life. By
Jennifer Owen. Reptile World. By Ian
Spellerberg. Bird Life. By Ian Wallace.
(Usborne. 1984. Combined in hardback
£4.95; separately in paperback £1.95 each;
separately in hardback £3.95 each) This 99-
page book is absolutely crammed with
information, drawings, labelled paintings,
facts, ideas and questions. It is a terrific book
for any young naturalist aged 6-15 (and this
adult reviewer has enjoyed it too!). The
scattered cartoon-type drawings (accom-
panying the questions) do. however, fit ill
with the splendidly accurate other illustra-
tions: they look like someone’s afterthought
intended to ‘vamp-up’ the book: quite
unnecessary, since it is exciting enough for
anyone’s taste without these incongruous
cartoons. Thoroughly recommended,
especially the combined £4.95 version. The
Birdwatcher’s Yearbook and Diary 1985.
Edited by John E. Pemberton. (Bucking-
ham Press, 1984. £6.95) The latest in this
annual series of compendia of useful informa-
tion for birdwatchers. Der Rotschenkel.
By Amd Stiefel and Horst Scheufler. ( Die
Neue Brehm-Biicherei 526. A. Ziemsen
Verlag. 1984. DM18.60) This 172-page
paperback provides a good account of the
biology of the Redshank Tringa to tonus, based
largely on a review of the literature, with a
distinct emphasis on work carried out in
Germany. There is an extensive bibliographv
and. in addition to the photographs, there are
27 line-drawings and numerous tables.
[W. G. Hale] Shorelands Summer Diary.
By C. F. Tunnicliffe. (Orbis Publishing.
1985. Paperback, £9.00) A welcome reprint
of TunnielifTe’s finest book, recounting in
diary form, birdwatching in Anglesey during
the summer following his move there in 1947.
The many scraperboards are reproduced
afresh from the originals and printed with a
clarity missing in the 1952 edition. His prose
equals the elegance of his line, and 16 colour
plates add extra pleasure. [Robert
Gillmor] The Macdonald Encyclopedia
of Cage and Aviary Birds. By Matthew M.
Vriends. (Macdonald. 1985. Hardback.
£12.95: paperback. £7.95) Illustrated bv
colour photographs of 206 species (compared
with over 400 illustrated by colour paintings
412
Short Reviews
bv Malcolm Ellis in Cage & Aviary Birds by
Richard Mark Martin, published by Collins,
1980). The Florida Scrub Jay: demo-
graphy of a co-operative-breeding bird.
By G. E. Woolfenden and J. W. Fitz-
patrick (Princeton University Press, 1984.
$58.50) In Aphelocoma c. coerulescens, other
adults normally help to feed the young of a
breeding pair. These helpers are usually (but
not always) older brothers and sisters of the
young they tend. They are always subor-
dinate to the breeding male and, if female, to
his mate also. This, and a very great deal
more, has been discovered in the course of a
12-year study by the authors and their
helpers. No one interested in bird behaviour
can afford not to read this book. [Derek
Goodwin]
Dr J. T. R. Sharrock , Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ
Reviews
The Birds of Orkney. By Chris Booth, Mildred Cuthbert and Peter
Reynolds. The Orkney Press, Stromness, 1984. 275 pages; 5 colour plates;
12 black-and-white plates; 24 line-drawings. £12.00.
Following the standard format for local avifaunas, with 1 1 pages of general introductory text,
mostly describing Orkney, followed by over 250 pages of systematic list, this will be regarded
as an essential purchase by anyone visiting Orkney or studying the wildlife of the area. The few
colour-photographs (five) are usefully devoted to views of Orkney habitats; the black-and-
white photographs show typical birds of the islands. John Holloway and Ian Maclnnes have
supplied line-drawings to break and enliven the text. Sensibly, the latter is devoted mostly to
the common birds*(e.g. two pages on the Guillemot), with rarity records usually dismissed in a
few lines, with just the essential details. The systematic list covers records up to and including
1982, with additional 1983 records of rarities as an appendix. The book ends with a useful
six-page bibliography of references to birds in Orkney.
The general impression is of a crisply written and nicely produced book, which will provide
a valuable source of reference. J. T. R. Sharrock
Eric Hosking’s Wildfowl. Photographs by Eric Hosking, text by Janet
Rear. C room Helm, London. 1985. 153 pages; about 140 plates, most in
colour. £14.95.
Over the past few years, we have been treated to a series of books of Eric Hosking’s bird
photographs: Birds , Owls, Waders, Seabirds, Antarctic Wildlife, and now Eric Hosking’s Wildfowl.
Individually, each of these books is a delight; together, they form a most impressive and
diverse collection of bird photographs. Surely no other bird photographer could boast such a
comprehensive series at such a high standard?
Wildfowl continues the high standard, considerably enhanced by an informative, erudite
and wide-ranging — yet very readable — text by Dr Janet Kear. There are about 140 species of
wildfowl, and, if I have counted correctly, 79 of these are illustrated. As in the previous books,
some photographs are by David Hosking, though they are not identified as such. Inevitably
with wildfowl, a number of the photographs are of captive birds, but the majority are wild.
There are some magnificent images; amongst those that particularly caught my eye were two
Reviews 4 1 3
that put the birds in their habitat: a group of Eiders in flight amongst Spitsbergen ice floes,
and a pair of Whooper Swans serene on an Icelandic lake.
I he book succeeds on two levels: not only for the photographs, but also as a work of
reference, for which both authors can take equal credit. Just two quibbles: as a photographer, I
regret the lack of photographic details, which were a feature of the earlier volumes; and those
using the book for reference will find that there are a number of small errors and omissions in
the index. R. J. Chandler
Marine Birds: their feeding ecology and commercial fisheries
relationships. (Proceedings of the Pacific Seabird Group
Symposium, Seattle, Washington, 6-8 January 1982.) Canadian
Wildlife Service, Ottawa. Edited by D. N. Nettleship, G. A. Sanger
and P. F. Springer. 220 pages. Free, from Distribution Section. Canadian
Wildlife Service, Department of the Environment, Ottawa, Ontario,
Canada k1 a 0e7.
Parts I and II of this book comprise accounts of the diets and foraging habits of marine
wildfowl and pelagic seabirds respectively. The studies involved were mostly descriptive,
providing valuable data, but of interest mainly to specialists; all were of Pacific species.
Part III is of much wider interest. It opens with a review' of the problems involved in
modelling the interactions of seabirds and fisheries and of the sorts of results obtained,
followed by a series of particular studies of such interactions, from both the Atlantic and the
Pacific. These show that seabirds and fishermen may both remove substantial proportions of
available fish stocks and, therefore, are potential competitors. So far. detrimental effects on
fisheries as a result of consumption by seabirds remain unproven, but there can be no doubt
that some seabird populations have declined following overfishing by man. There have,
however, also been beneficial effects: man has caused some important food species of birds to
increase by reducing stocks of other fish, and seabird numbers have increased accordingly.
This part of the book will be valuable to anyone concerned with seabird conservation or
fisheries management. It closes with three studies of seabird mortality in fishing nets, which
show that the level of mortality may be very large and that it depends on the level, timing, and
distribution of fishing activity and onlhe techniques and gear used.
Jeremy J. D. Greenwood
Ian Sinclair’s Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa. By Ian
Sinclair. Collins, London, 1984. 368 pages; over 850 colour photographs;
some colour illustrations. Paperback. £9.95.
Viewing this book alongside those African bird guides that have gone before, most of which I
either own or have seen, it fails — as in my opinion do most photographic field guides — to be of
genuine use in the field.
Ian Sinclair’s statement in the introduction that 'photographs have been specifically chosen
to show the most important field characters’ in many cases simply does not stand the test; some
would in fact be better used in the South African equivalent of a British Birds mysterv
photographs competition.
His follow-up statement of ‘If you think you have a better photograph than the one
appearing in the book — please let me know about it’ can only produce a flood of mail to the
author. Many readers of British Birds must have better pictures than are shown of Bar-tailed
Godwit, Whitethroat. Spotted Flycatcher or Willow Warbler. There are no photographs by
John Karmali or Ken Newman, and tori few by such as Eric Hosking. Peter Johnson. Cyril
Laubscher and Peter Steyn. all of whom I know ha%e better photographs than many of those
included. This just leads me to reiterate that, as a field guide, it is a failure. Ifonlv the publisher
had left the words field guide off the title, then I would have praised it as a book of African
bird-photographs, but. as it is called a field guide, then that is how I have had to judge it.
Having said that, and as a sucker for any book on African birds, especially one that includes
the only photograph that I have seen of a Spotted Ground Thrush (one of my rarest ticks), and
if you can spare nearlv £ 10. then buy it: the majority of the 900 pictures are worth a good look,
and could be useful for reference. Norman Arlott
414
Reviews
A Field Guide to the Bird Songs of South-East Asia. Compiled and
edited by Terry White. British Library National Sound Archive, London
1984. 2 cassettes; playing time 1 hour 53 minutes.' £10.00.
These cassettes bring together voice recordings from 138 species of birds that occur in
mainland Southeast Asia. They are accompanied by a booklet which gives a brief voice
description for each species, lists some of the other species which may be heard in the
background and makes other pertinent comments. The recordings are from a wide geo-
graphical range: Brunei. .Java, Sumatra, Malaysia (over half), Thailand, Nepal, India and
(surprisingly) Tunisia and France.
Anyone who has watched birds in a moist tropical forest will immediately recognise the
value of a ‘sound guide’. It can take months or even years to learn, unaided, all of the different
bird sounds in even one patch of rain forest. Yet. once this is achieved, one’s preconceptions
about the relative abundance of different species can change radically; those previously
thought to be rare are sometimes revealed as being common.
The quality of the recordings offered in this compilation varies. Most are quite good, but a
few have been edited, affecting the temporal spacing (and occasionally even the pattern) of the
song phrases. Listen to the recording of the Bay Owl Phodilus badius , for example. To be fair,
however, this problem is mentioned in the preface. The interpretive text is poorly researched
and occasionally misleading. One of two call types of the male Great Argus Argusianus argus is
attributed to the female. The song attributed to the Lesser Cuckoo Cuculus poliocephalus. is, in
fact, that of the resident Sunda Islands race of the Oriental Cuckoo C. saturatus (as Wells &
Becking have pointed out — Ibis 1 17: 366-370 — the Lesser Cuckoo is unknown in Southeast
Asia south of latitude 19°N). The song attributed to Black-headed Sibia Heterophasia melano-
leuca. actually recorded in Nepal, is most certainly not this species, which not only sounds very
different, but also does not even occur there (is it, perhaps, the song of the Black-capped Sibia
H. capistrata ?) . 1 1 is further stated that, because their calls are similar, the trogons Harpactes are
difficult to identify by sound alone. The recordings of the songs of the three species presented,
however, demonstrate precisely the opposite. To my certain knowledge, the primary songs of
three of the four other Southeast Asian species are equally distinctive. Although the difficulty
of differentiating precisely between a ‘call’ and a ‘song’ is mentioned, the compiler’s lack of
familiarity with the wide repertoires of certain species leads him to confuse the two. For
example, in addition to their diagnostic songs, many barbets Megalaima share similar trilling
vocalisations. One such trill given by the Golden-throated Barbet M.franklinii is identified as
the song, while the primary song is not presented. Likewise, the harsh, grating call of the Great
Barbet M. Virens is also wrongly labelled as the song. The true song, a duet, is completely
different.
The frogmouths (Podargidae) are one of the few forest bird families omitted. This is a great
pity, since they are the most elusive and tantalising of the night birds. Yet the compiler
evidently had access to some of Dr Joe Marshall’s superb owl recordings, so why not utilise his
frogmouth material, too? Why include the song of the Wryneck Jynx torquiUa, actually recorded
in France? Although the species is a fairly common winter visitor, it probably breeds no nearer
than Northwest Yunnan.
This guide seems to be a rather hastily assembled compilation, based upon too limited a
selection of material. One of the compiler’s main aims, however, is to encourage more
birdwatchers to record forest birds and to make their recordings available to the Archive.
Although Britain has produced many tropical-forest birdwatchers of considerable aptitude,
surprisingly few have taken to sound recording, unlike many fellow Europeans and
Americans. Yet the recent advent of compact, high-quality cassette recorders and directional
microphones has completely transformed the process, so that it need not disrupt even the most
active birding routine.
My reservations notwithstanding, and given the dearth of other published recordings of
Southeast Asian birds, I would recommend anyone who is considering a visit to the region to
purchase this guide. The compiler is apparently planning a revised and expanded edition. I
hope that he will not only have access to a more representative selection of recordings, but that
he will also make more effort to incorporate such background information as does already exist.
Philip D. Round
Ip
C. !. ) ,
1- ,.U- :^]>?:J .'-■ Kt
These are largely unchecked reports, not authenticated records
The dates in the report refer to May unless
otherwise stated.
Weather, and spring migrants
The pattern of high pressure to the west with
consequent cool north to northwest winds
established at the end of April persisted into
May, delaying further the return of many
summer visitors. On 11th, the pattern
changed, and, with the high pressure centre
now to the north and unsettled weather over
the North Sea, easterlies brought an impres-
sive fall of north European migrants over the
following ten days. Prominent among them
were Bluethroats Luscinia svecica. which
appeared along the British east coast from
Norfolk to Fair Isle, where 70 were reported,
eclipsed only by an estimated 100 on the Isle
of May (Fife) on 14th and 15th. The majority
were of the red-spotted north European race
L. s. svecica , but white-spotted individuals L.
r. cyanecula were found on the Isle of May on
15th and at Eyemouth (Borders) on 16th.
Red-backed Shrikes Lanius collurio and
Wrynecks Jynx torquilla were also displaced
across the North Sea, as were several Rustic
Buntings Emberiza rustica, with records from
Filey (North Yorkshire) on 11th and 12th.
Spurn (Humberside) also on 12th, Salthouse
(Norfolk) on 16th. Flamborough (Humber-
side) and two at Sumburgh (Shetland).
Strikingly beautiful Collared Flycatchers
Ficedula albicollis were seen at Holkham
(Norfolk) on 12th and 13th, Lowestoft (Suf-
folk) on 13th and 14th, and at Filey on 21st
and 22nd (plate 191). Yellow Wagtails
Motacilla flava of the grey-headed race M. f.
thunbergi were reported at Elmley (Kent) on
415
416
Recent reports
14th. two at Clev (Norfolk) on 16th and at
Filey on 18th, but only one Red-throated
Pipit Antkus cennnus, from Salthouse on 14th.
The range of species involved was more like
an autumnal movement, with Thrush
Nightingales Luscinia luscinia at Hartlepool
(Cleveland) on 13th and 14th and on Fair
Isle, a Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula
parca at Blakenev (Norfolk) on 19th to 23rd
(plate 194). a Dusky Warbler Phvlloscopus
fuscatus at Holkham on 22nd and 23rd. a
Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla at Tring
(Hertfordshire) on 12th, Ortolan Buntings
E. hortulana at Cromer (Norfolk) on 7th and
Holme (Norfolk) on 12th, and a few Icterine
Warblers Hippolais icterina. Stonechats
Saxicola torquata of the eastern race S. t. maura ,
and Hoopoes Upupa epops. An interesting
find away from the East Coast was a
Bonelli’s Warbler Phvlloscopus bonelli.
singing in a wood near Swansea (West
Glamorgan) from 18th to 25th.
To return to the weather: after 22nd. the
high pressure declined, and unsettled
cyclonic westerlies followed for a few days,
with a pulse of warm southerly air arriving on
27th. followed by the establishment of an
anticyclone giving hot settled weather.
More-typical spring rarities occurred: Sub-
alpine Warblers Svli'ia canlillans on Bardsev
(Gwynedd) in mid month, at Holkham on
27th, Lvtham (Lancashire) on 28th and at
191. Male Collared Flycatcher Ficedula
albicollis , North Yorkshire, May 1985
( John Harwood)
192. Male Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe
hispanica. Dorset, May 1985 {Gavin Haig)
Spurn on 30th and 31st, a Black-eared
Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica at Portland on
27th (plate 192), and a Short-toed Lark
Calandrella brachvdactvla at Spurn on 28th. one
having also been seen earlier on the Isle of
May on 8th. Following an Alpine Swift Apus
melba at Cley on 25th. a Needle-tailed Swift
Hirundapus caudacutus gave a two-hour display
at Fairburn lugs (North Yorkshire) on 27th.
Swifts Apus apus were only just becoming
widespread by this time, some two weeks
later than usual. The west of Britain had
been missing most of the action, but had its
compensations: a flock of 15-20 Bee-eaters
Merops apiaster was seen near St Ives
(Cornwall) on 25th. followed by a further 27
on 26th at Porthgwarra (Cornwall); Bardsev
had its largest-ever arrival of
Spotted Flycatchers Muscicapa striata in late
May (very much later than usual); and a
Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata
was an unseasonal find on the Calf of Man on
30th and 31st. A Daurian Starling Stumus
sturninus present on Fair Isle from 7th, will be
a new British species if its credentials prove
satisfactory. Another exciting observation
was of a Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria
arriving at St Catherine’s Point (Isle of
Wight) on 18th. Yet another Serin Serinus
serinus arrived at this spot on 3rd, another was
seen at Spurn on 18th and one singing indi-
vidual could be found at Holkham during the
month (plate 195).
Birds of prey
Eight Ospreys Pandion haliaetus were seen in
East Coast areas, probably displaced Scandi-
navian birds; some, however, might choose
to stay like the original recolonists. Yet
another May record of Black Kite Milvus
417
Recent reports
migrans in Kent occurred on 24th, at Shep-
pey, and a Honey Buzzard Pemis apivoms
was a rare passage sighting inland at Graf-
ham (Cambridgeshire) on 25th, whilst a late-
returning White-tailed Eagle Ha/iaeelus
albicilla passed Spurn on 31st. A commoner
spring species was the Red-footed Falcon
Falco vespertinus at Overstrand (Norfolk) on
25th and 26th. and another was present
about the same time at Tuddenham (Suf-
folk).
Wading birds
With the flood of northeast European
vagrants came several Broad-billed Sand-
pipers Limicola Jalcinellus: at Elmlev on 13th
and 14th. three at Breydon Water (Norfolk)
on 18th, two on the Humber Estuary on 24th
and 25th. and one at Pool of Virkie (Shet-
land). Temminck’s Stints Calidris tem-
minckii , however, did not appear in abnormal
numbers, being found at Hanningfield
Reservoir (Essex), Rutland Water (Lei-
cestershire), in Northamptonshire, and at
Minsmere (Suffolk). The last locality did
hold a Stilt Sandpiper Micropalama
himantopus on 4th to 6th. giving a rare spring
sighting of this uncommon Nearctic species.
Passage Dotterels Charadrius morinellus were
found in their usual areas in Cambridgeshire,
a flock of 15 being seen near Cottenham on
3rd. but in general spring passage has been
disappointing.
Following the report, last month, of a
Black Stork Ciconia nigra on the F.rme
Estuary (Devon), departing on 1st. other
sightings were of one at Spurn on 10th and
another at the Ouse Washes (Cambridge-
shire) on 11th. A report of the commoner
White Stork C. ciconia came from Marazion
(Cornwall) on 2nd. The mini-invasion by
Little Egrets Egretta gargetta continued, with
another seen at St Catherine’s Point on 19th.
one on the Swords Estuary (Co. Dublin)
(plates 197 & 198). and other singles at
Fairburn Ings on 23rd and at Hickling
(Norfolk) and Hamford Water (Essex) on
26th. A Night Heron Nvcticorax nycticorax
was found at Clev on 24th. where earlier a
Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia had been seen on
16th, with another at Hickling on 26th.
Cranes Grus grus were seen on the East
Coast, at Filey on 6th and Minsmere on 23rd.
the Squacco Heron Ardeola ra/loides seen last
month at Bude (Cornwall) departed by 4th.
but the return of the Little Bitterns Ixo-
brychus minutus to last year’s site gives hopes of
another successful breeding season.
Seabirds and wildfowl
The movement overland of Arctic Terns
Sterna paradisaea in late April continued into
May, with over 140 seen at Hanningfield
Reservoir on 2nd and 40 in Bedfordshire on
3rd. An early Caspian Tern .S'. caspia was
reported from Church Norton (West Sussex)
on 16th, and a Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon
nilotica was sighted off St Margaret’s Bay
(Kent) on 6th. Inland. Arctic Skuas Ster-
corarius parasiticus visited Fairburn Ings on
23rd and 27th. and four Pomarine Skuas S.
pomannus passed Portland Bill on a brief sea
watch on 13th. A Ring-billed Gull Lams
delawarensis was at Ogmore (Mid Glamorgan)
on 16th (plate 193). a White-billed Diver
Gavia adamsii was still present in Shetland at
Whalsay Fern well into the month, but a
female King Eider Somateria spectabilis at
Lerwick was last reported on 3rd. Inland,
two male Velvet Scoters Melanitta fusca were
seen at Hanningfield Reservoir from 16th to
23rd, a Red-crested Pochard Netta ntfina
called in at South Mills Gravel-pit (Bedford-
shire) on 14th. and Ring-necked Duck
Aythya collaris reports came from Witcombe
Reservoir (Gloucestershire) on 16th to 18th
and also from Chew Valley Lake (Avon).
193. Ring-billed Gull Lams delawarensis. Mid
Glamorgan. May 1985 (Howard Xicholls)
Recent rarities decisions
The records of Pallid Swift Apus pallidus at
Farlington Marshes (Hampshire) in June
1983 and Blvth’s Reed Warbler Acrocephalus
dumetomm at Spurn (Humberside) in May
1984 have both been accepted. The record of
Savannah Sparrow Ammodramus sand-
wichensis at Portland Bill (Dorset) in April
1982 has been accepted into Category A of
the British and Irish list as referring to the
Sable Island race .4. s. princeps. colloquiallv
known as ‘Ipswich Sparrow'.
418
Recent reports
194. Female Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva, Norfolk, May 1985 (David Tomlinson )
195 8c 196. Left, male Serin Serinus serinus\ right, male Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio :
Norfolk, May 1985 (Steve Young)
Latest news
Apart from Black Kite at Tees-mouth
(Cleveland) on 6th, all interest focused on
East Anglia in early July: Greater Yellow-
legs Tringa melanoleuca at Minsmere on 4th,
5th and 7th, and Black-winged Pratincole
Glareola nordmanni on 5 th; Pectoral Sand-
piper Calidris melanotos and Broad-billed
Sandpiper at Cley on 4th; Serin at Wells
(Norfolk) on at least 5th and 6th.
197 & 198. Little Egret Egretta garzetta, Co. Dublin, May 1985 (Brian Madden)
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HO LI DA Y A CCOMMODA TION
ISLES OF SCILLY. Migrate to Mount Flagon
on St Mary’s and enjoy the friendly atmosphere
and good food provided by Bas and Nan Cons.
Write or ring for brochure 0720 22598. ( BB 1 14)
MINSMERE 4m. B&B in comfortable private
house, edge of village. Brochure/terms, Hills, Old
Mill House, Yoxford, Suffolk. Tel: 536. (BB175)
GARA MILL, Slapton. Comfortable, warm self-
catering Cedar Lodges carefully sited in 4 acres
overlooking river and woods. 2 CH flats in 16th C
cornmill available all year. Sleeps 2-6. Dogs
welcome. For coloured brochure ring Stoke
Fleming 770295. (BB157)
SPEY VALLEY — home of the osprey, cross-
bill and crested tit. Impressive Victorian house.
Superb views. CH, log fires. Home cooking. Tel:
0479 2201 or write Rossmor, Grantown on Spey,
Moray. (BB190)
NORTH NORFOLK. The George & Dragon
Hotel. Accommodation, bars & meals. Over-
looking the marshes at Cley, towards Blakeney
Point. Tel: Cley (0263) 740652. (BB219)
MINSMERE EXCELLENT B&B. Own
bathroom. Glorious setting. 4 miles Suffolk
coast. 6 miles Minsmere. 2 miles Snape
Concert Hall. £8 per night, per person.
Telephone for reservation. Snape 750.
(BB237)
NR. NTH NFK RESERVES. Guest House run
by birder for birders. Haydn House. Avenue
Road, Hunstanton. Tel: 331 15. (BB308)
HAYLE ESTUARY 10 mins, walk to hide. Bed
and breakfast £5. 50 June and from Sept. St Ives 3
miles. Trendreath House, Lower Lelant. St Ives,
Cornwall. Tel: Hayle 753714. (BB288)
WELLS 4 miles. Modernised flint cottage at
Binham. Sleeps 4-6. Children and pets welcome.
Open all year. CH. TV, carport. Tel: 08833 5579.
(BB295)
BOSWEDNACK MANOR. Zennor, St Ives.
Stay in the real Cornish countryside. Our guest
house overlooks sea and moors. Great Bird-
watching. SAE please for brochure. Tel: 0736
794183." (BB297)
NORTH WEST HIGHLANDS, Dundonnell
Hotel, just south of Ullapool, ideal location for
hill walkers, birdwatchers and those who enjoy
the open spaces. Private bathrooms. Col. TV. full
c.h. Send for col. brochure/tariff giving details of
bargain holidays on selected dates, to Selbie
Florence, Dundonnell Hotel, bv Garve. Ross-
shire. Tel: 085 483 204. (BB298)
LUXURY IDYLLIC COTTAGE. Ideal base
Cheviot Hills, Fame Isles and Kielder Forest.
Forster. Tel: 01-904 9107 and 0669 30265.
(BB1 1)
xv
MINSMERE. Accommodation at the Eight
Bells, Kelsale A12, B&B. Real Ale, good food.
Tel: Saxmundham 2975. (BB59)
PIED FLYCATCHERS, BUZZARDS and
B&B at Appletree Cottage, Mansel Lacy,
Hereford. Tel: 098 122 688. ' (BB312)
FIND PEACE and real comfort in exclusive
country guest house of hotel standard. Fine
cuisine, own eggs and produce, attractive dining
room, comfortable lounge, TV, central heating.
Bedrooms have h&c, electric blankets, tea
facilities. Wonderful birdwatching and flora
among forests, lochs and mountains, good
touring. DB&B from £12 daily. Keeper’s Cottage
Guest House, Carrbridge, Inverness-shire. Tel:
047 984621. (BB313)
SEE PUFFINS, skuas, seals and a lot more.
Private boat takes you among otherwise inacces-
sible colonies. A nature-lover’s dream. Full board
in castle, or self-catering cottages. Send for
details: Balfour Castle, Shapinsay, Orkney. Tel:
085 671282. (BB315)
HEBRIDES. The Hotel, Isle of Coll, Argyll
PA78 6SZ. Tel: 087 93 334. AA* RAC: Open all
year, central healing. Over 100 species to be seen
including skuas, raptors, water rail etc. May we
send you our brochure? (BB317)
WEST DORSET. AA/RAC listed. Fully licensed,
small country guest house near Fleet and Radi-
pole Lake. All rooms colour TV, en suite
showers. Home cooking, centrally heated. Ashley
Courtenay recommended. Millmead, Portesham.
Tel: Abbotsbury (0305) 871 432. (BB319)
LAKE DISTRICT, between Kendal/Winder-
mere, 17th century manor house in own grounds.
All bedrooms colour TV, tea-making facilities
and h&c. Dinner, bed, breakfast £18 per person.
Aitken, High Hundhowe, Burneside, Kendal
LA8 9AB. Tel: 0539 22707. (BB320)
RINGWOOD — Little Moortown House Hotel,
small family run hotel on the edge of the New
Forest, and convenient to coastal areas. Full a la
carte restaurant, colour TV and tea-making
facilities in all bedrooms. Tel: Ringwood 3325.
( BB328)
NEAR SHERINGHAM. Secluded guest house
set in 2 acres wooded garden. All h&c, some
private bathrooms. Adjacent National Trust.
1 Vi miles sea. From £8.50. Evening dinner avail-
able. Licensed. J. Lee, Woodlands, Holt Road,
Aylmerton. Tel: West Runton (026 375) 480.
(BB329)
BETWEEN CROMER AND SHERINGHAM.
3 bedroomed cottage. Pleasant coastal village.
A. Lee, “Woodlands”, Holt Road, Aylmerton
NR1 I 8QA. Tel: West Runton (026 375) 480.
(BB330)
PENNAL. Between Machynileth/Abcrdovey.
Secluded cottage in peaceful valley. B&B & em.
Mrs Valentine, Cwm Dwr, Pennal, Machynlleth,
Powys. Tel: Pennal 610. (BB334)
ELIZABETHAN FARMHOUSE set in a
beautiful position near Welsh Border. Enjoy
complete relaxation. Excellent lood. Marvellous
walking country. Close to coast and golf course,
and Offa’s Dyke. Ideal place for birdwatching,
pony trekking (lessons available) etc; open
Easter onwards. Reduced rates for children.
Contact Mrs E. Venables, Rorrington Hall,
Chirbury Powys (093 872) 223. (BB299)
WELLS, NORFOLK B&B., (Les Routiers
recommended). H. & C., Tea and Coffee facilities
in all rooms. Anne Taylor, The Cobblers (0328
710155). (BB111)
IF YOU RENT Holiday Accommodation in a
bird watching area then you should advertise in
BRITISH BIRDS; the leading ornithological
monthly in Britain.
With over 30,000 genuine bird enthusiasts
reading BRITISH BIRDS every month, where
else would you find such a unique and specialised
readership.
The continued expansion of the BRITISH
BIRDS holiday section shows that advertising
really works.
Take advantage of our special reduced offer for
series advertisements and let BRITISH BIRDS
take care of your holiday bookings.
Phone Sandra on 0621 815085 for details.
(BB338)
LAKE DISTRICT
Small tasteful two-star Hotel superbly
situated in lovely and peaceful riverside
setting. Many commendations for
excellent standards throughout, delici-
ous food, and warm, friendly atmos-
phere. Riverside Hotel & Lodge,
Near Rothay Bridge, Ambleside,
Cumbria. Tel: (0966) 32395. (BB318)
THE BALCARY HOTEL
Auchencairn, nr Castle Douglas
AA, RAC***. Ashley Courtenay. Family run
country house in magnificent setting on the
shores of the bay. Tel: 055 664 217. (BB316)
BED AND BREAKFAST. Mrs D Crowden.
Rosevilla, Middleton, Saxmundham, Suffolk,
Tel: Westleton 489 between 6-7 pm. ( BB50)
SOMEWHERE SPECIAL for your bird-
watching in the Dyfi Valley, Mid Wales. 17th
century manor house hotel in 9 acres of peaceful,
unspoilt and finely timbered valley, in secluded
location. Licensed bar and restaurant. Tradi-
tional and vegetarian/whole food fare. Brochure:
Eileen and David Brown, Plas Dolguog Hotel.
Machynlleth, Powys. Tel: 06542244. (BB169)
xvi
LUNDY ISLAND
Stay in the Castle Keep, the Old Light (1819)
or one of our other 19 cottages on Lundy,
or in comfortable Millcombe House Hotel.
1 ransport to the Island by helicopter on
Saturdays, or by the M.V. Polar Bear from
Rideford. One of Europe’s most important
seabird colonies, famous spring and autumn
migrations, and many rare visitors.
For bookings and information tel: 062 882
5920, or write to Mrs B. B. Glover, The
Landmark Trust, Shottesbrooke, Maiden-
head, Berkshire SL6 3SW. (BB310)
GREYHOMES HOTEL
Torcross, S. Devon
Holiday Accommodation, S. Devon
SLAB TON SANDS, AA and RAC.' one star.
Small friendly licensed hotel magnificiently
situated in six acres of mature gardens over-
looking the panorama of Slapton Ley Nature
Reserve and Start Bay. Unspoilt coastline
famous for its variety of birds and wildlife.
Also four self-catering holiday bungalows in
grounds. SAE lor brochure: Greyhomes
Hotel, Torcross, Nr. Kingsbridge, S. Devon.
Tel: Kingsbridge (0548) 580220. (BB30)
NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS National
Park. Coast and country. For the largest selection
of inspected self-catering cottages, farmhouses
etc, contact: Ingrid Flute, White Cottage,
Ravenscar, Scarborough Y013 ONE. Tel:
Scarborough (0723) 870703. (BB67)
ISLE OF ISLAY — Outstanding winter bird-
watching. 18,000 geese — Barnacle, White Front,
Grey-lag. Large numbers of wintering duck and
waders. Nine different raptors, choughs, etc.
Enjoy them from our farm cottages. Double
glazing, wood burning stoves. Sleeps 2/4 and 5/6
with facilities for disabled. G. & \1. Jackson,
Coultorsay, Bruichladdich, Isle of Islay. Argyll,
Scotland PA49 7UN. Tel: (049685) 444.
(BB323)
HOTEL LAWNS— Holt— North Norfolk-
Central for bird watchers, £29 two-day bargain
breaks from October to May. Excellent food.
Tel: 026 371 3390. (BB336)
HEBRIDES. The Hotel, Isle of Coll, Argyll
PA 78 6SZ. Tel: 087 93 334. AA* RAC. Open all
year, central heating. Over 100 species to be seen
including skuas, raptors, water rail, etc. May we
send you our brochure? (BB194)
SILVERDALE. Comfortable fully equipped Hat.
Sleeps 2-4. Leighton Moss 1 mile. Owner
maintained. Tel: 04482 2395/0468 61400.
(BBI72)
NEAR MINSMERE, delightful converted barn.
Sleeps 6/7. Fully equipped and linen provided.
Turner, Vine Cottage, The Street, Middleton,
Saxmundham: Tel: Westleton 208 after 6pm.
(BB254)
BARN HOUSE, Bempton. Pleasantly situated,
comfortable farmhouse style B&B, Schofield, 5
Newsham Hill Lane, Bempton. Bridlington. Tel:
0262 850523. (BB73)
SOUTHWOLD AA** HOTEL. Ensuite bed-
rooms, good food and wines. Ideal base for
Minsmere and surrounding area. Open all year.
Reduced terms for party bookings. Write or tel:
Pier Avenue Hotel, Southwold. Tel: 722632.
( BB32)
ORKNEY. Our Island Hotel, ideal for ornitholo-
gists, habitat, moorland. shore, cliffs,
lochs, attracts 70 breeding species. Excellent
migration, good walking. Brochure: Taversoe
Hotel, Rousay, Orkney. Tel: 085 682 325.
(BBI9I)
NATIONAL TRUST VILLAGE on Exmoor.
Self-catering holiday homes. Centrally heated,
near Porlock. Sea, moors, woods and marshes all
within walking distance. Stamp for brochure.
Sheila Wright, The Pack Horse, Allerford. Nr.
Minehead. Tel: (0643) 862475. (BB72)
ISLES OF SCILLY, .Vlincarlo Guest House, St
Mary’s. Superbly situated in own grounds
overlooking the harbour. Terms from £8.50
(plus VAT) for B&B £12.75 (plus VAT) BB &
EM. Tel: 0720 22513. (BBI40)
SIBTON (nr Minsmere), Suffolk. The White
Horse Inn. A unique and charming 16th centurv
Ireehouse in 2'A acres, £n suite accommodation,
bed and breakfast or weekly rates. Ample car
parking. CC location site. Bar snacks or
restaurant meals available. Tel: Peasenhall 337.
( BB68)
NORTH YORKSHIRE. Smugglers Rock,
Country Guest House, Ravenscar Y013 0ER.
Homely atmosphere with panoramic views over
country and sea, AA listed. Ideal holiday for
country lovers. Mrs J. Greenfield. Tel: 0723
870044. ' (BB242)
COTSWOLD AREA. Fully equipped luxury-
holiday Hat. Mrs Row-e, Coombc Mount,
Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire. Tel: 0453
843584. (BBI82)
ISLES OF SCILLY
TRELAWNEY GUEST HOUSE,
ST. MARY’S
Marjorie and David Townend welcome you
for Spring and Autumn Birdwatching. Home
cooking, good wine, central heating, wood-
burner in lounge, CB reports. Close to Quay
and Town Centre.
£9.00 for B&B (inc. VAT). Special weekly
rates for parties of 8-10. In October SAE or
phone 0720/22377.
(BB267)
xvn
FARM COTTAGES between Lindisfarne Re-
serve and The Fames. Comfortable and well
equipped. Sorry no pets. Brochure: Mr J.
McNish, Outchester Farm, Belford, North-
umberland. Tel: 06683 336. (BB45)
ISLES OF SCILLY. Quiet, modern, comfort-
able guest house offering good food, excellent
views and full central heating. Central location
only 15 mins walk from Hugh Town. Perfect for
early and late season bird watchers. Stephen
Morris, Glandore, Porthloo, St. Marys. Tel:
Scillonia 22535. (BB243)
ISLES OF SCILLY — Seaview Moorings, St.
Mary’s. Home cooking and personal service from
resident proprietors, Tony and Linda. Over-
looking harbour, close to quay and town —
licensed — in-room tea and coffee making facili-
ties— pets welcome. SAE for details or telephone
Tony or Linda Dingley on 0720 22327. (BB35)
SOUTHWOLD. ‘Avondale’, North Parade,
overlooking sea. B&b/em, GH, dglazed, licensed.
Open all year. Ideal Minsmere, Havergate,
Walberswick. Good food, friendly atmosphere.
Tel: 0502 722538. ' (BB179)
VISIT BEMPTON RESERVE. Stay for two
days BB/ED from £28 pp inc. VAT. At the
Flaneburg Hotel, Flamborough. The Hotel on
The Heritage Coast — Full Details phone (0262)
850284. (BB168)
COASTAL COTTAGES OF PEMBROKE-
SHIRE, Abercastle, Pembrokeshire National
Park. 75 warm and well equipped owners’
cottages, mostly within sight and sound of sea and
seals on Britain’s most beautiful and natural
coastline. Available all year from £60 per week.
Tel: 03483 742. (BB185)
NORTH LAKES — perfect for Caerlaverock and
South Solway Estuary. Six self-catering lodges
overlooking sheltered 30 acre lake. Woodland site
designated of ‘Special Scientific Interest’. Impor-
tant location for large flocks of water birds,
wintering site for duck, wide variety of wildfowl.
Brochure: Lakeshore Lodges, The Lough,
Thurston Field, Carlisle, Cumbria CA5 6HB
Tel: 0228 76552. (BB38)
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED GUEST HOUSE
Comfortble relaxing atmosphere facing sea
Excellent cuisine. Within easy reach of Bird
Watching and National Sites. Competitive terms:
Mrs Green, Telephone: Cromer 513351
(BB363)
FIRTH OF FORTH: 16 breeding seabirds, Bass
Rock gannetry, all 5 grebes, swans, geese, Long-
tailed Duck, Velvet Scoter, waders, seawatching,
migrants, hill birds. Facing Bass Rock, Aberlady Bay
7 miles, Edinburgh 25, St Abbs 30, Lindisfarne 50.
David Bates & family, The Wing Guesthouse,
Marine Parade, North Berwick, (0620) 4168.
(BB365)
ORCHARD HOUSE, N. W. Norfolk nr. Titch-
well Marsh Reserve. Homely Bed and Breakfast
accommodation (E.M. available). Also self-
catering unit in orchard. Tel: Thornham (048
526)259. (BB49)
LIZARD. Beautiful sea views, close to coves and
coastal path. Good food, comfort, reasonable
rates. Dogs welcome, Treglow House, The Lizard
TR1 2 7NP. Tel: 0326 290472. (BB181)
COUNTRY COTTAGES between Alnwick and
Belford. Sleep up to six, fully equipped,
self-catering, available throughout the year. Well
placed for Holy Island and Fame Islands,
Cheviot Hills and many places of natural beauty.
SAE to Mrs P. Foster, Coxons, Craster South
Farm, Alnwick, Northumberland. Tel: (066 576)
640. (BB27)
BARGAIN BREAKS
Small, recommended, coastal, licensed hotel
facing open countryside. National Trust
cliff walks nearby. All bedrooms with baths/
shower/wc, central heating, colour TV and
tea maker, en suite. Four poster bed. Heated
indoor swimming pool. Dinner choice from
extensive menu. 2/5/7 night Bargain Breaks
from £20 including dinner, breakfast and
VAT. Brochure/reservations: GLENCOE
HOTEL, Gwithian Village (St Ives Bay)
TR27 5BX. Tel: 0736 752216.
(BB42)
CLEY. Attractive house in village, four bed-
rooms, large garden, garage, c.h. Available all
year. Details from Mrs E. Album, 47 Lyndale
Avenue, London NW2. Tel: 01-431 2942. (BB58)
CLEY. 3 Quality cottages (sleep 4, 6 and 8).
Quiet. Comfortable. Excellent value. Brochure:
(0353) 740770. (BB 171)
NEWPORT, PEMBS. Coastal cottage, adj. Nat.
Park, 5 mins. Sea and Estuary. Sleeps 8. Tel:
0222 752965. (BB70)
ISLE OF MULL. Enjoy friendly atmosphere of
small comfortable guest house run by keen
ornithologists. Lin and Pete Miller, Baliscate,
Tobermory. Tel: 0688 2352. (BB354)
COTTAGE AND BUNGALOW sleeping 4-6.
Warm and comfortable. Also 2 ground floor
private apartments at Inverdruie House. Price
per week £80-£‘200. Details: Inverdruie &
Glasnacardoch Properities, Aviemore PH22 1QR.
Tel: 0479 810357. (BB355)
ISLE OF MULL, Stafla Cottages. Small, com-
fortable guest house with friendly atmosphere.
On upper slopes of Tobermory Bay with views
out to the Sound of Mull and Morvern. All rooms
h&c, radiators and electric blankets. Staffa
Cottages Guest House, Tobermory PA75 6PL.
Tel: 0688 2464. ' (BB356)
xviii
EXTREME W. CORNWALL. Cosy house,
sleeps 5, log fire, c.h., shower, TV, etc. from £15
per day. Tel: 0736 731803. (BB349)
ISLE OF COLL, ARGYLL. Bird watching at its
best. Ideal for walkers, naturalists, bird watchers.
Sea/loch fishing. Lobstering. Sandy beaches.
Otters, seals. Excellent cuisine. Every comfort.
Licensed. Brochure. Tigh-na-Mara Guest House
(B), Isle of Coll, Argyll. Tel: 08793 354. (BB350)
CLOSE TO HILBRE ISLAND Bird Sanctuary,
Wirral Way nature walk, etc. A warm welcome
awaits you at The Park Hotel, West Kirby
(licensed). Tel: 051-625 9319. (BB346)
GALLOWAY for coast, Lochs and Hills. Private
Hotel ideally situated for birdwatching and
holidays. Small parties welcome. Comfortable
accommodation and excellent food. Open all
year. Pel: 0556 2173. Merrick Hotel, Castle
Douglas, Kirkcudbrightshire. (BB113)
ROYAL FOREST OF DEAN, Coleford,
Lambsquay Hotel AA*H&B. All facilities.
Delicious food and wine. Peaceful surroundings.
Dogs welcome. S/e flat available — special breaks.
Tel: 0594 33 1 27 for brochure. (BB344)
COMFORTABLE BB £6.00. EM by prior
arrangement. Car essential. Sorry no children or
pets. 35 Wells Road, Stiflkey, Wells, Norfolk. Tel:
0328 75 231. ' (BB368)
PEMBROKESHIRE BIRDWATCHING
HOLIDAY led by Peter Conder. 4 nights, 3 day
stay (14-18 October) at the famous Warpool
Court Hotel visiting the famous locations of St
Davids Head, the Cleddau Estuary and Strumble
Head. Price: £146 per person inclusive of meals,
packed lunch, field trips, films and farewell party.
St Davids 0437 720300. (BB371)
NORTH NORFOLK’S HERITAGE COAST.
Flint cottage in small, peaceful village. Close sea,
broads and marshland birdwatching areas.
Sleeps 6 + cot. Full C.H., Colour T.V., Parking.
Available all year. Brochure from Satiderlings,
Pineapple House, St Martins Lane, Norwich
NR3 3AG. (BB372)
MOST ATTRACTIVE choice of self-catering
cottages, isolated and in beautiful surroundings
overlooking the sea on a Westhighland Estate.
Scotland’s natural beauty at its best. The ideal
holiday for the true country lover with w ild life in
abundance. F or full coloure brochure please write
to: The Booking Office, Ellary 7, Lochgilphead,
Argyll. Tel: 08803 232/209 or 054685 223.
(BB374)
HUNSTANTON. Small private hotel owned by
itinerant birdwatcher. Ideal centre for Norfolk
coast reserves. BB & Evening Meal (optional).
Packed Lunches. Licensed bar. Weekend spring
and autumn bargain breaks for groups and
societies. Shelbrooke Hotel, Cliff Terrace,
Hunstanton PE36 6DY. Tel: 049 53 2289.
(BB376)
Situated just 15 minutes south of York in the
beautiful estate village of Thorganby, overlooking
the famous Wheldrake lngs — famous Bird Sanc-
tuary. The Inn dates back some 300 years, specialis-
ing in homemade bread, local recipes using only the
freshest ingredients Accommodation available. All
rtxjms with private facilities, furnished v\ ith antiques,
hairdryers, trouser presses, colour TV. etc. Tel:
Robert on 090489 316.
(BB357)
BRIDLINGTON convenient for Bempton
Sanctuary. Comfortable, centrally heated, sea
and harbour views. B&B from £8 per night. The
Clarence, 3 Marlborough Terrace, Bridlington
(0262)671784. (BB377)
FAR SAWREY. Cottage, ideal situation lor
outdoor interests. Details on application. SAE:
Mrs Atkinson, Spout House, Far Sawrey.
Ambleside, Cumbria LA22 0LQ. Tel: Winder-
mere 2760. (BB358)
CHEW VALLEY/MENDIP AREA. Bed and
breakfast in private family house. Mrs Warden,
Centaur, Bishop Sutton, Bristol. Tel: Chew
Magna (0272) 332321. (BB359)
DERBYSHIRE/PEAK DISTRICT. Self-
catering properties. Personally inspected. Rural
Vacations Ltd, Pipworth Lane, Eckington,
Sheffield S3 1 9EY. Tel: 0246432202. ( BB360)
ISLE OF MULL, I orosay Castle, Craignure.
Golden eagles often seen in the area. 20 species in
the garden and over 200 recorded on the island.
Mull is a paradise. Gardens open year-round.
Castle: I May-30 Sept, 1 flat and gardener’s
cottage to let. Each sleeps 4 plus camp beds.
Special monthly winter terms. For terms applv:
The Secretary. Tel: 068 02 42 1 . ( BB36 i )
BARDSEA. Morcambe shore. All electric
cottage sleeps 4. Easv reach Walnev, Leighton
Moss. Tel: (0229) 53159). (BB364)
NORTH NORFOLK COAST, fishermen’s
cottages. Open all year. Oak beams. Colour TV
and open fires Oct/Match. Ray Hewitt. Brig
Square Holiday Cottages, Freeman Street. W ells
next the Sea. Tel: 0328 710440. (BB366)
15th CENTURY COACHING INN midway
Ross/Hereford amidst gentle wooded hills, 2
fields from River Wye. A comfortable and
informal place, with proper emphasis on real (bod
real ales, civilised prices. Log fire, 12 ch
bedrooms, fourposter. Egon Ronay, Relais
Routier. AA & RAC**. Green Man Inn.
Fownhope, Hereford. Tel: Fownhope (043 277)
243. *AA & RAG**. (BB367)
xix
BIRD WA TCHING HO LI DA YS
CALF OF MAN BIRD OBSERVATORY.
Hostel type accommodation from April to
October. Details from: The Secretary, The Manx
Museum, Douglas, Isle of Man. Tel: (0624)
75522. ' (BB176)
SKOKHOLM AND SKOMER ISLANDS,
Pembrokeshire, Dyfed. Full board accom-
modation; birdwatching/photography courses.
Send s.a.e. to Dept BB. VVYVTNC, 7 Market
Street, Haverfordwest. (BB116)
BIRDWATCH CORNWALL. Sept 28th-
Oct 4th 1985. £105.00 inclusive. Five days of field
trips. Local RSPB leaders. Evening films and
talks. Special help for beginners. Exciting
seabirds, waders, ducks and birds of prey.
Discounts for parties. Two star hotel with
Scandinavian leisure centre. For brochure and
birdlist, phone Pauline Boss, 0736 795294,
Karenza Hotel, St Ives, Cornwall. (BB290)
£77: CORNWALL FOR BIRDS. 12-19 Oct
1985, Trevone Hotel, Newquay. Centrally
heated. Excellent food, talks, films and outings
with popular leaders Eric Grace and Jack Wright.
£77, inclusive price for the week inc DB&B. New
for 1985 Oct 5-12, Cornish Saints & Sinners:
visiting old churches and pubs; £89 DB&B and
pub lunches. Tel: Pamela Chegwin 063 73 3039.
(BB311)
SPAIN — Birding 1986
Tom Gullick lives in Spain and will show you
the rarest birds in the most beautiful and
remote areas. Expect to see 5 eagles, 3
vultures, bustards, sand grouse, white-headed
duck, galinule, eagle owl, black stork, with
many ducks, waders and passerines on
spring migration. 11, 8 and 5-day tours for
3-4 persons only, by Range Rover. 8 years
and over 500 field days of experience in Spain.
Tom Gullick, c/o Mrs. M. C. Parker,
5 Tile Barn Close, Farnborough,
Hants GU15 8LS. Tel: 0252 547213.
(BB343)
CORNWALL SEARCH FOR RARE
VAGRANTS. 2 1 st-28th September, based at
our new centre Polgreen Farm, St Mawgan. SAE
for details to Judith Wake, Furze Lodge,
Trelights, Port Isaac, Cornwall PL29 3TG.
(BB369)
JOHN GOODERS • Autumn in Andalucia &
the Goto Donana 26 Oct-2 Nov; Contact
immediately lor last-minute vacancies • French
Weekends for Sea Eagles & Cranes 21-24 Nov
and 20-23 Feb. Dutch Winter Weekend Wild
Goose Chase 6-9 Feb. • Raptors over Gibraltar
1 7-24 March. • Spring in Andalucia & the Goto
Donana 5-12 April. Details: Lattenden’s Farm
(BB), Ashburnham, Nr Battle, E. Sussex TN33
9PB. Tel: 0323 833245. (BB370)
CRUISES
VISIT SCOTTISH ISLES— even (weather
permitting) St Kilda — aboard comfortable 8-
berth motor sailing yacht with qualified
skipper/guide. Details: Seabird Cruises, High-
minton. Hillside, Cromer NR27 0HY. (BB186)
HIED LIFE HO LI DA YS
KENYA. Personally escorted 2-week tented
Bird Watching/Wildlife Safari departing 20th
December visiting Rift Valley Lakes, Naivasha,
Nakuru and Baringo with Masai Mara and
Samburu Gameparks. All inclusive, £1,025.
Adventure Africa, The Square, Ramsbury,
Wiltshire. Tel: 0672 20569. ( BB302)
OVERSEAS
BIRDING ABROAD? Site guides and trip
reports on: Kenya, Gambia, Thailand, India,
Israel, Morocco, Canaries, Madeira, Mallorca,
South America, Europe, Asia, Africa etc. Tel:
0905 54541. (BB326)
PERSONAL
THE HAWK TRUST cares about all birds of
prey. Why not help us with our conservation
projects? For information, contact Flic Member-
ship Secretary (JB), The Hawk Trust, FREE-
POST, Beckenham, Kent. (BB52)
BIRD REPORT
“SUFFOLK BIRDS 1983”— inc. systematic
list, articles, Landguard report, photographs.
£2.50 post paid from Mrs C. Green, The Museum,
High Street, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 3QH. (BB325)
ORKNEY BIRD REPORT 1984. £1.80 plus
25p for p. and p. from M. F. Cuthbert, Visha-
breck, Evie, Orkney. ( BB30 1 )
AUTHOR REQUIRES information about local
names for animals/birds (eg, in dialect). M.
Webb, 1 10 Dover Road, Portsmouth P03 6JX.
(BB353)
WALNEY BIRD OBSERVATORY REPORT
1984. £1.75 post paid. Tim Dean, Walney Bird
Observatory, Barrow, Cumbria. (BB347)
SITUATIONS VACANT
BIRDWATCHER/NATURAL HISTORIAN
required aboard converted fishing boat. Ability to
cook and physical fitness essential. Exciting
opportunity with small but expanding wildlife
holiday company. Write to Carl Reavey, The
Pier, Tighnabruaich, Argyll. (BB362)
xx
BOOKS
HENRY SOTHERAN LTD
London 5 leading ornithological book stockists.
DUE SHORTLY: Paperback edition of Newman’s
Birds of South Africa £8.95. In stock: 3rd Edition
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Our new catalogue currently at the printers will be
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2, 3, 4 & 5 Sackville St, London W1X 2DP.
01-734 1150 Just off Piccadilly. Mon-Fri 9.00-5.30.
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“BIRDS OF BARDSEY” By Peter Roberts. A
new book with full details of all 276 species
occurring on this Welsh Observatory island.
Many illustrations, graphs. Hardback, £8.50.
Paperback, £5.50 including postage. From: The
Hon Secretary, Dr R. G. Loxton, Dept, of Pure
and Applied Zoology, Baines Wing, University of
Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT. ( BB375)
BOOKS ON Birds, Natural History, Gardening,
Field Sports, etc. Bought and sold. Catalogues
issued. Books on most subjects purchased. Blest,
Wateringbury, Maidstone, Kent. Tel: 0622
812940. (BB39)
BANNERMAN & LODGE
Birds of the British Isles, Vols VI-XI I
£7 each or £40 for all 7 vols
Available only from:
SOC Bird Bookshop
21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh
EH7 5BT.
(BB292)
The £1000 cheque and Zeiss
West 10x40s have been won,
but if you would be intrigued to
see The British Birds' Mystery
Photographs Book (and the full
solution) you can get it now lor
£ 1 .50 (previous price was £4.80).
Send cheque or PC ) (payable to
British Birds) to: Mi’ll, foun-
tains. Park Lane. Blunhain.
Bedford M K I t 3NJ. (Bill 30)
BIRDWATCHER S LOGBOOKS. Still a few
copies of the first, hard back edition still
available price only £2.50 including p&p from
Coxton Publications, 23 West Hill Road.
Fox ton .Cam bridge C B2 6SZ. ( B B28 7)
NATURAL HISTORY BOOKS. Secondhand
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(BB306)
JUST PUBLISHED
The Birds of Orkney, by Chris Booth,
Mildred Guthbert and Peter Reynolds. The
most comprehensive book ever to be
published on the rich bird-life of the Orkney
Islands. 298 pp, with b/w photos by Arthur
Gilpin and vignettes by John Holloway. £12
from bookshops, or, in case of difficulty,
direct from The Orkney Press, 72 Victoria
Street, Stromness, Orkney, Scotland (add £1
p&p). (BB337)
THE BIRD BOOKSHOP
SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB
W'ide range of titles in stock
Free catalogue from: 21 Regent Terrace,
Edinburgh EH7 5BT. Tel: 031-556 6042
(BB'239)
BOOKS ON BIRDS. New and secondhand,
catalogue 30p stamps. Surplus books urgently
sought. BB bought and sold. Open Monday to
Saturday. Bird Books of Sevenoaks, 67 London
Rd, Sevenoaks, Kent. Tel: 0732 455899. (BB245)
‘BIRD BOOKS’. Good secondhand books
bought and sold. Free catalogue from, and offers
to Brianl Books, 94 Quarry Lane, Kelsall.
Tarporley, Cheshire CW6 0NJ. Tel: 0829 51804.
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FINE NATURAL HISTORY BOOKS bought
and sold. R. Norman. Hart-on-the-Hill, Dalton
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REPAIRS
WE REPAIR BINOCULARS. And cameras.
And projectors. We’ve been at it for thirty years
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BINOCULAR AND TELESCOPE REPAIRS
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experience. Send or call in to: Kav Optical.
89B London Road. Morden. Surrey. (01-648
8822). For Sales, see our advertisement on page
iv. (BB269)
ARE YOU a cross-eyed birdwatcher? We offer a
cleaning and re-aligning service for any make or
size of hand held binocular or telescope at a
special price of £15.50 including return postage.
Full repair service available. Charles Frank Ltd.,
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Glasgow G‘2 6LD. (BB161)
STAMPS
KINGFISHERS ON STAMPS 10 = £1.00.
Send for 14 page bird stamp list. A. Grainger,
42 Lee Lane East, Horsforth, Leeds. (BB342)
?
XXI
FOR SALE
Breeding Birds of Great Britain
and Ireland
A Fieldguide Companion
A set of 7 laminated cards in a handy
plastic waller (120 mm X 75 mm)
225 breeding birds covered
• Laying period 9 No. of Broods 9 No. of
Eggs 9 Size and Shape 9 Incubation days
9 Colour 9 Location of nest.
only IR£2.50/Stg£2
(post free anywhere in U.K. /Ireland)
Send cheque, P.O., money order to: Barvane Ltd.,
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THINKING OF GETTING NEW
BINOCULARS OR A TELESCOPE?
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Send SA£ and cheque/ PO forCtOO (payable to BRITISH BIROS LTD)
lo Binoculars A Telescopes . Fountains. Pafhlane.BKjnhani.Bedfwd MK44 3NJ
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1960/1/3/5/6; unbound 1969/70/72-79. Millard,
44 Bysing Wood Rd, Faversham ME13 7RL. Tel:
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British Birds is the leading
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rates. (BB340)
LEITZ 10 x 40 B, dose focus, hard eye-cups,
good condition, £225. Welwyn Garden 335517.
(BB352)
BIRDWATCHER selling part of library. Many
interesting 1st editions: Birds of Arabia, Sudan,
USSR (6 vols), India (10 vols), Africa (6 vols),
etc. Ed. Mackrili, Welton, Spilsby, Lines PE23
5SY. (BB345)
BWP VOLS 1-4 £180. Exeter 32012.
TELESCOPE. Schmidt & Bender 15-60 X 60
R/A (in case) plus Slick tripod. Excellent con-
dition. £105. Exeter 32012. (BB348)
IF YOU WOULD LIKE to reach 30,000 genuine
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Birds will dojust that.
What better and more effective way to sell
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clothing, etc.PJust phone Sandra on 0621 815085
for details. (BB339)
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free colour brochure: Dept Bl, Sherwoods
Binocular Centre, 11-13 Western Arcade,
Birmingham B2 5HU. (BB151)
BIRD JOURNAL BACKNUMBERS SUP-
PLIED. (BB. Bird Study, County Reports etc)
Morgan, Whitmore, Umberleigh, Devon.
(BB226)
HAWKINS, Winit, Tecnic, Bogtrotters, walking
boots and shoes. Sprayway waterproofs, SAE for
brochure. B. Timson, 111 Hinckley Road, Earl
Shilton, Leicester. (BB135)
BINOCULARS FOR SALE. A good range of
new and used quality glasses usually available,
21 Crescent Grove, London SW4 7AF. (BB280)
BIRD PAINTINGS. Originals from stock (from
£15). Illustrated catalogue from: Birders, 46
Westleigh Drive, Sonning Common, Reading
RG4 9LB. (BB289)
BRITISH WARBLERS & GARDEN BIRDS
are two, hour-long stereo cassettes in a series of 5
titles. Only £3.25 each inch p&p. SAE details.
Also, Parabolic Reflector specially designed for
recording birdsong. Hand or tripod mounting.
£26 incl p&p. SAE details. Richard Margoschis,
80 Mancetter Rd, Atherstone CV9 1NH. (BB177)
WANTED
INFORMATION WANTED for Falslerbo/
S. Sweden late August/early September. Mike
Thompson, 10 Ladysmith Rd, St Albans, Herts.
(BB351)
WANTED. Zeiss (.Jena) Septarem 7 X 40
binoculars to replace loss. Dr N. D. Gower, 141
Hyperion Rd., Stourbridge W. Mids. DY7 6SJ.
Tel: 0384 377658. (BB373)
xxn
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Leitz 8 x 32 B £275.00
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Habicht 7 x 42 WMP New Model £229.28
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Volume 78 Number 8 August 1985
369 Subscription changes Editors
Appearance and behaviour of immature Guillemots and
Razorbills at sea P. Hope Jones and E. 1. S. Rees
Seventy-five years ago . . .
Mystery photographs t04 Blac k Tern Keith Vinuombe
Pallas’s Warblers and other migrants in Britain and Ireland
in October 1982 D. H. Howey and M Bell
PhotoSpot 14 Ross's Gull P.J. Grant
Obituary David Bassil Hunt (1934-1985) P. J. Grant
Notes
Pink-footed Geese feeding on school playing-fields Derek frnshau
Tertial patterns of Wigeon ami American Wigeon Per Alstrdm
Identification pitfalls of juvenile Cinnamon leal G.j
Ovsterratc her hawking for flving ants /. M Jones
Common Sandpiper feeding from hippopotamus intiir
Wing-clapping hv Mistlr Ornish Tom H Dougall
Possible mimic r\ of Com Bunting song l»\ ( iraas hopper Warbler J Do;
Reed Bunting feeding on decaying potato Bernard A mg
Letters
Distinctive bird names Don Roberson. Rob Medland
Captive female Corncrake uttering « raking call Jeffery Ros
Measurement of wing-span Peter Holden
Avocet correction Geoffrey Gore
Care with non-avian identifications Sort Jackson
Announcements
Irish subscribers
From plastic macs to dirty raincoats
‘The Frontiers of Bird Identification’ — speoiai. offer
‘Birds in vour Garden'
‘The Birds of Australia’ — special offer
News and comment Alike Everett and Robin Pntherch
Short reviews Dr J. T. R. Sharrock
Reviews
The Bints of Orkney by Chris Booth. Mildred Cuthhert and Peter Rrvnoli
Dr J. T. R. Shanoek
Enc H asking's Wildfowl by Eric Husking and Janet Kear Dr R J. Chandler
Marine Birds their feeding ecology and commercial fisheries relationships edited hv D N
Nettleship, G. A. Sanger and P. F. Springer Dr Jeremy J. D. Greenwood
Ian Sinclair's Fteld Guide to the Rirds of Southern Africa h\ Ian Sinclair Soman .1 rlott
A Field Guide to the Bird Songs of South-East Asia by Terry 'Vhite Philip D. Round
Recent reports Keith Allsopp and tan Dawson
Line-drawings: 370 Guillemots (T. R. Birkhoad); 381 Pallas's Warbler, and 41.r) Bluethroat
(Gay Troughlon )
Front cover: Hobbies in the New Forest {Datnd Theluell) : the
drawing of this month’s cover design is
56 in January issue for procedure)
ongi
stal auction (see
gmal
page
British Birds
Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock
Personal Assistant Sheila D. Cobban Assistant Editors David Christie 8c P. J. Grant
Editorial /foart/ Stanley Cramp, P. J. Grant, Dr M. A. Ogilvie 8c DrJ. T. R. Sharrock
Photographic Consultants Dr R. J. Chandler 8c Don Smith
Rarities Committee P. J. Grant (Chairman), D. J. Britton, A. R. Dean, R. H. Dennis,
D. J. Holman, T. P. Inskipp, P. G. Lansdown, S. C. Madge, I. S. Robertson 8c
K. E. Vinicombe; Michael J. Rogers (Honorary Secretary)
Notes Panels behaviour Dr C. J. Bibby, Dr J. J. M. Flegg, Dr C. H. Fry,
Derek Goodwin, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, DrJ. T. R. Sharrock 8c Dr K. E. L. Simmons;
identification P. J. Grant, S. C. Madge, Dr M. A. Ogilvie 8c DrJ. T. R. Sharrock
© British Birds Ltd 1985
Copyright of photographs remains with
photographers. British Birds is
published monthly by British Birds Ltd,
93 High Street, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire
ISSN 0007-0335
Publishing Manager,
Production & Promotion
Dr J. T. R. Sharrock
Circulation Manager
Erika Sharrock
Design
Deborah Cartwright
Advertising
Sandra Barnes
Addresses
Please keep correspondence on different items separate. Please address your
envelope correctly. Please supply SAL, if reply required.
Papers, notes, letters, drawings & photographs for publication DrJ. T. R. Sharrock, Fountains,
Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford mk44 3nj
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Blunham, Bedford mk44 3nj
Advertising Mrs Sandra Barnes, BB Advertising, c/o Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham,
Bedford mk44 3nj. Phone : Tiptree (0621 ) 815085
Bird news for ‘ Recent reports 'Ian Dawson & Keith Allsopp, c/o RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy,
Bedfordshire sc; 19 2dl. Phone (outside office hours): Huntingdon (0480) 214186.
News items for ‘ News and comment' Mike Everett & Robin Prytherch, 7 Burlington Way,
Hemingford Grey, Huntingdon pe18 9bs
Rarity descriptions M. J. Rogers, 4 Pentland Flats, St Mary’s. Isles ofScilly tr21 Ohy
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vi
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British Birds
VOLUME 78 NUMBER 9 SEPTEMBER 1985
Pi
Plumage, age and moult
terminology
The ability to tell the age of a bird by its plumage and other features is,
in itself, an interesting and challenging part of identification. Also, for
some difficult-to-identify species, it is often an essential starting point in the
identification process. In these and other studies related to plumage, a
clearly defined terminology is important, and it would seem useful, there-
fore, to define that used in British Birds.
‘Calendar-year’ terminology is useful as a simple age-categorisation in
some cases, and is defined and discussed separately. Other systems of
plumage, age and moult terminology are used elsewhere. These are also
discussed, and the equivalent terminology' for two important ones (the
‘Humphrey & Parkes’ system, and that used in BWP) are given in table 1 .
‘British Birds’ terminology
DISTINCT PLUMAGES
Juvenile (abbreviation: juv) The first set of true feathers, which replaces the down plumage.
Juvenile plumage is that in which the bird first flies, although some species (e.g. some
auks) are flightless until they acquire first-winter plumage. In the great majority of
species, juvenile plumage is distinguishable from other immature or adult plumages,
juvenile plumage is retained until the moult to first-winter plumage (also called the
post-juvenile moult). Depending on the species, this moult can be anything from
partial (involving at least most of the head and body feathers), as is the case w ith most
species, to complete. Depending, again, on the species, the moult to first-winter starts
at anv time from shortly after fledging to w inter.
[Brit. Birds 78: 419-427, September 1985]
419
420 Plumage, age and moult terminology
First-winter (abbreviation: lst-w) In some species, especially those few which have a
complete post-juvenile moult, the first-winter plumage may be similar to the adult
winter plumage. In others, juvenile features are retained (especially distinctive
patterned juvenile wing and tail feathers) which enable first-winter plumage to be
identifiable. First-winter plumage is retained until the moult to first-summer plumage,
which, depending on the species, starts in late winter to spring. This moult is partial in
most species, complete in very few. Some species do not moult at this time, in which
case first-summer plumage is either little different from first-winter, or is acquired by
loss of feather-fringes which reveals the underlying first-summer coloration.
First-summer (abbreviation: lst-s) It should be firmly noted that ‘first’ summer here refers
to the first full summer after the year of hatching, not to the summer in which the bird
was hatched: misunderstanding of this simple point can lead to a great deal of
confusion. First-summer plumage is identifiable only on those species which acquire
distinctive first-summer features (including through differential feather-wear) or,
much more commonly, by the continued retention of juvenile features (especially,
distinctive juvenile wing and tail feathers). First-summer plumage is retained until the
moult to second-winter plumage, which, depending on the species, starts in early
summer to early winter. This moult is complete in most species, partial in rather few.
Second-winter (abbreviation: 2nd-w) Second-winter plumage is identifiable only on those
species which acquire distinctive second-winter plumage patterns or other features,
and is retained until the moult to second-summer plumage, which, depending on the
species, starts in late winter to spring. This moult is partial in most species, complete in
very few.
Second-summer (abbreviation: 2nd-s) Second-summer plumage is identifiable only on
those species which acquire distinctive second-summer features, or. more commonly,
by the retention of second-winter features (especially, distinctive second-winter wing
and tail feathers). Second-summer plumage is retained until the moult to third-winter
plumage, which, depending on the species, starts in early summer to early winter. This
moult is complete in most species, partial in rather few.
Third-winter (abbreviation: 3rd-w) Some species take a further year or more to acquire
adult plumage, and follow a sequence of plumages after second-summer, thus, ‘third-
winter’, ‘third-summer’ (3rd-s), ‘fourth-winter’ (4th-w), ‘fourth-summer’ (4th-s). and
so on.
Adult (abbreviation: ad) The ultimate plumage of a bird, which does not change further
through age. It should be noted that, in some species, ‘adult’ plumage does not
necessarily indicate sexual maturity. Many species have adult plumage which changes
twice a year: ‘adult summer4 (ad. s). which results from a moult which starts in late
winter to spring (the ‘spring moult’), or from the loss of fringes on winter plumage
feathers; and ‘adult winter’ (ad. w). which results from a moult which starts in early
summer to earlv winter (the ‘autumn moult’).
GENERAL TERMS
Immature (abbreviation: imm) Any plumage other than adult. The length of recognisable
immaturity varies from a few weeks to several years, depending on the species. It
should be noted that ‘immature’ here refers only to plumage, since some species can be
sexually mature while still in an immature plumage.
First-year (abbreviation: lst-y) A general term covering the plumages of approximately the
first 12 months of life, thus referring jointly to juvenile, first-winter and first-summer
plumages.
Second-year (abbreviation: 2nd-y) A general term covering the plumages of approximately
the second 1 2 months oflife, thus referring jointly to second-winter and second-summer
plumages. Similarly, ‘third-year’ (jointly third-winter and third-summer plumages:
abbreviation 3rd-y), ‘fourth-year’ (4th-y), and soon.
VVc consider that use of the vague term ‘sub-adult’ should be avoided.
There is no widely accepted definition of the term, and, in any case, it seems
to be a less descriptive alternative for terms which have already been
421
Plumage, age and moult terminology
defined here. 1 1 vagueness over the age or plumage of a bird is unavoidable,
it would he better to describe it as, for example, ‘immature’, ‘first- or
second-year’, ‘immature other than juvenile’, or ‘near-adult’ as appro-
priate.
TRANSITIONAL PLUMAGES
Transitional stages are referred to as, for example, ‘juvenile moulting to
first-winter’, or ‘first-summer moulting to second-winter’. For species
which acquire summer plumage by loss of feather fringes rather than moult,
phraseology such as ‘first-winter in transition to first-summer’, or ‘adult
winter in transition to summer’ is more appropriate. The duration of a
moult can vary from a few weeks in the case of small species, to several
months in the case of some large species.
Calendar-year terminology
A simple terminology for age-categorisation (for immatures or known-age
adults) is based on the calendar year, and is useful in some cases. Calendar-
year terminology has been rather little used in Britain, but is increasingly
199. Ring-billed Gull Lams delawarensis near end of complete autumn moult from adult
summer to adult winter plumage. The dark-marked winter head plumage shows that these
feathers have already been renewed: only the outermost primary on each wing remains to be
dropped, and the end of the autumn moult will come with the full growth of its replacement.
USA, September 1984 (Richard Chandler)
422
Plumage, age and moult terminology
popular abroad, especially in Europe. It is especially well-suited to those
species which have lengthy or overlapping moult periods and thus have no
long-lasting or static winter or summer plumages. It is also useful when
age-groups need to be referred to generally, or when precise plumage
definition is inappropriate or not determinable.
‘First calendar-year’ (abbreviation: 1st cal-y) refers to individuals up to
31st December of their hatching year. ‘Second calendar-year’ (2nd cal-y)
refers to individuals from 1st January to 31st December of the year after
hatching. Similarly, ‘third calendar-year’ (3rd cal-y), and so on.
When necessary, further precision can be added to the calendar-year
terminology by the addition of the date, month or season, for example ‘first
calendar-year (December)’ or ‘third calendar-year (autumn)’. The calen-
dar-year terminology as defined here is, of course, unsuitable for use in
equatorial regions or in the southern hemisphere.
Discussion
Several other systems of plumage and moult terminology are in use
elsewhere. It should be noted that our attempts to find a single, inter-
nationally acceptable teminology were unsuccessful. Such consistency
would be highly desirable, but a draft of this editorial sent to five inter-
national consultants attracted five different proposed alternatives! In
deciding to retain the existing British Birds terminology, we are conscious
that it can be criticised on mainly semantic grounds. For example.
200. F irst-winter Dunlin Calidris alpina. The post-juvenile moult of small waders does not
include the wing feathers, and the neatly pale-fringed, retained juvenile wing-coverts and
tertials enable this first-winter individual to be distinguished from adult winter plumage
(which would have plainer coverts and tertials, matching the rest of the upperparts). Essex,
October 1984 ( R . Glover)
423
Plumage, age and moult terminology
‘summer’ and ‘winter’ plumages do not necessarily fully coincide with those
seasons; migrants occur in the southern hemisphere’s summer in ‘winter’
plumage; season-based terminology is inappropriate for equatorial species;
and it is rather inappropriate for species which have a complete, once-
vearly moult (e.g. the adult winter and adult summer ‘plumages’ ofStarling
Sturnus vulgaris involve the same set of feathers).
201. Juvenile Dunlin Calidris alpina moulting to first-winter plumage. The progress of the
post-juvenile moult on this individual can be clearly seen from the mixture of old juvenile
mantle feathers and scapulars (dark with sharply defined pale fringes) and new. plainer,
first-winter ones. Republic of Ireland. September 1975 (Richard T. Mills)
424
Plumage , age and moult terminology
202. Juvenile Starling Stumus vulgaris moulting to first-winter plumage. The post-juvenile
moult of this species is a complete one (on this individual, only the juvenile head feathers are
still to be replaced), and is followed by only one moult each year, a complete one in autumn.
Starlings acquire summer plumage not by a spring moult, but by loss of the white feather-tips
in spring, giving a more uniform and glossy appearance. In first-winter and first-summer
plumages. Starlings are often distinguishable from adults only by detailed in-the-hand
examination, if at all. Surrey, September 1974 (Michael W. Richards )
203. First-summer male Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus. This species retains some juvenile
wing and tail feathers throughout its first year, and males do not acquire full adult summer
plumage in the spring moult to first-summer plumage, enabling this age to be readily
distinguished. Shetland. June 1969 (Bobby Tulloch)
425
Plumage , age and moult terminology
We feel, however, that, with the definition given here, any semantic
anomalies are superficial, and can readily he interpreted. Certainlv, the
British Birds terminology (or the calendar-year alternative) is well-suited to
the vast majority of species likely to he dealt with in our pages. The main
components ol our terminology are also established, having been first
outlined by Witherbv ( 1909), who adapted the model provided by Dwight
(1900): as such — in Britain at least — it is by far the most used and most
widely understood. We see no benefit, therefore, in changing to any of the
alternative terminologies, which can equally be criticised for semantic or
other reasons.
The terminology proposed some time ago by Humphrey & Parkes ( 1959:
see also Stresemann 1963; Humphrey & Parkes 1963; Amadou 1966) is
unconnected with seasons or other annual or reproductive cycles, and the
intervening moults are named for incoming (rather than outgoing)
plumages. As such, it avoids associated semantic anomalies. It is. however,
unfamiliar to most European ornithologists and birdwatchers, and requires
a longer period of exposure it it is to become universally accepted. It is
already used in some literature in North America and elsewhere, and thus
we feel that it would be useful, for reference purposes, to give Humphrey &
Parkes’s alternatives to the British Birds terminology (table 1 ). For the same
reason, table I also includes the alternative terminology used in much ol
BWP.
204. Thi rd or fourth ralendar-vear Golden l.agle Aquila chrysaetoa. The lengthy, overlapping
moults of some large species, such as large birds of prey, mean that at any one time there can be
three different generations of feathers in the wings and tail, and also that there is no static
winter or summer plumage. The calendar-vear terminology is therefore more appropriate for
describing the age of immatures of such species. Sweden, January 1969 ( P. 0. Swanberg)
Plumage, age and moult terminology
426
205.. J uvenile Blackbird Turdus merula moulting to first-winter plumage. That the post-juvenile
moult is under way on this individual is indicated by some new, unstreaked first-winter
scapulars, and by the fact that other scapulars and uppertail-coverts appear to be missing.
‘Immature’, ‘first-year’, or ‘first calendar-year’ would also correctly describe the age or
plumage of this individual, but ‘juvenile moulting to first-winter’ is the most informative.
Hertfordshire, August 1976 (E. A. Janes)
Table 1. ‘British Birds’ plumage and moult terminology, showing ‘BWP’ and
Humphrey & Parkes alternatives
The names of the moults are in italics
‘British Birds’
BWP
Humphrey & Parkes
Juvenile
Juvenile
Juvenal
Moult to first-winter or
Post-juvenile moult
First prebasic moult
post-juvenile moult
First-winter
First immature non-breeding
First basic
Moult to first-summer
First immature pre-breeding moult
First pre alternate moult
First-summer
First immature breeding
First alternate
Moult to second-winter
First immature post-breeding moult
Second prebasic moult
Second-winter
Second immature non-breeding
Second basic
Moult to second-summer
Second immature pre-breeding moult
Second preal female moult
Second-summer
Second immature breeding
Second afternate
Moult to adult winter or
Adult post-breeding moult
Prebasic moult
autumn moult
Adult winter
Adult non-breeding
Definitive basic
Moult to adult summer or
Adult pre-breeding moult
Prealtemale moult
spring moult
Adult summer
Adult breeding
Definitive alternate
427
Plumage , age and moult terminology
Acknowledgments
We thank Laurence ( • Binfbrd. ( arl hdelstam, E. J. van I jzendoom. Dr Kenneth C. Parkes.
(.. S. Roselaar and Lars Svensson tor their valued comments on an earlier draft of this
editorial, which have prompted important improvements in the published version.
References
Amadon. D. 196b. Avian plumages and molts. Condor 68: 263-278.
Dvvioht. J. 1900. I he sequence of plumages and moults of the passerine birds of New York.
Annals N. Y.Acad.Sci. 13:73-360.
Humphrey. P. S..& Parkes. K.C. 1959. An approach to the studv of molts and plumages. Auk
76: 1-31.
& 1963. ( Comments on the study of plumage succession. Auk 80: 496-503.
Stresemann. E. 1963. The nomenclature of plumages and molts. Auk 80: 1-8.
\\ itherby, H. F. 1909. Sequence of plumages in British birds. Brit. Birds?)'. 209-212.
Spring migration
1985
Peter Holden
This spring saw the tenth ‘phone-in’ survey of migrant arrivals run by
the Young Ornithologists' Club, the junior section of the RSPB. This
annual survey started in a small way in 1976 and has become progressively
more sophisticated.
This year, YOC members and interested adults were invited to telephone
one of nine regional offices of the RSPB or the Irish Wildbird Conservancy
and report first-sightings of migrants. A team of more than 40 people helped
to answer calls for two hours each week from 19th March to 14th May-
inclusive. Weekly analysis was carried out by the RSPB Data Processing
Department, and a digest of the week’s findings was reported to BBC
Ceefax, which gave the YOC its own pages (295, BBC2).
During the nine weeks of the phone-in, the YOC received over 2,200
calls, giving details of more than 8.000 sightings of summer migrants.
V olunteers answering the calls were instructed to note all observations, to
cross-question observers when difficult species were reported or unusually
early sightings were made, and to tell the observer how his or her records
fitted in with the national pattern which was emerging. Volunteers scored
observations as "reliable’, ‘unreliable’ or ‘possible but unexpected’;
[Brit. Buds 78: 427-434, September 1985)
428
Spring migration 1985
"unreliable’ reports have been omitted from any analysis, but the ‘possible’
sightings have been included when they were later found to conform or
nearly conform to the national picture.
The following is a summary of arrival patterns of the 1 5 species for which
the YOC received more than 100 reports. A comparison is made with last
year’s reports and with an ‘average’ arrival pattern compiled from records
received during 1978-84. Percentages have been adjusted to take account of
a 9% increase in the number of reports in 1985 compared with 1984.
Weather
This report does not relate the YOC’s reports to weather conditions for the
nine weeks. For details of the weather at the time, readers should refer to the
summaries published monthly in ‘Recent reports’.
Histograms
The histograms show the periods of first (not main) arrival. The horizontal
axis is divided into seven-day periods running from Saturday to Friday.
I he vertical axis shows the percentage of the total number of records for
each species. (Records constituting < 0.5% in any period are not shown.)
4’he 1985 records are shown by stippling, and the average of the seven
previous years’ records is shown by the solid line.
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
Late arriving, no March migrants reported. First probable migrant seen on
6th April, in Surrey. Numbers built up more slowly than normal, with peak
arrival during the last week of April. Number of reports 9% up on last year.
FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY
Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis
Late arriving, with less than average numbers reported during March.
Peak arrival took place during the first two weeks of April, which follows the
pattern of previous years. Number of sightings 10% more than in 1984.
25-1 2-e 9-15 16-22 25-29 50-5 6-12 15-19 20-26 27-5 4-10 11-17
FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY
429
Spring migration 1985
Common Tern Sterna hirundo
First reported on 2nd April, in Kent, and a rush during the first two weeks
of the month was earlier than usual, but this momentum was not main-
tained and the number of reports remained low' until the first week of May.
Numbers of reports 9% fewer than last year.
23-1 2-8 9-15 16-22 23-29 50-5 6-12 13-19 20-26 27-3 4-10 11-17
FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY
Cuckoo Cuculus canorus
A similar pattern of arrival to the ‘average’ of the last few years, except more
than usual (10%) were first reported in May, and there were 22% fewer
reports. First accepted record was on 24th March, in Hertfordshire.
30
20
V
10
X
V-
■V
•r
-Y
23-1 2-0 9-15 16-22 23-29 30-5 6-12 13-19 20-26 27-3 4-10 11-17
FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY
Swift Apus apus
First reported on 3rd April, in Norfolk, but this did not herald an early
arrival for the majority of our Swift population. Arrival was, on average, a
week late, with most observers not seeing their first Sw ift until the first week
of May. Number of sightings 7% down on last year.
430
Spring migration 1985
Sand Martin Riparia riparia
First reported on 5th March, in Dorset, but only a few other March reports.
The first week of April saw this species starting to arrive, much later than
normal, and in very small numbers. More continued to arrive throughout
April and early May, much later than average. By the end of the survey, the
number of sightings was 8% down on last year.
23-1 2-8 9-15 16-22 23-29 50-5 6-12 13-19 20-26 27-5 4-10 11-17
FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY
Swallow Hirundo rustica
The first report this year was on 21st March, in West Yorkshire. The
pattern of arrival was similar to the average for the last eight years, except
that the peak week was 1 3th- 1 9th April instead of 6th- 12th April, and a few
observers still reporting first sightings as late as the first week of May.
Similar numbers of reports received in 1984 and 1985.
23-1 2-8 9-15 16-22 23-29 50-5 6-12 15-19 20-26 27-5 4-10 11-17
FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY
House Martin Delichon urbica
First reported on 7th March, in Essex; the arrival period was, on average, a
week late. Most reports of first migrants were during the period 13th April
to 10th May. Number of reports was about the same as in 1984.
25-1 2-8 9-15 16-22 25-29 50-5 6-12 15-19 20-26 27-5 4-10 11-17
FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY
431
Spring migration 1985
Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava
Late arriving, with only eight reports during March, mostly during the last
two days of the month and in southern England. Fewer than usual were
seen in mid April, and migration appears to have continued well into May.
There were 10% fewer reports than in 1984.
23-1 2-8 9-15 16-22 23-29 30-5 6-12 1 3-19 20-26 27-3 4-10 11-17
FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY
Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe
First seen on 2nd March in Norfolk, but thereafter few early sightings. The
period 23rd-29th March saw the first main rush, but the peak week was
30th March to 5th April. The number of later sightings helped to com-
pensate for the earlier shortage, and by the end there were only 5% fewer
records than in 1984.
Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
Very late: first seen on 26th March, in Norfolk; numbers built up very
slowly, and did not reach their peak until early May. As many as 9% of
arrivals were reported during the final week of the phone-in. suggesting that
more had still to arrive. There were 16% fewer reports than in 1984.
432
Spring migration 1985
Whitethroat Sylvia communis
Almost two weeks later than average; numbers were very slow to build up,
and the peak arrival was not reached until early May. These late arrivals,
however, brought the total number of reports to about the same as for 1 984.
Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla
Overwintering individuals are frequently reported. Analysis usually shows
a surge of records in late March and early April, which is assumed to be the
arrival of migrants. This year, no increase was noticed in late March, but
the first two weeks of April was the peak arrival period, with a second
‘burst’ in the first week of May, at a time when many other warblers were
arriving. Number of records 47% up on last year.
30
20 ■
10 ■
0
23-1 2-8 9-15 16-22 23-29 30-5 6-12 1 3-19 20-26 27-3 4-10 11-17
FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY
Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita
As with Blackcap, the arrival of migrant ChiffchafTs is usually obvious. This
year, numbers remained low until early April, two weeks later than
average. Peak arrival took place during the first two weeks of April, and, by
the end of the survey, there were 2% more reports than in 1984.
23-1 2-8 9-15 16-22 23-29 30-5 6-12 13-19 20-26 27-3 4-10 11-17
FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY
433
Spring migration 1985
Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus
I1 irst reported on 3rd March, in Somerset, but thereafter a shortage of early
reports. Arrival started to be noticed during the first week of April, and the
peak was reached the following week. Reports about 2% up on 1984.
25-1 2-0 9-15 16-22 25-29 50-5 6-12 15-19 20-26 27-5 4-10 11-17
FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY
Other migrants
for most other species, the YOC received too few records to warrant
analysis, but the follow ing observations may be relevant.
Half the number of reports of Corncrakes Crex crex were received, in
comparison with 1984. Hobbies Falco subbuteo were reported more
frequently, especially in late April and early May. Little Terns Sterna
albifrons were reported from mid April onwards, with the peak week being
4th- 1 Oth May. Black Ferns Chlidonias niger were scarce compared with both
1984 and 1983, the largest number being during 4th- 10th May.
Fewer Turtle Doves Streptopelia turtur were reported with very few before
May. Reports of Hoopoes Upupa epops were also fewer than last year. Tree
Pipits Anthus trivialis were about as common as last year, with reports
throughout April and early May. Nightingales Luscinia megarhynchos were up
on last year, with most reports referring to late April and early May.
Redstarts Phoenicurus phoenicurus were 20% down on last year, with their
arrival period spanning April and the first two weeks of May. Whinchats
Saxicola rubetra were also down by the same percentage, but there was a
noticeable influx between 27th April and 10th May.
Ring Ouzels Turdus torquatus generally arrive early, and this year was no
exception. The best week for seeing newly arrived Ring Ouzels was un-
doubtedly 30th March to 5th April, but numbers remained low, and reports
were 47% down on last year.
Grasshopper Warblers Locustella naevia were up on last year; the peak
week, as for so many warblers, was 4th- 10th May. Reed Warblers Acro-
cephalus scirpaceus, too, had an influx that same week, but numbers were
substantially down on last year. Lesser Whitethroats Sylvia curruca were well
up on 1984, but, once again, 4th- 10th May was the week to see (or rather
hear) them. Garden Warblers S. borin were down 30%. but Wood Warblers
Phylloscopus sibilatrix dow n only 1 5% .
The two flvcatchers provide interesting comparisons: Spotted Fly-
catchers Muscicapa striata were scarce until 4th- 10th May, and about 35%
434 Spring migration 1985
down; Pied Flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca were up by around 25%, and
arrival was spread from early April until mid May.
Acknowledgments
t his paper would not have been possible without the assistance of those who telephoned in
their observations, and the volunteers who manned the telephones. For the third year, the
project was sponsored by British Telecom.
Summary
The YOG ran its annual phone-in on summer migrant arrival from 19th March to 14th May
inclusive. The pattern of migrant arrivals appeared to be significantly different from previous
years, and analysis of 15 selected species shows that one was earlier than average, two about
the same, and 12 a week or more later than average.
Furthermore, a comparison with the 1984 survey shows that, of 32 species surveyed, ten
were reported more frequently, five at about the same level, and 17 had been reported less
frequently, despite an increase in the number of observers.
A detailed, illustrated summary of the 1985 phone-in is published by the
YOC and is available for 80p, including p & p, from YOC, The Lodge,
Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL.
Peter Holden , 111 High Street, Blunham, Bedford MK443NN
Mystery photographs
~| /\ The Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus (left) and the
X \J other Acrocephalus warbler (right) in last month’s mystery photo-
graph (plate 183, repeated here as 206) both show pale tips and fringes to
206. First-winter Sedge YV arbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus (left) and first-winter Reed Warbler
A. scirpaceus X Sedge Warbler hybrid, Finland, August 1982 ( Antero Topp)
[ Bnl . Birds 78: 434-437, September 1985]
Mystery photographs
435
207 & 208. First-winter Reed W arbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus X Sedge W arblcr/t. schoenobaenus
hybrid, Finland, 10th August 1982 ( Antero Topp )
their flight feathers, and unabraded tail feathers. Thus, both are in fresh
plumage and, if they were photographed in the western Palearctic, it must
be autumn and the birds must be newly moulted from juvenile to first-
winter plumage.
The mystery warbler is slightly larger than the Sedge. It shows a strong
supercilium, broad but tapering both in front of and behind the eye,
bordered above and to a lesser extent below by a dark lateral crown-stripe
and a short dark eye-stripe. This relatively strong head pattern rules out
most of the likely species: Reed A. scirpaceus has only a slight supercilium;
Blyth's Reed A. dumetorum has a supercilium that is weak before the eye and,
although stronger behind the eye, is very short; that of Paddyfield A. agricola
flares out behind the eye even more than does this bird’s (and Paddyfield
has a shorter bill). The head pattern is not unlike that of Great Reed A.
arundinaceus , but not only is the bird itself too small for that thrush-sized
436 Mystery photographs
species, but the sharply pointed bill is also unlike that of Great Reed, which
is much thicker and blunter.
Having eliminated the likely common species, we are entitled now to
consider the unlikely possibilities. In fact, only one Acrocephalus warbler has
mainly unstreaked upperparts and this distinctive head pattern: Black-
browed Reed Warbler A. bistrigiceps. Although never recorded in the
western Palearctic, it is a long-distance migrant in the Far East and a
potential vagrant to western Europe (it was illustrated recently by Killian
Mullarney: Brit. Birds 78: 27). As well as its diagnostic head pattern, it does
also show pale tips and edges to its secondaries and tertials. This feature is
also shown by our mystery bird, which must surely confirm the identifica-
tion beyond doubt.
An individual with these distinctive features was mist-netted in Finland
in August 1982. The first record for the West Palearctic? Since the members
of the Finnish ringing group concerned net 3,000-5,000 Sedge, 300-400
Reed, 50-100 Marsh and one or two Blyth’s Reed annually, they know their
Acrocephalus warblers rather well. This warbler was ringed on 7th August
(rather early for an Asiatic vagrant) and was followed three days later by a
second nearly identical bird (the one in our mystery photograph), next day
by a third, and a few days later by a fourth. These three subsequent
individuals confirmed the Finnish observers’ initial diagnosis that they
were dealing with a Reed X Sedge hybrid; clearly, they had netted all four
209. Mystery photograph 106. Identify the species. Answer next month
Mystery photographs 437
of the brood, reared near to their ringing site. The similarity of some
features of these hybrids to those of a potential vagrant stresses once again
the care that needs to be taken when coming across an unfamiliar bird.
A colour print of the mystery photograph was shown (with no back-
ground information) to several members of the Rarities Committee at its
meeting on 17th March 1984: three members who know it in Asia suspected
Black-browed Reed, two tentatively suggested the correct hybrid answer,
and the others were foxed, as perhaps most BB readers will have been last
month. Hybrids are not frequent, but do need to be remembered whenever
the alternative is even rarer.
1 am most grateful to Antero Topp for sending the photographs to British
Birds in the first place and for supplying full details of this fascinating story.
] . T. R. Sharrock
Review of British status and
identification of
Greenish
Warbler
.4. R. Dean
The traditional view, that a Phylloscopus warbler in Britain which dis-
played a single wing-bar must be either an Arctic Warbler P. borealis or
a Greenish Warbler P. trochiloides , has received support in all but the most
recent identification literature. During the late 1950s and early 1960s. a
number of decidedlv grev, drab Phylloscopus warblers, each with a single,
narrow, whitish wing-bar, were observed. They were clearly too small for
Arctic Warbler, with relatively short bills and the wrong bare-part colours.
Knowledge that the species' range was expanding northwest in Europe
[fln/. Birds 78: 437-451 , September 1985]
438
British status and identification of Greenish Warbler
encouraged a belief in Britain that these birds were Greenish Warblers. For
many observers, the image of the species became based on these rather
drab, grey individuals. They tended to appear rather late in the autumn
and, during the 1960s, there were two mid-winter records (Perry Oaks,
Surrey, and St Agnes, Scillv), remarkable for a species which normally
winters in India.
Later in the 1960s, however, doubts began to set in. Greenish Warblers
appeared significantly later in the autumn in southern and western Britain
than on Fair Isle, where a relatively high percentage of identifications was
confirmed by trapping. Most trapped individuals displayed a bright and
smart appearance and an intensity of greenish hues which, even allowing
for the known variability of the species (Alexander 1955), were difficult to
reconcile with the image of the species which was prevalent elsewhere in
Britain. Evidence was also mounting that Chiffchaffs P. collybita of northern
and eastern origin could display a single, quite well-defined wing-bar. On
Fair Isle, such individuals were identified regularly in late autumn. In
combination, these factors led R. H. Dennis to conclude that northern
Chiffchaffs were being misidentified as Greenish Warblers, and his
misgivings were conveyed to the Rarities Committee. From about 1970,
public awareness of the pitfall of Chiffchaffs with wing-bars became
widespread and, significantly, the number of late autumn reports of
Greenish Warblers subsequently declined.
In 1981, the Rarities Committee began a review of all previously
accepted records. This soon confirmed that the vast majority of records
after 1970 was soundly based, but that a substantial percentage of identi-
fications before that time had taken insufficient account of possible
confusion with Chitfchaffs of the north European race P. c. abietinus and the
Siberian race P. c. tristis.
Results of the review
Between 1958 and 1970, records of 46 Greenish Warblers had been
accepted by the Committee. Of these, 13 (all of which were trapped and
examined in the hand) were clearly classic examples of the species. The
remaining 33 records required closer examination. Many descriptions
concentrated only on the elimination of Arctic Warbler, and gave little or
no consideration to the elimination o f abietinus and tristis. Eventually, 20 of
the previously accepted records were rejected. A further two remain under
review. Thus, of 46 previously accepted records between 1958 and 1970, 24
remain accepted (Appendix 1).
Distribution of accepted records
The number of accepted records between 1958 and 1970 has thus fallen by
more than 40%. It is instructive to compare the temporal and geographical
distributions of those records which remain accepted in this period with
those described by Sharrock (1971) for the period 1958-67 (which were
based on all the records accepted at that time), and with the long-term
trend as revealed by the entire record for 1958 to 1982.
British status and identification of Greenish Warbler 439
I he pattern of past-accepted records during 1958-67 indicated a peak in
September and October. About 30% ol the records between August and
November were in southwest England and Wales (rising to 45% if Irish
records were included), and around 40% on the English east coast between
Northumberland and Kent. As with several species of northeasterly origin,
however, the later observations were concentrated in the south and west; in
north and east Britain a majority of records was in August and September.
I he currently perceived seasonal patterns in Britain for 1958-70 and
1958-82 are displayed in fig. 1 . (Irish records have been reviewed separately
by the Irish Records Panel: Mullarnev 1984.) In contrast with the original
indication, the revised distribution for 1958-70 is clearlv compatible with
the longer-term trend, showing both a peak in late August and early
September, and relatively few records after the end of September. The
geographical distribution for 1958-82 is displayed in fig. 2. Only 18% of the
August to November records were in southwest England and Wales, while
60% were on the English east coast between Northumberland and Kent.
Fig 1 . Seasonal pattern ofGreenish Warblers Phvtloscopus trochilnides in Britain during 1958-70
(black) and 1958-82 (black plus unfilled)
Thus, using the revised data, the suggestion of a significant October
arrival of Greenish Warblers disappears, while the geographical distri-
bution shows a much more easterly bias. In autumn. Norfolk emerges as the
county most regularly visited by Greenish Warblers (17% of the autumn
total), followed bv Shetland, Humberside, Lincolnshire and North-
umberland. The rather few^ late autumn records still tend to be in the
southwest (with four of the eight October and November occurrences in
Scillv), but there are single October records from Orkney and Kent.
Among the scattering of spring and early summer records, six occurrences
in the Isle of Man during June and July (betw een 1962 and 1981) are of
particular note.
Field-characters of Greenish Warbler and its confusion species
Insufficient awareness that Chiffchaffs of the races abietinus and tristis may
display a reasonably well-defined wing-bar seriously impeded the
identification ofGreenish Warblers during the late 1950s and 1960s. In
reality, the appearance of most Chiffchaffs with a wing-bar is, in other
respects, markedly different from that ofGreenish Warbler, and confusion
between these two species should rarely be a problem once the true
440
British status and identification of Greenish Warbler
Fig 2. Distribution bv counties of Greenish Warblers Phvlloscopus trochiloides in Britain during
1958-82
character of each is appreciated. Among other Palearctic Phvllo-
scopus warblers with proven or potential westward vagrancy, Greenish
Warbler needs to be distinguished from Green Warbler P. nitidus, Two-
barred Greenish Warbler P. plumbeitarsus (these three species being very'
closely related), and Arctic Warbler.
At certain times of the year, there is also a possibility of confusion
between Greenish Warbler and the Central Asiatic race of Yellow-browed
Warbler P. inomatus humei , worn adults of which may be superficially similar
(personal observation, and Kitson 1980). Perhaps the only non-
Phylloscopus species with which any of the above may be confused is the
Nearctic Tennessee Warbler Vermivora peregrina (Browne 1960; Dohertv
1984; Meek 1984).
The following discussion deals primarily with the principal characters by
which Greenish Warbler and ‘northern’ GhifTchaffs may be distinguished,
and then, more briefly, describes the salient characters of other confusion
species. It draws heavily on discussion in the files of the Rarities
Committee, but is supplemented by an examination of skins and personal
field experience of all the relevant species. The discussion is largely
comparative, to facilitate discrimination between species. More-formal,
British status and identification oj Greenish Warbler 441
and readily accessible, presentations of biometrics and of plumage and
bare-parts characters, are given in tables 1 and 2 for the six most relevant
Phylloscopus species.
Greenish Warbler and northern Chiffchaffs
Current taxonomy divides the Greenish Warbler into four subspecies
( trochiloides , vindanus , ludlowi, and obscuratus ), with Green Warbler and
I wo-barred Greenish W arbler recognised as separate but very closely
related species (see discussion in Williamson 1967). The rare viridanus
breeds in northeastern Europe, and west and central Asia. It is replaced by
trochiloides in much of the Himalayas and western China, by ludlowi in the
northwestern Himalayas, and by obscuratus in northwestern China. In fresh
plumage, the races vindanus and trochiloides are sufficiently different to
warrant comment ( trochiloides having darker upperparts and a much greyer,
darker, and more contrasting crown), but only viridanus is likely to appear in
Britain, and all trapped individuals have been attributed to this subspecies.
The familiar Chiffchaff of Britain and much of western and southern
Europe P. c. collybita is replaced by abietinus in northern and eastern Europe
and by tristis in Siberia and central Asia (see Williamson 1967 for a more
detailed account of the distribution of these and the more southerly races
canariensis, exsul and ibericus). The races differ primarily in the extent and
prominence of olive and yellow in the plumage. Both hues are at their
greatest development on nominate collybita . while olive is very limited and
yellow entirely lacking (except on the marginal coverts near the alula — ‘the
bend of the wing’ — and on the axillaries) on tristis. The race abietinus is
somewhat intermediate, generally with rather greyer or browner upper-
parts than collybita and rather whiter underparts, but typically retaining
some olive on the mantle and a limited yellow suffusion to breast and
supercilium. It overlaps in appearance with both collybita and tristis. and
single individuals are freqently racially unassignable (Svensson 1984).
The form tristis is much greyer or browner than collybita on the upper-
parts, and much whiter on breast and belly. Some populations have a deep
buff wash on the flanks, but others are more evenly whitish. The rump,
remiges and rectrices may show fairly distinct olive fringes, but. at its most
distinctive, tristis is strikingly grev-and-white compared with collybita.
Identifiable ‘northern’ Chiffchaffs are thus rather drab, grey or brown,
with olive and yellow either limited or absent, and with comparatively
white underparts. Autumn individuals in fresh plumage (which may be
either adults or first-winters) frequently display a long (but relatively
narrow and curved) wing-bar. formed by ill-defined grevish-white tips to
all the greater coverts; occasionally, this feature is prominent enough to
persist throughout the winter.
In contrast, Greenish Warblers in fresh plumage have distinctly olive-
green upperparts. In combination with the short, straight, but often quite
broad wing-bar, formed by clear-cut vellowish-white tips to the four to six
outermost greater coverts, this produces an appearance on unabraded
individuals which is unmatched by any Chiffchaff. There is sometimes a
second, narrower bar across the tips of the median coverts. The complete
442
British status and identification of Greenish Warbler
Table 1. Measurements (in mm) and wing-characters of Greenish Warblers Phylloscopus
trochiloides and five confusion species (after Williamson 1967 and Svensson 1984)
ribute
* Yellow-
Greenish Two-barred browed ChifFchaff
P.t. Green Greenish Arctic P. inomatus P. collybita
viridanus P.nitidus P. plumbeitarsus P. borealis humei abietinus tristis
L-LENGTH
Range
1 1-13.5
11-15
11-13.5
Mean
12.21
12.87
12.26
NG-LENGTH
Range
53-68
55-69
52-65
Mean
60.34
61.94
58.60
[L-LENGTH
Range
39-54
40-53
38-51
Mean
46.41
46.16
44.49
VG-FORMULA
Extension of
1 st p beyond pc
+ 6 to 4- 10
4- 4 to 4- 10
4- 6 to 4-
Usual position
7th-8th
6th-7th
7th-9th
)f 2nd p
or = 7th
or = 7th
or = 7th
Emargination
)f6th p
Yes
Slight
Yes
Ratio of primary
extension to
length of
exposed tertials
1 :2
1:2
1:2
12-16
9.5-12
10-13
10-13
13.82
10.73
1 1 .58
11.58
57-74
49-64
50-72
50-70
65.42
56.50
60.63
60.37
38-55
34-48
39-58
39-59
46.33
41.16
48.14
49.04
- 2 to 4- 3
4- 4 to 4- 9
4- 4 to 4- 9 4- 4 to 4-
5th-6th
7th-9th
6th-8th
7th-8th
or = 6th
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
but may
but may
be slight
be slight
2:3
1:2
1:2
1:2
moult of Greenish Warbler takes place in the winter quarters, between
February and April, but there is a partial moult, involving the head and
body feathers, on or near the breeding grounds, generally in July and
August. Some adults between June and early August (and individuals of all
ages in mid-winter) may be sufficiently worn to lose much of the fresh, olive
tone to their upperparts, and become relatively dull, grey-brown. On such
worn individuals, however, the wing-coverts are generally abraded, and the
wing-bar is broken and irregular, sometimes visible on only one wing, or
entirely absent. Thus, any warbler which has a complete, unabraded
wing-bar, but which is decidedly dull grey-brown on the upperparts, is
unlikely to be a Greenish.
In fresh plumage. Greenish Warblers, particularly first-winters, do show
a distinct greyish sheen to the upperparts, but this appears as a glaze over
the basic, fresh olive coloration, and enhances rather than diminishes the
smart, greenish appearance.
Greenish Warblers in worn plumage and lacking a visible w ing-bar can
be confusing, but can usually be identified by a combination of features.
Most important are head pattern, colour of bare-parts, and call. Greenish
shows a long, well-defined, yellowish-white supercilium which is relatively
British status and identification of Greenish Warbler 443
broad, arches above the eye, and tends to end in a flare or a slight inflection
about mid-way between eye and nape. Depending on posture, the super-
cilium may turn up or down at the rear. A rather large eye, a comparatively
broad and well-defined, dark eye-stripe, and mottled olive and yellowish
ear-coverts with darker lower border, complete a rather bold face pattern.
The usually duller supercilium of Chiffchaff is relatively short, narrow
and less well-defined. Some individuals from Siberia display a longer and
whiter mark, but it invariably lacks depth. A narrow dark eve-stripe runs
above basically plain ear-coverts, and there is nearly always a contrasting,
neat, pale eve-ring, which is especially prominent below the eye. A delicate
expression results, which, especially on the race tristis . is enhanced bv the
rather small, fine, and frequently all-dark bill. The bolder, more open
expression of the Greenish Warbler is complemented by an (on average)
rather deeper and broader bill, which displays a characteristically pale
lower mandible: this is often entirely yellowish to pinkish-orange, though
the extreme tip is sometimes a little darker, and may give the bill a slightlv
upturned appearance.
Once known, the call of Greenish is quite distinct from anv utterance of
Chiffchaff, but the rather different call of tristis and easterly populations of
abietinus , compared with nominate col/ybita , can confuse the unwary. 4'he
principal call of Greenish Warbler is unequivocally disyllabic; the inflec-
tion on the second syllable is usually, but not invariably, upward. To some
ears, it has a chirruped quality, recalling a cheerful, high-pitched sparrow
Passer , or the soft, conversational call of Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba. Trans-
criptions inevitably vary, but ‘chee-wee’, ‘tsree-wee’ and ‘tiss-vip’ convey
the basic form and character. Chiffchaffs of the race tristis and more easterly
populations of abietinus give a high-pitched, off-key ‘pseet’ or ‘peep’ (often
compared with the distress call of a young chicken), which is so different
from the well-known, plaintive ‘hweet of P. c. collybita (and more westerly
abietinus: Lars Svensson in lift.) that it frequently misleads observers
unfamiliar with the call. A shrill ‘sweeoo’ is also recorded for autumn
ChiffchafFs, but whether this is confined to one subspecies remains unclear.
Other, less diagnostic differences may be discerned. The underparts of
Greenish are basically clean and white, but. at close range, diffuse yellow
mottling and streaking may be observed on breast and belly, and a greyish
suffusion on the flanks. Chiffchaffs of the race abietinus are generally more
obviously buff-toned on the underparts; tristis often show buff on the flanks
(and this can be prominent), but other individuals are more uniformly
whitish. A limited yellow suffusion is normal on abietinus , but, apart from
the bend of the wing and the axillaries, is never present on classic tristis.
The olive-green fringes to the remiges and rectrices are a constant and
generally conspicuous feature of Greenish Warbler; the edgings to the
secondaries frequently combine to produce a bright panel on the folded
wing. On Chiflfchaff, these fringes are rarely so intensely olive, but, on tristis
particularly, the deficiency of olive elsewhere in the plumage can increase
their prominence.
The underwing and bend of the wing of Chiffchaffs are usually bright
yellow ( though on some tristis are much whiter) , while on Greenish Warbler
444
British status and identification of Greenish Warbler
210. Top, Greenish Warbler Phvlloscopus trochiloides in fresh first-winter plumage; bottom,
ChiffchafF P. collybita with characters of eastern race tristis in fresh first-winter plumage (Killian
MuUamey )
the bend of the wing is pale yellow, and the underwing-coverts and
axillaries are yellowish-white or occasionally silvery-white.
Smoky-grey outer webs to the outermost tail feathers of Greenish
Warbler produce the effect of a pale fringe, but, since the lack of
overlapping feathers can produce translucency in the outer tail of almost
any Phvlloscopus , this feature must be used with care.
[The inclusion of plate 210 has been subsidised by zeiss west Germany]
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nor is there
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cast ”
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445
British status and identification of Greenish Warbler
I he legs of Greenish Warbler are typically grey-brown, less blackish
than ChifTchafr (particularly tnstis), and. especially when viewed from
behind, may appear surprisingly pale (see Arctic Warbler).
A minor feature which may be useful on difficult individuals involv es the
alula. I his is rather uniformly dark, almost blackish, on GhiffchafT. and
contrasts with the paler-fringed primary coverts. On Greenish, the alula
feathers are dark, but olive-toned on the outer web, and show' onlv slight
contrast with the olive-fringed primary coverts.
GREEN WARBLER
This species, which breeds from northern Turkey east to Afghanistan, and
winters in southern India and Sri Lanka, has already been reported in
Britain (Brit. Birds 76: 598). The possibility of its occurrence, and that of the
I wo-barred Greenish Warbler, was hinted at by Alexander as long ago as
1955. Greenish, Green, and Two-barred Greenish Warblers are very
closely related species which have been regarded as conspecific by various
authors (see Williamson 1967). Well-marked individuals, however, are not
difficult to identify in the field.
Although, as in many Phylloscopus species, females are smaller than
males, the Green Warbler is, on average, slightly more robust than
Greenish of the race viridanus , with a longer and sturdier bill (which at
extreme may approach that of Arctic Warbler). The upperparts are a
bright, clean olive, resembling Wood Warbler P. sibilatrix , and lacking the
greyish tones of Greenish. The supercilium is longer than that typical of
viridanus, and is a brighter, purer yellow. The wing-bar is also more
distinctly yellow and, in fresh plumage, there is more frequently the
suggestion of a second wing-bar on the median coverts. On first-winter
individuals, a uniform yellowish wash from chin to belly (the vent is whiter)
extends characteristically from the throat onto the ear-coverts which,
therefore, lack the more mottled appearance (and usually the darker lower
border) of Greenish. Pale ear-coverts emphasise the dark olive eve-stripe.
Adult Green Warblers are more variable. Many are far less yellow below
than the popular image, and may be little different from Greenish in the
basic colour of the underparts (S. C. Madge in litt.). Yellow is, however,
usually evident on the throat, ear-coverts and supercilium.
To some ears, the call is subtly different from that of Greenish, with a
harder, more strident delivery, and a terminal consonant.
TWO-BARRED GREENISH WARBLER
Darker, richer olive upperparts, and whiter underparts (almost lacking
yellow) give Two-barred Greenish Warbler a rather more austere, less fresh
appearance than viridanus (though nominate trochiloides may have a similar
upperparts colour). The supercilium is longer even than on nitidus. and
frequently turns up at the end to produce a terminal flourish. The greater-
covert wing-bar is whitish and very' broad when fresh (up to 4 mm) and,
except in very' worn plumage, there is usually an obvious, though frequently
broken, second wing-bar across the tips of the median coverts. There may-
be yellowish flecks to tips of lesser coverts in fresh plumage (Williamson
1967).
446
Size (see table 1)
Bill size (see table 1)
Upper mandible
Lower mandible
Legs and feet
Crown
Upperparts
Underparts
Supercilium
Eye-stripe
Ear-coverts
Greater-covert
wing-bar
Median-covert
wing-bar
Alula
Underwing
Principal call
British status and identification of Greenish Warbler
Table 2. Distinguishing characters of Greenish War!
Greenish
P.t. viridanus
Green
P. nitidus
Two-barred
P. plumbeitarsus
Slightly larger than
viridanus
Slightly longer and
deeper than viridanus
Dark brown
As viridanus
As viridanus
All or mostly flesh
As viridanus , sometimes
to orange
brighter orange
Grey-brown to dark
straw; soles (and
sometimes rear of
tibia) yellowish
Slightly greyer than
mantle
As viridanus
As viridanus
Fresh olive, with
Relatively bright
Darker than viridanus.
grey sheen; duller
‘Wood Warbler’
and less grey
when worn
green in best examples,
but some more like
viridanus
Clean whitish ground
Pronounced yellow
Cold whitish, little or
colour, suffused
tone from throat to
no yellow
vellow and grev
belly on 1st W, but
(flanks)
often only throat
and upper breast on
adult
Broad, long and
Longer and yellower
Longer and whiter
ending in flare;
than viridanus
than nitidus ; terminal
yellowish-white
flourish
Broad
Broad
Broad
Weakly mottled olive
Suffused yellow.
and yellow, but less
so than Arctic
rather pale
Short, broad.
Broader and yellower
Long and verv broad;'
straight; yellow-white
than viridanus
whitish
Infrequent
Frequent in fresh
Constant, though i
Little contrast with
primary coverts
Pale yellow to
silvery-white
plumage
often broken
Disyllabic ‘chee-wee’
Similar to, but
Similar to viridanus : 1
slightly harder and
sharper than, viridanus-.
‘tchee-rik’
‘che-wee’
=
British status and identification of Greenish Warbler 447
'oscopus trochiloides and five confusion species
Chiffchaff
P. collybita
abielinus tristis
rtic
borealis
rgest
■ngest and most
oust
>rn
llowish
:h darker tip
le horn legs,
inge-vellowish
t
eyer than mantle
ep olive. less
zed than viridanus
, -white,
ttled and streaked
h yellow and grey
rv long, with
ward or downward
ension onto nape
I 'ear; vellowish-
onglv mottled
fe and yellow
•a my
'ular in fresh
mage
>rt. hard metallic
k’
Yellow-browed
P. inomalus
humei
Smallest
Smallest
Dark brown
Dark brown, extreme
base paler
Dark brown or
greyish-brown
Greyer than mantle
Mealy grev-olive
Dull buff-white,
little or no yellow
Very long; whitish
or buffy-white
Broad
Broad; buff-white
Only in fresh
plumage
Recalls viridanus.
but a little weaker
and longer: ‘chee-reep’
Smaller and finer
than viridanus
Blackish-brown
Blackish-brown with
paler base
Dark brown to
blackish
Browner, less olive
than viridanus
Buffy-white, often
with a little yellow
Relatively short and
narrow; buffy-white,
often tinged yellow
Narrow'
Relatively uniform
Long, but narrow
and curved;
greyish-white
None
Obvious contrast
with primary coverts
Relatively bright
yellow
Monosyllabic ‘pseep’
(eastern birds only)
Similar to abietinus
Blackish
Mostly blackish
Blackish
Brown or grey-brown,
lacking olive on mantle
Pale and whitish, but
often buff on flanks.
Never any yellow
Can be quite long, but
lacks depth; whitish-
buff. Never any yellow
Narrow
Relatively uniform
Similar to (and more
frequent than) abietinus
None
As abietinus
L’sually as abietinus.
rarely whiter
As abietinus
448
British status and identification of Greenish Warbler
The depth of the principal wing-bar and the presence of a second
wing-bar can suggest Yellow-browed Warbler P. i. inomatus , but the upper-
parts and underparts lack the yellowish tinge- (looking colder), and the
tertials are plain, without the pale fringes of Yellow-browed. Structurally,
Two-barred Greenish is close to viridanus , and is thus slightly larger, longer-
billed, and longer-tailed than Yellow-browed Warbler. The call is much
like Greenish Warbler: a rather loose ‘che-wee’.
ARCTIC WARBLER
The Arctic Warbler is larger, heavier-headed, sturdier-necked, and longer-
billed than any of the previous species, and usually looks long-winged. The
undertail-coverts can appear longer than in the ‘Greenish’ group, which, in
conjunction with the longer wings, may make it look deceptively short-
tailed.
The distinguishing features of this species are quite well documented
(e.g. Robertson 1984): long supercilium extending to the nape, frequently
turning sharply up or down (depending on posture) at the rear; long,
relatively robust bill; comparatively frequent suggestion of a second wing-
bar in fresh plumage; deeper, richer green upperparts than viridanus ; and
paler legs, often with decidedly yellow-orange feet. Due allowance must,
however, be made for light conditions, as Greenish Warblers in Dorset and
Kent in September 1975 showed apparently long bills and pale legs in the
field, and briefly deceived very experienced observers: both were eventually
trapped and found to have normal bare-parts in the hand. It should be
borne in mind that, from some angles, the pale lower mandible of Greenish
Warbler can exaggerate bill size and, although in fact relatively short, the
bill can be quite broad at the base. Generally, however, structure, and pale
legs and feet, should serve- to distinguish Arctic from both Greenish and
Two-barred Greenish Warbler.
The ear-coverts on Arctic Warbler show an almost unmarked area
immediately below the eye and are heavily mottled elsewhere, and
consequently appear pale-centred; they are rather more variegated than on
Greenish and much more so than on Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler P.
trochilus. The tip (and inner web) of the three outermost tail feathers are
narrowly outlined with white, which can result in the suggestion of white
corners or white tip to the tail. Among Phylloscopus warblers, the call is
unique: a hard, metallic ‘dzik’, quite unlike the calls of its congeners, but
similar to at least one call ofTennessee Warbler (Meek 1984).
YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER
In fresh plumage, Yellow-browed Warbler of the race humei usually shows
at least a suggestion of a second wing-bar, while the greater-covert bar is
decidedly broad and long; the tertials show pale fringes, though less pro-
nounced than on nominate inomatus. The median-covert and tertial
markings are rapidly abraded, however, and, in summer and late autumn,
humei often appears as a Phylloscopus warbler with one wing-bar and plain
tertials (exceptionally, nominate inomatus may become sufficiently worn to
British status and identification oj Greenish Warbler 449
display only one wing-bar and rather plain tertials: see Quinn & Clement
1979) . I he greater-covert bar is highlighted by a dark ‘shadow’ formed by
rather dark bases to the remiges, and this provides a useful distinguishing
mark (S. C. Madge in litt.). Even in fresh plumage, the green component in
the upperparts of humei is limited (frequently absent on the crown) and the
general tone soon reduces to a dowdy, mealy, grey-brown. The supercilium
and underparts are a correspondingly dull buffy-white. deficient or lacking
in yellow, and the secondaries, though pale-fringed, show neither the olive
panel of Greenish nor the yellowish panel of inomatus. Yellow-browed
Warblers of the race humei are smaller and rounder-bodied than Greenish,
with finer, darker bills (pale only at the extreme base), and rather shorter
tails, which extend a relatively short distance beyond the tip of the wings.
Although very slightly larger than inomatus , humei has the same compact,
almost Regulus- like appearance, and differentiation from worn individuals
of that race is the real field problem (start with the rather darker bill: Kitson
1980) . The call suggests the ‘Greenish’ group rather than inomatus , being a
little weaker than — but very reminiscent of1 — viridanus.
TENNESSEE WARBLER
The superficial similarity of Tennessee Warbler to a Phylloscopus warbler
has been commented upon previously (e.g. Browne 1960). Immatures
particularly are rather bright olive-green (or even lime-green) above, and
distinctly yellow below, apart from the white ventral area; they have one,
and sometimes a suggestion of a second, wing-bar, and can recall a cross
between an Arctic Warbler and a Wood Warbler (Meek 1984), or a Green
Warbler (Doherty 1984). Apart from their rather stockier proportions and
more dagger-shaped bill, they are best distinguished by the density of
colour, the diffuse, short supercilium, the poorly defined eve-stripe
(together producing a much more bland expression than most Phylloscopus ),
the greyish primaries with white crescents at the tips of the inner feathers,
the fineness of the wing-bars, and the rather grey legs. The call is reported
to be a penetrating ‘zit’, recalling Firecrest R. ignicapillus (Broad 1982), but
also suggestive of Arctic Warbler (Meek 1984).
Acknowledgments
Whether or not their records of Greenish Warbler remain accepted, all observers who have
submitted descriptions to the Rarities Committee have contributed to an understanding of the
field-characters of this and allied species. R. H. Dennis (who first sensed the need fora review).
P. J. Grant, S. C. Madge and K. Mullamey provided valuable comments on a draft of the text,
while L. Jonsson and L. Svensson discussed and emphasised the difficulties in subspecific
identification of ChifTchafTs. Access to skins at the British Museum (Nat. Hist.) at Tring was
kindly arranged bv P. R. Colston. The colour illustrations were specially painted by K.
Mullamey.
Summary
Evidence that, prior to 1970. northern Chiffchaffs Phylloscopus collybita abietinus! tristis displaying
a single wing-bar were being misidentified as Greenish Warblers P. Irochiloides has led to a
review bv the Rarities Committee of all previously accepted records ofGreenish Warbler and a
re-evaluation of the identification criteria. Twenty British records prior to 1970 and one
450 British status and identification of Greenish Warbler
Appendix 1. Records of Greenish Warbler Phv/loscopus trocluloides in Britain in 1958-70
Still accepted
Gibraltar Point
Lincolnshire
3.9.58
Lundy
Devonshire
2-6.11.58
Spurn
Humberside
4-5.6.60
Skokholm
Dyfed
31.8.60
Spurn
Humberside
4.9.60
Fair Isle
Shetland
7.9.60
Fair Isle
Shetland
19.8.61
Skokholm
Dyfed
30-31.8.61
Dungeness
Kent
9.6.62
Calf of Man
Man
27.7.62
St Agnes
Scillv (two)
15-21.9.62
Sandwich Bay
Kent
30.8.63
Bamburgh
Northumberland
4-7.9.65
St Agnes
Scillv
7-14.10.65
Bamburgh
Northumberland
30.8.66
Spu rn
Humberside
25.6.67
Holme
Norfolk
12.9.67
Holkham
Norfolk
17.9.67
Holme
Norfolk
26.8.68
Fair Isle
Shetland
29.8.69
Hartlepool
Cleveland
16.5.70
Fair Isle
Shetland
21-24.8.70
Bamburgh
Northumberland
22.8.70
Previously accepted, but no
Wisbech
longer considered certain
Lincolnshire
23.11.58
Eastbourne
East Sussex
10.9.59
Perry Oaks
Surrey
1.1-26.2.61
Fair Isle
Shetland
4.9.61
Dungeness
Kent
24.9.61
Redcar
Cleveland
20.10.61
Selsey Bill
West Sussex
27.9.62
Eastbourne
East Sussex
19.10.62
St Agnes
Scillv
26-27.11.63
Doll'is Hill
Greater London
1.10.64
Verne Common
Dorset
21.1 1.64
St Agnes
Scillv
20-31.12.64
Eastbourne
East Sussex
into 1965
17.9.65
St Abb’s Head
Borders
15.10.66
Redcar
Cleveland
6-13.11.66
Hartlepool
Cleveland
16-17.9.67
St Agnes
Scillv
21.9.67
Wells
Norfolk
24.9.67
St Agnes
Scillv
29-30.10.67
Spu rn
Humberside
19.10.68
Post- 1970 record previously accepted, but no longer considered certain
Dungeness Kent 26.9.72
Previously accepted, now still under review
Easington Humberside
Holme Norfolk
Wells Norfolk
28-50.8.68
9. 1 1 .68
21.8.77
British status and identification oj Greenish Warbler 451
post- 1970 record are now rejected, while three records remain under review. The records
whu h remain accepted indicate an earlier autumn arrival and a more easterly geographical
bias than had hitherto been suggested. A clearer, though probably not vet complete, picture of
the field-characters of Greenish Warbler, northern ChiffchafTs. and several other possible
confusion species has emerged.
References
Alexander. H. G. 1955. Field-notes on some Asian leaf-warblers — 1. Brit. Birds 48: 293-299.
Broad. R. A. 1982. Tennessee Warblers on Fair Isle. In Sharrock. J. T. R.. & Grant. P. J.
(eds.) Birds New to Britain and Ireland. Calton.
Browne. P. W. P. I960. Notes on the Tennessee Warbler. Brit. Birds 53: 575-577.
Doherty. P. 1 984. Potential confusion between Tennessee and Green Warblers. Brit. Birds 11:
429.
Grant. P. ). 1979. Mystery photographs. 34. Ghiffchaff. Brit. Birds 12: 473-474.
Kitson. A. R. 1979. Identification of Isabelline Wheatear, Desert Warbler and three
Phyttoscopus warblers. Brit. Birds 72: 5-9.
1980. Identification of eastern Yellow-browed Warblers. Brit. Birds 73: 193-194.
Meek. K. R. 1984. Tennessee Warbler in Orkney. Brit. Birds 11: 160-164.
Mui i.arney. K. 1984. Review of Irish records of Greenish Warblers. Irish Birds 2: 536-545.
Quinn. A., & Clement, P. 1979. Plumage of Yellow-browed Warblers wintering in southern
England. Brit. Birds 72: 484-485.
Robertson, I. S. 1984. Mystery photographs. 93. Arctic Warbler. Brit. Birds 77: 415-417.
Sharrock, J. T. R. 1974. Scarce .Migrant Birds in Britain and Ireland. Berkhamsted.
Svensson. L. 1984. Identification Guide to European Passerines. 3rd edn. Stockholm.
Williamson, K. 1967. Identification for Ringers. 2. The Genus Phvlloscopus. 2nd edn. Tring.
A. R. Dean, 2 Charingworth Road. Solihull. West Midlands IV. >2 HUT
Notes
Fulmars attacking and killing Little Auk At 1 6.05 gmt
on 13th February 1983, at Marsden, Tvne & W ear. B. C.
Forrester, J. Knox, A. Murray and I were watching a
Little Auk Alle alle in calm conditions 400m ofTshore. It
appeared to be exhausted and unable to fly. After about 1 5
minutes, it swam near to a flock of about 40 Fulmars
Fulmarus glacialis resting on the sea. Two Fulmars
separated from the flock, swam towards the auk now only
a few metres away, and both proceeded to peck vora-
ciously at it; the auk promptly dived, only to be attacked
again when it resurfaced a short distance away. This went on for at least 20
minutes. At 16.40 hours, in fading light, the Fulmar flock flew off, leaving
the two still pecking and pulling at the distressed auk. at times lifting it from
the water. Five minutes later, the two remaining Fulmars flew: ofF, leaving
the Little Auk underside up and obviously dead. David Given
40 Outdale Avenue. Prestwick, Ayrshire KA9 1BK
452
Notes
Pintail migrating with Brent Geese At about 16.30 GMT on 15th October
1982, about 40 km out of Harwich, the ferry from the Hook of Holland was
overtaken by two groups of dark-bellied Brent Geese Branta bemicla flying in
a YVSYV direction roughly towards Horsey Island, Essex. One group of 1 1
geese, flying in rough ‘V’ formation, was led by a female Pintail Anas acuta.
The speed of the geese was leisurely, and the wingbeats regular and relaxed,
though purposeful. The Pintail appeared to be having difficulty in flying
slowly enough to keep in contact with the Brents: from time to time she
dived almost 30m, veering sharply from side to side, and at other times
‘towered’, before resuming her position at the head of the formation.
I estimated the wind-speed at 20mph (32kph), the speed of the ship at
13mph (20kph), and the overtaking speed at 5mph (8kph), and concluded
that the air-speed of the flock was therefore about 35-40mph (56-64kph).
Sir Peter Scott (verbally) suggested that the Pintail may have become lost
or separated from erstwhile companions and taken up with the Brent
Geese, whose direction of migration, if not their speed, suited her.
Crispin Fisher
Fairings , Grendon Underwood , Buckinghamshire HP 18 OSL
Instances of one species becoming ‘caught up’ in a migrating party of another are perhaps
not rare: examples include Starlings Stumus vulgaris with Little Auks Alle atle: and an Avocet
Recurvirostra avosetta with Pomarine Skuas Stereo ra rius pom ar inns (1977, The Natural History oj Cape
Clear Island) . Eds
Pair of apparently adult male Kestrels Homosexual behaviour has been
described for several bird species, for example Greylag Goose Anser anser
(Fabricius 1981), gulls Larus and Greenshank Tringa nebularia (Nethersole-
I hompson 1979). In most cases, the species concerned show little or no
sexual dimorphism, although such behaviour has also been recorded
among male ducks (Anatidae). On 13th March 1982, at Niva, Zealand,
Denmark, I came across three adult male Kestrels Falco tinnunculus
performing territorial flights simultaneously, rather close to each other.
T wo behaved as a pair, displaying close to each other several times during a
couple of hours, each period of display lasting for a few minutes; they also
performed territorial flights on their own, but only for short periods. On
14th March, I revisited the area. The same ‘pair’ was performing the same
flighting several times in the morning. In one instance, one of the male
Kestrels landed at a perch, while the other displayed vigorously around it;
after about 30 seconds, the displaying male landed close to the perched
male and a few seconds later a copulation between the two, lasting 10-15
seconds, took place, the Kestrels calling eagerly while copulating. On
several visits during March and April 1982, I did not observe these two
males again, but came across several ‘normal’ pairs of Kestrels in the area.
I do not know of any case of homosexual behaviour among raptors, and
neither Newton (1979) nor Cramp & Simmons (1980) mentioned it. Avian
homosexual behaviour seems most frequently to take place among species
with little or no sexual dimorphism. Ki.aus M alling Olsen
Mollegade 21 , st. t.h., DK2200 , Copenhagen N , Denmark
Notes
453
REFERENCES
Cramp, S., & Simmons, K. E. L. (eds.) 1980. The Birds of the Western Palearctic. vol. 2. Oxford.
Fabricius, E. 1981. Homosexualitet hos Gragashanar. Var Fagelvarld 40: 427-446.
Nethersole-Thompson, D. N. & M. 1979. Greenshanks. Berkhamsted.
Newton, I. 1979. Population Ecology oj Raptors. Berkhamsted.
Dr C. H. F ry has commented: ‘We do not know that both were males, only that both were in
male plumage. It is improbable, but possible, that one was a male-plumaged female and
identified as such by “her” mate.' Derek Goodwin has added: ‘The observations indicate that
either two males or (but 1 think less probable) a male and a female in completely male-type
plumage were paired together. This is in my opinion ofmuch more interest than the copulation
or attempted one between the two males, as male birds of many species may attempt to
copulate with many creatures or artifacts that supply one or more features in common with a
soliciting female.’ Eds
Moorhens eating apples The Moorhen Gallinula chloropus is described as
being able to climb freely along branches and on foliage, and its diet as
including plums Prunus, pears Pyrus and crab apples Malus sy Ives Iris (BWP).
At St (Toss, Winchester, Hampshire, young Moorhens in my orchard eat
fallen apples as a regular diet, and one individual in 1983 habitually
climbed into the top branches to consume unpicked fruit. Best ripe russets
are preferred, and cooking apples arc ignored. James Hancock
Brookside, Back Street , St Cross, Winchester S0239SB
B WP lists many fruits, including crab apple, but regular eating of apples is not inferred. Eds
211. Juvenile Moorhen Gallinula chloropus in apple tree. Hampshire. September 1983 (James
Hancock)
A white-headed juvenile Long-tailed Skua Juvenile Long-tailed Skuas
Stercorarius longicaudus show a great range of general head and underpart
coloration, from all-dark to extremely pale. An example of the latter was
seen approaching during a seawatch from St Ives, Cornwall, on 3rd
454
Notes
September 1984. Head-on views showed a very grey bird with a gleaming
white head. Some observers even hesitated initially to identify it as a skua.
It then rested on the sea about 300m offshore, floating buoyantly like a
small gull Larus , and looking largely white. Such very distinctive
individuals are described or illustrated in some books — for example BWP
and Harrison ( 1983, Seabirds: an identification guide) — but wider awareness of
their occurrence may be useful. D. M. Norman
Haze/mere , 50 Shirbum Road , Torquay, Devon
Possible ‘Eastern’ Common Gull on Fair Isle On 18th August 1984, on
Fair Isle, Shetland, I was counting a group of Common Gulls Larus canus ,
when I noticed that the upperparts of one of the adults were much darker
than those of the others. The darker individual was also slightly larger and
structurally ‘stronger-looking’ than the rest. The following features were
noted:
size: slightly larger and heavier-looking than coloration: greyish areas of normal Com-
other Common Gulls present, most notice- mon Gulls replaced by dark slaty grey,
ably around head, with longer, stronger- tending in tone towards the grevness of
looking bill. Wings appeared longer, with Lesser Black-backed Gull L. fusctis of the race
large prominent mirrors, giving bird very grael/sii. Other plumage and bare parts
attenuated appearance. Legs slightly longer- similar in coloration to those of other Com-
and thicker-looking, making bird appear to mon Gulls,
stand taller than its companions.
Reference to the literature revealed that these features most closely fitted
the central Russian, western and central Siberian subspecies L. canus heinei,
described by Dementiev & Gladkov (1951) as ‘The largest form of Grey
[= Common] Gull, with long wings and long, powerful bill. Overall tone
darker than in Western subspecies . . .’ BWP describes heinei as con-
spicuously darker on upperparts than the nominate race, and gives a series
of measurements showing clearly that heinei averages larger on all
measurements. BWP also suggests that some heinei reach northwest Europe
in winter. It seems possible that the Fair Isle individual was heinei , and that
wider awareness of the field characters of that race may lead to better
knowledge of its status in western Europe. K. Osborn
24 Rykhill, Chadwell-St-Mary , Nr Grays , Essex R.M164RR
S. C. Madge has pointed out that the 1982 'Ringing Report’ (Ringing & .Migration 4: 304),
commenting on the recovery near Andreapol, USSR (36° 38'N 32° 27'W), in May 1982 of a
Common Gull ringed in Sussex in January 1981, stated the opinion that ‘This, together with
previous winter-ringed birds reported from Novgorod, Vologda and Arkhangelsk, suggest that
some Russian birds of the race heinei reach us in winter.’ Eds
Arctic Terns incubating Ringed Plover eggs to hatching In 1982, one
pair of Ringed Plovers Charadrius hiaticula bred on Coquet Island, North-
umberland, a 6.5-ha site which holds large breeding populations of terns
Sterna and Black-headed Gulls Larus ridibundus, plus smaller numbers of
several other species of seabirds. The plovers frequented a stony beach
during the early part of May. On 20th May, their nest scrape was found,
containing four eggs, at the top of the beach, at the base of a low bank and
partly obscured by hanging grass. This beach was also used by about 80
Notes
455
pairs of Arctic I erns S. paradisaea, whose earliest eggs were seen on 18th
May. On 24th, the four warm plover eggs were still present, but on 26th two
Ringed Plovers were seen in another part of the island; initially, these w^re
thought to be a second pair, but in the light of subsequent events it is likely
that they were those from the first site. On 29th May, the plover scrape held
only three plover eggs, but also two tern eggs; the situation was the same on
1st June. On 8th June, the scrape held two tern and two plover eggs, one of
the latter having a small hole through which the chick could be seen
moving; a newly hatched plover chick was about 60cm away, beside two
eggs in another tern scrape. The following day, the oldest chick was not
seen, but the second chick was in the original scrape and the third chick was
about to hatch, being seen through the hole in its egg shell. Adverse weather
prevented subsequent visits until 1 7th June, when none of the plover chicks
was seen; the tern eggs had hatched and the chicks were by the scrape.
D. J. Radford
4 High Ridge, Alton, Hampshire
Derek Goodwin has commented as follows: ‘Obviously the “pot egg principle” was working
here. In some, perhaps all, species that make several scrapes, it seems to depend largely on
chance which scrape the first egg is laid in, hut once it has been laid the rest are normally laid
beside it. Where two species which both lay in similarly placed scrapes and do not exclude each
other from their territories are very abundant, the result is often mixed clutches which are
incubated by the more dominant or more eager incubator of the two.’ Eds
Swallows and Sand Martins pecking at tarmac road On 10th September
1982, at Ross Links, Northumberland, from a parked car. my wife and I
saw a group of three Swallows Hirundo rustica and a Sand Martin Riparia
riparia settle on a narrow track about 40m away. We could see very clearly
that they began to peck deliberately at the tarmac surface, as if picking up
food, though we were unable actually to see anything in their bills. During
the subsequent half hour, more small groups of Swallows and once about 25
Swallows and a Sand Martin behaved in this way. On each occasion, they
were on the ground for perhaps only 30 seconds at a time. The sky was
overcast, with a light wind, and the ground was dry. There are previous
records of Swallows feeding from the ground or low vegetation(see Brit.
Birds 74: 98 and comment) and. as I have seen them feeding on insects on
close-grazed grass. I assumed that on this occasion they were picking
insects from the track, which on each side was edged with short grass and
then a hedge. Close inspection, however, revealed no insect or other form of
life, the only loose matter being pieces of straw and chaff and dry dust. I can
onlv assume that the Swallows and Sand Martins were picking up small
pieces of grit; the alternative, that they were picking up pieces of chaff,
seems improbable. P. J. Oliver
/ Albany Court. Palmer Street. London SW1
Although inconclusive, we publish this note to prompt careful observation and reporting of
future similar incidents. F.ds
Unusual Swallow nest On 6th June 1982, at Stanford Reservoir,
456
Notes
Leicestershire, I located a new nest containing five eggs of Swallow Hirundo
rustica. Positioned about 6 m above ground on a ledge at the apex of a large
tractor shed and wood store, the nest contained no mud whatsoever, but
consisted wholly of untidy straw, with some fine hair lining, and looked
exactly like that of the House Sparrow Passer domesticus. The young hatched
a week later and, on 27th June, they had red gorgets clearly visible and were
capable of leaving the nest. J. G. Cranfield
42 Dunton Road. Broughton Astlev , Leicestershire LE96NB
Dr C. J. Bibby has pointed out the possibility that this was the nest of a House Sparrow,
taken over by the Sw'allows. Eds
Swallow with no feet At 19.10 GMT on 2nd September 1981, while
mist-netting Swallows Hirundo rustica near Barnsley, South Yorkshire, an
adult female was caught which had no feet and virtually no legs. There was
no trace whatsoever of a tibia or tarsus on the left; only a withered stump
approximately 0.5cm long remained of the right tibia, with a trace of old
thread or strand of wool firmly embedded in it. The Swallow’s weight of
20. 6g was about average, and its general condition was no different from
that of other Swallows caught that evening. It had bred in the summer, as a
brood-patch was detected; it is therefore presumed that the legs and feet
were lost in the spring or summer of 1981, in previous (if any) breeding
seasons, or even as a nestling. On release, the Swallow flew towards
overhead telegraph wires and landed on a wire with surprisingly little
difficulty, only briefly fluttering its wings, initially to gain balance and later
when other Swallows settled nearby. After five minutes, it flew off in the
direction of the local roost. We have since caught two Swallows at this roost
which showed slight damage to the legs; hair and wool was wrapped tightly
around the toes and tibia of one. Martin Wells
715 Manchester Road , Stocksbridge. Sheffield S30 5DQ
The ability of this bird to perch on a telegraph wire is particularly noteworthy. Eds
Wren swimming On 18th December 1982, at a flooded gravel-pit at
Bungay, Suffolk, I saw a Wren Troglodytes troglodytes fly from a bramble
Rubus and out across the water. It attempted to land on a single reed
Phragmites projecting no more than 30cm above water level about 20m from
the bank. The stem broke, and the Wren fell into the water, submerging
completely. It emerged again, spluttering and panic-stricken, and began to
swim/flutter around in small circles. It then seemed to recover, and set out
determinedly for the nearest bank. It seemed unable to rise from the water
and began to ‘row’ itself along, making quite good speed. Half-way to the
shore a Moorhen Gallinula chloropus moved to intercept it. The Wren saw the
Moorhen, and raised its striking rate, accelerating away to the bank, where
it disappeared into cover provided by a low branch at water level. Small
birds often splash about in puddles or birdbaths, but I have never seen
anything like this before. The Wren was certainly swimming, not just
fluttering on the surface. At each downward wing stroke, the head bobbed
higher out of the water, for all the world like a human racing breast-stroker.
Alick Moore
34 Clarendon Gardens . London W 9
Letter
Siberian passerine vagrancy in October 1982 I read with great interest
the paper by Howey & Bell (1985) concerning the remarkable influx of
Pallas s Warblers Phylloscopus proregulus and other Asiatic migrants in
October 1982. Having also studied the peculiar events at that time, I find
myself in broad and close agreement with the conclusions of their paper.
I he general timing of the events and the significance of the Siberian
anticyclone in permitting, perhaps even encouraging, large-scale vagrancy
are not in question. Indeed, the confirmation of the anticyclonic control,
following especially Irom Baker’s (1977) studies, suggests that it requires
closer attention. W ith a more perfect understanding of the apparent
correlation between early-forming Siberian anticyclones and migrations
westwards out of Asia, it may even be possible to use up-to-date weather
data from that area to give advance indication of large-scale movements
towards Europe. The points of close agreement are not only general, but,
encouragingly, frequent in detail, some of which may be outlined as follows:
(a) the timing of the departure of the vagrants from their summer grounds at or about 24th
September is critical.
(b) the agreed and well-established role of the low-pressure system over the southern North
Sea in creating ‘drift’ conditions. In fact, the notable scale of drift of European species tended
to be overlooked because of the interest stimulated by the numerous more exotic arriv als.
(c) the need to distinguish ‘northerly’ located Siberian breeders, such as the Yellow -browed P.
inornatus , Arctic P. borealis and Greenish Warblers P. trochiloides from their ‘southerly’ cousins
the Pallas’s, Dusky P./uscatus and Radde’s Warblers P. schwarzi in terms oftheir vagrancy rates
vis-a-vis synoptic conditions in Siberia, especially with regard to the location of the critical
anticyclones.
Nevertheless, a number of minor differences exist between my own
findings (Wheeler, in press) and those of Howey & Bell. But such areas of
disagreement say more about the problems of interpreting incomplete data
sets than about the respective accuracies of the two items of research.
Indeed, it is possible that the resolution of the minor disagreements can be
accommodated easily by remembering the inevitable and wide variation in
bird and weather behaviour about the ‘mean’ conditions that must, of
necessity, form the basis of these discussions. For brevity and clarity the
points of contrast may also be itemised:
(a) with regard to the windspeeds on the southern flanks of the Siberian anticyclone in late
September 1982, my meteorological sources suggest speeds well below the 30 knots cited by
Howey & Bell. Whilst locally such speeds were registered in the mountainous areas on the
southern limits of the breeding territories, after 24th, and certainly farther westwards, figures
of 10 knots are more realistic. The difference may be critical for reconstructing the timings of
events.
(b) the latter point becomes significant in the second area of disagreement: the timing and
pathway of vagrant flight over Russia and Eastern Europe. My conclusions suggest a slower
median flight over Asia, arriving in Europe as late as 4th October, w ith subsequent movement
over the Ukraine region before moving northwards towards Scandinavia in response to the
prevailing disposition of weather systems. The detailed arguments are set out in my own paper
and need not be repeated here.
Howey & Bell are correct in their fig. 4 showing a northerly route over
east European Russia as early as 28th September, and this certainly
457
458
Letter
explains the early arrivals of Siberian species in northwest Europe. They
have not, however, elaborated a second and, in my view, more thoroughly
exploited route of the later more numerous arrivals that I suggest took a
parallel northerly route, perhaps as late as 6th, into northern Europe, but
farther to the west, over the border between the USSR and her east
European neighbours. This route might account for the major arrivals in
Finland (on 6th October) and Sweden (on 10th October), as well as Britain
(on 11th October), so closely itemised in Howey & Bell’s tables 1 and
2. In conclusion, it must be stressed that the importance of the events of
October 1982 lie not in the minutiae of the flight-path geography, but in the
fundamental questions that the whole issue of such vagrancy prompts
concerning the mysterious mechanisms of what has come to be called
‘reversed migration’. Dennis A. Wheeler
Geography Department, Sunderland Polytechnic, Chester Road, Sunderland SRI 3SD
REFERENCES
Baker, K. 1977. Westward vagrancy of Siberian passerines in autumn 1975. Bird Study 24:
233-242.
Howey. D. H., & Bell, M. 1985. Pallas’s Warblers and other migrants in Britain and Ireland
in October 1982. Brit. Birds 78: 381-392.
Wheeler, D. A. 1985. The meteorological background to Siberian passerine vagrancy in
Northumbria: October 1982. Trans. Nat. Hist. Soc. oj Northumbria (in press).
g>rtmitp-ftof pears ago...
‘. . . we note that Mr Masefield regards ten species as new to the Staffordshire ornis; but the
evidence with regard to the Lesser White-fronted Goose and the Sandwich Tern we should
regard as necessitating square brackets.’ (Brit. Birds 4: 1 12; September 1910)
Announcements
Your last chance to buy ‘Big Jake’ That unique disc, Big Jake Calls the
Waders, on which Jake Ward brilliantly reproduces the calls of 28 waders, is
now available to British Birds readers. The techniques used were featured in
the BBC’s The Living World on 20th April 1980, as noted by Jeffery Boswall
( Brit. Birds 73: 426-427), describing it as ‘the equivalent in sound of the field
guide paintings: no confusing backgrounds and direct comparability ’.
The very last few discs have been acquired by Natural History Book
Service Ltd, which has agreed to allow us to offer this recording to BB
readers through British BirdShop. Big Jake Calls the Waders is available at
£5.95 (+ £1 .50 p&p) for the single disc (no cassettes are available, and the
disc will not be reissued). Please order at once, using the form on page xii.
Announcements
459
Moths & butterflies, and spiders We are pleased to be able to oiler ‘BB'
readers the opportunity to aequire the currently available volumes of two
works with the quality and degree of authority of our own BWP: volumes 1 ,
2, 9 and 10 of the ten-volume The Moths and Butterflies oj Great Britain and
Ireland , edited by John Heath and A. Maitland Emmet; and volumes 1 and
3 of the three-volume The Spiders of Great Britain and Ireland by Michael J.
Roberts. (In each case, the remaining volumes have not yet been
published.) Please order using the British BirdShop form on page xi.
Special ‘BB’ trip to Thailand F rom 24th January to 11th February 1986,
with Phil Round and Dr Tim Sharrock (see Announcement on pages
307-308 in June issue): for details, write NOW to BB Thai lour,
Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ.
Request
Migration surveys and ringing at Eilat, Israel 1 lelp is required at the birdwatching centre
of the Nature Reserve Authority at Eilat in 1985/86 li>r: ( 1 ) autumn 1985 (ringing of passerines
and waders during 15th August to 31st December), and (2) spring 198b (raptor migration
survey during 15th February to 25th May 1986, and ringing during 1st February to 15th June
1986). Volunteers should have a ringing permit of type A or B, and have g<x>d ringing
experience, or have experience in raptor identification in flight. The Nature Reserve Authority
w ill help in lodging and food expenses lor those able to stay for periods longer than one month.
Anyone interested should apply in writing and enclose a photocopy of their ringing permit,
recommendations from a well-known ornithologist, and mention of their past experience.
Please apply to H. Shirihai, c/o NRA Birdwatching Centre, POB 774, Eilat, Israel.
News and comment
Robin Prytherch and Mike Everett
Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of ‘British Birds'
Bird films for youth As part of the
International Year of Youth, the first
International Ornithological Film Festival
w ill take place in the District of Nlenigoute,
Deux-Sevres, France, from 28th October to
2nd November 1985. For details, w rite to PO
le Comite d'Organisation. Marie-Christine
Brouard. Centre Social Cantonal, I.es
Forges, 79340 Nlenigoute, France.
New editors for ‘Irish Birds' and ‘IWC
News’ Clive Hutchinson, after over eight
years as editor of Irish Birds (ever since its
inception), has now handed over to Hugh
Brazier, w ho was formerly editor of the Irish
Wild bird Conservancy's newsletter, /II C.
News. The latter publication is now edited by
Ms Bobbie Reeners. More information, and
details of how to become a member of the
Irish Wildbird Conservancy, can be ob-
tained from IWC, Southview, Church Road.
Grevstones. Co. Wicklow. Ireland.
More support for swans 1 1 is a pleasure to
note that the National Association of Local
Councils is supporting a petition to
Parliament by one of its members. Eton
Town Council, calling for legislation to
outlaw the production, sale and use of lead
weights in angling because of risks to the
environment and the danger to wildlife,
especially Mute Swans Cygnus olor. The more
support the better, to outlaw this insidious
pollutant.
460
News and comment
212. Presentation by Robert Gillmor, President of the Society of Wildlife Artists, to Ian
Lewington of ‘Bird Illustrator of the Year’ award, London, July 1985 (R.J. Chandler)
213. ‘Bird Illustrator of the Year’ 1985: left to right, JTRS (judge), Nicholas Pike (2nd),
Robert Gillmor (President of Society of Wildlife Artists, judge), Ian Lewington (winner of
‘Bird Illustrator of the Year’ and ‘The Richard Richardson Award’), Keith Shackleton
(judge), Martin Hallam (equal 3rd), and Kim Franklin (equal 3rd), London, July 1985 (R. J.
Chandler)
Double winner Ian Lewington, winner of
this year’s ‘Bird Illustrator of the Year’ title
and ‘The Richard Richardson Award’
received his engraved salver, cheque and
inscribed book at a Press reception at the Mall
Galleries on 3rd July (plates 212 & 213).
Churchill Travelling Fellowships
Awarded annually as a tribute to Sir Winston
Churchill, these Fellowships enable people
from all walks of life, irrespective of age and
of educational or professional qualifications,
to make studies overseas related to their
trade, profession or interests. The 12 cate-
gories for 1986 include: ‘Endangered and
threatened British species — animals and
plants’. Any British Birds readers who would
like to obtain details of how to apply should
News and comment
461
write at once (since the closing date for appli-
cations is 31st October 1985). To obtain an
application form, send your name and
address on a stamped addressed envelope to:
The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, 15
Queen’s Gate Terrace, London sw7 5pr.
Grants awarded to ornithologists The
British Ecological Society has just
announced the grants awarded under its
‘Small Ecological Project Grants’ scheme.
W e are delighted to note that four of the 20
awards have gone to ornithologists: for
projects on Choughs Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax in
Wales; Cheer Pheasants Catreus wallichii in
LTtar Pradesh, India; Bitterns Botaurus
stellaris in Lancashire; and Corn Buntings
Miliaria calandra in south Lancashire. The
214. Twitchers beware! (Roger Thompson)
grants, mostly around £4(X)-£500 this year,
are awarded to amateur and professional
scientists undertaking surveys of habitats
which are threatened or are of special
ecological interest, or which have a history of
ecological work. Further information can be
obtained from Dr A. J. Gray. Institute of
Terrestrial Ecology, Furzebrook Research
Station, near Warcham, Dorset bh20 5as.
Twitchers beware! Roger Thompson, w ho
sent us this photo (plate 214), commented
that, although he had been to many such
places, he had never before been to one so
prominently marked.
Recent
reports
Ian Dawson and Keith Allsopp
These are largely unchecked reports, not authenticated records
The dates in this report refer to June unless An anticyclone gave warm easterly
otherwise stated. weather for the first few days of the month.
462
Recent reports
From 6th, however, cool northerlies arrived
as high pressure over the Atlantic dominated
the weather pattern. Cloudy, wet, unsettled
weather kept temperatures down, and even a
change to westerlies after 16th until the end
of the month did not bring a rise in tempera-
ture, with the air still originating from the
north. A consequence of the cool conditions
was a reduction in insect activity and hence
availability as food for nestlings.
Smaller birds
Judged by recent standards, this June was on
the whole disappointing, though there were a
few real surprises, including three or four
potential firsts for Britain and Ireland, start-
ing with a female Oriental Cuckoo Cuculus
saturatus, trapped at Spurn (Humberside) on
2nd and staying to puzzle all who went to see
her until at least 25th; astonishingly a second
female was caught at the same locality on
29th. The island of Tiree (Strathclyde) held
an immature male Blue Rock Thrush
Alonticola solitarius, currently in category D,
for four days when it was sadly picked up
dead. Perhaps less likely to be of wild origin
was a Cedar Wax wing Pomby cilia cedrorum
on the Isle of Noss (Shetland) for two days
around 27th. To complete the quartet, a
Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris flew past
one luckv observer at Portland (Dorset) on
29th.
A Savi’s Warbler Locustella tuscinioides
reeling in Co. Cork from 17th into July was
only the second record for Ireland, where
there were also above-average numbers of
Reed Warblers Acrocephalus scirpaceus. Their
large cousin, the Great Reed Warbler A.
arundinaceus , turned up on The Skerries
(Shetland) on 28th May, and at Lewes (East
Sussex) on 8th, and there was a good scatter-
ing of extralimital Marsh Warblers A.
palustris including, rather surprisingly,
Norfolk’s third and fourth records, and
Derbyshire’s first, near Etwall. A Subalpine
Warbler Sylvia cantillans remained at Spurn
from 30th May to 2nd, while a singing male
appeared briefly on Lundy (Devon) on 3rd.
The Swansea (West Glamorgan) Bonelli’s
Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli stayed into June,
and a Chiffchaff P. collybita of the Scan-
dinavian race abietinus at Balnakeil near
Durness (Highland) on 4th was many kilo-
metres from the nearest tree. Wood Warb-
lers P. sibilatrix were rare in Ireland only a
few years ago: now they sing from perhaps 20
woods in the North alone. Two Lesser
Whitethroats S. curruca held territory in
Northern Ireland this spring, and a pair of
Pied Flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca nested in
Co. Antrim, the first breeding record for
Ireland. Two Serins Serinus serinus in Co.
Fermanagh on 3 1st May were also ofinterest,
while one reappeared at Wells (Norfolk) at
the month end. Another exceptional breed-
ing record was that of a pair of ‘Mealy’
Redpolls Carduelis flammea ftammea on
Orkney, and a Hawfinch Coccothrausles
coccothraustes at Billinge (Greater Man-
chester) on 5th and 7th was a local rarity.
Crossbills Loxia cunnrostra, presumably of
Scandinavian origin, started appearing early
463
Recent reports
to mid month, with up to 30 at Kergord
(Shetland) and in Orkney, 90 at Scaling Dam
(North Yorkshire), 40 at Sandy and 60 at
Woburn (Bedfordshire), with smaller num-
bers elsewhere on the British East coast and
east Midlands.
Red-throated Pipits Anthus cervinus
appeared on Fair Isle (Shetland) on 7th and
8th, at Filey (North Yorkshire) on 12th and
1 3th, and a Tawny Pipit A. campestris was on
Kessingland Levels (Suffolk) early in the
month. Also in Suffolk, a Roller Coracias
garrulus staged only a brief appearance at
Walberswick on 28th May, the day after a
very late Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor
at Eel Tarn, Eskdale (Cumbria). The only
Woodchat Shrike L. senator reported was
one at Letcombe Regis (Oxfordshire) on
16th. Golden Orioles Oriolus oriolus were on
Lundy, a female, from 4th to 6th, a male at
Spurn on 4th, and one on Fair Isle on 1 1 th, at
which site there had been an adult Rose-
coloured Starling Stumus roseus on 31st
May, with a second at Gossabrough (Shet-
land) on 2nd. A ‘Hooded’ Carrion Crow
Corvus corone comix was an unseasonal visitor
to Ruddington (Nottinghamshire) on 8th.
Little Swifts Apus affinis are now almost
annual, one at St Andrews (Fife) on 29th
May being only a couple of days after the
Needle-tailed Swift Hirundapus caudacutus
already noted last month, and one day after a
Pallid Swift A. pallidus at Berwick-upon-
Tweed (Northumberland) on 28th. The only
reported Hoopoe ilpupa epops was one at
Taxal (Derbyshire) on 5th, Unst (Shetland)
was visited by a Nightjar Caprimulgus
europaeus on 6th, and a lost Scops Owl Otus
scops haunted Papa Westray (Orkney) from
24th to the month end.
The first returning migrants through
Walney (Cumbria) were single Willow
Warbler P. trochilus , Grey Wagtail Motacilla
cinerea and Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe on the
last day of the month. Where did the summer
go to?
Waders
The first returning migrants in evidence
were, however, as always, waders, with more
than 100 Lapwings Vanellus vanellus an hour
west over Hilton (Cambridgeshire) on 15th.
and by the month end good numbers of
Spotted Redshanks Tringa erythropus and
Green Sandpipers T. ochropus in eastern
England. Less-common but expected birds
were single Temmi nek’s Stint ( .ahdns
temminckii at Blacktoft (Humberside) and
Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus at
Minsmere (Suffolk) into July. Early in the
month, there had been a Red-necked Phala-
rope at Snettisham (Norfolk), two Curlew
Sandpipers C.jerruginea at Cley (Norfolk), a
pratincole Glareola at Elmley (Kent), a male
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus at
Hanningfield Reservoir (Essex) from 4th to
7th (the second there this spring), a Broad-
billed Sandpiper Limicola falcmellus at
Coton Gravel-pits (Warwickshire) from 1st
to 4th, and another Broad-billed together
with a Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos
on West Mainland (Orkney) from 8th to
10th. There were belated reports of two rare
shanks in May: a Marsh Sandpiper T. stag-
natilis at Snettisham, and a Greater Yellow-
legs T. melanoleuca on Skye (Highland).
The larger wading birds were represented
mainly by Little Egrets Egretta garzetta.
Further to the May records already reported,
we heard of three together at Staines Reser-
voir (Surrey) on 27th May, and others at
Coton Gravel-pits, Havergate (Suffolk) and
Blacktoft, all in that month. June reports
came from Truro (Cornwall) from 6th to at
least 9th, Minsmere on and off from 19th,
Titchfield Haven (Hampshire), Elmley,
Lough Eyes near Enniskillen (Co. Fer-
managh) on 24th and St Mary's (Scilly) from
30th. Great White Egrets E. alba graced
Unst on 6th, and presumably the same bird
on Mainland Shetland later in the month,
and Thorney Island (Hampshire) on 15th.
The only Purple Heron Ardea purpurea was
on Shotton Pools (C.lwvd) for a couple of
weeks, and a second summer Night Heron
Nycticorax nycticorax spent a few' days around
7th at Lopwell Dam near Plymouth (Devon).
A poor showing of Spoonbills Platalea
leucorodia was evidenced by singletons at
Minsmere until about 9th, Cley from 9th to
11th and Titchwell (Norfolk) later in the
month. In a good spring for Black Storks
464
Ciconia nigra, another was seen soaring over
Plastow Green (Hampshire) on 9th.
Wildfowl and seabirds
Greylag Geese Anser anser bred for the first
time in both Orkney and Shetland, though
their origin is perhaps no more certain than
the ten Pink-footed Geese A. brachyrhynchus
seen at Bradwell (F.ssex) on 30th. Ring-
necked Ducks Aythya collaris continue to
frequent Norby Loch (Shetland) and Chew
Valley Lake (Avon), while a drake
American Wigeon Anas americana turned up
at Kingsbury Water Park (Warwickshire) on
15th, moving to Ladywalk on 16th. Equally
unusual was the pair of Garganeys A.
querquedula on The Skerries on 2nd. The last
day of the month saw a Red-crested
Pochard Netta rufina at Walberswick
(Suffolk).
An immature White-billed Diver Gavia
adamsii spent the month at Burravoe, North
Roe (Shetland), and three summer-
plumaged Great Northern Divers G. immer
in Scrabster Harbour (Highland) on 5th
were a fine sight, as was the resplendent Red-
necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena, for once
living up to its name, on Rutland Water
( Leicestershire) .
The Dungeness (Kent) and Balranald
(Western Isles) skua passages were dis-
appointing this spring, with 76 and 67
Pomarine Skuas Stercorarius pomarinus, and
two and 37 Long-tailed Skuas .S’, longicaudus
respectively in May. A single Long-tailed
Skua frequented the colony of Arctic Skuas S.
parasiticus on Fair Isle on 9th, and another
passed Walney on 13th. After the first good
movement of Manx Shearwaters Puffinus
puffinus at Walney on 9th with 100, single
Cory’s Shearwaters Calonectris diomedea
passed by on 12th, 13th and 2.3th. Late in the
month, a few Gory’s were also seen off Gape
Clear Island (Go. Cork), where there was
Recent reports
also a Little Shearwater P. assimi/is. A Black
Guillemot Cepphus grylle off Hope’s Nose,
dorbav (Devon) on 1st was unusual, and
even more so the summer-plumaged Little
Auk Alle alle at Portmarnic (Go. Dublin) on
3rd.
The only gulls of interest were an adult
Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides in Wick
Harbour on 5th, and a first-summer Med-
iterranean Gull L. melanocephalus on
Gloucester T ip (Gloucestershire) on 30th.
Alert viewers of the BBC: TV' Birdwatch from
the Fame Islands (Northumberland) were
astonished to see what seemed to be a Lesser
Crested Tern Sterna bengalensis sitting
amongst the Sandwich T erns S. sandvicensis
on Brownsman Island. A Caspian Tern S.
caspia v isited Minsmere on 8th. Despite low
numbers of Black Terns Ckhdonias niger,
with 1+ at Hanningfield on 2nd/3rd a large
count, there were above-average numbers of
White-winged Black Terns C. leucoptems.
with two in Ireland at the end of May, two
together at Peterborough (Cambridgeshire)
on 7th, and four or five others, one as far
north as Orkney, at Loch of Harray from
23rd to 25th.
Birds of prey
There were further May reports of Black
Kites Milvus migrans, at Symond’s Yat
(Gloucestershire) on 15th and Lightshaw
Hall Flash, Wigan (Greater Manchester) on
25th, w ith the same or another at Mellor on
5th June when it was watched drifting over
the border into Derbyshire. A Red Kite M.
milvus flew over Burton Dassett (Warwick-
shire) on 9th Summering Ospreys Pandion
haliaetus loafed around the Essex reservoirs of
Abberton, Ardleigh and Hanningfield, and
in the Dukeries (Nottinghamshire). Ln-
seasonal raptors were a Peregrine Falco
peregrinus at Hanningfield on 30th, and a
Merlin F. columbanus at Beachv Head (East
Sussex) on 28th. A typically confiding female
AT W
Recent reports
465
Red-footed Falcon F. vespertinus gave
excellent views on Bodmin Moor on 2nd, but,
although not a first for Britain and Ireland,
bird of the month for most birders, had they
seen it, would surely have been the dark-
phase Eleonora’s Falcon F. eleonorae on
South Uist (Western Isles) on 14th.
Recent rarities decisions
The record of Chimney Swifts Chaetura
pelagica at Porthgwarra (Cornwall) in
October 1982 has been accepted into
Category A of the British and Irish list.
Latest news
The first ten days of August brought the
usual scattering of Nearctic waders: White
rumped Calidris fuscicollis, Baird’s C.
bairdii , Pectoral C. melanotos and Buff-
breasted Sandpipers Tryngites subrujicollis;
adult Franklin’s Gull Larus pipixcan on
South Uist and Forster’s Tern Sterna forsten
in Co. Louth. Great Puffinus gravis and
Cory’s Shearwaters regularly off Porth-
gwarra. Long-stayers included Greater
Yellowlegs at Minsmere and Greater Sand
Plover Charadrtus leschenaultn at Cley.
Short reviews
Birds of Kerala: the birds of Travancore
and Cochin. By Salim Ali. (Oxford
Lhiiversity Press, India; first published 1953,
second edition 1969, reprinted 1984. 415.00)
This welcome reprint will be indispensable to
anyone visiting southern India (and not just
Kerala). After a stimulating introduction, all
relevant species and subspecies are compre-
hensively treated in Handbook style. Only a
selection is illustrated in colour, but this
includes most of the endemics and many
distinct races. [Nigel Redman) Birds of the
Cayman Islands. By Patricia Bradley.
(P. E. Bradley, 1985. £22.00) Competently
written, well-produced guide to the birds of
these islands. The 72 excellent colour photo-
graphs illustrate most of the common species
(though not all of those also found in North
America). The 148 regularly occurring
species are covered in some detail (163
pages), whilst 28 rarer visitors are dealt with
in a nine-page appendix. Birdwatchers
visiting the islands should obtain a copy,
though the high price may put others off.
[David Fisher) Manual del Anillador
(ringers’ guide in Spanish). By Pedro
Ceballos, Juan Molina, Antonio Franco
and Borja Palacios. (Instituto National
Para La Conservat ion de la Naturaleza,
1984. No price given). Based close I \ on the
BTC) Ringer’s Manual, this is more weather-
proof. pot ketable and better illustrated, but
less comprehensive and with no index.
Essential for foreigners ringing in Spain
(although with no instructions specifically
for them), as required ring-sizes and methods
differ a good deal from ours, and there are
recommendations for Iberia’s special birds,
ringing in mixed heronries, and other local
tips. It is possible for the non Spanish-
speaker to follow some of the critical sections.
[J. M. O’Sullivan] Der Weiss-Storch. By
Gerhard Creutz. (Die Neue Brchm-
Biicherei 375. A. Ziemsen Yerlag, 1985.
DM25.20) Number 375 in this series of
paperback monographs with all-German
texts. The references alone take up 8V2 of the
216 pages; invaluable source of information
concerning the W hite Stork Cicoma ciconia.
The Moths and Butterflies of Great
Britain and Ireland. Edited by John
Heath and A. Maitland Emmet. Vol. 1
Micropterigidae-Heliozelidae. Vol. 2
Cossidae-Heliodinidae. Vol. 9 Sphingidae-
Noctuidae (Part I). Vol. 10 Noctuidae (Part
II) and Agaristidae. (Harley Books. Vol. 1:
1976, £37.50; vol. 2: 1985, £47.50; vol. 9:
1979, £40.00; vol. 10: 1983, £45.00). One of
the complaints about some binoculars which
do not focus close-to is based on their bird-
watcher owner’s wish to obtain close
views of butterflies and moths. There
466
Short reviews
have been some good and well-illus-
trated books on butterflies, and others on
moths, in the past, but this (eventually) ten-
volume set is the lepidopterists’ equivalent of
the ornithologists’ BWP (except that it covers
Britain and Ireland rather than the Western
Palearctic), combined with The Atlas of
Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland. The
standard of text and illustrations (execution
and reproduction) and the inclusion of
standard dot-distribution maps make this set
not only very valuable for the entomologist or
general field naturalist, but also a collector’s
item for lovers of good books. The editors,
John Heath and A. Maitland Emmet, and
their team of associate editors, artists and
authors, are achieving an end-product which
many ornithologists will — if they can afford
it — want to own. It is worth purchasing each
volume as it is published, since, for instance,
volume 1, which cost just £17.50 when it first
appeared in 1976, is now £30.00, and further
increases seem inevitable. Highly recom-
mended (and a good investment!). Roberts’
Birds of Southern Africa. By Gordon
Lindsay Maclean. (John. Voelcker Bird
Book Fund, 1985. R24.50 + p&p) Even if
you already own the book of this title, first
published in 1940 and with second, third and
fourth editions in 1957, 1970 and 1978, you
will probably wish to obtain this fifth edition.
Not only have there been many amendments
and additions made (the text has been
‘completely revised’ by Dr Maclean), but
also the distribution maps now show resident
breeding (green), passage (yellow) and
migrant breeding (blue) separately. The
most important change, however, is in the
illustrations. There .are many completely
new plates by Geoff Lockwood and Kenneth
Newman, and the standard of illustration is
now comparable with that which we have
come to expect of field guides and hand-
books. The plates are also now all arranged
in one block, which is much more convenient
for reference compared with the previously
awkward-to-use scattered plates. With over
200 more pages than the last edition, this
book will be wanted by everyone with an
interest in the birds of Africa south of the
Kunene, Okavango and Zambezi Rivers
(Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa
and Zimbabwe). The Spiders of Great
Britain and Ireland. By Michael J.
Roberts. Vol. 1 Atypidae-Theridiosoma-
tidae. Vol. 3 Colour plates. (Harley Books,
1985. Vol. 1, £45.00; vol. 3, £55.00; vols. 1 &
3 together £90.00). When complete, this
three-volume set will form the definitive
guide to the identification of all British and
Irish species. The paintings, as well as the
text, have been prepared by Dr Michael J.
Roberts, who has managed to combine this
with his medical practice. Volume 1 provides
an introduction and species-texts for the
larger spiders; the still-in-preparation
volume 2 will contain texts for the smaller
species; volume 3 contains 237 full-page
colour plates, illustrating the 307 species.
The illustrations are all much enlarged, but
each one includes a small, life-size line-
drawing to give scale. Every British
naturalist who ever wants to identify a spider
will refer to this work, and these volumes
must become an essential part of the library
of every serious fieid naturalist, whether pro-
fessional or amateur. The one thing lacking is
distribution maps, but the author points out
that ‘Because there are still relatively few
people working on spiders, it can be argued
that our present knowledge of spider distri-
bution partly reflects the distribution of
active arachnologists. It is hoped that the
present work will stimulate further interest in
spiders and an increasing number of records
from individual collectors. The known distri-
bution patterns might then be altered some-
what and could form the subject of a separate
publication.’ Personally, I hope that this
information will eventually form a slim
volume 4 in this magnificent set. Travel
Diaries of a Naturalist. II. By Peter Scott.
Edited by Miranda Weston-Smith.
(Collins, 1985. £12.95) If you enjoyed the
mix in volume 1 (reviewed Brit. Birds 77:
132), you will find this a most satisfying
second helping. One travels around the
world — this time to Hawaii, California,
Alaska, Florida, the Bahamas, Iceland,
Norway, Spitsbergen, Greenland, Israel,
Romania and Siberia — with Sir Peter Scott,
sharing his thrills, his tribulations and his
thoughts, all wonderfully illustrated by those
best-of-all paintings, those from an artist’s
field sketchbook. Birds, fishes and plants are
all delightfully lifelike, and almost every
double-page spread without some paintings
or drawings has colour photographs of the
places visited. A book to enjoy. A Century
of Bird Books. By Peter Tate. (H. E. & G.
Witherby, 1985. £10.50) This second edition
(the first was reviewed in Brit. Birds 73: 274)
contains an extra 16 pages of new and
previously omitted titles.
Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane , Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ
Reviews
A Dictionary of Birds. Edited by Bruce Campbell and Elizabeth Lack.
1 & A. D. Poyser, Calton, 1985. 670 pages; over 500 black-and-white
plates, line-drawings and diagrams. £39.00.
The majority of books that one is asked to review one sits down and reads, with more or less
enjoyment, from cover to cover. With this book, though, such an approach is an obvious
impossibility, so ! have to say, at the outset, that I have not read all the million plus words that
it contains and it is entirely possible that, apart from the editors, their helpers, and the
publisher, no-one has, and no-one will. So how does one review such a work? In my case, by
having it by my desk for some weeks, consulting it as often as I could, getting side-tracked
frequently into reading far more than 1 intended, and by a certain amount of random dipping,
as well as checking on topics in which I feel I have a certain expertise.
Comparisons with its predecessor, Sir Landsborough Thomson’s prestigious New Dictionary
of Birds ( 1964), are inevitable, though I do recognise that many of those reading this review will
not own that work; but, equally, those that do will be wondering whether they should also own
this one. My answer to the latter has to be an unqualified yes. Thank Sir Landsborough for his
long and faithful service as an indispensable reference work, push his tome firmly to one side on
your shelves, and purchase this magnificent Dictionary instead. It has the same qualities of
all-embracing authoritativeness, an outstanding list of contributors, and that sense of feeling
that if it is not to be found within these pages then it somehow cannot be worth knowing. Add
to this the incorporation of so much new material that it was thought necessary to produce
another ‘Dictionary’ after only 21 years, compared with the gap of 68 years between the New
Dictionary and its predecessor, Alfred Newton’s Dictionary of Birds, and. apart from wondering
what the gap will be next time around, here is the book that everyone must have.
1 1 you do already own the New Dictionary , then you will find many articles which are repeated
here with only minor up-dating amendments, not quite enough in one article on a subject I am
familiar with, but just as many which have been completely rewritten. For example, dipping
brought me to Endocrinology, a subject which qualified for some 1,250 words in the New
Dictionary. In this Dictionary, the same topic has been completely rewritten from scratch and is
given over 4,500 words, together with three detailed diagrams. Almost the next subject is
Ectoparasite. Here, by contrast, the original article from the New Dictionary (2.500 words) has
survived more-or-less intact, though broadened in scope to include a slightly more detailed
coverage of the Protozoa, to a total of just over 3,000 words.
The above is as good an example as any of the developments that have occurred in
ornithology' in the last two decades and w hich are so accurately reflected here. There are many
others. The article on Breeding Season has been expanded from perhaps 1 .800 words to about
5,000, plus two diagrams. This reviews some of the many studies being carried out.
particularly long-term, aimed at a better understanding of the ultimate and proximate factors
affecting breeding seasons. Radio-tracking appears as a new subject, complete with circuit
diagrams for two transmitters. Respiratory Sy stem is not only rew ritten to double the previous
length, but is now illustrated with some superb three-dimensional drawings. Such examples
are legion.
The presence of so many excellent diagrams and photographs is a feature of this work. The
New Dictionary was illustrated with 16 colour plates and twice as many black-and-white, while
line-drawings were sprinkled through the text. Here, colour has been eschewed, but extremely
well-executed and apposite line-drawings and good-quality black-and-w hite photographs are
to be found on a majority of page openings, illustrating points in the text w ith great clarity .
Indeed, the w hole lay-out and design of the book are as attractive as one has come to expect
from this publisher. (British ornithology is indeed fortunate to have the firm of Poyser in its
midst.) A much increased page size has. among other things, cut dow n the thickness of the
book compared with the very fat Neiv Dictionary, so that one has no fears for the binding, a
source of considerable weakness in the earlier volume, though I would surmise that the use of
only 8 pt (the same type size as this) may prove a good test of the need for spectacles.
Moving away from the technical, whether book production or subjects. I thoroughly
enjoy ed the articles on birds in art. poetry , and music. All are very greatly expanded, and that
on poetry has many delightful quotations, though I was sad that no room could be found for an
467
468
Reviews
Edward Lear limerick. If I may be allowed another niggle: while due mention is made of
Messiaen’s frequent incorporation of bird song into his compositions, ornithologically it surely
would have been relevant to mention his unique system of notating bird song on paper, which
he does in the field, for later incorporation in his music.
A further article deals with bird illustration, and, while there is reference to the development
of illustration for the purposes of identification, including the influence ol Roger lory
Peterson, and more recently Lars Jonsson, I was disappointed not to find any treatment of
identification as a subject in its own right.
I have only sampled here and there since 1 received this fine Dictionary. Lhidoubtedly, there
are many advances recorded which I have yet to find, but which I will be glad to do so when the
need arises. I can finish only by whole-heartedly recommending it, congratulating the editors
on a magnificent job, and praising the publisher yet again. M. A. Ogilvie
Handbook of the Birds of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.
The Birds of the Western Palearctic. Vol. IV: Terns to Woodpeckers.
By S. Cramp et al. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1985. 960 pages; 98
colour plates; numerous line-drawings. £60.00.
This, the fourth volume of the highly acclaimed ‘ BWP ’, completes the non-passerines. The
14-man editorial team and its Chief Editor, Stanley Cramp, are to be warmly congratulated on
this volume and on the work as a whole. In real, inflation-adjusted terms, each volume seems
to be more expensive than the last; but anyone seriously interested in birds and failing to
acquire BWP will live deeply to regret it. The work is dedicated to the memory of H. F.
VVitherbv, editor of the great The Handbook of British Birds ( 1938-41 ). Formerly it was de rigeur
for any contributor to British Birds to refer to The Handbook ; now it is equally essential that he or
she refers to BWP. So, take advantage of the various reduced prices on offer, and buy now!
This reviewer finds it astonishing that a work of such scholarship, detail and complexity,
demanding exacting liaison at all stages of researching and writing between editors, artists,
and an army of contributors and informants, has been produced with such perfection.
I nevitably there are a few errors (e.g. the absence of ‘Flicker’ in bold print from page 81 3), and
1 shall have to embark on a little dutiful nitpicking. But first let it be clearly stated that the work
is easily the most authoritative, and simply the best English text available. It is performing an
incalculable service to European and world ornithology. Like previous ones, volume IV is a
fascinating compendium and, at the same time, a very handsome book: a delight to use and to
own.
This volume deals with terns (20 species), skimmers (1), auks (9), sandgrouse (7), pigeons
( 14), parrots (1), cuckoos (8), owls (17), nightjars (6), swifts (10), kingfishers (5), bee-eaters
(3), rollers (4), hoopoes (1) and woodpeckers (12) — 118 species in all. Species accounts
average 7.7 pages each, perhaps rather longer than those in earlier volumes. The longest
accounts are of Common Tern Sterna hirundo , Woodpigeon Columba palumbus, Bam Tyto alba.
Tawnv Strix aluco and Long-eared Owls Asia otus , Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus and Great
Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major , with 16-21 pages each. Readers may be surprised by
the high totals of western Palearctic species in some of these families. The reason is partly that
the inevitably slightly arbitrary delimitation of the southern boundary of the region through
the central Sahara has included many essentially Afrotropical birds. Some extend marginally
into the Palearctic as breeders (African Collared Dove Streptopelia roseogrisea. Namaqua Dove
Oena capensis , Senegal Coucal Centropus senegalensis, Nubian Nightjar Caprimulgus nubicus. Grey-
headed Kingfisher Halcyon leucocephala) or former breeders (Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse
Pterocles exustus , Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus)-, others are accidental vagrants (Jacobin Cuckoo
Clamator jacobinus, Golden Nightjar Caprimulgus eximius, Abyssinian Roller Coracias abyssinicus.
Broad-billed Roller Euiystomus glaucurus) . A number of additional birds are vagrants from the
eastern Palearctic and elsewhere, and the species total is further increased by four pigeons and
swifts endemic to the Canary and Cape Verde Islands and by two extinct birds, the Passenger
Pigeon Ectopistes migratorius and the Great Auk Pinguinus impennis. It is a pity that the Great Auk
merits neither illustration (except for its egg, which unaccountably has an entire colour plate
to itself), nor a text more substantial than 200 words. Sven-Axel Bengtson’s unusual paper on
its breeding ecology, published in January 1984 ( Auk 101: 1-12), receives no mention, but that
is doubtless because the effective cut-off time for literature surveillance seems to have been
about late 1983.
Reviews
469
Mostly, these peripheral birds have been dealt with fully and laudably; but treatment of
some Afrot ropical species in particular suggests that their authors have not alwavs obtained
the best available information. Prozesky’s ( 1968) A Field Guide to the Birds oj Southern Africa is
referred to several times, which is surprising in view of the fact that some earlier and many later
texts provide longer and more authoritative data on African birds. For Broad-billed Roller
habitat, reference to data in Ttiiollay (1971, Oiseau 41: 148-162) would have been more
valuable than the citations made to Bannerman (1933) and Mackworth-Praed & Grant
( 1952). Some germane papers of I hiollay’s are not referred to at all, and it would have been
preferable for J. M. I hiollay to have been consulted personally, about this and some other
species. Likewise G. J. Morel and M. Y. Morel should have been consulted about African
Collared Doves: they have extensive food and weight data which are not utilised.
Style and format are the same as in previous volumes. The reader has to turn to volume I for
the required detailed explanations of Distribution and maps. Population, Movements, Social
pattern and behaviour. Voice, sonagrams, and other sections under which every regional-
breeding species is discussed. Some modifications and amplifications were provided in short
Introductions to volumes II and III. In the present volume, the only further introductorv
notice is a brief warning about the mapping and population-data accuracy of desert -dwelling
sandgrouse, owls and nightjars, and a note about map-colour conventions for terns and auks.
In spite of the disclaimer, the maps are remarkably detailed and make fascinating study. As
remarked by reviewers of earlier volumes, distribution sections are merely to supplement
information presented visually in the maps, and they are restricted to documenting changes in
status. But, in the absence of any guidance more recently than volume I. that fact is not at all
obvious, and many distribution texts appear curiously disjointed and almost irrelevant. It will
be a very considerable service to users of BWP if all introductory explanations can be
integrated and reprinted, say, in the first of the three forthcoming passerine volumes.
Higher groups or taxa of birds are defined, but not genera. That is a pity, for I feel that BWP,
dealing with such a substantial part of the world’s avifauna, should have taken as authoritative
a lead in that respect as in others. Few generic allocations in this volume are controversial; but
one would like to know' why, amongst the terns, for instance, Gelocheltdon is recognised, but not
Thalasseus. The huge compilation of behavioural data here could and should be used to validate
(or otherwise) generic boundaries based in the past largely on morphological criteria. When
one reads (page 733) that the Belted Kingfisher C-eryle alcyon is ‘perhaps better placed in a
separate genus Megaceryle , leaving Ceiyle with a single species. C. rudis ’ one is entitled to know
why Megaceryle was not used for the Belted Kingfisher, as it properly should have been.
Further, on the topic of names, I would have preferred Pied Cuckoo to Jacobin Cuckoo for
CAamator jacobinus , since the former name has greater currency in both Africa and India. More
importantly, the absence of qualifiers from English names of several common Palearctic birds
is unfortunate, potentially ambiguous, and contrary to the world bird-name trend. Birds
called simply ‘Guillemot’, ‘Cuckoo’, ‘Nightjar’, ‘Swift’, ‘Kingfisher’, Bee-eater’ and Roller’
all require qualifiers in order to avoid confusion in an avifauna with, respectively, three, seven,
five, ten, five, three and four species sharing the appellation.
All birds and eggs are portrayed in colour, and throughout the text there is a generous
number of excellent line-draw'ings of behaviour. Eggs are shown in 12 plates of beautiful and
informative photographs (the three eggs of Brunnich’s Guillemot Uria lomvia being slightly out
of focus); the 28 eggs of Cuckoo Cuculus canorus matched with 28 eggs of many passerine hosts
(plate 96) comprise a particularly valuable illustration. Bird plates are bv Norman Arlott (16
plates), N.W. Cusa ( 14), Hakan Delin ( 13). D. I. M. Wallace (13), C.J. F. Coombs (12), C. E.
Talbot Kelly (ten) and Robert Gillmor (eight). In my view, Delin’s owls are quite the finest
portraits in all volumes of BWP to date. The artistry is simply magnificent — a pity that the
owls could not have been enlarged and represented in more plates. Arlott’s kingfishers and
woodpeckers and Gillmor’s auks are exquisite too. Wallace’s cuckoos and swifts and Talbot
Kelly’s nightjars — all difficult birds to portray — are very fine, although the cuckoos-in-flight
plate (42) mav not please everyone. Talbot Kelly’s rollers and hoopoes are delightful; but the
Broad-billed Rollers in plate 74 are too long-billed and insufficiently large-headed (these
features are shown correctly in plate 73, where, however, adults of the same species look too
heavv-footed and their legs appear black, rather than olive as correctly described in the text).
But her bee-eaters are less successful, and barely do justice to the remark on page 748:
‘plumage multicoloured, more vivid and contrasting than any other bird in west Palearctic’.
Birds 1 and 2 in plate 69 are too yellow, bird 3 has too stout a bill, and the blue parts of bird 6
470
Reviews
are too vivid and too extensive; birds 1 and 2 in plate 70 are too fluffy, and have their
secondaries impossibly fanned out across the primaries; and, in plate 71, birds 1 and 3 are
much too round-winged. I have to be even more unkind with the remaining artists: the pigeons
are mostly lumpy and muddy; and, while the tern plates are helpful guides to identification
and are artistically pleasing, they are spoilt by flagrant retouching (e.g. plates 1 1 and 13).
Lastly, a plea. Relating a given bird in a plate with its facing caption is unnecessarily and
distractingly difficult. The same criticism was made of volume I of The Birds of Africa , whose
editors have responded by designing an improved system for forthcoming volumes. Please will
the editors of BWP do likewise?
It’s easy to criticise; but let my carping not detract from the general conclusion: a superlative
book. C. H. Fry
Nests and Eggs of Birds found Breeding in Australia and Tasmania,
vol. 1. By Alfred J. North. Oxford University Press, Melbourne, 1985.
382 pages; 48 black-and-white plates; 39 line-drawings. £79.00.
It is difficult to avoid calling this facsimile reproduction a period piece; many photographs of
nests and eggs show them removed from their sites and the original drawings by Neville
Cayley, father of What Bird is That? Cayley, are delightfully stilted. Cayley also coloured the egg
plates, here reproduced bv ‘the heliotvpe process’ in uniform sepia. This volume covers some
1 70 passerine species in 69 genera, and contains many first descriptions of nests found by the
pioneer Australian ornithologists at the turn of the century. The only modern addition is the
Foreword by Walter Boles of the Australian Museum. He reveals North’s intense personal
feud with mv namesake, A. J. Campbell, resulting in some unfortunate omissions from this
classic work, first published in 1904. Bruce Campbell
Birds in Your Garden. By Nigel Wood. Hamlyn, Twickenham, 1985.
160 pages; over 100 colour plates; 80 line-drawings. £7.95.
The subtitle to this book is ‘How to attract and identify over 70 common species’. This is a
splendid aim. My own garden list, after eight years, is 67 species (35 of which have nested in
the garden). Thus, I have taken an interest in ‘gardening for birds’ for some time, and put
much of what I have learnt into practice, but Nigel Wood’s book nevertheless provided me
with very interesting reading, and a remarkable number of excellent suggestions (things to do,
or ways of doing things) which were new to me. So, on the ‘how to attract’ part of the subtitle, I
strongly recommend this book to all garden-owners. The nest-box designs, suggestions for
planting, general management, and so on, are all really useful. A total of 54 pages is devoted to
species-by-species accounts, under the headings of ‘Status’, ‘Habitat’, ‘Identification’,
‘Behaviour’, ‘Voice’, ‘Nesting’, and ‘General notes’. While some of the information here is
quite useful to the bird-gardener, it does seem a mistake to have brought identification into the
book at all (and especially into the book’s subtitle), since it is dealt with only very per-
functorily, and I would in many cases be hard put to identify the species of bird from the
description provided if the account did.not have a heading (perhaps the publisher insisted that
the author should include this aspect). Similarly, the colour photographs and other coloured
illustrations are not really necessary, since most are merely portraits of birds which one might
expect in a garden. Perhaps, however, these illustrations will attract purchasers; if so,
inclusion of the photographs will have been justified, for the book as a whole will be reallv
useful for the non-birdwatcher who merely wants to bring some wildlife into the garden as
much as for the ornithologist. Whereas the latter may find the colour photographs superfluous,
both classes of purchaser will find the line-drawings in the margin and text very useful. These
are not just for decoration, but show clearly how to make, do, prepare, and so on, the various
gadgets or garden features described in the text. The very reasonable price should ensure that
this book is widely purchased. It will prove to be very useful to its purchasers, and to the
wildlife under their control. I recommend this book, even if you think you already know all
there is to know about bird-gardening. J . T. R. Sharrock
rtually, there’s not a lot j
Choice il you want
ooculars that meet the
hhest standards.
n npare my favourite
h others for durability
it ter proofing) and ease
uandling; field of view,
*e-focusing and
i iracy of colour,
ippare them in bad light and try
im against the sun; does the
imre go ‘milky’?
■HL These are specific tests hut
ultimately the best
gPfj binoculars have an
. indefinable quality about
them -a naturalness-and
aB when you look through
them, it’s as il you’re seeing
exactly what your eyes see,
but much closer.
At the end of the day -I’d
be surprised if your favourites aren’t
LEITZ TRINOVID, in my opinion.
THE NATURAL CHOICE’.’
Leitz means precision world wide.
:ntz (Instruments) Ltd., 48 Park Street, Luton, Beds. LU1 3HP. Telephone: 0582 413811.
H • send me a □ Trinovid Binoculars
I r r brochure about: □ Lcica Cameras &: Lenses
□ Pradovit Projectors
I nation required and Enlargers
Name
Address
8B9
HO LI DA Y A CCOMMODA TION
ISLES OF SCILLY. Migrate to Mount Flagon
on St Mary’s and enjoy the friendly atmosphere
and good food provided by Bas and Nan Cons.
Write or ring for brochure 0720 22598. (BB1 14)
MINSMERE EXCELLENT B&B. Own
bathroom. Glorious setting. 4 miles Suffolk
coast. 6 miles Minsmere. 2 miles Snape
Concert Hall. £8 per night, per person.
Telephone for reservation. Snape 750.
(BB237)
HAYLE ESTUARY 10 mins, walk to hide. Bed
and breakfast £5.50 June and from Sept, St Ives 3
miles. Trendreath House, Lower Lelant, St Ives,
Cornwall. Tel: Hayle 753714. (BB288)
NR. NTH NFK RESERVES. Guest House run
by birder for birders. Haydn House, Avenue
Road, Hunstanton. Tel: 33115. (BB308)
ISLE OF MULL, Staffa Cottages. Small, com-
fortable guest house with friendly atmosphere.
On upper slopes of Tobermory Bay with views
out to the Sound of Mull and Morvern. All rooms
h&c, radiators and electric blankets. Staffa
Cottages Guest House, Tobermory PA75 6PL.
Tel: 0688 2464. (BB356)
ISLAY FIELD CENTRE. Accommodation
available from July at £24 per week. Islay
Natural History Trust, Port Charlotte, Islay.
Tel: 049 686 209. (BB384)
SPEY VALLEY — home of the osprey, crossbill
and crested tit. Impressive Victorian house.
Superb views. CH, log fires. Home cooking. Tel:
0479 2201 or write Rossmor, Grantown on Spey,
Moray. (BB190)
WEST SUSSEX. Black Mill House Hotel,
Bognor Regis. Sea, Marine Gardens, 300 yds.
Cocktail bar, games room, enclosed garden. Car
park. Visit Arundel Wildfowl Trust. Mini-Breaks
from £41.50 — 2 days. Member SEE Tourist
Board. AA*. Brochure. Tel: 0243 821945.
(BB402)
WELLS, NORFOLK B&B., (Les Routiers
recommended). H. & C., Tea and Coffee facilities
in all rooms. Anne Taylor, The Cobblers (0328
710155). (BB111)
CLEY. 3 Quality cottages (sleep 4, 6 and 8).
Quiet. Comfortable. Excellent value. Brochure:
(0353) 740770. (BB405)
ANGLESEY. The Old Rectory, Rhoscolyn, nr
Holyhead. Ideal birdwatching centre, lovely
coastal walks. Close to beautiful south facing
sandy bay. Dinner, B&B, write/phone brochure.
Edna Aldred. Tel: 0407 860214. (BB387)
ULLSWATER, Hartsop, spacious modernised
self-catering accommodation adjoining 17th
century cottage. Sinclair, Hartsop, Patterdale,
Cumbria. Tel: 085 32 438. (BB383)
WIVETON. Blakeney and Cley one mile. 16th
century cottage, sheltered, beautiful. Sleeps 5-6.
Woodhouse, The Old Farmhouse, Lancing
College, West Sussex. (BB385)
GRIANAIG HOUSE
Garryhallie, Lochboisdale, South Uist
Opportunities unique in the Hebrides,
indeed in Britain, for bird-watching.
Would you enjoy the open peat fire in the
evening after your meal? Would you like
more information?
We would be delighted to hear from you at:
08784 406 or write the above address.
(BB126)
ISLE OF ISLAY, Lochside Hotel. Situated on
the edge of Loch Indaal. Birdwatching all the
year round. Superb 2 star accommodation with
full central heating. All rooms have private
bathroom or shower with wash hand basin,
colour TV, wireless, telephone and tea/coffee
making facilities. Full licensed. Brochure and
tariff from Norman or Elaine Osborne, Lochside
Hotel, Bowmore, Isle of Islay, Argyll PA43 7LB.
Tel: Bowmore (049 68 1 ) 244/265. " ( BB26 1 )
ORTH NORFOLK’S HERITAGE COAST.
Flint cottage in small, peaceful village. Close sea,
broads and marshland birdwatching areas.
Sleeps 6 4- cot. Full C.H., Colour T.V., Parking.
Available all year. Brochure from Sanderlings,
Pineapple House, St Martins Lane, Norwich
NR3 3AG. (BB372)
ISLE OF MULL. Enjoy friendly atmosphere of
small comfortable guest house run by keen
ornithologists. Lin and Pete Miller, Baliscatc.
Tobermory. Tel: 0688 2352. (BB354)
MOST ATTRACTIVE choice of self-catering
cottages, isolated and in beautiful surroundings
overlooking the sea on a Westhighland Estate.
Scotland’s natural beauty at its best. The ideal
holiday for the true country lover with wild life in
abundance. For full coloure brochure please write
to: The Booking Office, Ellary 7, Lochgilphead,
Argyll. 'Tel: 08803 232/209 or 054685 223.
(BB374)
HUNSTANTON. Small private hotel owned by-
itinerant birdwatcher. Ideal centre for Norfolk
coast reserves. BB & Evening Meal (optional).
Packed Lunches. Licensed bar. Weekend spring
and autumn bargain breaks for groups and
societies. Shelbrooke Hotel, Cliff Terrace,
Hunstanton PE36 6DY. Tel: 049 53 2289.
(BB376)
COTTAGE AND BUNGALOW sleeping 4-6.
Warm and comfortable. Also 2 ground floor
private apartments at Inverdruie House. Price
per week £80-£200. Details: Inverdruie &
Glasnacardoch Properities. Aviemorc PH22 1QR
Tel: 0479 810357. (BB355)
NEWPORT, PEMBS. Coastal cottage, adj. Nat.
Park, 5 mins. Sea and Estuary. Sleeps 8. Tel:
0222 752965. (BB70)
WELLS, B&B, comfortable accommodation,
full c.h. Warm welcome. Shayes, I.odore,
Warham Road. Tel: 0328 710470. (BB382)
xtv
BARGAIN BREAKS
Small, recommended, coastal, licensed hotel
facing open countryside. National Trust
clill walks nearby. All bedrooms with baths/
shower/wc, central heating, colour TV and
tea maker, en suite. Four poster bed. Heated
indoor swimming pool. Dinner choice from
extensive menu. 2/5/7 night Bargain Breaks
from £20 including dinner, breakfast and
VAT. Brochure/reservations: GLENCOE
HOTEL, Gwithian Village (St Ives Bay)
TR27 5BX. Tel: 0736 752216.
(BB42)
CLEY. Attractive house in village, four bed-
rooms, large garden, garage, c.h. Available all
year. Details from Mrs E. Album, 47 Lyndale
Avenue, London NVV2. Tel: 01-431 2942. (BB58)
COUNTRY COTTAGES between Alnwick &
Belford sleep up to 6. Fully equipped, self-
catering, available throughout the year. Well
placed for Holy Island & Fame Islands, Cheviot
Hills and many places of natural beauty. S.a.e.:
Mrs P. Foster, Coxons, Craster, South Farm,
Alnwick, Northumberland. Tel: 0665 76640.
(BB389)
NORFOLK BROADS. Well equipped serviced
caravans, good location. Tel: 02774 25359.
(BB407)
NORTH NORFOLK, HOLT. Cosy cottage in
quiet square. Modernised and refurnished.
Coastline, sanctuaries, walking distance. Shops,
pubs, two minutes. Birdwatching, painting or
unwinding. Sleeps 2/4. From £80 p.w. Mrs Balph.
Tel: 0442 53437. (BB398)
NEAR MINSMERE, delightful converted barn.
Sleeps 6/7. Fully equipped and linen provided.
Turner, Vine Cottage, The Street, Middleton,
Saxmundham: Tel: Westleton 208 after 6pm.
(BB254)
THE BALCARY HOTEL
Auchencairn, nr Castle Douglas
AA, RAC***. Ashley Courtenay. Family run
country house in magnificent setting on the
shores of the bay. Tel: 055 664 217. (BB3 16)
EXTREME W. CORNWALL. Cosy house,
sleeps 5, log fire, c.h., shower, TV, etc. from £15
per day. Tel: 0736 731803. (BB349)
ISLE OF COLL, ARGYLL. Bird watching at its
best. Ideal for walkers, naturalists, bird watchers.
Sea/loch fishing. Lobstering. Sandy beaches.
Otters, seals. Excellent cuisine. Every comfort.
Licensed. Brochure. Tigh-na-Mara Guest House
(B), Isle of Coll, Argyll. Tel: 08793 354. (BB350)
CLOSE TO HILBRE ISLAND Bird Sanctuary,
Wirral Way nature walk, etc. A warm welcome
awaits you at The Park Hotel. West Kirby
(licensed). Tel: 051-625 9319. (BB346)
15th CENTURY COACHING INN midwa>
Ross/Hereford amidst gentle wooded hills, 2
fields from River Wye. A comfortable and
informal place, with proper emphasis on real food
real ales, civilised prices. Log fire, 12 ch
bedrooms, fourposter. Egon Ronay, Relais
Routier, AA & RAC**. Green Man Inn,
Fownhope, Hereford. Tel: Fownhope (043 277)
243.*AA& RAC**. (BB367)
LAKE DISTRICT
Small tasteful two-star Hotel superbly
situated in lovely and peaceful riverside
setting. Many commendations for
excellent standards throughout, delici-
ous food, and warm, friendly atmos-
phere. Riverside Hotel 8c Lodge,
Near Rothay Bridge, Ambleside,
Cumbria. Tel: (0966) 32395. (BB318)
BED AND BREAKFAST. Mrs 1). Crowden,
Rosevilla, Middleton, Saxmundham, Suffolk.
Tel: Westleton 489 between 6-7 pm. ( BB50)
ORKNEY. Our Island Hotel, ideal for ornitholo-
gists, habitat, moorland, shore, cliffs,
lochs, attracts 70 breeding aperies. Excellent
migration, good walking. Brochure: Taversoe
Hotel, Rousay, Orkney. Tel: 085 682 325.
(BB19I )
SIBTON (nr Minsmere), Suffolk The White
Horse Inn. A unique and charming 16th century
freehousc in 2 Vi acres, en suite accommodation,
bed and breakfast or weekly rates. Ample car
parking. CC location site. Bar snacks or
restaurant meals available. Tel: Peasenhall 337.
(BB68)
NORTH YORKSHIRE. Smugglers Rock.
Country Guest House, Ravenscar Y'013 0ER.
Homely atmosphere with panoramic views over
country and sea, AA listed. Ideal holiday for
country lovers. Mrs J. Greenfield. Tel: 0723
870044. ' (BB242)
ISLES OF SC1LLY, Mincarlo Guest House. St
Mary’s. Superbly situated in own grounds
overlooking the harbour. Terms from £8.50
(plus VAT) for B&B £12.75 (plus VAT) BB &
EM. Tel: 0720 22513. (BB140)
NORTH NORFOLK COAST, fishermen’s
cottages. Open all year. Oak beams. Colour TV
and open fires Oct/Match, Ray Hewitt, Brig
Square Holiday Cottages, Freeman Street, Wells
next the Sea. Tel: 0328 710440. (BB366)
HOTEL LAWNS— Holt— North Norfolk-
Central for bird watchers, £29 two-day bargain
breaks from October to May. Excellent food.
Tel: 026 371 3390. (BB336)
BARDSEA. Morcambe shore. All electric
cottage sleeps 4. Easy reach Walney, Leighton
Moss. Tel: (0229) 53159). (BB364)
xv
LUNDY ISLAND
Stay in the Castle Keep, the Old Light (1819)
or one of our other 19 cottages on Lundy,
or in comfortable Millcombe House Hotel.
Transport to the Island by helicopter on
Saturdays, or by the M.V. Polar Bear from
Bideford. One of Europe’s most important
seabird colonies, famous spring and autumn
migrations, and many rare visitors.
For bookings and information tel: 062 882
5920, or write to Mrs B. B. Glover, The
Landmark Trust, Shottesbrooke, Maiden-
head, Berkshire SL6 3SW. (BB310)
YOU WILL FIND A WARM WELCOME and
every comfort in this attractively situated and
secluded country hotel. Excellent birdwatching
amidst moorland, forest and river. Home
cooking, home produce. Full central heating, h&c
and electric blankets in all bedrooms. Terms £84
db&b for week. Brochure from Old Manse Hotel,
Duthill, Carrbridge, Inverness-shire PH23 3ND.
Tel: (047 984). (BB230)
ISLES OF SCILLY. Derek and Mary Scofield
welcome you to their comfortable family guest
house, situated on the shore with unrivalled
views. We ofTer a happy atmosphere, home
cooking and a select wine list. Ideal for spring and
autumn birdwatching. Send stamp for brochure
to Beachfield House, St. Mary’s. Book Now for
October. Tel: 0720 22463. (BB92)
GALLOWAY LICENSED RESTAURANT
with B&B accommodation available all year. The
Smithy, New Galloway, Castle Douglas DG7
3RM. Tel: 06442 269. ‘ (BB281)
CHEW VALLEY/MENDIP AREA. Bed and
breakfast in private family house. Mrs Warden,
Centaur, Bishop Sutton, Bristol. Tel: Chew
Magna (0272) 332321. (BB359)
DERBYSHIRE/PEAK DISTRICT. Self-
catering properties. Personally inspected. Rural
Vacations Ltd, Pipworth Lane, Eckington,
Sheffield S31 9EY. Tel: 0246432202. (BB360)
BRIDLINGTON convenient for Bempton
Sanctuary. Comfortable, centrally heated, sea
and harbour views. B&B from £8 per night. The
Clarence, 3 Marlborough Terrace, Bridlington
(0262)671784. (BB377)
FAR SAWREY. Cottage, ideal situation for
outdoor interests. Details on application. SAE:
Mrs Atkinson, Spout House, Far Sawrey,
Ambleside, Cumbria LA22 0LQ. Tel: Winder-
mere 2760. (BB358)
NORTH NORFOLK MARSHES
Self-catering cottage near Holt, 2 bedrooms,
sitting room, fully equipped kitchen, 2 WCs,
shower, 2 wash basins, extra low sink. C.h. &
hot water throughout. Kings Head, with
meals and real ale, 2 mins walk. Cley 5 miles.
J. N. Cozens-Hardy, Glavenside, Lethering-
sett, Holt, Norfolk NR25 7AR. Tel: Holt
(026371) 3181. (BB218)
ISLES OF SCILLY
TRELAWNEY GUEST HOUSE,
ST. MARY’S
Marjorie and David Townend welcome you
for Spring and Autumn Birdwatching. Home
cooking, good wine, central heating, wood-
burner in lounge, CB reports. Close to Quay
and Town Centre.
£9.00 for B&B (inc. VAT). Special weekly
rates for parties of 8-10. In October SAE or
phone 0720/22377.
(BB267)
NORTH LAKES — perfect for Caerlaverock and
South Solway Estuary. Six self-catering lodges
overlooking sheltered 30 acre lake. Woodland site
designated of'Special Scientific Interest’. Impor-
tant location for large flocks of water birds,
wintering site for duck, wide variety of wildfowl.
Brochure: Lakeshore Lodges, The Lough,
Thurston Field, Carlisle, Cumbria CA5 6HB.
Tel: 0228 76552. (BB38)
FARM COTTAGES between Lindisfarne Re-
serve and The Fames. Comfortable and well
equipped. Sorry no pets. Brochure: Mr J.
McNish, Outchester Farm, Belford, North-
umberland. Tel: 066 83 336. (BB45)
ORCHARD HOUSE, N W. Norfolk nr. Titch-
well Marsh Reserve. Homely Bed and Breakfast
accommodation (E.M. available). Also self-
catering unit in orchard. Tel: Thornham (048
526)259. (BB49)
SOUTHWOLD. ‘Avondale’, North Parade,
overlooking sea. B&b/em, CH, dglazed, licensed.
Open all year. Ideal Minsmere, Havergate,
Walberswick. Good food, friendly atmosphere.
Tel: 0502 722538. (BB179)
ISLES OF SCILLY— Seaview Moorings, St.
Mary’s. Home cooking and personal service from
resident proprietors, Tony and Linda. Over-
looking harbour, close to quay and town —
licensed — in-room tea and coffee making facili-
ties— pets welcome. SAE for details or telephone
Tony or Linda Dingley on 0720 22327. (BB35)
NATIONAL TRUST VILLAGE on Exmoor.
Self-catering holiday homes. Centrally heated,
near Porlock. Sea, moors, woods and marshes all
within walking distance. Stamp for brochure.
Sheila Wright, The Pack Horse, Allerford. Nr.
Minehead. Tel: (0643) 862475. (BB72)
ROYAL FOREST OF DEAN, Coleford,
Lambsquay Hotel AA*H&B. All facilities.
Delicious food and wine. Peaceful surroundings.
Dogs welcome. S/c flat available — special breaks.
Eel: 0594 33 1 27 for brochure. (BB344)
COMFORTABLE BB £6.00. EM by prior
arrangement. Car essential. Sorry no children or
pets. 35 Wells Road, Stiffkey, Wells, Norfolk. Tel:
0328 75 231. (BB368)
xvi
The Jefferson Arms at Thorganby, Nr York
Situated just 15 minutes soutn of York in the
beautiful estate village of Thorganby. overlooking
the famous Whcldrake lugs — famous Bird Sanc-
tuary. The Inn dates back some 300 years, specialis-
ing in homemade bread, local recipes using only the
freshest ingredients. Accommodation available. All
rooms with private facilities, furnished with antiques,
hairdryers, trouser presses, colour TV, etc. Tel:
Robert on 090489 316.
(BB357)
RINGWOOD — Little Moortown House Hotel,
small family run hotel on the edge of the New
Forest, and convenient to coastal areas. Full a la
carte restaurant, colour TV and tea-making
facilities in all bedrooms. Tel: Ringwood 3325.
(BB328)
BARN HOUSE, Bempton. Pleasantly situated,
comfortable farmhouse style B&B, Schofield, 5
Newsham Hill Lane, Bempton, Bridlington. Tel:
0262 850523. (BB73)
ISLE OF ISLAY — Outstanding winter bird-
watching. 18,000 geese — Barnacle, White Front,
Grey-lag. Large numbers of wintering duck and
waders. Nine different raptors, choughs, etc.
Enjoy them from our farm cottages. Double
glazing, wood burning stoves. Sleeps 2/4 and 5/6
with facilities for disabled. G. & M. Jackson,
Coultorsay, Bruichladdich, Isle of Islay, Argyll,
Scotland PA49 7UN. Tel: (049685) 444.
(BB323)
NEAR SHERINGHAM. Secluded guest house
set in 2 acres wooded garden. All h&c, some
private bathrooms. Adjacent National Trust.
1 Vi miles sea. From £8.50. Evening dinner avail-
able. Licensed. J. Lee, Woodlands, Holt Road,
Aylmerton. Tel: West Runton (026 375) 480.
(BB329)
BETWEEN CROMER AND SHERINGHAM.
3 bedroomed cottage. Pleasant coastal village.
A. Lee, “Woodlands”, Holt Road, Aylmerton
NR1 1 8QA. Tel: West Runton (026 375) 480.
(BB330)
ISLES OF SCILLY. Quiet, modern, comfort-
able guest house offering good food, excellent
views and full central heating. Central location
only 15 mins walk from Hugh Town. Perfect for
early and late season bird watchers. Stephen
Morris, Glandore, Porthloo, St. Marys. Tel:
Scilionia 22535. (BB243)
HEBRIDES. The Hotel, Isle of Coll, Argyll
PA78 6SZ. Tel: 087 93 334. AA* RAC. Open all
year, central heating. Over 100 species to be seen
including skuas, raptors, water rail etc. May we
send you our brochure? (BB317)
NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS National
Park. Coast and country. For the largest selection
of inspected self-catering cottages, farmhouses
etc, contact: Ingrid Flute, White Cottage,
Ravenscar, Scarborough Y013 ONE. Tel:
Scarborough (0723) 870703. (BB67)
SEE PUFFINS, skuas, seals and a lot more.
Private boat takes you among otherwise inacces-
sible colonies. A nature-lover’s dream. Full board
in castle, or self-catering cottages. Send for
details: Balfour Castle, Shapinsay, Orkney. Tel:
085 671282. (BB315)
FIND PEACE and real comfort in exclusive
country guest house of hotel standard. Fine
cuisine, own eggs and produce, attractive dining
room, comfortable lounge, TV, central heating.
Bedrooms have h&c, electric blankets, tea
facilities. Wonderful birdwatching and flora
among forests, lochs and mountains, good
touring. DB&B from £12 daily. Keeper’s Cottage
Guest House, Carrbridge, Inverness-shire. Tel:
047 984 621. (BB313)
FIRTH OF FORTH: 16 breeding seabirds. Bass
Rock gannetry, all 5 grebes, swans, geese. I-ong-
tailed Duck. Velvet Scoter, waders, seawatching,
migrants, bill birds. Facing Bass Rock, Aberlady Bay
7 miles, Edinburgh 25, St Abbs 30, L.indisfarne 50.
David Bates & family, The Wing Guesthouse,
Marine Parade, North Berwick, (0620) 4168.
(BB365)
LAKE DISTRICT, between Kendal/Winder-
mere, 1 7th century manor house in own grounds.
All bedrooms colour TV, tea-making facilities
and h&c. Dinner, bed, breakfast £18 per person.
Aitken, High Hundhowe, Burneside, Kendal
LA8 9AB. Tel: 0539 22707. (BB320)
PIED FLYCATCHERS, BUZZARDS and
B&B at Appletree Cottage, Mansel Lacy,
Hereford. Tel: 098 122 688. (BB312)
WEST DORSET. AA/RAC listed. Fully licensed,
small country guest house near Fleet and Radi-
pole Lake. All rooms colour TV, en suite
showers. Home cooking, centrally heated. Ashley
Courtenay recommended. Millmead. Portesham.
Tel: Abbotsbury (0305) 871 432. (BB319)
MINSMERE. Accommodation at the Eight
Bells, Kelsale A12. B&B. Real Ale, good food.
Tel: Saxmundham 2975. (BB59)
BIRD WA TCHING HO LI DA YS
— The Changing Seasons
You can enjoy a weekend in the countryside,
27-29 September ’85, hosted by the R.S.P.B.
for only £54. 50pp.
You will be introduced to the joys of bird-
watching in Cambridgeshire and you may
even see up to 100 species in all!
Sue Hunter, The Brampton Hotel,
Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. Tel:
(0480) 810434. (BB409)
xvn
SEA EAGLES & CRANES • French weekend
autumn special for Crane passage and wintering
White-tailed Eagles with John Gooders 21-24
Nov ’85 • Also our regular departure (3rd year)
20-23 Feb ’86 9 New! Dutch Wild Goose Chase
6-9 Feb ’86 to Flevoland for geese, duck, harriers
and more • Wings over Gibraltar — a week of
raptor migration as Spain’s birds of prey arrive
from the south 17-24 Mar ’86 9 Lattenden’s,
Ashburnham, Battle, E. Sussex TN33 9PB. Tel:
(0323)833245. (BB408)
SPAIN — Birding 1986
Tom Gullick lives in Spain and will show you
the rarest birds in the most beautiful and
remote areas. Expect to see 5 eagles, 3
vultures, bustards, sand grouse, white-headed
duck, galinule, eagle owl, black stork, with
many ducks, waders and passerines on
spring migration. 11, 8 and 5-day tours for
3-4 persons only, by Range Rover. 8 years
and over 500 field days of experience in Spain.
Tom Gullick, c/o Mrs. M. C. Parker,
5 Tile Barn Close, Farnborough,
Hants GU15 8LS. Tel: 0252 547213.
(BB343)
£77: CORNWALL FOR BIRDS. 12-19 Oct
1985, Trevone Hotel, Newquay. Centrally
heated. Excellent food, talks, films and outings
with popular leaders EricGraceandJack Wright.
£77, inclusive price for the week inc DB&B. New
for 1985 Oct 5-12, Cornish Saints & Sinners:
visiting old churches and pubs; £89 DB&B and
pub lunches. Tel: Pamela Chegwin 063 73 3039.
(BB3 1 1 )
BIRDWATCH CORNWALL. Sept 28th-
Oct 4th 1985. £105.00 inclusive. Five days of field
trips. Local RSPB leaders. Evening films and
talks. Special help for beginners. Exciting
seabirds, waders, ducks and birds of prey.
Discounts for parties. Two star hotel with
Scandinavian leisure centre. For brochure and
birdlist, phone Pauline Boss, 0736 795294,
Karenza Hotel, St Ives, Cornwall. (BB290)
PEMBROKESHIRE BIRDWATCHING
HOLIDAY led by Peter Conder. 4 nights, 3 day
stay (14-18 October) at the famous 'Warpool
Court Hotel visiting the famous locations of St
Davids Head, the Cleddau Estuary and Strumble
Head. Price: £146 per person inclusive of meals,
packed lunch, field trips, films and farewell party.
St Davids 0437 720300. (BB371)
OVER 100 SPECIES on our 40 areas, and
Morecambe Bay’s winter visitors close by. Join a
BIRDWATCHER’S HOUSE PARTY, or block
book a group. Castle Head Field Centre,
Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria (04484 4300).
(BBI 18)
ST KILDA — the inaccessible seabird Mecca!
I have a few places left on a private camping
party next summer. If you are truly interested in
this beautiful archipelago, phone 0782 502853.
(BB394)
RARE AUTUMN BIRDS in Cornwall. Stay at
Boswednack Manor, Zennor, St Ives, in the heart
of good birding country. Birdwatching courses,
slide shows, ringing. S.a.e. please or tel: 0736
794183. (BB403)
SKOKHOLM AND SKOMER ISLANDS,
Pembrokeshire, Dyfed. Full board accom-
modation; birdwatching/photography courses.
Send s.a.e. to Dept BB, WWTNC, 7 Market
Street, Haverfordwest. (BBI 16)
WILDLIFE HO LI DA YS
KENYA. Personally escorted 2-week tented
Bird Watching/Wildlife Safari departing 20th
December visiting Rift Valley Lakes, Naivasha,
Nakuru and Baringo with Masai Mara and
Samburu Gameparks. All inclusive, £1,025.
Adventure Africa, The Square, Ramsbury,
Wiltshire. Tel: 0672 20569. (BB302)
BORNEO ’86. A unique holiday oppor-
tunity to explore the glorious birds, butter-
flies, Orang Utans and flora of the highlands
and coastal regions of Sabah, North Borneo.
17 days, plus five days in spectacular Mt.
Kinabalu National Park. Tour departs
February 1986. Full details from: Cox &
Kings Special Interest Holidays, 46 Marshall
Street, London W1 V 2PA. Tel: 01-439 3380.
(BB271)
OVERSEAS
BIRDING ABROAD? Site guides and trip
reports on: Kenya, Gambia, Thailand, India,
Israel, Morocco, Canaries, Madeira, Mallorca,
South America, Europe, Asia, Africa etc. Tel:
0905 54541. (BB326)
SITUATIONS VACANT
BIRDWATCHER/NATURAL HISTORIAN
required aboard converted fishing boat. Ability to
cook and physical fitness essential. Exciting
opportunity with small but expanding wildlife
holiday company. Write to Carl Reavey, The
Pier, Tighnabruaich, Argyll. (BB362)
BIRD REPORT
BIRDS IN NORTHUMBRIA 1984, £3.20 and
Lindisfarne’s Birds £2.30, both post paid from
Mrs M. Cadwallender, 32 Manners Gardens,
Seaton Delaval, Northumberland. (BB399)
HANTS/SURREY BORDER BIRD REPORT
1984. £1.60, from J. Clark, 4 Cygnet Court, Old
Cove Road, Fleet, Hants. (BB401)
“SUFFOLK BIRDS 1983” — inc. systematic
list, articles, Landguard report, photographs.
£2.50 post paid from Mrs C. Green, The Museum,
High Street, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 3QH. (BB325)
xviii
CAMBRIAN BIRD REPORT 1984. £2 50
(inc. p&p) from J. T. C. Knowles, 9 St Davids
Place, Llandudno, Gwynedd. (BB391)
ORKNEY BIRD REPORT 1984. £1.80 plus
25p for p. and p. from M. F. Cuthbert, Visha-
breck, Evie, Orkney. (BB301)
BOOKS
HENRY SOTHERAN LTD
London 'j leading ornithological book stockists.
IN STOCK — Carol and Tim Inskip: A Guide To
I he Birds of Napal. £25. (X). Ken Simpson, Nicholas
Day: The Birds of Australia. £25. (X). C. H. Fry : The
Bee F.aters. £19.60. Dictionary of Birds. £35.00 until
30th Sept. ICBP, B TO, BOU Publications and a
surprising range of smaller books & Reports.
Our new catalogue will be sent without charge
on request.
Superb stock available for browsing.
2, 3, 4 & 5 Sackville St, Ixrndon W 1 X 2DP. Q
01-754 I 150. Just o(T Piccadilly. Mon-Fri 9 00-5 30 ~
I
THE BIRD BOOKSHOP
SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB
Wide range of titles in stock
Free catalogue from: 21 Regent Terrace,
Edinburgh EH7 5BT. Tel: 031-556 6042
(BB239)
NATURAL HISTORY BOOKS. Secondhand
and new bought and sold. Catalogues: J. E.
Oliver, Malt Cottage, Croft Yard, Wells, Norfolk.
(BB306)
BOOKS ON Birds, Natural History, Gardening,
Field Sports, etc. Bought and sold. Catalogues
issued. Books on most subjects purchased. Blest,
Watcringbury, Maidstone, Kent. Tel: 0622
812940.' (BB39)
BOOKS ON BIRDS. New and secondhand,
catalogue 30p stamps. Surplus books urgently
sought. BB bought and sold. Open Monday to
Saturday. Bird Books of Sevenoaks, 67 London
Rd, Sevenoaks, Kent. Tel: 0732 455899. (BB245)
FINE NATURAL HISTORY BOOKS bought
and sold. R. Norman. Hart-on-the-Hill, Dalton
Piercv, Hartlepool, Cleveland. I el: 0429 73857.
(BB303)
THE BIRDS OF THE WESTERN PALE-
ARCTIC, by Cramp & Simmons, Vol. 1,
Ostrich to Ducks. £35 plus £2 p&p. Tel: 04577
70471. (BB390)
BIRDWATCHING GUIDE BOOKS. Essenual
for holiday birding. What birds to see and where,
when to go, where to stay, etc. Richly illustrated
with maps. Mallorca by Eddie Watkinson
(second edition) £3. The Isles of Scilly by David
Hunt £3. The Gambia by F-tienne Edberg £4.
Prices include post and packing from J. Sanders,
PO Box 24, Alderney, Channel Islands. (BB166)
'BIRD BOOKS’. Good secondhand books
bought and sold. Free catalogue from, and offers
to Briant Books, 94 Quarry Lane, Kelsall,
Tarporley, Cheshire CW6 0NJ. Tel: 0829 51804.
(BB392)
ORNITHOLIDAYS GUIDES in the Let’s
look at . . .’ series. Majorca, SW Spain, The
Camargue, Montenegro, Ethiopia, Eastern
Austria, South Morocco, North East Greece,
Vancouver and The Rockies, Sri Lanka, Lapland
and Arctic Norway, The Gambias, and North
West Turkey, £2.80 per copy. Ornitholidays,
1-3 Victoria Drive. Bognor Regis, Sussex P021
2PW. (BB379)
BIRD BOOKS 1847-1984. Large s.a.e. for
catalogue. Crack Books, Sawmill Cottages,
Burton-in-Lonsdale, Carnforth, Lancs. (BB404)
QUALITY BIRD BOOKS— lor latest list write
to A. & H. Books, 23 Andrew Road, Tunbridge
Wells, Kent. (BB396)
BIRDS OF THE HANTS/SURREY BORDER
— byj. M. Clark. 147 pages + 16 b. & w. plates.
Illustrations by R. Millington. Systematic list
covering 250 species. £7.95 post free from Hobby
Books, 14 Dunmow Hill. Fleet. HantsGU13 9AN
(see review p. 60 Jan issue). (BB395)
MONOGRAPH OF THE BIRDS OF PREY—
Swann 1924-45. £375. Tel: 0770 2 1 37. (BB393)
REPAIRS
BINOCULAR AND TELESCOPE REPAIRS
without corner-cutting. Backed by 23 years'
experience. Send or call in to: Kay Optical.
89B London Road, Mordcn, Surrey. (01-648
8822). For Sales, see our advertisement on page
iv. (BB269)
WE REPAIR BINOCULARS. And cameras.
And projectors. We’ve been at it for thirty years
and we’re very, very good. Perlect? No.
Perfectionists? Yes. Burgess Lane & Go. Ltd.
Thornton Works, Thornton Avenue, London W4
1QE. 01-994 5752. (BB223)
PERSONAL
THE HAWK TRUST cares about all birds of
prey. Why not help us with our conservation
projects? For information, contact The Member-
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Volume 78 Number 9 September 1985
4 1 9 Plumage, age and moult terminology Editors
Spring migration 1985 Peter Holden
Mystery photographs 105 Sedge X Reed Warbler hybrid
Dr J. T. R. Sharrock
Review of British status and identification of Greenish Warbler
A. R. Dean
Notes
Fulmars attacking and killing Little Auk David Given
Pintail migrating with Brent Geese Crispin Fisher
Pair of apparently adult male Kestrels Klaus Mailing Olsen
Moorhens eating apples James Hancock
A white-headed juvenile Long-tailed Skua D. M. Norman
Possible ‘Eastern’ Common Gull on Fair Isle K. Osborn
Arctic Terns incubating Ringed Plover eggs to hatching D.J. Radford
Swallows and Sand Martins pecking at tarmac road P.J. Oliver
Unusual Swallow nest J. G. Crarfuld
Swallow with no feet Martin Weds
Wren swimming Alick Moore
Letter
Siberian passerine vagrancy in October 1982 Dennis A. Wheeler
Seventy-five years ago . . .
Announcements
Your last chance to buy ‘Bigjake’
Moths & butterflies, and spiders
Request
Migration surveys and ringing at Eilat, Israel H. Shinhai
News and comment Robin Prytherch and Mike Everett
Recent reports Ian Dawson and Keith Albopp
Short reviews Dr.J. T. R. Sharrock
Reviews
A Dictionary of Birds edited by Bruce Campbell and Elizabeth Lack Dr M. A. Ogilvie
Handbook of the Birds of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The Birds of the Western
Palearetic. vol. /Fedited by S. Cramp and others Dr C. H. Fry
Nests and Eggs of Birds found Breeding m Australia and Tasmania, vol. I by Allred J. North
Dr Bruce Campbell
Birds in your Garden by Nigel Wood Dr J. T. R. Sharrock
Line-drawings: 427 Cuckoo (Kevin Baker ); 437 Greenish Warbler (Killian Mullatney ); 461
Red-throated Pipit ( Martin Hallam ); 462 Pied Flycatcher, and W«xxl Warbler (Guy
Troughton); 463 Kentish Plover (D. Numey ); 464 Purple Heron ( Emu leaky), and Spoonbill
(Adrian Thomas ); 465 Arctic Skua and Long-tailed Skua (Martin Hallam)
Front cover: Olivaceous Warbler on St Mary’s in October 1984 (John M.
Walters ): the original drawing of this month’s cover design is for sale in a
postal auction (see page 56 in January issue for procedure)
457
458
458
459
459
459
461
465
British Birds
ritish Birds’ Best Bird Book of the Year
ties Committee news and announcements
PhotoSpot: Oriental Cuckoo
ora’s Warbler: new to Britain and Ireland
Parrot Crossbills in Britain
• Notes • News features • Reviews
ta OCT 1%5
ZOOLCr
British Birds
Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock
Personal Assistant Sheila D. Cobban Assistant Editor David Christie
Editorial Board Stanley Cramp, P. J. Grant, Dr M. A. Ogilvie & Dr J. T. R. Sharrock
Photographic Consultants Dr R. J. Chandler 8c Don Smith
Rarities Committee P. J. Grant (Chairman), D. J. Britton, A. R. Dean, R. H. Dennis,
D. J. Holman, T. P. Inskipp, P. G. Lansdown, S. C. Madge, I. S. Robertson 8c
K. E. Vinicombe; Peter Colston (Museum Consultant & Archivist); Michael J.
Rogers (Honorary Secretary)
Notes Panels behaviour Dr C. J. Bibby, Dr J. J. M. Flegg, Dr C. H. Fry,
Derek Goodwin, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock 8c Dr K. E. L. Simmons;
IDENTIFICATION P. j. Grant, S. C. Madge, Dr M. A. Ogilvie 8c Dr J. T. R. Sharrock
© British Birds I.td 198')
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234
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247
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TS eyepieces from 25
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British Birds
VOLUME 78 NUMBER 10 OCTOBER 1985
The ‘British Birds’
Best Bird
Book of the Year
For the benefit of those who may wish to acquire (or give as a present) just
one of the many bird books published each year, British Birds selects
annually its choice of the ‘Best Bird Book of the Year’ from those reviewed
in the journal during the previous 1 2 months. The winner may, in one year,
be an important, erudite scientific treatise and, in another, a lighter, less
academic work, but it will always be reliable, well produced and thoroughly
worthy of inclusion in any birdwatcher’s library.
Our choice for Best Bird Book of 1985 is
A Dictionary of Birds. Edited by Bruce Campbell and
Elizabeth Lack. T. & A. D. Poyser. £39.00. (Review: Brit.
Birds 78: 467-468)
Rarities Committee
news and
announcements
Sponsored by:
ZElSS
West Germany
P-J- Grant and the Rarities Committee
Committee membership is listed on the inside front cover each month.
and on the back of the title page. In the absence of further nominations
( Brit. Birds 77: 292), Iain Robertson started his official term of membership
471
[Brit. Birds 78: 471-473, October 19851
472
Rarities Committee news and announcements
on 1st April this year, having earlier filled (in an ex-officio capacity) the
vacancy left by Richard Porter, who resigned in October 1984 due to
pressure of other work. We are most grateful to Richard for his major
contributions during more than three years of membership of the Com-
mittee.
The following points of interest arise mainly from the Committee’s
annual meeting at Blunham, Bedfordshire, on 30th March 1985.
Offshore rarity records
The Committee will consider rarity records which come from within the
offshore boundary shown in fig. 1. The boundary follows the UK Fishery
Limits, which extend to 200 miles (320 km), or to the median line between
64'
62‘
60"
58’
56"
54-
52"
BO-
48'
12-
io-
6‘
4‘
2'
O’
4’
6*
20- 18* 16- 14-
Fig. 1. The solid line marks the ofTshore boundary for post- 1958 rarity records considered by
British Birds Rarities Committee. The line follows the 200-mile (320-km) UK Fishery Limits,
except for the inclusion of the Channel Islands, and the exclusion of Northern Irish waters (the
latter covered by the Northern Ireland Bird Records Committee). Sea areas are also shown,
their boundaries indicated by dotted lines
Rarities Committee news and announcements
473
the UK and neighbouring countries, except that it includes the Channel
Islands (for which the Committee now considers records, at the request of
the ornithologists in the Channel Islands) and excludes Northern Irish
waters (records for which are assessed by the Northern Ireland Bird
Records Committee). This decision, reached in consultation with the BOU
Records Committee, is a response to several requests fora clear definition of
an offshore limit. Norway, too, has recently adopted a 200-mile/median-
line marine boundary for ornithological records, and it is hoped that other
European nations will do likewise, thus providing complete recording cover
for the whole of European waters. The Committee would welcome sub-
mission of any rarity claims from within the newly defined boundary,
including retrospective post- 1958 claims.
Museum research and archives storage
I he Committee has appointed Peter Colston of the British Museum (Nat.
Hist.), I ring, Hertfordshire, as its Museum Consultant and Archivist. This
new appointment recognises the help which Peter has given the Committee
over many years, involving reference to specimens at the British Museum.
We are grateful to the authorities at the Museum for permission to store
part of the Committee’s archives there permanently.
Election of new member
Nominations are invited to fill the next vacancy, which will arise on or
before 3 1st March 1986. They should be sent to me by 31st December 1985.
The Committee’s nomination for this vacancy is John Marchant, whose
work for the B TO, and whose knowledge of identification — especially of
waders — is well known. John is the co-author of a newr book, Shorebirds: an
identification guide to the waders oj the world , to be published early next year.
15. Oriental Cuckoo
Oriental Cuckoo Cuculus saturatus is notoriously difficult to distinguish from
Cuckoo C. canorus in the field, other than by its diagnostic call, typically
rendered ‘oo-poo-poo-poo’ and recalling a Hoopoe Upupa epops. Without
direct comparison, many of the differences given in the literature are almost
useless in the field. One reasonably helpful field feature is, however, clearly
shown in these photographs: the black bars on the underparts are generally
broader on Oriental Cuckoo. Thus, a cuckoo with black bars as broad or
broader than the white bars is likely to be Oriental Cuckoo, w hile one with
narrower black bars w ill invariably be Cuckoo.
Oriental Cuckoo breeds widely in the Eastern Palearctic, overlapping
P.J. Grant , 14 Heathjield Road, Ashford , Kent TN24 8QD
[Brit. Birds 78: 473-475. October 1985]
474 PhotoSpot
215. Male Oriental Cuckoo Cuculus saturatus, USSR, June 1966 (}'. Gordeev)
with Cuckoo over most of its range. Northern populations are long-distance
migrants, wintering south to Indonesia and Australia. Now that the species
has been claimed in Britain (Spurn, Humberside, spring 1985: plates 245 &
246), its identification will doubtless be thoroughly investigated. Initial
examinations of museum specimens by several people, including members
of the Rarities Committee, have suggested that the problems may be even
more complex than the literature implies. Nigel Redman
1 Westfields , Saffron Walden , Essex CB11 3DZ
216. Male Cuckoo Cuculus canorus, Suffolk, June 1971 (Eric Hosking)
PhotoSpot
475
Marmora’s Warbler:
new to Britain
and Ireland
J. Lunn
In the late evening of 15th May 1982. G. Lee telephoned me to sav that.
during that day. at Mickleden Clough, Langsett. South Yorkshire, he
had watehed a small warbler which he could identify only as a Marmora’s
Warbler Sylvia sarda. At 07.00 gmt on the following morning, l located the
♦
[Brit. Birds 78: 475-48 1 , October 1985J
476
Marmora’s Warbler: new to Britain and Ireland
bird and watched it for about 35 minutes before losing sight of it; shortly
afterwards, it was found about 400m down the valley by other observers,
including J. E. Dale. Its identity was confirmed as Marmora’s Warbler.
Throughout the next few months, until 22nd July, the warbler was watched
by many hundreds of observers. It was photographed by A. V. Moon {Brit.
Birds 75: plates 145 & 146), John T. Belsey, S. G. D. Cook and John Hewitt
(plates 218-220). The record was subsequently accepted as the first for
Marmora’s W arbler in Britain and Ireland.
Description
First impressions were of a small warbler, strikingly blue-grev in colour,
closelv resembling a Dartford Warbler S. undata in shape, and with a
noticeably long tail.
plumage Striking: at a distance appeared
uniform blue-grev. recalling adult Cuckoo
Cuculus canorus. this emphasised by dark vege-
tation background. At closer range, head
appeared darker, especially around lores,
and at close quarters various grev-blue hues
of varying quality and intensity visible on
head and neck. Underparts slightly paler,
especially towards belly. Wings grey; re-
miges often appeared paler, especially in
bright light (this effect perhaps caused by
outer webs or feather shafts being paler, or
reflecting light). Tail variously described as
brown-washed grey or bufly-grev: feather
tips appeared abraded.
bare parts Legs originally described as
straw-vellow. later as yellow-orange (differ-
ence perhaps due to lighting effects?). Bill
appeared sharply defined pale at distance,
accentuated by dark background and grey
plumage; at closer range, upper mandible
pale horn, base and lower mandible pale
vellow. Eye blood-red. surrounded by blood-
red orbital ring, conspicuous at close
quarters. Mouth pale straw-vellow. striking
when bird singing.
Habitat
M iekleden Clough is a steep-sided gritstone valley situated at 1,400 feet
(426m) in the southern Pennines. A small, fast-flowing stream meanders
northwards through the valley bottom, where the vegetation is dominated
by grasses ( Nardus , Agrostis and Molinia) and wet flushes of moss Sphagnum ,
rushes Juncus and cottongrass Eriophorura. The valley sides are dominated by
218. Ma rmora’s Warbler Sylvia sarda, South Yorkshire, May-July 1982 (John T. Belsey )
477
Marmora ’s Warbler: new to Britain and Ireland
heather Ca/luna vulgaris , bilberry' Vaccinium myrtillus , cowberrv V. vitis-idaea
and bracken Pteridium aquilinum. Small rocky outcrops and quarries are also
a feature of the habitat, as too is an almost complete lack of tree cover apart
from isolated rowans Sorbus aucuparia and hawthorns Crataegus monogyna on
the slopes and a line of mature mixed deciduous trees for about 400m in the
valley bottom.
General habits and behaviour
I hroughout its stay, the warbler frequented the steep eastern side of the
valley, and was only occasionally recorded in the valley bottom. It occupied
almost exclusively an area of about 400m X 50m (its apparent territory)
comprised mainly ot heather about 0.5 m tall and bilberry interspersed with
grass patches and bracken. It was generally very active within this whole
area, continuously moving short distances through the vegetation and then
flying 30-40 m. The warbler frequently perched and sang, usually on top of
some heather, but was out of sight to the stationary observer for consider-
able periods of time. When perched it occasionally cocked its tail to about
45° in Hartford Warbler manner.
The Marmora’s Warbler frequently gave display. This was very much
like that of a Whitethroat S. communis: a steady fluttering ascent to 4-7m
above the heather at an angle of60°-70° to the horizontal, with legs trailing,
singing continuously, followed by a very' steep undulating dive to alight
usually farther down the slope. Display was noted over the whole length of
the warbler’s territory, and no particular song perches were used ex-
clusively. Collection and carrying of nest material (dry- grasses and
cobwebs) was seen on a number of occasions, especially during the early
part of the bird’s stay.
The warbler attempted to catch flying insects just above the vegetation,
and also moved through the vegetation as if foliage-gleaning. On one
occasion, I observ ed it mov ing over bare ground under the heather in the
manner of a Dunnock Prunella modularis. apparently foraging.
No agonistic interactions were reported with any of the breeding
Meadow Pipits Anthus pratensis. Skylarks A/auda arvensis and Whinchats
Saxicola rubetra. Only one other Sylvia warbler was noted in the vicinity: a
Garden Warbler S. borin on 16th May; again, no encounter was observed.
Voice
The Marmora’s Warbler frequently sang throughout the day, at times
almost continuously, and often this was the only indication of its presence.
The individual song seemed to comprise a two-to-three-second phrase of a
weak warbling quality, lacking both strong notes and rich tone; a diagnostic
trill, recalling a weak or distant snatch of Wood Warbler Phylloscopus
sibilatrix or Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis song, often punctuated and invariably-
terminated the song. The tonal range was narrow, and the total impression
was of a weak quality, recalling Dunnock.
A call note was heard infrequently. I described it as a sharp ‘twik’. typical
of Sylvia, but having a more chat-like quality.
478
Marmora’s Warbler: new to Britain and Ireland
219. Marmora’s Warbler Sylvia sarda, South Yorkshire, May 1982 (S. G. D. Cook)
Status and distribution of Marmora’s Warbler
The distribution of Marmora’s Warbler is shown in fig. 1. 4'wo races are
generally accepted. The race balearica is confined to the Balearic Islands
(Vaurie 1959), where it is largely resident (Berthold & Berthold 1973;Serra
1978) . The nominate race sarda breeds in Corsica, Sardinia and possibly
Sicily, and winters in North Africa (Vaurie 1959); it is also present in Spain
on the Mediterranean coast (e.g. Rolfe 1965; Iribarren 1968; Wallace &
Sage 1969; Navarro Medina 1972) and even inland (e.g. Jeffrey 1969; van
Impe 1971), and has been recorded on southward passage in Gibraltar
(Cortes et al. 1980). This same race has also been found on many of the
smaller islands and islets scattered through the western Mediterranean,
although its distribution there is, like that of the Dartford Warbler, poorly
understood (e.g. Erard etal. 1972): both species occur on some islands, only
one of either species on others, while neither is present on yet other islands
(Moltoni 1967, 1968a, 1968b, 1970). Marmora’s Warbler has been
recorded on passage, commonly in some years, on Malta, where it has also
bred (Bannerman & Vella-Gafhcro 1976).
In North Africa, Marmora’s Warbler is a winter visitor to Algeria,
Tunisia and Libya, and accidental in Egypt (Etchecopar & Hue 1967); in
Tunisia, it may also be a rare and sporadic breeder (Thomsen & Jacobsen
1979) . Numbers fluctuate, however, and the species can be rare in some
years and common in others, for example in Libya (Bundy 1976).
Marmora’s Warbler has been recorded occasionally in northern Italy, in
Liguria and Calabria (Toschi 1969; Spano & Podesta 1981). There is one
Marmora’s Warbler: new to Britain and Ireland
479
Fig. 1. Distribution of Marmora’s W arbler Svlvia sarda : breeding stippled; winter hatched:
isolated records large dots
authenticated record from Roussillon, southwest France, on 28th April
1973 (Afire 1974); although other observers (e.g. Siebert 1970) have
claimed Marmora’s Warbler in this region, both Afire ( 1974) and Yeatman
( 1976) maintained only the one mainland French record.
Origin
The occurrence of a Marmora’s Warbler some 2,100km north of its
previously known range immediately raises questions concerning its origin.
The possibility that it had escaped from captivity is insignificant, since,
although some Mediterranean Sylvia warblers are kept in captivity in
Britain, the number of Marmora’s is probably tiny, if indeed the species is
kept at all (T. Inskipp in lilt.). Furthermore, the likelihood of an aviculturist
losing or deliberately releasing a male in near-immaculate breeding
plumage (and presumable' valuable) which was not even close-ringed is too
remote to be plausible. Vagrancy by the subtly different Balearic race
(Williamson 1976) can also effectively be discounted owing to its sedentary
nature.
480 Marmora’s Warbler: new to Britain and Ireland
220. Marmora’s Warbler Sylvia sarda. South York-
shire, May-July 1982 (John Hewitt)
The most likely solution seems to be a
spring overshoot of the nominate race,
which would correspond closely to the
records on the French and Italian Mediter-
ranean coasts in mid or late April. Climatic
conditions prevailing at and just before the
time of the Yorkshire bird’s arrival, with
high pressure building on the Continent
and a warm southerly airstream originat-
ing well to the south, also support this view.
As usual in May, various typical Mediterranean species, such as Little
Egret Egretta garzetta, Subalpine Warbler S. cantillans and Lesser Grey
Shrike Lanius minor , were all recorded in Britain on 15th or 16th May 1982
(Rogers et al. 1983). Perhaps even more significant was the occurrence in
early June of another typical North African species, a White-crowned Black
Wheatear Oenanthe leucopyga, in Norfolk; full details will be published
shortly.
Discussion
A remarkable correlation in habitat occurs between that of the Yorkshire
bird and the species’ natural biotope on the Mediterranean islands. Along
with the sympatric Subalpine, Hartford, Sardinian S. melanocephala and
Spectacled Warblers S. conspicillata , Marmora’s is generally considered a
bird of dry scrub and maquis (Voous 1960). In Sardinia, it frequents the
higher hills of the interior (Diesselhorst 1971), and in Corsica is found at up
to 3,000 feet (915 m) (Ferguson-Lees & Armitage 1955). In a detailed study
of habitat selection of the above five warblers, Cody & Walter (1976)
concluded that interspecific-segregation mechanisms occur over a habitat
gradient correlated with foraging and vegetation heights; Marmora’s
Warbler tends to occupy distinct territories of low vegetational height and
diversity. At Langsett, the warbler occupied a similarly relatively high-
altitude habitat of low diversity and structure.
Cody & Walter ( 1976) also found that larger territory size was inversely
correlated with vegetation height. This ties in well with the large territory of
the Yorkshire Marmora’s, and is also reported for the Balearic race
(Berthold & Berthold 1973). Optimal food availability probably accounts
for this: larger territories of low vegetation or smaller territories of higher
vegetation being equivalent for energy requirements. Curiously enough, in
its low-scrub habitat on the Mediterranean mainland, Marmora’s Warbler
is pre-empted by Hartford Warbler, which in turn occupies in England an
atypical habitat which in the Mediterranean would be occupied by
Sardinian Warbler (Cody & Walter 1976).
Being confined to low vegetation, it is not surprising that Marmora’s
Warbler tends to forage at low levels. Some peculiarities in feeding
481
Marmora 's Warbler: new to Britain and Ireland
behaviour similar to those of the Yorkshire bird have also been noted by
Diesselhorst (1971), who mentioned similarities to Wren Troglodytes
troglodytes or Long-tailed Lit Aegithalos caudatus.
Summary
An adult male Marmora’s Warbler Sylvia sarda was present at Langsett. South Yorkshire, from
15th May to 22nd July 1982. Details are given of its appearance, display and general
behaviour, voice and habitat. The species’ status and distribution is reviewed, and the
probable origin of this, the first-ever record of Marmora’s Warbler for Britain and Ireland, is
deduced. I he species’ habitat in the Mediterranean and in Yorkshire is discussed.
References
Affre. G. 1974. ( Capture de la fauvette sarde Sylvia sarda en Roussillon. Alauda 42 ( 1 ): I 17-122.
Bannfrman. D. A.. & Vella-Gaffiero. J. A. 1976. Birds of the Maltese Archipelago. Malta.
Bf.rthoi.d. P.. & Berthold, H. 1973. Zur Biologie von Sylvia sarda balearica und Sylvia
melanocephala. J. Om. 1 14: 79-95.
Bundy. G. 1976. The Birds of Libya: an annotated checklist. BOl' Checklist No. 1.
Cody, M. I... & W'alter. H. 1976. Habitat selection and interspecific interactions among
Mediterranean svlviid warblers. Oikos 27 (2): 210-238.
Cortes, ). F... Finlayson, J. C.. Garcia. F. F. J . & Mosquera. M A J. 1980. Birds of
Gibraltar. Gibraltar.
Diesselhorst, G. 1971. Zur Okologie von Samtkopfgrasmucke ( Svlvia melanocephala ) und
Sardengrasmiicke (Sylvia sarda) im September in Sardinien. /. Om. 1 12: 131-137.
Frard. C.. Guillou. J.-J.. & Yielliard. ). 1972. Reflexions sur la repartition de Sylvia sarda.
A/auda 40 (3): 293-296.
Etchecopar. R. I).. & Hue. F. 1967. The Birds of North Africa. London.
Ferguson-Lees. I. J.. & Armitage. J. 1955. Photographic studies of some less familiar birds.
65. Marmora’s Warbler. Brit. Birds 48: 312.
Iribarrf.n. J . |. 1968. Nota sobre Sylvia sarda en Navarra. Ardeola 12:242.
Jeffrey. R. A. 1969 Po.siblc observacion de Sylvia sarda en Burgos. Ardeola 14: 227.
Moi.toni. F. 1967. Gli uccelli delle Isola Folie (Messina. Sicilia). Riv. Bat. Om. 37: 91-234.
1968a. Fscursioni ornitologiche all’ Isola d’Ischia (Napoli) tra il maggio 1967 e 1’aprile
1968. Riv. Mat. Om. 38: 81-149.
1968b. Gli uccelli dell’Arcipelago Ponziano (Mar Mediterraneo). Riv. Ilal. Om. 38:
301-426.
1970. Gli uccelli ad oggi riscontrati nelle Isole Linosa. Lampedusa e Lampione (Isole
Pelagie Canale di Sicilia. Mediterraneo). Riv. Ilal. Om. 40: 77-281.
Navarro Medina. J. D. 1972. Observacion de Sylvia sarda en Alicante. Ardeola 16: 276.
Rogers. M J.. & the Rarities Committee. 1983. Report on rare birds in Great Britain in
1982. Brit. Birds 76: 476-529.
Roi.fe. R. L. 1965. Observacion de Sylvia sarda en V'alencia. Ardeola 10: 70.
Serra. J. M. 1 978. Els Auce/ls de les Balears. Mallorca.
Siebert. H.-C. 1970. Presence de la fauvette sarde. Sylvia sarda Temm.. sur la cote
Mediterraneenne franyaise con tinen tale. Oiseau 40: 173-174.
Spano. S.. & Podesta. E. 1981. Quindici anni di inanellamenti a Chiavari e Lanagna
(Osservatorio Ornitologico Figure): risultati e osservacione. Bollettino Musei 1st. Biol. Umv.
Genova 48-49: 1 43- 1 68.
Thomsen. P.. & Jacobsen. P. 1979. The Birds of Tunisia. Copenhagen.
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Wallace. D. I. M.. & Sage. B L. 1969. Las aves de la Costa Brava (Cataluha). Ardeola 15:
143-157.
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/. Lunn . 12 Kenwood Close , Stair foot. Barnsley S703EJ
Parrot Crossbills
in Britain
Graham P. Cat ley
and David Hursthouse
Following an exceptional influx of Parrot Crossbills Loxia pytyopsittacus
into Britain in the autumn of 1982 {Brit. Birds 76: 46, plates 12, 13 &
220) and subsequent wintering records, we decided to summarise all known
past records of this species in Britain and to analyse the 1982/83 influx in
the light of previous records and information from other European coun-
tries. Notes on those observed in 1982/83 also led to points regarding field
identification and behaviour.
Status of the species
The Parrot Crossbill’s breeding range is generally quoted (e.g. Vaurie
1959) as extending from Norway, Finland and Sweden east to northern
Russia and sporadically south to the Baltic provinces, Poland, the German
Democratic Republic and occasionally Denmark. It is nowhere very
common, and in the USSR is comparatively common only in the northwest
(Dementiev & Gladkov 1954). Breeding densities, like those of the Crossbill
L. curvirostra, tend to be higher where there is a good crop of the preferred
food source, in the case of Parrot Crossbills cones of pines Pinus. As the pine
has a more consistent cone crop than the spruce Picea, the preferred food of
the Crossbill, however, Parrot Crossbills can usually adjust to local food
shortages by making smaller migratory movements than the highly
migratory Crossbill (Nethersole-Thompson 1975). Thus, the Parrot
Crossbill may be described as more of a resident or partly erratically
eruptive species than the eruptive Crossbill. Migrants regularly reach
southern Sweden and Denmark, mostly in late autumn and winter, and
occasionally the Federal German Republic, and the species has been
recorded exceptionally as far west as Britain and central Europe and also
east into Siberia.
Parrot Crossbills usually breed from March to May, and are occasionally
double-brooded, nesting through to August-September if there is a good
cone crop. Breeding is timed so that hatching coincides with the opening of
the pine cones, which facilitates feeding of the young.
Status in Britain
Many past references to the status of the Parrot Crossbill in Britain were
confounded by the earlier classification of the Scottish Crossbill L. scotica as
482
[But Birds 78: 482-505, October 1985]
Parrot Crossbills in Britain 483
a race of Parrot Crossbill. All records of Parrot Crossbills in Britain from
1958 onwards have recently been assessed by the Rarities Committee,
following requests in British Birds (71: 525). Of earlier records published
elsewhere, notably in The Status of Birds in Britain and Ireland (British
Ornithologists’ Union 197 1 ) and in Davis ( 1963, 1964a), those for which no
details could be traced have been omitted. All acceptable pre-1958 records
for Britain are given in table 1. All the dated records, involving 13 occur-
rences and 18 individuals, fall in the period September-March.
I here were no further records until a notable influx in the autumn of
1962, with subsequent winter records (Davis 1963, 1964a). The full details
of this influx have not previously appeared in one place and a full account is
therefore given below; all records have now been accepted by the Rarities
Committee, except those marked with an asterisk(*), which we, however,
consider acceptable.
Table 1 . Apparently acceptable records of Parrot Crossbills Loxia pytyopsittacus in Britain
before 1958
County
Locality
Date
Remarks
Source
Suffolk
Blyth burgh
1818
Female taken
Payn 1978
Suffolk
near Bury St
Edmunds
Nov. 1850
Male shot
Payn 1978
Norfolk
Riddlesworth
about 1851
Male shot
Seago 1977
Gloucestershire
near Cheltenham
late Nov.
1861
Male and female
killed
Swaine 1982
Essex
near Colchester
on/just
before
2 f .2. 1 862
Male and two
females shot
Cox 1984
Middlesex
Southgate
Nov. 1864
I mm. male shot;
female also shot,
but unfortunately
prepared for the
table (!)
Glegg 1935
Kent
near Plumstead
(Bostal Common)
Jan. 1868
Female obtained
Ticehurst 1909
Sussex
St Leonard’s
Forest
Mar. 1870
Shot
Shrubb 1979
Norfolk
Earlham
22.3.1888
Two females shot
from a flock of
seven ‘crossbills’
Seago 1977
Devon
Marley, near
Exmouth
1 892 1
Male obtained
D’L’rban &
Mathew 1892;
Lowe 1939
Norfolk
Langham
Sept. 1907
Male
Seago 1977
Fife
Isle of May
18.9.1953
Female, trapped
Eggeling 1960
Northumberland
near Catcleugh
16.9.1954
Imm. male killed
1 emperley 1955
by car; in company
with another red
and two green
‘crossbills'
1. The Handbook gives this Devon record as 1892, quoting from Mis 1939; it may. however, refer tojanuary 1 888. when several
were shot from a large flock that remained for a few weeks (Zoologist 1888: 105).
484
Parrot Crossbills in Britain
22 1. Male Parrot Crossbill Loxia pylyopsitlacus , Netherlands, February 1983 (Jan AM van Laar )
The 1962/63 influx
This influx was concentrated initially in the Northern Isles, with 33,
including 16 trapped, on Fair Isle, Shetland, during ‘27th September- 10th
October. A single male was trapped from a party of four (three females, one
female*) at Quendale, Shetland, on 7th October, with one remaining until
13th; and two birds were seen on North Rona* on 9th October, with one
still present on 1 1th (Dennis & Waters 1968). Another influx occurred on
Fair Isle on 11th October, when 25, including 20 trapped, arrived; some
were still present on 19th. Four Parrot Crossbills were on Uig, Western
Isles, from 11th to 13th October: two males being trapped on 1 1th, and a
male and a female trapped on 13th (Davis 1964b; Reynolds 1964). Also on
1 1 th, a first-winter male and a female were trapped at Spurn, Humberside,
the male being found dead on 12th. A male was found dead at Spiggie*,
Shetland, on 1 2th October; and a single male occurred on Fair Isle on 29th.
4’here were no further records until a male was found dead at
Hartsholme Gravel-pits, Lincoln, on 16th January 1963. Subsequent
observations showed there to be a flock of up to nine at this site in January,
with three to four through February and a pair to at least ‘25th May. During
this period, a female was found dead on 17th March and another female
with an injured wing was taken into care in mid March. It escaped, and was
still in the area up to early 1964. (It seemed likely that local youths with
air-guns were responsible for the dead and injured birds.) (Atkin 1964)
Two further 1963 records concerned two presumed emigrants on Fair
Isle on ‘20th March, and a female, trapped (with two Crossbills), at Wisley,
Surrey, on 15th May.
All 1962-63 records fell in the period from 27th September to 25th May.
The vast majority, 61 out of a total of 85, were on Fair Isle.
Parrot Crossbills in Britain
485
Records during 1963-82
During 1963-82, there were only four records of Parrot Crossbills in Britain,
despite the huge increase in the number, and competence, of observers over
this period. A male was discovered in Wells Wood, Norfolk, on 10th- 12th
November 1966 (details of a male there on 28th September 1966 are
required by the Rarities Committee). In 1975, three occurred within two
days: a male killed by a cat at Grutness, Shetland, on 22nd October; a male
on the same day at Spurn; and a female, found injured at Tophill Low,
Humberside, on 23rd, which subsequently died.
I he real absence of records at well-watched coastal localities and bird
observatories during 1963-82 does suggest that there was no marked influx
into Britain in this period.
222. Male Parrot Crossbill Loxia pytyopsittacus , Norfolk, November 1983 ( Roger Tidman)
The 1982/83 influx
All of the early 1982/83 records were on the British east coast or in the
Northern Isles. The first was a male on Fair Isle on 7th October*, followed
by six there on 8th and another male on 10th*. A first-winter individual
trapped at Spurn on 1 1 th died overnight. A male was found at Humberston
Fitties, Humberside, on the same day and there were two males there on
12th, the first staying to 15th and the second to 23rd. Other connected
arrivals on 12th included single males in Lincolnshire, at Grainthorpe and
Ingoldmells (both found exhausted, and subsequently died); two females
on Fair Isle, one of which was trapped and stayed until 29th; and another
male trapped at Catfirth, Shetland. On 16th, there was one on Burray*,
and a party of six was found at Voxter, Shetland, where three males and a
juvenile were trapped and two additional females seen on 18th, with
another male on 19th and at least one male to 25th. Despite many claims,
the only Norfolk record accepted concerned an immature male at Wells
Wood on 1 6th- 1 7th October. A male was trapped at Wick, Caithness, also
on 1 7th, and on 18th there were females at Voe and Strand, both Shetland.
486
Parrot Crossbills in Britain
223. Male Parrot Crossbill Loxia pytyopsittacus, Humberside, October 1982 ( Graham P. Catley)
the latter also being seen on 1 9th. There was then a record from the Western
Isles, a female and four juveniles at Langass on 21st, with a female found
dead at Lyrawa Plantation, Orkney, on 29th.
Following these coastal records came a series of reports of wintering
flocks from inland localities. Parties were first noted at Howden Reservoir,
Derbyshire/South Yorkshire, and Hollingdale Plantation, South York-
shire, on 30th October, and at Wyming Brook, South Yorkshire, on 31st. At
Howden, numbers increased from seven (four males, three females) on 30th
October to a maximum of 25 (ten males, 1 1 females, four immatures) from
15th November to 10th January 1983; thereafter, there were 20 until 3rd
February and then a rapid dispersal, with the last (a male) on 13th
February. At Hollingdale, there were 12 on 30th October, with up to 12
until 10th January and two pairs still present on 13th February. The
Wyming Brook party numbered 14 (seven males, seven females) from 31st
October to 22nd December. After the main dispersal from these three
closely associated sites, there was a series of records at Langsett, South
Yorkshire, with a minimum of 1 1 individuals from 23rd February to 7th
May; these were regarded as additional to the other South Yorkshire
records by the Rarities Committee (Rogers etal. 1984), but are here counted
as partly the same birds.
Away from this main concentration, there were two Parrot Crossbills in
Hamsterley Forest, Tyne & Wear: a female from 28th December to 2nd
January and a male on the latter date. At North Winksley, North York-
shire, another wintering party of up to 12 (three males, nine immatures)
was found on 29th January, remaining until 24th February. In Speyside,
Parrot Crossbills in Britain
487
224. Male Crossbill Loxia curvirostra, Suflolk, March 1974 ( Simon Cox)
Highland, there were a male and two females on 1 1 th April*.
Assuming that the Langsett crossbills relate to some of the dispersing
Howden/Hollingdale individuals, the minimum total for the influx from
October 1982 to May 1983 is 104 individuals.
Following this major influx, there were two records in autumn 1983: a
first-winter male was trapped on North Ronaldsay, Orkney, on 2nd
October*, and a party of seven (four males, two females, one immature
male) was discovered at Wells Wood on 26th October. Most of the latter
were present until 20th November, with at least three (a male, a female and
the immature) staying into 1984 and subsequently rearing two broods of
young, the first fully proven breeding record for the species in Britain.
These may have been autumn immigrants, or just possibly birds ‘left over’
from the previous influx. These last eight birds take the grand total for
Britain to 219: 18 before 1958; 85 in 1962/63; four during 1963-82; 104 in
1982/83; and eight in 1983/84.
Additional ‘crossbill’ records in 1982/83
Once it was appreciated that an influx of Parrot Crossbills had taken place,
there were a number of claims ofbirds looking ‘large-billed'. This alone was
of course not sufficient for formal acceptance as Parrot Crossbills, but there
were no doubt some of this species which were missed, or just not fully
recorded. The following were probably Parrot Crossbills, but were not seen
in enough detail to be acceptable as such. On Fair Isle, in addition to those
noted, there were 22 crossbills on 8th October and three on 12th. At
Gibraltar Point, Lincolnshire, there were singles on 13th and 24th October
and three on 14th November. Six crossbills at Knapp Inchture, Perthshire,
on 21st October were possibly Parrots. A flock of 25-30 at North Walsham,
488
Parrot Crossbills in Britain
225. Adult female Crossbill Loxia curvirostra, Suffolk, February 1974 (Simon Cox)
Norfolk, from 6th to 1 1th March may well have included Parrots; the rapid
disappearance of this flock suggested that they might have been departing
winter visitors.
The number of Crossbills involved in the 1982/83 influx was impossible
to determine. Very few were reported in response to a request in British Birds
(76: 237), and several of those that were, notably birds seen only in flight,
appear not to have been seen well enough to determine that they were
definite Crossbills as opposed to Parrot Crossbills. In Wells Wood, only one
bird from a flock of nine was accepted as a Parrot, but others were described
as large-billed, although evidently some were definite Crossbills. Also at the
time of the influx, in North Norfolk, five birds at Sheringham on 17th
October and one flying west at Titchwell were noted as Crossbills. There
were also two or three at Lound, Essex, on 6th October and a single
identified as a Crossbill at Hornchurch, Essex, from 2nd to 6th October
which fed on crab apples in a suburban garden. At Foreness, Kent, three
individuals during the main influx were recorded as Crossbills: on 8th, 15th
and 24th October.
Further records of Crossbills during the 1982/83 winter were mainly
from the South Yorkshire/Derbyshire sites, where they are relatively
infrequent, and also from a few other inland areas where they are irregular.
There is no way of ascertaining how many of these may have been involved
in the initial late-autumn influx.
Records outside Britain
Information from Scandinavia and the rest of Europe gives a good idea of
the extent of the irruption, but little clue to its cause. Reports suggested that
Parrot Crossbills in Britain
489
there were no unusually high breeding numbers of Parrot Crossbills in
Norway and Sweden in 1982. In Norway, though, there was an almost total
failure of the pine-cone crop in 1982, which ‘maybe meant that birds
migrating south passed through without stopping’ (Geoffrey Acklam in
litt.). If the failure extended farther east, it could also have been a factor in
instigating the irruption. Evidence from Sweden suggested a north Scan-
dinavian origin for the majority of the irrupting crossbills, and Lennart
Risberg (in litt.) noted: ‘I doubt if the influx had a very easterly origin.’ At
Ottenby Bird Observatory, in the Baltic, only two Parrot Crossbills were
ringed in autumn 1982, but this equalled the total ringed there during
1 945-8 1 . There were other reports from the area around Stockholm, on the
east coast of Sweden, but most reports came from the south and centre.
Geographically, the irruption was concentrated in southern Sweden,
Denmark, the Netherlands and Britain. There were no records from
France, Austria or Switzerland. Few were reported from south Norway,
although those that were were considered highly unusual; as noted above,
the lack of pine cones may have led to birds passing over quickly without
halting. Notable Norwegian records were of singles at Molen Bird
Observatory, Vestfold, on 13th and 17th October; and of five trapped on
the island of Utsira during 9th- 13th October, compared with only one
Crossbill (there had previously been only two Parrots caught on Utsira).
Note the coincidence of these dates with arrivals on the British east coast
and in the Northern Isles.
In the southern Swedish province of Skane, the influx of Parrot Crossbills
was described as ‘magnificent’. Little information on actual numbers is
available, but 180 were noted in the adjacent province of Blekinge in
November-December, which was more than usual. At a bird observatory
on the north shore of Lake Vancrn (59° 30'N), 1 ,400 crossbills were counted
226. Female Parrot Crossbill Loxia pytyopsittacus, Norfolk. December 1983 ( Roger Tidman )
490
Parrot Crossbills in Britain
227 Sc 228. Male Parrot Crossbill Loxia pytyopsittacus , Humberside, October 1982 ( Graham P.
Catley )
migrating in the autumn, but true numbers were estimated at twice that
figure. At Falsterbo Bird Observatory, Skane, 1 ,200 migrant crossbills were
noted from October, an estimated 90% being Parrots; again, these num-
bers were higher than usual.
In the Netherlands, where up to 1982 there were only nine confirmed
records of Parrot Crossbill, a marked invasion occurred from the second
half of October. The first report was on the isle of Terschelling on 23rd
September, but few others were identified until several groups of tens of
individuals were recorded on the Waddensee islands from the second half of
October. Several parties were then discovered on the mainland coast in the
first half of November, and maximum numbers were recorded from
December to early March. At most wintering sites, numbers remained
fairly constant through the winter. Flocks left the southern mainland coast
from January, all having gone by mid February'. Those on the Waddensee
islands stayed until late April, and there were several instances of breeding
behaviour, including nest-building, but ‘no real breeding attempts seem to
have been made’ (Hans Schekkerman in litt.). The few reports from inland
sites were mostly during February-March in Drenthe and the Veluwe area,
where there are large areas of pine forests. In the latter area, however, there
was successful breeding by more than one pair in both 1983 and 1984. The
total number of Parrot Crossbills involved in the Netherlands was esti-
mated at 275-325. Most were in the coastal pine forests: 70 and 100 in Zuid
Holland and Noord Holland, respectively, and 100-120 on the Waddensee
islands.
In Denmark, 1982/83 produced the biggest invasion ever recorded, far
Parrot Crossbills in Britain
491
Fig. 1 . Geographical distribution of records of Parrot Crossbill Loxia pytyopsittacus in Britain
exceeding the previous largest (300 individuals in 1975/76). Parrot
Crossbills were noted from 2nd October until 13th May. with the following
monthly pattern: October, 81; November. 697; December, 775; January,
486; February, 3,746; March, 683; April, 43; May, three. The largest flocks
were of 140, at Gardbogard. Vendyssel, on 29th December; then 480 on
15th February, 570 on 25th February, and 285 on 12th March, all at
Skagen, Vendyssel. Following the influx. Parrots bred in more places in
492
Parrot Crossbills in Britain
Fig. 2. Geographical distribution of number of individuals of Parrot Crossbills lj)xia
pytyopsittacus in Britain
Denmark in spring and summer 1983 than before, although previous
breeding records were rather few (A. P. Moller in litt.).
Pattern of occurrence in Britain
The geographical distribution of all Parrot Crossbill records in Britain is
shown in fig. 1, and of numbers of individuals in fig. 2. All records are
plotted by current county boundaries, apart from Fair Isle, which has been
Parrot Crossbills in Britain
493
SEPT OCT NOV »C JAN FEB MAR APR MAY
Fig. '5. Monthly distribution of all dated records of Parrot Crossbill Loxia pytyopsittacus in
Britain. Only first date of occurrence plotted. Open columns = total number of individuals;
filled columns = number of different records
plotted separately from Shetland. The temporal distribution of all dated
records is shown in fig. 3, with the two major influxes, 1962/63 (fig. 4) and
1 982/83 (fig. 5), also given separately. In all cases, only the first date of each
occurrence is [dotted.
A study of the accepted records reveals a clear-cut pattern, with initial
arrivals on the East Coast and in the Northern Isles in late autumn
(September-November), followed by sporadic wintering of small flocks
inland. About 80% of all records fall between 16th September and 15th
Nov ember, and it is most probable that the two wintering flocks located in
January 1963 and January 1983 had already been in the areas from the
previous autumns. Compared with the Crossbill, the majority of which
usually arrive in June-August in irruption years, the Parrot Crossbill is
therefore a late immigrant, often associated with major arrivals of Scan-
dinavian winter visitors and the occurrence of Asiatic vagrants on the East
Fig. I . Monthly distribution of records of Parrot Crossbills Loxia pytyopsittacus in Britain in
1962/63. Only first dates plotted. Open columns = total number of individuals; filled columns
= number of records
494
Parrot Crossbills in Britain
Fig. 5. Monthly distribution of records of Parrot Crossbills Loxia pylyopsitlacus in Britain in
1 982/83. Only first dates plotted. Open columns = total number of individuals; filled columns
= number of records
Coast. This pattern is similar to that in Denmark, where Parrot Crossbills
are more regular in winter and most arrive from October-November, with
varying numbers remaining to March- April (Moller 1979).
In Britain, the wintering flocks, once established in an area, were very
stable in numbers during November-January, but thereafter became less
compact as birds began to depart by February-March (cf. Netherlands
data for 1982/83).
Comparison between 1962/63 and 1982/83 influxes
The precise timings of the two major influxes of Parrot Crossbills into
Britain were very similar, with most arriving during October and being
concentrated from Lincolnshire north to Shetland (see figs. 4 and 5). The
bulk (71%) of the 1962/63 records, however, were on Fair Isle, and only
1 3% came from inland sites; by contrast, only 10% of those in 1982/83 were
on Fair Isle, but 65% came from inland localities. These figures are, of
229. Male Parrot Crossbill Loxia pytyopsittacus, Norfolk, March 1984 (Roger Tidman )
Parrot Crossbills in Britain
495
230. Adult male Crossbill Loxia curnrostra. Suffolk. Marrh April 11*7 1 (Simon Cox )
course, based on the numbers of individuals recorded. The high total found
inland in 1982/83 was almost certainly partly a result of the huge increase in
the number of active observers, and the increased knowledge of field
identification, between 1963 and 1982. Thus, no real comparison of
numbers ol birds involved in the two influxes is possible; indeed one is
tempted to suggest that many more Parrots than those recorded must have
been present in 1962/63, especially as there were marked invasions of
Crossbills in both 1962 and 1963, the presence of which probably also
served to mask the occurrence of Parrots. Nevertheless, Parrot Crossbills
are still not easy birds to identify in the field, and undoubtedly there were
other records in 1982/83 which were not formally verified.
That several of the 1982 Parrot Crossbills arrived at the same time as a
pronounced East Coast ‘fall' of Goldcrests Regulus regu/us and Asiatic
passerines (Howey & Bell 1985) suggests that they had been caught up in a
general westward migration associated with easterly winds blowing around
a huge high-pressure system situated over Scandinavia and Russia during
October. The proximate factor which led to the initial movement of Parrot
Crossbills remains unclear. Evidence from Scandinavia and other Euro-
pean countries suggests that there was not just a postulated shift of
wintering area, as shown by the Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus in
1973/74 and 1974/75 (Scott 1978), but a definite irruption.
Identification of Parrot Crossbills
The identification of large-billed crossbills noted in Britain from autumn
1 982 to spring 1983 as Parrot Crossbills father than Scottish Crossbills was
based on a number of factors: (i) measurement of trapped birds; (ii)
photographs of individuals involved; (iii) arrival on the East Coast sugges-
tive of Scandinavian origin; (iv) the large-scale influx of Parrot Crossbills
into other W est European countries; (v) the fact that the Scottish Crossbill
496
Parrot Crossbills in Britain
population is relatively small and sedentary, and has never been recorded
south of Perth (56°21'N) (Dr A. G. Knox inlitt.). No attempt has been made
to compare Parrot and Scottish Crossbills below; all comparisons are with
Crossbill.
231. Male Parrot Crossbill Loxia pytyopsiltacus, Humberside, October 1982 ( Graham P. Catley)
Field identification
The following summary is a compilation of criteria which became apparent
during extensive observations of Parrot Crossbills in Britain in 1982/83,
with appropriate reference to previous works. It is not intended as the ‘last
word’ in Parrot Crossbill identification, but as a guide to assist observers
confronted by possible Parrots in the future. Like several other closely
related species, for example Reed Acrocephalus scirpaceus and Marsh
W arblers A. palustris, identification is not easy and depends on good views,
close study, skill, and experience of the commoner species. Like many of the
species breeding in the northern boreal forests, however, Parrot Crossbills
are frequently very tame away from their native habitat, and so are often
easy to photograph: a good photograph of a suspected Parrot will enable
much easier confirmation of identity than an attempt to quantify certain
characteristics in words.
PLUMAGE
Reliable differences in plumage between adult Parrot Crossbill and
Crossbill do not exist. From our experience in Britain in 1982/83, we would
suggest, however, that: male Parrots usually appear duller, deeper crim-
son-red, with a more pronounced greyish nape and mantle; while females
tend to appear duller and greyer in colour than Crossbills, especially about
the head, neck, nape and mantle, and thus show a more contrasting
brighter back and rump (this area tends to be greener than the even
brighter yellow-green of Crossbill).
The moult patterns of crossbills and their adoption of yellow- and
Parrot Crossbills in Britain
497
orange-type plumages are rather complex and not fully understood.
Individuals with orange or yellow feathers need not be immatures, and
likewise red males may be in first-winter plumage. A narrow white or
huffish wingbar, formed by the pale tips to the outer three to five greater
coverts, is sometimes present on Parrot Crossbills. This feature was noted
as species-diagnostic by Newton (1972) and Davis (1963). It is, however,
also found on Crossbill, and Ticehurst (1915) considered it a reliable means
of distinguishing Crossbills in first-winter plumage. The outer one to five
greater coverts are sometimes retained after the post-juvenile moult, and if
present their pale tips are a means of ageing first-year Crossbills, until they
are worn off or the feathers are moulted in the following summer. There is
no reason to suppose that the same is not true also of Parrot Crossbills, and
thus this feature cannot be regarded as species-diagnostic.
STRUCTURE
Measurements clearly show that Parrot Crossbills are bigger than
Crossbills, having larger body size, greater weight, longer wings and tails,
and deeper bills. In the field, Parrots do tend to look ‘bigger’ when Cross-
bills are present for comparison; they look bulky and big-headed. They
Fig. 6. Head-on views of Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes and Parrot Crossbill Loxia
pytyopsittacus ( Graham P. Catley)
have been noted as looking about 10% larger than Crossbill and have even
been likened to a small Starling Stumus vulgaris in structure. I he
accompanying drawings (figs. 6-10) are based on photographs and field
observations.
HEAD AND NECK
The appearance of a Parrot Crossbill's head and bill often draws com-
parison with that of a Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes, especially when
seen head-on (fig. 6). Parrots look heavy, strong, thickset, bulky and
lacking a pronounced forehead, an effect heightened by the flatter crown.
The bird seems to have its greatest bulk at the front, but the breast can also
appear deep and full. The heavy front is emphasised when seen head-on, as
the flat crown, broad, wide forehead, full ‘cheeks’ and broad-based bill all
combine to create this effect (fig. 6). When alarmed, in threat display, and
sometimes when singing, the crown feathers are raised in a semi-crest
which gives the crown a more dome-shaped appearance (plate 221); they
498
Parrot Crossbills in Britain
Fig. 7. Parrot Crossbill Loxia pytyopsittacus perched (Graham P. Catley )
do not, therefore, always show a flat forehead. The neck is often hunched
and may give the impression of loose feathering, creating a ruff-like effect.
WINGS
Parrot Crossbills do sometimes appear long-winged in the field, and the
effect of the flight feathers cloaking the tail again tends to add more bulk to
the front of the bird.
BILL
Adult type The bill of Parrot Crossbill is indeed more like that of a parrot
( Psittaciformes), being deeper and broad at the base and hefty-looking. On
most individuals, the upper mandible curves down smoothly and evenly
along its whole length; but on some the culmen at the base levels out, being
flatter for the 2-3 mm near the skull. The tip only just projects beyond the
Fig. 8. Parrot Crossbill Loxia pytyopsittacus on ground ( Graham P. Catley)
Parrot Crossbills in Britain
499
I'ig. 9. Parrot Crossbill Loxia pytyopsittacus (left) and Crossbill L. curvirostra (right) to show-
comparative jizz on the ground ( Graham P. Catley)
lower mandible, il at all, but odd individuals, apparently mostly first-years,
do show more extension. Adults’ bills are possibly more worn after the
breeding season and thus less pointed. The lower mandible has a distinct
shape, with a pronounced bulge at the base of the gonys and a rather blunt
tip, which again seldom projects above the ridge of the upper mandible.
I he cutting edge of both mandibles is a pale ivory colour, much more
pronounced than on Crossbill.
The bill may look almost as deep as it is long, an effect heightened by the
bird of ten holding the mandibles slightly opened while eating (often a good
time to observe bill shape, as the head is held still). The bill ofCrossbill is
not so bulky, but is more elongated, with the tips usually more sharplv
pointed, and often more crossed.
Fig. 10. Parrot Crossbill Loxia pytyopsittacus (left) and Crossbill L. curvirostra (right) to show-
comparative jizz when perched (Graham P. Catley)
Photographs of Parrot Crossbills may show an exaggerated bill shape,
presumably owing to foreshortening caused by telephoto lenses and the
differing angle of the bill to the camera. Measurements taken from photo-
graphs tend to reduce the length to depth ratio of the bill. Thus, birds in the
field may give the impression of having less striking bills than those in
published photographs, a point mentioned by several observers in 1982/83.
Another explanation for this anomaly is the distinct possibility that photo-
graphs only of Parrot Crossbills with really striking bills are published,
since ot hers may have been less confidently identified. A photograph of a
female published in British Birds (71: plate 6) shows an individual with
extreme bill proportions: observers tended to use this as a reference in
1982/83, but comparison of some birds with this individual may have led to
a number of failures to identify Parrots.
500
Parrot Crossbills in Britain
Non-adult type All species of crossbills have uncrossed bills when they leave
the nest. Juvenile Parrot Crossbills, therefore, take some time to develop a
bill of full adult-type proportions. One trapped on Fair Isle, in autumn
1962, was well advanced in moult to first-winter plumage, but had a bill
depth of only 1 1.5 mm. It follows that in normal winter populations there
will be Parrot Crossbills without the full massive bills of adults, and it seems
to be these which create most identification headaches. They should,
however, still be identifiable, using the structural characteristics noted
above, and by voice. The bill has the same general shape as that of adults,
although not the same proportions, and is thus still a useful feature.
CALLS
Parrot Crossbilis have quite a varied vocabulary, but the most regularly
heard call is a single repetitive note, variously transcribed as ‘tsyiup’,
‘tschiup’, ‘tyup’, ‘jup’, ‘quip’ or ‘tiyup’. It is generally agreed to be similar
to Crossbill’s, but slightly deeper, coarser, more resonant, harsher or more
metallic. When heard well, it is distinctive. An observer’s appreciation of
differences in call obviously depends on his or her experience of the varied
vocabulary of Crossbill, and on hearing and ability to listen closely to call
notes.
Another version of this call is a very deep ‘tyooop’. This is sometimes
given in flight and occasionally when perched, and is the most diagnostic
call of all. It is also much deeper than the call ofScottish Crossbill, as well as
of Crossbill. Parrots regularly give a further call, mostly when perched,
transcribed as ‘quop’, ‘gop’, ‘quap’ or ‘kop’. This note may be confused
with the deeper calls of Crossbill.
Jonsson (1979) noted that, when in flocks, Parrots give calls of varying
232. Female Parrot Crossbill Loxia pytyopsittacus. Norfolk. March 1984 (Roger Tidman)
Parrot Crossbills in Britain
501
233. Male Parrot Crossbill Lo.xia
pytyopsittacus, Derbyshire. January 1983
( Gary Palmer)
pitch. In 1982/83, several observers claimed to hear Crossbill calls from
mixed Parrot Crossbill/Crossbill flocks, especially in flight; it would seem,
however, that the flocks, although possibly mixed, may in fact have con-
sisted purely of Parrots.
An additional complication is provided by juveniles. Those on Fair Isle
in 1 962 gave a call similar to that of adults, but slightly higher in pitch, and
Davis (1963) suggested that this may be related to the development of the
size of the bill/mouth area.
I n 1 982/83, those in large parties were noisier than those in small groups,
with much squabbling, calling, and uttering of unusual noises. Several
males were heard to give song and sub-song, when perched, from October
right through to April.
Food and feeding habits
The regular food of Parrot Crossbills is given by Dementiev & Gladkov
(1954) as the seeds of pine and other conifers and, very rarely, seeds of
crowberry Empetrum and of bilberry Vaccinium. Those in Britain in 1982/83
had either found suitable coniferous feeding habitat or were migrants at
coastal sites devoid of preferred food. The necessity for such migrants to
locate a suitable food source quickly after an exhausting flight was shown
234 & 235. Male (left) and female (right) Parrot Crossbills Lo.xia pytyopsittacus, Norfolk,
December 1983 ( Roger Tidman )
502
Parrot Crossbills in Britain
236 & 237. Male Parrot Crossbill Loxia pytvopsitlacus, Humberside, Oc tober 1982 ( Graham P.
Catley )
by the weak condition of some on the East Coast. Two were searching for
seeds on the ground, and one was feeding on thistles Cirsium\ all three
eventually died. Parrot Crossbills on Fair Isle in 1962, deprived of suitable
food, fed on the seeds of thrift Armeria , oats Avena and thistles.
Individuals which had located suitable coniferous feeding habitat fed
mostly on pine seeds, but also to an extent on seeds of larch Larix. The
wintering flock in Derbyshire/South Yorkshire led mostly on pine, occa-
sionally on larch, but never on spruce. The two individuals at Humberston
fed exclusively on seeds of Scots pine Pinus sylvestris, and not on any of the
introduced species of pine present. Birds in the coastal conifers in the
Netherlands in 1982/83 showed a preference for seeds of Austrian pine P.
nigra nigra, as opposed to those of Corsican pine P. n. maritima\ in February
and March, some were seen feeding on the leaf buds of poplars Populus.
The British Parrot Crossbills, while feeding in a particular tree, were
very acrobatic in their search for cones. Once located, a cone was invariably
snipped off at the stalk, carried in the bill to a stout branch, and held in one
foot while being opened. Cones were occasionally carried in the bill in
flight, but it was not ascertained if this was because they were being taken to
a favourite perch or whether it was due to disturbance or to some other
cause. The cones, once held by a foot, were prised open with the bill; green
cones were dealt with as easily as ripe ones, and the seeds then extracted
with the tongue, the scales being discarded before the seed was eaten. Cones
were opened very methodically, in most cases all the seeds being extracted
from each one and thus some time being spent on each, as opposed to the
more haphazard behaviour of Crossbills. While feeding on a cone, the
Parrots were usually very still and quiet and could be rather difficult to
locate in the foliage except by the noise of falling scales and discarded cones.
Instances of breeding behaviour in Britain
Most irruptive species occasionally show signs of breeding behaviour in
areas far removed from their normal breeding range following irruptions.
Indeed, many migrant species demonstrate such behaviour in spring prior
to departure from wintering areas. It has been suggested that breeding far
outside the normal range may be an ecological adaptation designed (a) to
colonise new areas, or (b) to act as a survival mechanism for highly
Parrot Crossbills in Britain
503
✓ W
238. Juvenile Crossbill Loxia curvirostra, Suffolk. 1971 ( Simon Cox)
irruptive species in times of food shortage in the normal breeding range.
The Crossbill in particular has spasmodically colonised widespread areas
outside its regular range, for varying lengths of time, following large
irruptions. Breeding in these distant regions is also probably related to the
availability, quantity and quality of a suitable food supply.
As both large influxes of Parrot Crossbills into Britain have been in late
autumn, followed by wintering of parties which have remained through to
early spring, it is perhaps not surprising that breeding behaviour by this
species has been observ ed in Britain. Males have been heard in song from
late autumn (October) onwards, in some instances not connected with
territories (i.e. by coastal migrants). The 1962/63 influx was probably very
poorly documented, but even so there were two possible instances of
breeding behaviour. At Hartsholme Gravel-pits, Lincoln, there were up to
ten individuals from January and a pair was present from late February to
25th May, the male being heard in song (Atkin 1964); limited observations
could well have failed to detect a breeding attempt. Near W'isley, Surrey, a
female Parrot Crossbill was trapped on 15th May 1963; in the same area,
there was also a record of ‘a nest built in a pine on April 23rd. by a pair of
239. Male and juvenile Parrot Crossbills Loxia pytvopsittacus, Norfolk. April 1985 (Roger
Tidman )
504
Parrot Crossbills in Britain
crossbills believed to have had abnormally large bills.’ They were not,
however, confirmed as Parrots, and the nest was not subsequently
examined.
In 1982/83, following extensive wintering in South Yorkshire/Derby-
shire, there were three records of pairs holding territories in March-May.
Display and courtship-feeding were observed, and two pairs built nests. It
is unclear whether any proven breeding took place. In spring 1984, follow-
ing the wintering of seven individuals at Wells Wood, Norfolk, a pair nested
and reared one young; the female later paired with another immature male
and reared two young. This was the first confirmed breeding of Parrot
Crossbills in Britain (we hope that full details will be published shortly).
Continuity of breeding outside the normal range by such spasmodically
irruptive species is, however, unlikely without a good-sized nucleus
population or regular influxes of new recruits, and it seems improbable that
such small groups could sustain themselves for very long.
Acknowledgments
Many people have contributed to this paper in its formative stages, and we wish to thank
especially the following people for the assistance they gave us: M. J. Rogers, for help with all
Rarities Committee data; Dr Alan Knox, Nick Dvmond, Nick Riddiford, and the Identifica-
tion Notes Panel of British Birds, for helpful comments on the identification section; Ian
Dawson, for seeking out many papers and references; and Mike Earp, for invaluable assistance
on the historical records. I’he following foreign correspondents supplied Scandinavian and
other European records on request: Geoffrey Acklam, Dr Philippe Dubois, Gerald Oreel, Peter
Prokop, Lennart Risberg, Hans Schekkerman, Dr Luc Schifferli, Lars Svensson and A. P.
Moller. Additional assistance was received from John Dale, Giles Dunmore, Mike Everett,
Mick Fiszer, Andrew Henderson, Ian Mills, Derek Moore, John O’Sullivan, John Sanderson
and Colin Slater. Finally, our thanks go to all respondents to our appeal {Brit. Birds 76: 237); all
the information received was much appreciated.
Summary
All past records of Parrot Crossbill Loxia pytyopsittacus in Britain are summarised, with
particular reference to the major influxes of 1962/63 and 1982/83. The latter influx is analysed
in detail, and comparisons are drawn with the simultaneous occurrence of the species in the
rest of northern Europe. The general pattern of occurrence in Britain, with a late autumn
arrival and subsequent wintering parties, is discussed. Notes are presented on the species’
identification, feeding, and breeding behaviour outside the normal breeding range. Parrot
Crossbills were confirmed to have bred for the first time in Britain in 1984.
References
Atkin, K. 1964. Parrot Crossbills wintering in Lincolnshire. Brit. Birds 57: 518-519.
British Ornithologists’ Union. 1971. The Status oj Birds in Britain and Ireland. Oxford.
Cox, S. A. 1984. A New Guide to the Birds oj Essex. Essex BVV’PS.
Cunningham, P. 1983. Birds oj the Outer Hebrides. Perth.
Davis, P. 1963. The Parrot Crossbill irruption at Fair Isle. Bird Migration 2: 260-264.
1964a. Crossbills in Britain and Ireland in 1963. Brit. Birds 57: 477-495.
1964b. Parrot Crossbills in Shetland and Outer Hebrides. Scot. Birds 3: 196-197.
Dementiev, G. P., & Gladkov, N. A. 1954. [Birds of the Soviet Union.] Moscow.
Dennis, R. H., & Waters, W. E. 1968. October bird migrants at North Rona. Scot. Birds 5:
155-170 (161).
D’urban, W. S. M., & Mathew, M. A. 1892. The Birds of Devon. London.
Eggeling, W.J. 1960. Birds Recorded from the May. Edinburgh.
Glegg, W. E. 1935. A History of the Birds of Middlesex. London.
Parrot Crossbills in Britain
505
Harting, J. E. 1872. A Handbook of British Birds. London.
Howey, D. H., & Bell, iY1. 1985. Pallas’s Warblers and other migrants in Britain and Ireland
in October 1982. Brit. Birds 78: 381-392.
Jonsson, L. 1979. Birds oj Mountain Regions. Harmondsworth.
Lowe, W P. 1939. On bird collections in the Royal Albert Museum, Exeter. Ibis ( 1939): 65-75.
Moller, A. P. 1979. Stor Korsnaeb Isixia pytyopsittacus som invasionsfugl i Danmark 1960-76.
Dansk Orn. Foren. Tidsskr. 73: 305-309.
Nethersole- 1 hompson, D. 1975. Pine Crossbills. Berkhamsted.
Newton, I. 1972. Finches. London.
Payn, V\ . H. 1978. The Birds of Suffolk. Ipswich.
Reynolds, C. M. 1964. Parrot Crossbills in Shetland and Outer Hebrides. Scot Birds 3: 197.
Rogers, M. J., & the Rarities Committee. 1984. Report on rare birds in Great Britain in
1983. Brit. Birds 77: 506-562.
Scott , R. E. 1978. Rough-legged Buzzards in Britain in 1973/74 and 1974/75. Brit. Birds 71:
325-338.
Seago, M. J. 1977. Birds of Norfolk. Revised edn. Norwich.
Shrubb, M. 1979. The Birds of Sussex. London & Chichester.
Swaine, C. M. 1982. The Birds of Gloucestershire. Gloucester.
I emperley, G. VV. 1955. Parrot Crossbill in Northumberland. Brit. Birds 48: 135.
I icehurst, N. F. 1909. A History o) the Birds of Kent. London.
1915. On the plumages of the male Crossbill, Loxia curvirostra. Ibis 10 (3): 662-669.
Vaurie, C. 1959. The Birds of the Palearctic Fauna: Passeriformes. London.
Graham P. Galley and David Hursthou.se, 13 West Acridge,
Barton-on- Humber, South Humberside DN185AJ
Mystery photographs
~l The sturdy wader in plates 209 & 240 readily proclaims its
A Vr Vridentity to us, even though its bill, the most consistently useful
character among waders, is almost entirely concealed. The heavy body is
supported by pale, thick legs that are noticeably short above the ‘knee’. The
bill, also pale, is stout at the base and tapers so little that we know it must be
much longer than the head. These proportions point directly to a bird the
shape of a snipe Ga/linago, but the simple head pattern and lack of striping
on the upperparts eliminate all the snipes. The solid dark crown and lores,
the well-defined whitish supercilium, the complex patterning of the
scapulars, coverts and tertials, the suggestion of a white rump, and the
barring on the tail all define a dowitcher Limnodromus. But which one?
I n identifying dowitchers, the first step always is to decide what plumage
the bird is in. This one obviously lacks the bold black spots and bars on the
breast and sides that both New World species have in summer plumage.
The elaborate patterning of the upperparts in combination with the grey
breast and soft grey speckling on the sides leaves the age of the bird in no
doubt: only a juvenile is so strikingly marked above and so dully marked
[Brit. Birds 78: 505-507, October 1985)
506 Mystery photographs
below. (In winter plumage, the underparts show the same pattern, but the
upperparts are plain grey.)
Once that decision is made, the rest is easy. One has only to look at the
tertials. Juvenile Long-billed Dowitchers L. scolopaceus have tertials with
plain centres (occasionally marked by two small spots just forward of the
tip) and narrow pale fringes. Juvenile Short-billed Dowitchers L. griseus all
have tertials with bright, easy-to-see internal markings: either bars, loops,
or stripes that parallel the pale edges. We can see at a glance that the bird in
the photograph is a Short-billed Dowitcher. Other features support that
diagnosis. The markings on the lower scapulars and the greater coverts
echo the tertial pattern, as they do on both species. (While the scapulars on
some Long-billed may be marked with a pale chevron half-way down the
feather, this feature is usually concealed by the tip of the overlying feather.)
The barring on the tail shows white bars broader than the dark ones, a
pattern restricted to Short-billed Dowitcher. The grey on the breast does
not extend so far down as on Long-billed, and the speckling on the sides
tends to be better defined.
Although a colour photo would have shown the bright rufous markings
on the upperparts and the rich orange wash on the underparts (in contrast
to the deep chestnut markings and duller, buffier wash on a juvenile
Long-billed), this information would only have been icing on the cake. In
any case, the colours may fade to buff on both species later in the season.
What would have been useful is knowledge of the date and location of the
photo. This one was taken in California in August 1979, by Larry Sansone.
240. Juvenile Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus, USA, August 1979 [Larry Sansone)
507
Mystery photographs
Short-billed juveniles are seen throughout North America in August; Long-
billed juveniles cannot be expected even in the Pacific Northwest (British
Columbia, \\ ashington and Idaho) until the middle of August and they are
rarely seen in the rest of the United States and Canada before mid
September. Claudia Wilds
Notes
Feeding behaviour and voice of Cory’s Shearwater at
sea On 18th August 1982, on board the Cypriot ferry Sol
Phryne nearing Piraeus, Greece, I spent several hours
trying to photograph a group of up to 70 Cory’s Shear-
waters Calonectris diomedea following the boat. The
majority spent most of the time flying at up to 10m above
the water, in the wake of the ferry, rather like Herring
Gulls Lams argentatus. Every now and again, small fish
8- 10cm long were brought near to the surface by the
propellors. The shearwaters would dive down and crash
into the water, usually submerging the front half of their bodies, but never
508
Notes
submerging completely; in most cases, a fish was caught and quickly
swallowed. BWP mentions that Cory’s Shearwaters follow fishing boats; no
fishing vessels were noted on my two-day ferry ride, but shearwaters
followed all other motorised vessels, including merchant ships, cruisers and
a yacht, presumably waiting to prey on stunned fish caught up in the
propellors. BWP also states that Cory’s Shearwaters are silent at sea, but I
heard several birds calling when no other species was present: a single,
disyllabic call rendered as ‘bee-oh’, similar to but quieter and higher-
pitched than Herring Gull’s. T. A. Box
28 St John’s Court, Houlgate Way, Axbridge, Somerset BS27 3HJ
Pallid Swift in Hampshire At about 16.45 GMT on 20th May 1983, 1 went
to Farlington Marsh, Hampshire, as I had done daily for the previous
month. As I approached the lake, I noticed a flock of 100-200 Swifts Apus
apus hawking, and checked through them. Almost immediately, a pale swift
came into view and I hurried closer. At the edge of the lake, from the sea
wall, it was possible to see the bird from both above and below, with ideal
light coming from behind me. It was a Pallid Swift Apus pallidus, a bird with
which I was familiar both from abroad (most recently Israel, just over a
month previously) and in Britain (Stodmarsh, Kent, in 1978).
I noted the following description:
build and flight Perhaps slightly longer-
winged than accompanying Swifts. Occa-
sionally glided briefly, with slightly bowed
wings. Tail notch shallower than that of
Swift. Jizz different and distinctive, but hard
to define.
plumage General colour sandy-brown,
similar to Sand Martin Riparia riparia, but a
shade buffer; much paler than Swift. Head
marked by dark brow over eye and distinc-
tive silky throat-patch (more evident than on
Stodmarsh Pallid Swift), though paler
forehead not noticed. Wings pale, but offset
by contrasting, relatively darker primary and
body feathers. Upperwing- and underwing-
coverts distinctly ‘scalloped’, as were flanks.
I watched the bird for about 15 minutes and then bolted for the phone
box; but no-one whom I called was in. When I returned, most of the swifts,
including the Pallid, were gone, the latter not to be seen again.
This was the second record of Pallid Swift in Britain and Ireland, the first
being that at Stodmarsh, Kent, during 13th-21st May 1978 (Brit. Birds 74:
170-175). Andrew M. Hanby
Flat 3, St Mary’s Hospital, Milton Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire
Dunnock eating from Blackbird faeces On 7th February 1980, in the
garden where I then lived at Oadby, Leicester, I saw a Dunnock Prunella
modularis pecking at a faecal dropping of a Blackbird Turdus merula and
extracting small items (presumably seeds) embedded in it. I suspect that
this habit is not uncommon, as Dunnocks will accompany feeding Black-
birds at times. Although not mentioned in The Handbook, this association
was noted by Edmund Selous (1927, Realities of Bird Life).
K. E. L. Simmons
66 Romway Road, Leicester I.E5 5SB
Notes
509
Field characters of female and first-winter male Siberian Thrush The
distinctive plumage of adult male Siberian Thrush Zoothera sibirica has been
well described elsewhere (e.g. Andrew et at. 1954; Kent 1979), but little
information has been published on the identification of females and first-
winter males. Whilst in Malaysia in January 1983, I compiled the following
notes on these plumages, with reference to study skins.
Juveniles undergo a partial moult (of body feathers and some wing-coverts) before migra-
tion. Males then attain a ‘grey’ first-winter plumage, and, whilst they may breed in their first
spring, full ‘black’ summer plumage is not acquired until after the next moult, which is a
complete one during August of their second calendar year (Dementiev & Gladkov 1954). It
seems that first-winter female plumage is probably indistinguishable in the field from that of
adult females: Svensson (1984) describes females as ‘diificult to age reliably’.
Females have brown upperparts, spotted underparts and a prominent supcrcilium and
hence superficially resemble west Palearctic thrushes (e.g. Redwing Turdus iliacus). A number
of characters, however, distinguish Siberian Thrush from this and other ‘spot-breasted’
thrushes. The upper breast is closely marked with broken bands of small, dark dots. On the
lower breast and flanks, these are broader and slightly concave. In fresh plumage, the feather
fringes range from pale ochre to pale brown, forming a triangular or ‘shield-shaped’ centre to
these feathers. This creates a breast pattern of white spots and dark crescents w ith a pale
ochre/brown background (cf. Mistlc Thrush T. viscivorus and Song Thrush T. philomelos, w hich
respectively have circular and oval black tips to white or pale feathers). The belly and
undertail-coverts are near-white, with bands of brown crescents across the latter. The pattern-
ing of the underparts is reminiscent of White’s Thrush Zoothera dauma. but lacks the definition
and contrast of that species. The upperparts are similar in colour to those of Redwing, but the
primaries, secondaries and tail feathers are distinctly warm brown. In addition, the females I
observed during January showed two pale wing bars, the one formed by cream tips to the
greater coverts being more distinct than that on the median coverts. The head pattern of
females is somewhat complicated: a thick, pale ochre superc ilium contrasts w ith a rich brow n
crown and duller ear-coverts. The ear-coverts are flecked with white; anteriorly, these are
broader, and merge to form a diffuse white ‘spot’. A white submoustachia! stripe is finely
scaled with dark brown, and bordered below by a brown malar stripe which runs into the
spotting of the breast. The centre of the throat is more or less clear white.
Males in first-winter plumage show characters of both males and females, and considerable
variation. The body plumage is grey (unlike the slaty-black of adult males), and this pales to
white on the belly. The grey rear flanks are spotted with white, as are the undertail-coverts.
Like adult males, they show a broad white supercilium. but retain the brown primaries,
secondaries, tail feathers and some wing-coverts from juvenile plumage and. like females,
exhibit buff to whitish w ing bars. On one specimen, the ear-coverts and malar stripe were
brown (as on females), but the throat was grey, as on more typical first-winter males.
Similarly, an undated male in the collection of the Merseyside County Museum exhibits a
brown crown and a patch of ‘female plumage’ (presumably retained juvenile feathers) in the
centre of an otherwise grey breast: this individual may not yet have completed the post-
juvenile moult.
The white band along the underw ing is present irrespective of age. All
the individuals that I saw showed yellow/orange legs. In addition. Hollom
(1960) described the call of Siberian Thrush as a ‘short “zit" similar to, but
a little softer than that of Song Thrush'; Tony Baker (verbally) and I
independently noted this as being harder. In their account of a male
trapped on the Isle of May, Andrew etal. (1954) noted ‘the top of the skull
was noticeably flat and lacking in forehead’. I feel this character warrants
reiteration as it was very apparent on all the individuals that I observed
and, in combination with a stout, longish bill, created an almost ‘wedge-
shaped’ outline to the head.
I wish to thank Dr M. Larger! of the Merseyside County Museum and Dr
510
Notes
M. Hounsome of the Manchester Museum for access to skins, and Tony
Baker for his comments on earlier drafts of this note. Paul R. Jepson
106 Sandy Lane, Chorlton-cum-Hardy , Manchester X121 2TZ
REFERENCES
Andrew, D. G., Nelder, J. A., & Hawkes, M. 1954. Siberian Thrush on the Isle of
May. Brit. Birds 48: 21-25.
Dementiev, G. P., & Gladkov, N. A. (eds.) 1954, translated 1966. The Birds of the
Soviet Union, vol. 6. Israel Program for Scientific Translations, Jerusalem.
Hollom, P. A. D. 1960. The Popular Handbook oj Rarer British Birds. 2nd edn. London.
Kent, P. VV. 1979. Siberian Thrush in Hampshire. Brit. Birds 72: 121-122.
Svensson, L. 1984. Identification Guide to European Passerines. Stockholm.
242. Male Siberian Thrush Zoothera sibirica, USSR, June 1984 (Nigel Redman)
Yellow legs of Siberian Thrush The most striking features of my first
Siberian Thrushes Zoothera sibirica (on Doi Inthanon, Thailand, on 28th
February 1985), apart from the males’ typical dark slate-coloured plumage
and prominent white supercilia, were the very obvious, long, apparently
thick, pale yellow legs. These were so conspicuous that I was surprised that
I had not heard of them as an identification feature. A subsequent check of
the literature revealed little mention (apart from the occasional ‘pale legs’),
although P. VV. Kent did note ‘yellowy-white’ legs ‘longer than those of
Redwing [Turdus iliacus\ as a feature of the second British individual, in
Hampshire in 1976 {Brit. Birds 72: 121-122). Observers who knew the
species from Siberia seemed almost invariably to have seen it singing from
treetops, where the legs were not seen or were not prominent. It seemed
amazing that such a striking feature should not be well documented in
print. When this note was in draft, however, Paul K. Jepson’s note (above)
came to hand, confirming the characteristic seen on my birds in Thailand.
Notes
511
I have also examined the 139 specimens of Siberian Thrush in the
collection at the British Museum (Natural History), Tring, Hertfordshire.
1 he labels of only 1 8 ol those 1 39 include a note of the leg colour of the fresh
specimen.
I he legs of 12 males were described as brown (2), brownish, brownish-yellow, yellowish-
brown, yellowish-brown with back of tarsus pale yellow, ochreous, yellow-ochre tinged brown,
greenish yellow with back of tarsus dirty yellow (2), dull yellow, and yellow. The legs of six
females were described as brownish yellow, yellowish brown, yellow tinged with pale brown,
orange yellow, and yellow (2).
1 hese reveal considerable variation, but do confirm the generally yellowish
colour of the legs of this species.
I he behaviour of the Thai individuals was also unexpected. They were
with a large flock of Eye-browed Thrushes Turdus obscurus in treetops, but
kept separate, and several times ran with a horizontal carriage along
horizontal branches, making them look like large, dark, long-legged pipits
Anthus. They were very shy. J.T. R. Sharrock
Fountains , Park Lane , Blunham , Bedford MK44 3NJ
Cannibalism by Blackbird In the early afternoon of2()th February 1981,
in Brockworth, Gloucester, a male Blackbird Turdus merula was killed when
it flew into a wire fence in the garden of a factory. The corpse was thrown on
to a lawn, where it was found almost at once by a female Blackbird, which
first approached it cautiously and displayed towards it briefly in a dis-
turbed way. Within less than 15 minutes, these displays ceased, and the
female moved to the body and began a series of pecks at the outstretched
wings of the corpse. Over a two-hour period, these initially tentative attacks
developed until the female stood on the body, pecking hard at the breast
and head. When this produced movements of the dead bird’s wings, the
female retreated a short distance and displayed aggressively at the body,
drooping her wings, spreading her tail and crouching. On most occasions
she returned to the attack within 30-40 seconds, although on at least two she
fled to a nearby bush for some minutes. At dusk, I examined the dead male:
some feathers were missing from the head and nape, and the breast was
largely plucked bare.
I checked again at 07.50 GMT on 2 1 st, when there was no further damage,
although the female was near the body. During the morning, the female
renewed her attacks, and these soon developed into prolonged bouts of
ferocious pecking, during which she was clearly no longer intimidated by
random movements of the body. In the course of the day, I checked
frequently; the female appeared to be continuously present at the corpse,
spending minutes at a time standing on or alongside it, attacking and
apparently feeding ofT it. By 16. 15 hours, the entire top of the skull down to
the line of the bill was missing; the eyes and the brain had been eaten; the
breast, belly, head remains, neck and part of the back had been completely
plucked; and most of the flesh from the breast had been eaten, as had parts
of the upper back.
The corpse vanished overnight on 21st/22nd, but, after the initial dis-
plays of aggression on 20th, the female had fed on the dead male’s corpse for
512
Notes
the whole of 2 1 st. I know of no accounts of such sustained cannibalism by a
Blackbird, although Joan Hall-Craggs (Brit. Birds 70: 300) recorded be-
haviour similar to the initial aggression. J. R. Coleman
Hewelsfield , 66 Common Lane. Tickhill. Doncaster , South Yorkshire DN 11 9UF
Second female Blackbird rearing brood of dead female On the
morning of 8th July 1982, near Ashford, Kent, the female of a pair of
Blackbirds Turdus merula having their third brood in a firethorn Pyracantha
outside our back door flew into the house, collided with a window and was
killed. At the time, the male was sitting on four eggs; he continued to sit for
what appeared to be his ‘normal’ periods for the rest of the day and on 9th
and 10th, apparently not putting in any extra time on the nest to make up
for the absence of his mate. On 1 1 th, a new female appeared at the nest and
started to brood; in the afternoon, the eggs hatched. Things then proceeded
normally, with the male and female both feeding the voting.
It occurred to us that it could have been a female unconnected with our
nest that had killed herself. This is, however, unlikely. Not only was no
female seen at the nest on the afternoon of 8th or on 9th- 10th, but the
temperament of the two females was quite different: the first was very shv,
leaving the nest every time we used the back door; the second stayed on the
nest even when watched from 60cm. Jim Humphreys
Gate House , Little Chart , Ashford , Kent TN270PT
Several points of interest arise here: (1) it is not usual for male Blackbirds to incubate,
although they sometimes do and the BTO’s Nest Records Scheme in fact has an appreciable
number of such records; (2) despite the male not incubating at times when the female would
have been, the eggs hatched (in warm weather this is not unlikely, but a considerable
protraction of the incubation period would be expected); and (3) that a ‘new’ female arrived
and began to incubate the near-hatching eggs is an unlikely event, though not impossible, and
is highly intriguing. Eds
Blackbird eating fox faeces The notes on Magpies Pica pica and Starlings
Sturnus vulgaris eating dog faeces (Brit. Birds 76: 41 1) prompt me to record
the following. On 29th August 1983, on a grassy track near West Bag-
borough, Taunton, Somerset, I saw a male Blackbird Turdus merula
examining and pecking at a typical fresh stool of a fox Vulpes vulpes;
eventually, it swallowed a small portion before flying off. On inspecting the
faecal specimen, I found that it contained fur, bone pieces and a few beetle
elytra. I have seen similar behaviour by a female Blackbird (Brit. Birds 59:
249), although, on that occasion, the stool was stale and whitish in colour.
A. P. Radford
Crossways Cottage , West Bagborough. Taunton , Somerset TA43EG
Jackdaws eating dog faeces Regarding birds feeding on dog faeces (Brit.
Birds 76: 41 1 ), on three separate occasions in early August 1983, at Newlyn,
Cornwall, I watched a Jackdaw Corvus monedula feeding on fresh dog faeces.
For periods of up to ten minutes, it methodically picked over the material
and appeared to extract edible items, which it swallowed. I was not able to
ascertain if the same bird was involved each time. That birds often feed on
Notes
513
faeces is well known (see Brit. Birds 75: 38). On 8th April 1981, in Florida,
USA, 1 watched an American Coot Fulica americana feeding on the hard
droppings of tame Muscovy Ducks Cainna moschata , followed by an
immature Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis which obtained earthworms
revealed by the displacement of the material ( Florida Field Nat. 10, 4: 80).
Bernard King
Gull Cry , 9 Park Road , Newlyn , Penzance , Cornwall
Rooks feeding on human vomit On 2nd February 1983, in Harrogate,
North Yorkshire, I saw three Rooks Corvus Jmgilegus feeding on human
vomit which was frozen to the pavement. On my approach they flew to
some nearby trees, but soon returned to continue feeding. Considerable
effort was required by the Rooks to remove the frozen pieces of solid
material. I can find no record of this habit in either The Handbook or Crows of
the World ( 1976, D. Goodwin). M. F. Brown
48 Pannal Ash Drive, Harrogate , North Yorkshire HG20HU
Derek Goodwin has commented as follows: 'I have not seen this, but in London, and
doubtless elsewhere, Feral Pigeons Columba livia often take undigested cooked rice, masticated
chips and other more or less “usual” foods from human vomit; usually they are less keen the
more it is soiled by or still mixed in its liquid medium.’ Lds
Birds eating dog faeces Regarding the notes on birds eating dog faeces
{Brit. Birds 76: 411), I have seen this behaviour many times over the last
four or five years, and not only in hard weather. The species most frequently
involved are Magpie Pica pica , Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs and Blackbird
Tardus merula , with occasional Starlings Stumus vulgaris and Blue Tits Pams
caeruleus. As Dr C. H. Fry commented (76: 411), the birds seem largely
attracted by undigested cereal in the faeces. I have also seen Magpies
turning over sheep dung, presumably in search of insects. John Barnes
Fach Goch. Waenfawr, Caernarfon. Gwynedd LL554YS
Derek Goodwin has also commented as follows: ‘Some distinction should be drawn between
the eating of faeces per se and the picking out of undigested bits of grain or other food present in
faeces. VVhen/where grain-fed horses are/were kept, this behaviour was constantly performed
by House Sparrows Passer domes I i tvs and Feral Pigeons Columba livia in towns. It should not. I
think, be thought of as coprophagv, any more than the picking of grain or other food from earth
or mud (probablv with some accidental ingestion of adhering substrate) should be thought of
as “earth-eating” or “mud-eating”.’ Eds
Starlings eating snowy wax caps At 09.00 GMT on 29th October 1982.
near Canterbury Cathedral, Kent, I saw two of a flock of ten Starlings
Stumus vulgaris that were feeding on a lawn approach a group of snowy wax
caps Hygrocybe nivea. They pulled off and swallowed several portions of the
caps. Inspection of the fungi after the birds had flown off showed no
evidence of invertebrate infestation. Snowy wax caps are small, white cap
fungi which grow on grassland in autumn; they are edible for man and are
common.
514
Notes
I have previously noted a Starling eating Jew’s-ear fungus Auricularia
auricularia (Brit. Birds 76: 580). A. P. Radford
Crossways Cottage, West Bagborough, Taunton , Somerset TA43EG
Dr C. J. Feare has commented that he knows of no other records of Starlings eating tungi.
Eds
Red-eyed Vireo catching great green bush cricket On 5th October
1981, an immature Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus at the Garrison, St
Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, emerged from thick cover with a male great green
bush cricket Tettigonia viridissima in its bill. The vireo then returned behind
cover, and, when it came out, some five to ten seconds later, the cricket had
gone, presumably having been eaten.
The only reference I have found to Red-eyed Vireo eating orthoptera is in
A. C. Bent’s Life Histories of North American Wagtails, Shrikes, Vireos and their
Allies (1965), which states that a captive juvenile ate 25 grasshoppers and a
young locust, amongst a total of over 100 various insects, in 24 hours. John
Farrand, Jr, editor of American Birds , has commented (in litt.): ‘I too have
searched the literature for references to Red-eyed Vireos eating orthop-
terans, but can find only the Bent citation you note. But given the great
array of insects that this species is known to consume, it would not surprise
me to learn that Red-eyed Vireos are quietly consuming immature bush-
crickets, katydids, and other members of the Order Orthoptera that are not
arboreal. For a vireo to take on an insect the size of an adult Tettigonia is
quite out of the ordinary, I suspect.’ B. J . Brown
24 Clifton Road , Lowestoft, Suffolk
Letters
Distinction between Mandarin and Wood Duck in female-type
plumages A comprehensive description of differences between Mandarin
Aix galericulata and Wood Duck A. sponsa was given by C. Holt (Brit. Birds
77: 227-232). As he noted, however, some of the characteristics vary
sufficiently to result sometimes in identification confusion. An additional
feature, to which my attention was drawn decades ago by Otto
Kleinschmidt, has helped me ever since in making a safe distinction
between these two duck species, albeit only in favourable light conditions.
Holt noted that ‘Female-type Mandarins are paler and greyer than
Wood Ducks . . .’. That is correct. And, concerning Wood Duck, ‘Female-
type Wood Ducks are coarser-looking, with darker, glossier plumages.’
There, the amendment might be made that the upperparts of the female
Letters
515
Mandarin are somewhat dull and lack-lustre, while the upperparts of
Wood Duck are in all cases conspicuous for a violet or, sometimes, greenish
gloss. 1 his point was clearly made by Sir Peter Scott in his A Coloured Key to
the Wildfowl of the World ( 1957) and in Delacour’s The Waterfowl of the World
(1959), with the colour difference even more clearly described in the
German edition of the former publication (edited by H.-G. Klos). Thus,
these are not new findings, but do add to Holt’s comparisons.
Heinrich Dathe
1136 Berlin/ GDR, Am Tierpark 125
Black-headed Yellow Wagtails in western Europe W hen, in 1976, I
submitted a letter to this journal seriously questioning whether the black-
headed race feldegg of the Yellow W agtail Motacilla Jlava had ever occurred
in Britain — there were at the time ten accepted records — I drew attention
to H. Gatke’s summary in Heligoland (1895, pages 339-340) of his exper-
ience of black-headed Yellow Wagtails obtained during no fewer than 50
spring migrations through the island.
The letter was rejected. It was indeed courteously and painstakingly
rejected, in a long reply, pointing out inter alia that Yellow Wagtail classi-
fication was not fully developed in Gatke’s day (which is true) and assuring
me that, whatever Gatke might have written, feldegg was a quite un-
mistakable and distinctive subspecies, so that all ten British records could
only be regarded as having impeccable credentials.
While we must be grateful for the recent paper by van den Berg & Oreel
{Brit. Birds 78: 176-183), which considerably amplified Gatke’s comments
on plumages and confirmed the essential correctness of all that he wrote on
the topic, we cannot be other than staggered by the complete turnaround
within nine years, and by the fact that Gatke, who ‘smelled the original rat'
over a century ago, is not even mentioned once in this paper. A reading of
the relevant pages in Heligoland would, I submit, have left no serious
ornithological student in any doubt that black-headed individuals do occur
in the ‘grey-headed’ subspecies thunbergi\ particularly after 1920 when the
passerine volume of Witherby’s Practical Handbook was published. Gatke
encountered many in the migration period of thunbergi (‘with every
gradation of head colouring, from a dark blue slate grey to a pure brilliant
black’).
How have van den Berg & Oreel, and their correspondent Dr Lasse
Sammalisto, even in his own earlier paper {Brit. Birds 54: 54-69), felt able to
ignore this pioneering, stimulating and rightly famous work? Did they too
feel that it is today only of a certain quaint, somewhat dubious, antiquarian
interest? And, now, is the truth of what Gatke wrote and surmised only
grudgingly to be acknowledged by these authors and the British Birds
editorial board? L. J. Davenport
68 First Avenue. Gillingham, Kent ME72LG
This is not the only instance where one generation ‘discovers’ something already established
by an earlier generation. Gatke’s opinions have not always proved to be correct, but we are not
grudging in our acknowledgment of his pioneer work. Eds
516
Letters
The Black Woodpecker as a British bird M. Cuisin’s statement that the
recent expansion of the range of the Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius in
Western Europe now makes its genuine occurrence in Britain possible (Brit.
Birds 77: 186) removes one of the traditional arguments for rejecting all 82 of
the records I collected and published in 1959 (Bull. Brit. Om. Cl. 79: 79-87,
102-113). Many of these records are too insubstantial for acceptance
anyway, but in my paper I submitted seven records which I considered
worthy of reconsideration: specimens in Dorset in 1799, Wiltshire prior to
1887 and Yorkshire in 1897, and sight records in Breconshire in 1903,
Nottinghamshire in 1907, Cheshire in 1936 and Hertfordshire in 1944.
1 do not wish to repeat the arguments that I put forward in 1959, but
would draw attention to some remarkable circumstances. One is that the
publication of my paper seems to have brought to a complete halt any
further observations in a series that had extended over nearly 200 years. I
have received no records of the Black Woodpecker being seen in the British
Isles since 1959, which is extremely odd in view both of what has been
happening in Europe and of the great increase in the number of bird-
watchers in that period. It would be interesting to know if any have been
seen, but not reported because of the determined stand the ornithological
establishment has taken against this bird as a naturally occurring British
species ever since Gurney’s analysis in 1871.
On the other hand, there is still no evidence of the existence of fully
melanic Green Woodpeckers Picus viridis, which have so often been
predicated as explaining former sight records. Nor has any evidence
emerged of Black Woodpeckers being released, except in the limited period
1895-97, which has been another major argument against acceptance of
any of the numerous records of this species in Britain.
In fact, the status of the Black Woodpecker as a British bird remains as
obscure as ever. R. S. R. Fitter
Drifts , Chinnor Hill, Oxford 0X9 4RS
Announcements
Meeting of Working Group on Granivorous Birds — INTECOL A
general meeting of the Group will take place on 13th August 1986, in the
course of the IV International Congress of Ecology, which will be held at
Syracuse, New York, USA, during 10th- 16th August 1986. Further
information will be supplied by the chairman of the Working Group:
Professor Dr Jan Pinowski, Department of Vertebrate Ecology, Institute of
Ecology PAS, Dziekanow Eesny, 05-092 Lomianki, Poland.
‘A Dictionary of Birds’ — BEST Bird Book OF 1985 Although not
included in the British BirdShop list, British Birds readers can nevertheless
obtain this book by writing in the title in the space headed ‘write-in
orders’ on the form on page xiii.
Announcements
517
‘The Frontiers of Bird Identification’ — SPECIAL OFFER This British
Birds guide to the identification of some difficult species, based on expert
papers in British Birds, is still available at a special reduced price to ‘BB’
readers. I he usual price is £9.95, but ‘BB’ subscribers can obtain it for
£7.95. Please use the British BirdShop order form on page xiii.
‘A Field Guide to the Birds of
Japan’ — SPECIAL OFFER We are
delighted to announce that this ex-
cellent field guide (see Review by
Rodney P. Martins in October
1983, Brit. Birds 76: 472-473) is
now obtainable at a special re-
duced price, exclusive to BB’
subscribers (and to members of
the Oriental Bird Club). The
standard price is £16.00, but ‘BB’
subscribers can now obtain it for
£13.50 (post free to UK & Irish
addresses). Please use the British
BirdShop form on page xiii.
A FIELD GUIDE TO THE
BIRDS OF
JAPAN
Text b y W\ LD BIRD SOCIETY OF JAPAN
Illustrations b/ SHINJI I4K4NO
/
New books in British BirdShop As well as The Frontiers of Bird Identification
and A Field Guide to the Birds of Japan (see above), we can now offer the
following books to ‘BB' readers (post free to UK & Irish addresses):
Birds oj "New Guinea by Bechler, Pratt & Zimmerman (Princeton University Press)
A Guide to the Birds oj Colombia by Hilty, Brown & Tudor (Princeton University Press)
Roberts’ Birds of Southern Africa by Maclean. Newman & Lockwood (John Yoelcker)
Newman 's Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa by Newman (Macmillan)
The Encyclopaedia of Birds by Perrins & Middleton (Allen & Unw in)
Nature Photography Yearbook 1985/86 by Polking (NHBS)
British Warblers by Simms (Collins, New Naturalist)
Please use the order form on page xiii.
£5>rbcntp4iUf pears) ago...
‘FOOD OF THE COMMON HERON. In a note on this subject (antea, p. 85), Dr. C. B.
Ticehurst states that he found several shrimps turned quite pink by the digestive process in the
stomach of a Heron about a week old.- (Brit. Birds 4: 153, October 1910)
News and comment
Mike Everett and Robin Prytherch
Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of ‘British Birds’
White-tailed Eagle news At long last, the
first young White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus
albicilla to be produced by the reintroduced
birds has flown. This happy event brought
not just pleasure, but also a sense of profound
relief to the Sea Eagle Project team as the
reintroduction project entered its tenth year.
Eggs were laid in both 1983 and 1984, but
none hatched; in 1985, eggs were laid in no
fewer than four nests: there was no hatch in
two, but chicks were hatched in the others.
One family came to grief very early on,
almost certainly as a result of foul weather,
but in the other nest a single eaglet made it.
Thanks to generous financial support from
the Eagle Star Group, the RSPB was able to
provide around-the-clock wardening at this
site. Meanwhile, the Nature Conservancy
Council took delivery' of the final batch of
birds brought in under licence from Norway,
for release at the Rhum NNR this summer.
When to tick? Mention of this successful
breeding reminds us of several conversations
we have heard during the last few years, the
general drift of which has been ‘At what point
can we tick White-tailed Eagle for our lists?’.
Views have varied from ultra-purist ideas
about never doing so, to those which simply
echo the quite widely held attitude of ‘Who
cares anyway?’, with all manner of compli-
cated suggestions in between. So what is the
general consensus of opinion here? And,
while we are on the subject, what rules do
people follow for what can and can’t be
ticked? If anybody can be bothered to write
to us, we will consider a short review.
Lamb problems Still on the subject of
eagles, we were pleased to see that the Nature
Conservancy Council refused to grant a
licence for the killing of a Golden Eagle Aquila
chrysaetos in Glenelg, despite much pressure
and a lot of rather one-sided media publicity.
One bird — it has not been possible even to
say which one — was alleged to have killed
quite staggering numbers of lambs (in some
versions of the story, more than a pair with
young could possibly have needed for food
even if they were killing nothing else). This
particular case does, however, require
further investigation, since there is evidence
of high lamb mortality in the area and also
evidence that eagles are killing some lambs, so
NCC have acted sensibly in proposing to look
into the whole business much more fully next
year. Golden Eagles do kill lambs, of course,
but usually rarely and in very small numbers;
most lambs featuring in their diet are taken
as carrion. Perhaps the saddest aspect of all
this is the readiness with which some people
use Golden Eagles (and for that matter also
the fox Vulpes vulpes, the Raven Corvns corax
and the Carrion Crow C. corone) as conven-
ient scapegoats for poor lambing returns,
when, in reality, so many other factors are
involved.
Condor news Various incomplete reports
are filtering through concerning the present
status of the California Condor Gymnogyps
califomianus: it now looks as if the wild popu-
lation is reduced to only 1 1 birds. We will
endeavour to find out more and report on this
in due course.
Eric Morecambe Appeal Like a surpris-
ingly large number of stars in the entertain-
ment world, Eric Morecambe turned to birds
for relaxation. The RSPB Appeal launched
in his memory (full details from RSPB, The
Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL) seeks
to raise at least £1.5 million for conservation
purposes, most notably towards the costs of
its new reserves at the Old Hall Marshes,
Essex, and Islay in the Inner Hebrides.
‘BB’ badges Badge-toting birders can now
obtain a free ‘BB’ badge merely by sending a
stamped addressed envelope to Free badge
offer, c/o P. J. Grant, 14 Heathfield Road,
Ashford, Kent TN24 8QD.
518
News and comment
519
The French connection British birders,
perhaps especially those who frequent Scilly,
will like to know that Le Parc Naturel
Regional d’Armorique has just published the
first volume (65-page, A4, duplicated) of
Bulletin du Centre Omithologique d’Ouessant,
covering 1984 observations on Ushant. The
price is F30 4- postage (about £3.00) and the
address to write to if you are interested is
Parc Naturel Regional d’Armorique,
Balaneg Huella, Saint-Eloy, 29224 Daoulas,
France.
EEC Sites designated Environment
Minister William Waldegrave chose the
occasion of the RSPB’s launch of its Eric
Morecambe Memorial Appeal to announce
that the Government is designating eight
new Special Protection Areas under the 1979
European Community’s Birds Directive.
These are the Dee (Northwest England), the
Swale (Kent), Chesil Beach and The Fleet
(Dorset), Derwent Ings (Yorkshire/Hum-
berside), Holburn Moss, Coquet Island and
the Fames (all Northumberland) and Chew
Valley Lake (Avon). The first five, plus
Irthinghead Mires (Cumbria/Northumber-
land), have also been designated as wetlands
of international importance under the
Ramsar Convention.
To all who go birding With this heading to
his memorandum, Dr David Parkin has sent
us this quotation: *. . . anticipate the
morning dawn, and never think for an instant
about the difficulties of ransacking the
woods, the shores or the barren grounds, nor
be vexed when you have traversed a few
hundred miles of country without a single
new species . . .’ (J.J. Audubon, 1831).
NHBS badge Badge-toting birders can
obtain a free Natural History Book Service
badge by sending a stamped addressed
envelope to Bernard Mercer. NHBS. 62
Tritton Road, London SE2I BDK.
Spring at Point Pelee Perhaps the weakness
of the Pound sterling was responsible for the
low number of British birdwatchers who
made the trip to Point Pelee this year: fewer
than ten enthusiasts were known to be there
for the peak period this year, although others
did call in for one or two days. A period of hot
weather from late April into May encouraged
many birds to pass through the area quickly
and there was none of the heavy falls for
which the area is famous; advanced leaf
growth also made observation a little more
difficult. Nevertheless, all the expected
species were recorded, including a few over-
shoots such as Lark Sparrow Chondestes
grammacus\ generating almost as much
interest were a RufT Philomachus pugnax and an
immature Little Gull Lams minutus. To cele-
brate the centenary of the Canadian National
Park, a gold badge had been produced and
was awarded to those recording over 100
species in one day around Pelee; naturally,
the British contingent knocked off this total,
so keep an eye open for these rare and coveted
badges next time a Nearctic rarity turns up!
( Contributed by Tony Armstrong)
Pett Pools Having already mentioned the
Pett Pools Project (Brit. Birds 77: 574), we are
pleased to include the following note from
John Trowell of the Sussex Ornithological
Society: ‘In 1985 SOS will again lead local
naturalists in the work of providing a muddy -
margined pool at this East Sussex site a few
miles west of Rye . . . The costs of the opera-
tion run to several hundred pounds and are
met by donations and sales of a Report
[which should be available by the time this
appears in print]: those wishing to support
the project may send donations to, or buy a
report (£1 including postage) from Robin
Harris, 16 Fearon Road. Hastings, East
Sussex. Cheques should be made payable to
The Sussex Ornithological Society.’
New Norfolk guide Even though most of
Norfolk’s ‘hotspots' are pretty' well know n to
most of us, there is always that one place
where you don’t quite know exactly where to
go, or what access arrangements are. Steve
Gantlett has plugged the gap admirably by
producing a comprehensive and attractive
little booklet. Where to Hatch Birds in Norfolk.
which we believe to be the first comprehen-
sive thing of its kind for the county. It is
available from him for £2.50 (post free) from
18 Old Woman’s Lane, Cley-next-the-Sea,
Holt, Norfolk NR25 7TY.
Recent reports
Keith Allsopp and Ian Dawson
These are largely unchecked reports, not authenticated records
The dates in the report refer to July unless
otherwise stated.
A brief spell of hot, continental weather,
with air arriving from the southeast, lasted
until 5th, when the cooler, unsettled, wester-
ly weather experienced throughout most of
June returned. Apart from a few days when
anticyclones to the south and west pushed
warmer air in from the Continent, tempera-
tures remained below average. Early move-
ments of Swifts Apus apus on the English east
coast, with 15,000 estimated passing Spurn
(Humberside) on 1 1th and 500 at Sandwich
Bay (Kent) on 15th, suggest that many pairs
did not breed, faced with a shortage of flying
insects.
Early wader records
The rather frequent rain kept most reservoir
levels high, with a consequent reduction of
wader feeding areas. The English east coast
reserves, however, while not attracting large
numbers of migrants, notched up an impres-
sive list of rarities. Nearctic species included
520
521
Recent reports
a Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca
found at Minsmere (Suffolk) on 4th and
remaining in that area into August, a
summer-plumaged Long-billed Dowitcher
Limnodromus scolopaceus at Titchwell (Norfolk)
on 31st, a Lesser Golden Plover Pluvialis
dominica at Elmley (Kent) on 6th, and the
usual sprinkling of Pectoral Sandpipers
Calidris melanotos from Clcy (Norfolk) on 4th,
Peterborough (Cambridgeshire) on ‘20th,
Minsmere on 30th-31st, near Spurn from
21st to ‘27th, and Dungeness (Kent) on ‘29th
and 30th. Birds from easterly origins were
another Broad-billed Sandpiper Lirnicola
Jalcinellus, this time from Cley on 4th, more
Marsh Sandpipers Tringa stagnatilis, with
one at Hauxley (Northumberland) on 13th,
subsequently moving to Cresswell Pond
(Northumberland) until 15th, and another
near Maldon (Essex) on ‘24th, a Sharp-
tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata at
Elmley (Kent) on 27th and 28th, a Black-
winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanm at
Minsmere on 5th, and a Greater Sand
Plover Charadrius leschenaultii found at Cley
on 30th and staying into August. Red-
necked Phalaropes Phalaropus lobatus visited
Rutland Water (Leicestershire) on 14th and
the Ouse W ashes (Cambridgeshire) on 31st,
and an early Grey Phalarope P. Julicarius
was seen at Malin Head (Co. Donegal) on
21st. Temminck’s Stints Calidris temmincku
were noted at Teesmouth (Cleveland) on
13th, at Cley, and at Minsmere on 26th. Of
the commoner migrants, Whimbrels
Numenius phaeopus were frequently seen and
heard in small parties crossing inland, never
staying long.
Marsh birds
A Little Egret Egretta gargetta returned to
Havergate (Suffolk) during the last week of
July, and another toured the Isle of Man
between 3rd and 7th. Another summer
record of Great White Egret E. alba came
from Horsey (Norfolk) on 11th and 13th.
with subsequent sightings on Halvergate
Marsh (Norfolk), and an additional report of
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea , once a
‘common’ vagrant, came from Tonbridge
(Kent) during 25th-3 1st (plate 244). A few
'Spoonbills Platalea leucorodia remained at
Titchwell, Cley and Minsmere, and another
was reported from Broad Lough (Co. W ick-
low) on 28th June. A Black Stork Ciconia
nigra was still present on 20th June, when it
was seen at Bempton (Humberside), and a
Crane Grusgrus was found at Boa Island (Co.
Fermanagh) on 10th. A Spotted Crake
P organa porgana was heard calling at
Walberswick at the beginning of the month,
and another was found at Walney (Cumbria)
on 2 1st.
Seabirds
Following last month’s surprise discovery of
a Lesser Crested Tern Sterna bengalensis on
TV, another was seen on 17th at Dawlish
Warren (Devon) (plate 243), coincidentally
the locality of an earlier TV Rirdwatch. Other
rare terns included a Whiskered Tern
Chlidonias hybridus at Kinsale (Co. Cork) on
‘28th and a Caspian Tern Sterna caspia at
Norwich (Norfolk) late in the month. A
juvenile Mediterranean Gull Lams melano-
cephalus, still retaining its egg tooth, was an
intriguing record from Sandymount (Co.
Dublin) on 27th. Others were reported from
Hayle (Cornwall), with two on 27th, and
Sandwich Bay on 4th and 24th. Sea watches
at Porthgwarra (Cornwall) on 27th and 28th
revealed small movements of shearwaters,
with totals over the two days of 20 Cory’s
Calonectris diomedea. two Great Pujfmus gravis,
35 Sooty P. griseus and two ‘Balearic’ Manx
522
P. pujfinus mauretanicus. On 28th, 25 Great
Skuas Stercorarius skua were also counted;
elsewhere, a Pomarine Skua .S’, pomannus was
seen off Malin Head (Co. Donegal) on 21st
and two Long-tailed Skuas S. longicaudus at
Birsay (Orkney) on 16th.
Five Leach’s Petrels Oceanodroma leucorhoa
were seen on 28th, off St John’s Point (Co.
Down).
Wildfowl
Of note was the first breeding record oi Red-
breasted Merganser Xlergus senator on the
Isle of Man, a nest with eggs being found on
15th June. Other reports included a ‘Green-
winged’ Teal Anas crecca carolinensis at
Minsmere on 7th and an American Wigeon
A. americana in eclipse plumage at Ballycotton
(Co. Cork).
Birds of prey
Further summer sightings of Black Kites
Milvus migrans were received, from Tees-
mouth on 6th and from localities along the
north Norfolk coast between 12th and 14th.
Also reported, on 13th at Horsey (Norfolk),
was a Red Kite XI. milvus. A Red-footed
Falcon Falco subbuteo delighted observers at
the end of the month in Cheddar Gorge
(Somerset), a summering Osprey Pandion
haliaelus was an interesting find in the New
Forest (Hampshire) on 21st, as was a Mon-
tagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus at Kim ley on
28th. The Scops Owl Otus scops reported last
month on Orkney was found dead on 12th,
and is being examined for signs of captivity.
Early passerine movements
The invasion of Crossbills Loxia curvirostra in
Recent reports
June continued into July: Fair Isle’s count
reached 3 1 on 8th, and a few were to be found
at Spurn from 9th; a late June record was of
31 at Bempton on 27th. Five Parrot Cross-
bills L. pytyopsittacus at VValsey FI ills, Cley, on
17th and 18th. however, would most likely
have come from the nearby flock at Holkham
Pines (Norfolk). A very unseasonal move-
ment of Siskins Carduelis spinus was observed
at Fair Isle, involving juveniles, the
maximum number being eight on 13th, and
farther south at Spurn numbers were higher,
with 24 on 18th and 96 on 19th. Other unsea-
sonal reports included another ‘Hooded’
Carrion Crow Corvus corone comix , this time
on Lodmoor (Dorset), and, even more in-
triguing, another report of Cedar Waxwing
Bombycilla cedrorum, this time of one found
dead in Oxfordshire. More ‘normal’ rarities
seen included a further report of a Serin
Serinus serinus from Wells (Norfolk) on 8th, a
Rose-coloured Starling Stumus roseus at
Salcombe (Devon) from 5th to 7th, a Golden
Oriole Oriolus oriolus at Spurn on 20th, a
Scarlet Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus on
the Calf of Man, a Tawny Pipit Anthus cam-
pestris at Porthgwarra on 28th, and a Marsh
Warbler Acrocephalus palustris on Fair Isle on
2nd. Also on Fair Isle, there was another
Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans, from I
22nd to 31st; two earlier records of this
species were also received from Aberdaron
(Gwynedd) on 30th May and on the Isle of
May (Fife) on 24th and 25th J une. This latter
locality also recorded an Olive-backed
Pipit Anthus hodgsoni on 22nd and 23rd May.
Late arriving spring records of the May
‘wreck’ of Bluethroats Luscinia svecica were of
one in a garden in Yeovil (Somerset) on 14th,
243. I .esser Crested Tern Sterna bengalensis (with Sandwich Terns S. sandvicensis and Oyster-
catchers Haematopus ostralegus), Devon, July 1985 ( David J. Hopkins)
Recent reports
523
/
244. Juvenile Purple Heron Ardea purpurea ,
Kent, July 1985 (David Tipling)
and one on Handa Island (Highland). The
two Oriental Cuckoos Cuculus saturatus at
Spurn continued to be seen until 9th and
14th, respectively (plates 245 & 246). An
Alpine Swift A pus rnelba also visited Spurn
on 6th, and two were seen at Porthgwarra on
25th; even more exotic was a Bee-eater
Merops apiaster on Hoy (Orkney) on 1 1th, and
a Quail Cotumix cotumix was a surprise visitor
to Fair Isle on 24th.
Recent rarities decisions
The record of Red-necked Stint Calidris
rujicollis on Fair Isle (Shetland) in August
1982 has not been accepted. The record of
two Pallid Swifts Apus pallidus at Portland
(Dorset) in November 1984 has been
accepted. The already accepted record ol
Rock Thrush Monticola saxalilis at Minster
(Kent) from February to April 1983 is con-
sidered by the Rarities Committee to relate to
a wild individual. ( Contributed by P. G. Lans-
down)
245 & 246. Oriental Cuckoo Cuculus
saturatus, Humberside, June 1985 (David At.
Cottridge)
Latest news
In first half of September, scattering of
Spotted Crakes at half a dozen localities
including Thrapston (Northamptonshire);
Broad-billed Sandpiper at Broad Lough;
four Pectoral Sandpipers together at
Ballycotton and four separately at Mins-
mere; Baird’s Sandpiper Calidris bairdii at
Weaver Bend, Frodsham (Cheshire); two
White-rumped Sandpipers C. Juscicollis at
Blacktoft (Humberside); and Buff-breasted
Sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis at Wisbech
Sewage-farm. Little Emberiza pusilla and
Rustic Buntings E. rustica together on Fair
Isle, and — a major rarity in Ireland — Lesser
Grey Shrike Lanius minor at Ballycotton.
Reviews
A Sound Guide to Waders in Britain. Compiled from recordings by
15 recordists; produced (and sleeve notes) by John Burton and Nigel
Tucker. REC545 Album, ZCM545 Cassette. BBC’ Records, London, 1984.
£2.99.
This well-produced record succeeds admirably in its twin aims of providing both an aid to
wader identification and a great deal oflistening pleasure, and can be highly recommended.
Side 1, entitled ‘Waders on their breeding grounds’, covers all well-established British
breeding species (plus Kentish Plover), with emphasis on songs and alarm calls. The birds are
grouped into six bands by habitat. On side 2, the habitat is ‘Tidal estuary’ and we are treated
to non-breeding calls of 32 wader species regular in Britain at passage times. The sleeve
features an attractive colour photograph of six wader species, an introduction by Tony Soper,
a programme of the soundtrack, and brief notes on the birds included.
The beginner wishing to learn the waders will find this record a most useful reference to a
wide range of calls, many of which defy adequate description in words. In the main, the
recordings are typical of the species in question. Sleeve-note text is minimal, owing to shortage
of space, and refers readers to field-guides for further information on the birds. A ‘quick
reference guide’, listing the time from the start of each side to the major track for each species,
uses space, but gives no extra information, and would have been more helpful if ordered by
species and including occurrences in the background of other tracks (some of which are
referred to in the programme) . Listeners relying entirely on the sleeve notes to identify the calls
will be annoyed that times are not given instead from the start of each band. For the more
expert wader-watcher, such rarely heard calls as those of Ruff, Dotterel and the phalaropes
will perhaps be the highlights.
The soundtrack has no spoken commentaries, few scrolls, and features impressive stereo
effects. At a more general level, therefore, all can enjoy nearly 50 minutes of high-quality
recordings of some of the most evocative — and some, arguably, among the best-loved — of
British bird sounds. John March ant
A Lighthouse Notebook. By Norman McCanch. Michael Joseph,
London, 1985,. 200 pages; 67 colour plates; 15 black-and-white plates; 86
line-drawings. £12.95.
This book gives a daily account of the natural history, mainly birds, encountered during the
author’s occupation as a relief lighthouse-keeper at five of Britain’s lighthouses. These range
from the island ‘lights’ such as Coquet, St Mary’s and South Bishop, the on-shore light at
Cromer, and the ‘real’ (author’s word) lighthouse of Longships.
Although the daily entries, some of only a few lines, others of two pages in length,
concentrate mainly on the resident and passing birds, there are also many other interesting
anecdotes. Those that stayed with me concerned the storms, especially those at Longships,
and a particularly nasty ‘blow’ at South Bishop that left seaweed 50m above sea level on the
gallery floor and also meant that the hourly trip across the yard to inspect the generators had to
be done on all fours.
There are also chapters on lighthouse routines and other aspects of the author’s life, and a
foreword by Wynford Vaughan-Thomas.
The text is illuminated throughout by many black-and-white vignettes, together with many
full-page illustrations in colour. These, apart from the five depicting each of the lighthouses,
are mainly portraits of the birds, with a few of plants and animals. Many of these plates show
‘live’ creatures, but sadly there are far too many paintings of dead birds. Why is there a
less-than-welcome trend to include ‘Tunniclifle type’ dead-bird references in books of late?
In total, I enjoyed this book, and many times found myself fully involved in the daily events.
It did not, however, convince me to give up my cosy life for one of curved bunks and curved
mattresses. Norman Arlott
524
British BirdShop
\
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Recordings (add extra 70p per disc or £1 .00 per cassette pack for all overseas orders)
Big Jake Calls the Waders
Single stereo 33V3 rpm disc £5.95 + £1 .50 p&p
A Held Guide to the Bird Songs oj Britain and Europe Sture Palmer & Jeffery Boswall
Complete set of 16 cassettes in four packs (running time approx 13 hours) (Post free) £86.00
Cassette pack 1 Divers to gulls (Price includes postage) CPI O x
Cassette pack 2 Terns to warblers (Price includes postage) CP2 Q ( „„„ ^ ,
Cassette pack 3 Goldcrest to crows (Price includes postage) CP3 Q j eaC
Cassette pack 4 Accidentals (Price includes postage) CP4 1~D J
Complete set of 15 LP discs of birds (running time approx 12 hours) (Post free) £84.00
Complete sets of 15 l.P discs of birds and 2 LP discs of mammals (Post free) £95.20
LPdisc Divers to swans RFLP5001 CD
LP disc Ducks and raptors RFLP5002 CD
LP disc Game-birds to Long-billed Dowitcher RFLP5003 CD
LP disc Spotted Redshank to gulls RFLP5004 CD
LP <5isc Terns to owls RFLP5005 CD
LP disc Nightjars to larks RFI.P5006 CD
L.P disc Martins to Lanceolated Warbler RFLP5007 CD
LP disc 30 warblers RFI.P5008 CD
l.P disc Goldcrest to Red-flanked Bluctail RFLP5009 C
l.P disc Thrushes to treecreepers RFLP5010 CD
l.P disc Buntings to Scarlet Rosefinch RF1.P501 1 CD
l.P disc f*ine Grosbeak to crows RFLP5012 CD
L.P disc Accidentals up to Common Nighthawk RFLP5013 CD
l.P disc Remaining accidentals RFLP5014 CD
L.P disc new disc Extra recordings of main species and
more accidentals RFLP5015 CD
Companion set oj recordings of 69 British and European mammals
l.P disc Hedgehog to Polecat RFLP50I6 CD
LP disc Otter to Musk Ox RFLP5017 CD
£5.60 each, plus
£1.50 p&p per order
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Please use the British BirdShop form on page xiii to complete your order.
New members who enrol during October-
December in any year receive Trust
publications and prixilegcs for fifteen months
before their second subscription falls due.
THE BRITISH TRUST FOR ORNI-
THOLOGY is an organisation which binds
together thousands o( amateur bird watchers
spread throughout Britain and a small stall of
professional biologists at 1 ring I ogether
they find pleasure and satisfaction in tackling
projects that provide lads on which
conservation can be based.
All is more lullv set out in our brochure
Please send for a copy to:
The British Trust for Ornithology.
Dept. BB, Beech Grove,
Station Road, Tring,
Hertfordshire HP23 5NR.
(D238)
The Quarterly Ornithological Journal
ALAUDA
The French ornithological journal
ALAUDA contains scientific papers on
field studies of wild birds concerned with
their anatomy, ethology, feeding, moult,
reproduction, migration, population dyna-
mics. vocal behaviour, etc
Coverage is world-wide but mainly
western palearctic and particularly French
Papers have an English summary There is
a selected review of recent ornithological
publications
Copies of most back numbers exist,
these can be supplied on request
An annual subscription of 160 FF entitles
a private member to four copies of
ALAUDA. Institutional subscription 180 FF
Also available: Sound recordings of some
of the more difficult West African birds — A
complete set of 10 LP Records (specially
produced by ALAUDA) and accompanying
notes 420 FF.
Please contact:
J. F. Dejonghe or Tony Williams
Alauda.
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75230 PARIS Cedex 05 if interested.
(D144)
xv
BOOKS
ON BIRDS
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XVI
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and 2 min walk Irom railway sin.
Early closing Thursday 1 pm
Prices correct 6th September. 1985
subject to change availability.
£3 BONUS REDUCTION ol Slik D2
II purchased with any telescope
AR HAWKINS
N'PTON ® MAREFAIR
NORTHAMPTON NN1 1SR
LTD -TELEPH0NE 0604,39674 (D570)
XVlll
The new outstanding work in German
about bird life in the Soviet Union
Handbook of birds
of the Soviet Union
Edited by Professor Dr. V. D. Il’icev
and Professor Dr. V. E. Flint
Vol. I • History of research • Gaviiformes
Podicipediformes • Procellariiformes
350 pages • 67 maps and drawings •
8 colour plates • 24 x 16,7 cm • price DM
75,00 approx.
Order number 800 120 5
Over 740 different kinds of birds are de-
scribed in a very thorough and informative
way in 10 volumes. A complete record of all
breeding, migratory and stray birds is now
available for the very first time. Typical
birds of the Northern Palearctic are in-
cluded, as well as exotic examples from
eastern and southe astern regions of Asia.
Vol. I also contains the whole history of re-
search into the avifauna of the Soviet
Union, supplemented by a chronology of
all the important publications since 1832.
A. ZIEMSEN VERLAG
GDR 4600 WITTENBERG LUTHERSTADT
P.O. Box 22
(D567)
XIX
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HO LI DA Y A CCOMMODA TION
HAYLE-ESTUARY 10 mins, walk to hide. Bed
and breakfast £5. 50 June and front Sept, St Ives 3
miles. Trendreath House, Lower Lelant, St Ives,
Cornwall. Tel: Hayle 753714. (BB288)
NR. NTH NFK RESERVES. Guest House run
by birder for birders. Haydn House, Avenue
Road, Hunstanton. Tel: 331 15. (BB308)
ISLE OF MULL, Staffa Cottages. Small, com-
fortable guest house with friendly atmosphere.
On upper slopes of Tobermory Bay with views
out to the Sound of Mull and Morvern. All rooms
h&c, radiators and electric blankets. Staffa
Cottages Guest House, Tobermory PA75 6PL.
Tel: 0688 2464. (BB356)
ISLAY FIELD CENTRE. Accommodation
available from July at £24 per week. Islay
Natural History Trust, Port Charlotte, Islay.
Tel: 049 686 209. (BB384)
SPEY VALLEY — home of the osprey, crossbill
and crested tit. Impressive Victorian house.
Superb views. CH, log fires. Home cooking. Tel:
0479 2201 or write Rossmor, Grantown on Spey,
Moray. (BB190)
WEST SUSSEX. Black Mill House Hotel,
Bognor Regis. Sea, Marine Gardens, 300 yds.
Cocktail bar, games room, enclosed garden. Car
park. Visit Arundel Wildfowl Trust. Mini-Breaks
from £41.50 — 2 days. Member SEE Tourist
Board. AA*. Brochure. Tel: 0243 821945.
(BB402)
WELLS, NORFOLK B&B., (Les Routicrs
recommended). H. & C., Tea and Coffee facilities
in all rooms. Anne T aylor, T he Cobblers (0328
710155). (BB 111)
CLEY. 3 Quality cottages (sleep 4, 6 and 8).
Quiet. Comfortable. Excellent value. Brochure:
(0353) 740770. (BB405)
ANGLESEY. The Old Rectory, Rhoscolyn, nr
Holyhead. Ideal birdwatching centre, lovely
coastal walks. Close to beautiful south facing
sandy bay. Dinner, B&B, write/phone brochure.
Edna Aldrcd. T el: 0407 860214. (BB387)
ULLSWATER, Hartsop, spacious modernised
self-catering accommodation adjoining 17th
century cottage. Sinclair, Hartsop, Pattcrdale,
Cumbria. Tel: 085 32 438. (BB383)
WIVETON. Blakeney and Cley one mile. 16th
century cottage, sheltered, beautiful. Sleeps 5-6.
Woodhouse, The Old Farmhouse, Lancing
College, West Sussex. (BB385)
NORTH NORFOLK’S HERITAGE COAST.
Flint cottage in small, peaceful village. Close sea,
broads and marshland birdwatching areas.
Sleeps 6 4- cot. Full C.H., Colour T.V., Parking.
Available all year. Brochure from Sanderlings,
Pineapple House, St Martins Lane, Norwich
NR3 3AG. (BB372)
ISLE OF MULL. Enjoy friendly atmosphere of
small comfortable guest house run by keen
ornithologists. Lin and Pete Miller, Baliscatc.
Tobermory. T el: 0688 2352. (BB354)
xx
NEWPOR T, PEMBS. Coastal cottage, adj. Nat.
Park, 5 mins. Sea and Estuary. Sleeps 8. Tel:
0222 752965. (BB70)
WELLS, B&B, comfortable accommodation,
full c.h. Warm welcome. Shayes, Lodore,
Warham Road. Tel: 0328 710470. (BB382)
CLEY. Attractive house in village, four bed-
rooms, large garden, garage, c.h. Available all
year. Details from Mrs E. Album, 47 Lyndale
Avenue, London NW2. Tel: 01-431 2942. (BB58)
COUNTRY COTTAGES between Alnwick &
Belford sleep up to 6. Fully equipped, self-
catering, available throughout the year. Well
placed for Holy Island & Fame Islands, Cheviot
Hills and many places of natural beauty. S.a.e.:
Mrs P. Foster, Coxons, Craster, South Farm,
Alnwick, Northumberland. Tel: 0665 76640.
(BB389)
NORFOLK BROADS. Well equipped serviced
caravans, good location. Tel: 02774 25359.
(BB407)
NORTH NORFOLK, HOLT. Cosy cottage in
quiet square. Modernised and refurnished.
Coastline, sanctuaries, walking distance. Shops,
pubs, two minutes. Birdwatching, painting or
unwinding. Sleeps 2/4. From £80 p.w. Mrs Balch.
Tel: 0442 53437. (BB398)
NEAR MINSMERE, delightful converted barn.
Sleeps 6/7. Fully equipped and linen provided.
Turner, Vine Cottage, The Street, Middleton,
Saxmundham: Tel: Westleton 208 after 6pm.
(BB254)
THE BALCARY HOTEL
Auchencaim, nr Castle Douglas
AA, RAC***. Ashley Courtenay. Family run
country house in magnificent setting on the
shores of the bay. Tel: 055 664 217. (BB316)
EXTREME W. CORNWALL. Cosy house,
sleeps 5, log fire, c.h., shower, TV, etc. from £15
per day. Tel: 0736 731803. (BB349)
ISLE OF COLL, ARGYLL. Bird watching at its
best. Ideal for walkers, naturalists, bird watchers.
Sea/loch fishing. Lobstering. Sandy beaches.
Otters, seals. Excellent cuisine. Every comfort.
Licensed. Brochure. Tigh-na-Mara Guest House
(B), Isle ofColI, Argyll. Tel: 08793 354. (BB350)
CLOSE TO HILBRE ISLAND Bird Sanctuary ,
Wirral Way nature walk, etc. A warm welcome
awaits you at The Park Hotel, West Kirby
(licensed). Tel: 051-625 9319. (BB346)
15th CENTURY COACHING INN midway
Ross/Hereford amidst gentle wooded hills, 2
fields from River Wye. A comfortable and
informal place, with proper emphasis on real food
real ales, civilised prices. Log fire, 12 ch
bedrooms, fourposter. Egon Ronay, Relais
Routier, AA & RAC**. Green Man Inn,
Fownhope, Hereford. Tel: Fownhope (043 277)
243. *AA & RAC**. (BB367)
BARN HOUSE, Bempton. Pleasantly situated,
comfortable farmhouse style B&B, Schofield, 5
Newsham Hill Lane, Bempton, Bridlington. Tel:
0262 850523. (BB73)
HEBRIDES. The Hotel, Isle of Coll, Argyll
PA78 6SZ. Tel: 087 93 334. AA* RAC. Open all
year, central heating. Over 100 species to be seen
including skuas, raptors, water rail etc. May we
send you our brochure? (BB3 1 7)
NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS National
Park. Coast and country. For the largest selection
of inspected self-catering cottages, farmhouses
etc, contact: Ingrid Flute, White Cottage,
Ravenscar, Scarborough Y013 ONE. Tel:
Scarborough (0723) 870703. (BB67)
FIRTH OF FORTH: 16 breeding seabirds, Bass
Rock gannetry, all 5 grebes, swans, geese, Long-
tailed Duck, Velvet Scoter, waders, seawatching,
migrants, hill birds. Facing Bass Rock, Aberlady Bay
7 miles, Edinburgh 25, St Abbs 30, Lindisfarne 50.
David Bates & family, The Wing Guesthouse,
Marine Parade, North Berwick, (0620) 4168.
(BB365)
GALLOWAY for coast, Lochs and Hills. Private
Hotel ideally situated for birdwatching and
holidays. Small parties welcome. Comfortable
accommodation and excellent food. Open all
year. Tel: 0556 2173. Merrick Hotel, Castle
Douglas, Kirkcudbrightshire. (BBI 13)
WARM WELCOME, B&B/EM optional. Close
to marshes. Heritage Coastal Walks. Central for
Cley and Titchwell reserves. Mrs Court,
Eastdene, Northfield Lane, W’ells-next-the-Sea,
Norfolk. Tel: (0328) 710381. (BB25I)
TITCHWELL, Manor Hotel, overlooking
reserve. Centrally heated, licensed, informal.
Noted for food and comfort. Tel: Brancaster
(0485)210221. (BB410)
MINSMERE. Accommodation at the Eight
Bells. Kelsale A12, B&B. Real Ale, good food.
Tel: Saxmundham 2975. (BB59)
SCILLY ISLES holiday cottage, sleeps 6. Tel:
0720 22935. (BB415)
NORTH NORFOLK. Cosy and comfortable
cottage-style bungalow. Sleeps 6. Available for
short-term lets. Central heating in winter. Over-
looks Holme reserve and handy for Snettisham,
Titchwell and Cley. Norman Sills, Brancaster
(0485) 210432. (BB413)
COTTAGE AND BUNGALOW sleeping 4-6.
Warm and comfortable. Also 2 ground floor
private apartments at Inverdruie House. Price
per week £80-£200. Details: Inverdruie &
Glasnacardoch Properities, Aviemore PH22 IQR.
Tel: 0479 810357. (BB355)
LAKE DISTRICT, between Kendal/Winder-
mere, 17th century manor house in own grounds.
All bedrooms colour TV, tea-making facilities
and h&c. Dinner, bed, breakfast £18 per person.
Aitken, High Hundhowe, Burneside, Kendal
LA89AB. Tel: 0539 22707. (BB419)
xxt
The Jefferson Arms at Thorganby, Nr York
Situated just 15 minutes south of York in the
beautiful estate village of Thorganbv. overlooking
the famous Wheldrake lngs — famous Bird Sanc-
tuary. The Inn dates back some 300 years, specialis-
ing in homemade bread, local recipes using only the
freshest ingredients. Accommodation available. All
rooms with private facilities, furnished with antiques,
hairdryers, trouser presses, colour TV, etc. lei:
Robert on 090489 316.
(BB357)
BED AND BREAKFAST. Mrs D. Crowden,
Rosevilla, Middleton, Saxmundham, Suffolk.
Tel: YVestleton 489 between 6-7 pm. (BB50)
ORKNEY. Our Island Hotel, ideal for ornitholo-
gists, habitat, moorland, shore, clifTs,
lochs, attracts 70 breeding species. Excellent
migration, good walking. Brochure: Taversoe
Hotel, Rousay, Orkney. Tel: 085 682 325.
(BB 191)
SIBTON ( nr Minsmere), SufTolk. The White
Horse Inn. A unique and charming 16th century
freehouse in 2Vi acres, £n suite accommodation,
bed and breakfast or weekly rates. Ample car
parking. CC location site. Bar snacks or
restaurant meals available. Tel: Pcasenhall 337.
(BB68)
ISLES OF SCILLY, Mincarlo Guest House, St
Mary’s. Superbly situated in own grounds
overlooking the harbour. Terms from £8.50
(plus VAT) for B&B £12.75 (plus VAT) BB &
EM. Tel: 0720 22513. (BB140)
NORTH NORFOLK COAST, fishermen’s
cottages. Open all year. Oak beams. Colour TV
and open fires Oct/March, Ray Hewitt, Brig
Square Holiday Cottages, Freeman Street, Wells
next the Sea. Tel: 0328 7 10440. (BB366)
LAKES/DALES. Ashley Bank. High quality
food and accommodation in excellent bird-
watching/nature study area. Up to 40 persons.
05873-214. (BB433)
BARGAIN BREAKS
Small, recommended licensed hotel facing
open countryside, on sands close to Beach
and National Trust cliff walks. All bedrooms
with bath/wc, colour TV and teamaker
en suite. Four-poster beds. Heater Indoor
swimming pool. Good food from extensive
menu. Any 3 nights — £72.00. Any 5
nights — £115. Any 7 nights — £154 includes
dinner, breakfast and VAT.
Glencoe House Hotel
Gwithian Village (St Ives Bay)
Cornwall TR27 5BX.
Tel: (0736) 752216 (BB429)
FARM COTTAGES between Lindisfarne Re-
serve and The Fames. Comfortable and well
equipped. Sorry no pets. Brochure: Mr J.
McNish, TDutchester Farm, Belford, North-
umberland. Tel: 066 83 336. (BB45)
ORCHARD HOUSE, N. W. Norfolk nr. Titch-
well Marsh Reserve. Homely Bed and Breakfast
accommodation (E.M. available). Also self-
catering unit in orchard. Tel: Thornham (048
526)259. (BB49)
SOUTHWOLD. ‘Avondale’, North Parade,
overlooking sea. B&b/em, CH, dglazed, licensed.
Open all year. Ideal Minsmere, Havergate,
Walberswick. Good food, friendly atmosphere.
Tel: 0502 722538. (BB179)
NATIONAL TRUST VILLAGE on Exmoor.
Self-catering holiday homes. Centrally heated,
near Porlock. Sea, moors, woods and marshes all
within walking distance. Stamp for brochure.
Sheila Wright, The Pack Horse, Allerford. Nr.
Minehead. Tel: (0643) 862475. (BB72)
ROYAL FOREST OF DEAN, Coleford,
Lambsquay Hotel AA*H&B. All facilities.
Delicious food and wine. Peaceful surroundings.
Dogs welcome. S/c flat available — special breaks.
Tel: 0594 33127 for brochure. (BB344)
COMFORTABLE BB £6.00. EM by prior
arrangement. Car essential. Sorry no children or
pets. 35 Wells Road, Slillkey, Wells, Norfolk. Tel:
0328 75 231. (BB368)
BARDSEA. Morecambe shore. All electric
cottage sleeps 4. Easy reach Walney, Leighton
Moss. Tel: (0229) 53159). (BB364)
CHEW VALLEY/MENDIP AREA. Bed and
breakfast in private family house. Mrs Warden,
Centaur, Bishop Sutton, Bristol. Tel: Chew
Magna (0272) 332321. (BB359)
DERBYSHIRE/PEAK DISTRICT. Self-
catering properties. Personally inspected. Rural
V'acations Ltd, Pipworth Lane, Eckington,
Sheffield S3 1 9EY. Tel: 0246 432202. (BB360)
BRIDLINGTON convenient for Bempton
Sanctuary. Comfortable, centrally heated, sea
and harbour views. B&B from £8 per night. The
Clarence, 3 Marlborough Terrace, Bridlington
(0262)671784. (BB377)
FAR SAWREY. Cottage, ideal situation for
outdoor interests. Details on application. SAE:
Mrs Atkinson, Spout House, Far Sawrey,
Ambleside, Cumbria LA22 0LQ. Tel: Winder-
mere 2760. (BB358)
HUNSTANTON. Small private hotel owned by
itinerant birdwatcher. Ideal centre for Norfolk
coast reserves. BB & Evening Meal (optional).
Packed Lunches. Licensed bar. Weekend spring
and autumn bargain breaks for groups and
societies. Shelbrookc Hotel, Cliff Ferrate,
Hunstanton PE36 6DY. l ei: 049 53 2289.
(BB376)
xxn
ISLES OF SCILLY
TRELAWNEY GUEST HOUSE,
ST. MARY’S
Marjorie and David Townend welcome you
for Spring and Autumn Birdwatching. Home
cooking, good wine, central heating, wood-
burner in lounge, C'.B reports. Close to Quay
and Town Centre.
£9.00 for B&B (inc. VAT). Special weekly
rates for parties of 8- 10. In October SAE or
phone 0720/22377.
(BB267)
IF YOU RENT Holiday Accommodation in a
bird watching area then you should advertise in
BRITISH BIRDS; the leading ornithological
monthly in Britain.
With over 30,000 genuine bird enthusiasts
reading BRI TISH BIRDS every month, where
else would you find such a unique and specialised
readership.
The continued expansion of the BRI TISH
BIRDS holiday section shows that advertising
really works.
Take advantage of our special reduced offer for
series advertisements and let BRITISH BIRDS'
take care of your holiday bookings.
Phone Sandra on 062 1 8 1 5085 for details.
(BB338)
MOST ATTRACTIVE choice of self-catering
cottages, isolated and in beautiful surroundings
overlooking the sea on a Westhighland Estate.
Scotland’s natural beauty at its best. The ideal
holiday for the true country lover with wild life in
abundance. For full coloure brochure please write
to; The Booking Office, Ellary 7, Lochgilphead,
Argyll. Tel: 08803 232/209 or 054685 223.
(BB374)
HOTEL LAWNS— Holt— North Norfolk-
Central for bird watchers, £29 two-day bargain
breaks from October to May. Excellent food. Tel:
026 3713390. ' (BB422)
CLEY, Bed and Breakfast in comfortable home,
all the year round, Birkhead. The Old House,
Cley. Tel: 0263 740996. (BB424)
ISLE OF ISLAY, HEBRIDES. Five superbly
equipped cottages, open throughout year. Perfect
situation with views, minutes to charming village.
Short drive to R.S.P.B. reserve at Gruinart.
Brochure: Mrs Sarah Roy, Lorgba Holiday
Cottages, Port Charlotte, Isle of Islay, Argyll.
Tel: 049 685/208. (BB430)
MINSMERE 12 miles B.&B. or B.B.&E. meals.
Excellent farmhouse cooking with friendly
atmosphere. Daily or weekly rates. Phone
Ubbeston (098683) 235 for reservations. (BB428)
SEE PUFFINS, skuas, seals and a lot more.
Private boat takes you among otherwise
inaccessible colonies. A nature-lover s dream.
Full board in castle, or self-catering cottages.
Send for details: Balfour Castle, Shapinsay,
Orkney. Tel: 085 671 282. (BB427)
WEYBOURNE, Beau coast. Mod. bung. S.A.E.
3 Bunyans Walk, Harlington. Beds. ( BB4'2 1 )
BIRD WA TCHING HO LI DA YS
SEA EAGLES & CRANES • French weekend
autumn special for Crane passage and wintering
White-tailed Eagles with John Gooders 21-24
Nov ’85 9 Also our regular departure (3rd year)
20-23 Feb ’86 9 New! Dutch W ild Goose Chase
6-9 Feb ’86 to Flevoland for geese, duck, harriers
and more 9 Wings over Gibraltar — a week of
raptor migration as Spain’s birds of prey arrive
from the south 17-24 Mar ’86 9 Lattenden’s,
Ashburnham, Battle, E. Sussex TN33 9PB. Tel:
(0323)833245. (BB408)
SPAIN — Birding 1986
Tom Guilick lives in Spain and will show you
the rarest birds in the most beautiful and
remote areas. Expect to see 5 eagles, 3
vultures, bustards, sand grouse, white-headed
duck, galinule, eagle owl, black stork, with
many ducks, waders and passerines on
spring migration. 11,8 and 5-day tours for
3-4 persons only, by Range Rover. 8 years
and over 500 field days of experience in Spain.
Tom Guilick, c/o Mrs. M. C. Parker,
5 Tile Barn Close, Farnborough,
Hants GU 15 8LS. Tel: 0252 547213.
(BB343)
OVER 100 SPECIES on our 40 areas, and
Morecambe Bay’s winter visitors close by. Join a
BIRDWA TCHER’S HOUSE PARTY, or block
book a group. Castle Head Field Centre.
Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria (04484 4300).
(BBI 18)
FALKLAND ISLANDS
Falkland Islands specialised wildlife. Get
close to nesting black-browed albatrosses, 5
species of penguin, other rare birds. Cdr
Angus Erskine leading small group 23 Jan '86
on 2 wk trip. £2.995. Many other wildlife
expeditions to Arctic July/Aug '86 from £950
either staying at lodges, in boats, or camping.
Write Erskine Expeditions, 14 Inverleith
Place, Edinburgh.
(BB420)
GOOSE WEEKENDS in Galloway; Friday
dinner to Sunday lunch in comfortable house
with superb views and good food. Led excursions
by car. Thousands of geese and ducks. £50.
Gallowav Birds, Windywalls, Gatehouse of Fleet.
Tel: 05574 249. (BB426)
SKOKHOLM AND SKOMER ISLANDS,
Pembrokeshire, Dyfed. Full board accom-
modation; birdwatching/photography courses.
Send s.a.e. to Dept BB. WWTNC, 7 Market
Street. Haverfordwest. (BBI 16)
xxiii
THE ULTIMATE MOROCCAN
EXPERIENCE FOR THE
BIRDWATCHER— Spring ’86
Originated by Bryan Bland and
Hobo Travel.
See the birds and experience
Morocco
For full details please contact:
Hobo Travel, Town Street,
Swanton Morley, Norfolk NR20 4PB
Tel: 036283 629
GALLOWAY BIRDS
Four days by minibus from the luxurious four-star
Cally Palace Hotel to the best bird-watching in S.W.
Scotland — Caerlaverock and Loch Ken for geese and
ducks; the Solway shore for waders; Hen Harrier
roosts; raptors; owls and perhaps Golden Eagle.,
Evening films and talks. Nov 17-21: Feb 16-20. £150
all inclusive. Brochure/reservations David Hawker,
Windywalls, Gatehouse of Fleet, Castle Douglas.
Tel: 05574 249.
(BB425)
WILDLIFE HO LI DA YS
KENYA. Personally escorted 2-week tented
Bird YVatching/Wildlife Safari departing 20th
December visiting Rift Valley Lakes, Naivasha,
Nakuru and Baringo with Masai Mara and
Samburu Gameparks. All inclusive, £1,025.
Adventure Africa, The Square, Ramsbury,
Wiltshire. Tel: 0672 20569. (BB302)
BIRD REPORT
HANTS/SURREY BORDER BIRD REPORT
1984. £1 .60, from J. Clark, 4 Cygnet Court, Old
Cove Road, Fleet, Hants. (BB401)
BIRDS IN CORNWALL 1984. £2.85p inc.
p.&p. from Stan Christophers, 5 Newquay Road,
St Columb Major, Cornwall TR9 6RW.
(BB434)
PERSONAL
THE HAWK TRUST cares about all birds of
prey. Why not help us with our conservation
projects? For information, contact The Member-
ship Secretary CJB), The Hawk Trust, FREE-
POST, Beckenham, Kent. (BB52)
AUTHOR REQUIRES i nformation about local
names for animals/birds (eg, in dialect). M.
Webb, I 10 Dover Road, Portsmouth P03 6JX.
(BB353)
CRETE— EASTER BIRDWATCHING, hints,
sites, checklist. £2.50 inc p.&p. S. Goghlan, 25
Thorpe Lane, Huddersfield, W. Yorks HD5 81 A.
(BB417)
SITUATIONS VACANT
BIRDWATCHER/NATURAL HISTORIAN
required aboard converted fishing boat. Ability to
cook and physical fitness essential. Exciting
opportunity with small but expanding wildlife
holiday company. Write to Carl Reavey, The
Pier, Tighnabruaich, Argyll. (BB362)
BOOKS
THE BIRD BOOKSHOP
SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB
Wide range of titles in stock
Free catalogue from: 21 Regent Terrace,
Edinburgh EH 7 5BT. Tel: 031-556 6042
(BB239)
BOOKS ON BIRDS. New and secondhand,
catalogue 30p stamps. Surplus books urgently
sought. BB bought and sold. Open Monday to
Saturday. Bird Books of Sevenoaks, 67 London
Rd, Sevenoaks, Kent. Tel: 0732 455899. (BB245)
FINE NATURAL HISTORY BOOKS bought
and sold. R. Norman. Hart-on-the-Hill, Dalton
Piercy, Hartlepool, Cleveland. Tel: 0429 73857.
(BB303)
‘BIRD BOOKS’. Good secondhand books
bought and sold. Free catalogue from, and oilers
to Briant Books, 94 Quarry Lane, Kelsall,
Tarporley, Cheshire CW6 0NJ. Tel: 0829 51804.
(BB392)
ORNITHOLIDAYS GUIDES in the Let’s
look at . . .’ series. Majorca, SW Spain, The
Camargue, Montenegro, Ethiopia, Eastern
Austria, South Morocco, North East Greece,
Vancouver and The Rockies, Sri Lanka, Lapland
and Arctic Norway, The Gambias, and North
West Turkey, £2.80 per copy. Ornitholidays,
1-3 Victoria Drive, Bognor Regis, Sussex P()2I
2PW. (BB379)
BIRD BOOKS 1847-1984. Large s.a.e. for
catalogue, Crack Books, Sawmill Cottages,
Burton-in-Lonsdale, Carnforth, Lancs. (BB404)
QUALITY BIRD BOOKS — for latest list write
to A. & H. Books, 23 Andrew Road, Tunbridge
Wells, Kent. (BB396)
BIRDS OF THE HANTS/SURREY BORDER
— by J. M. Clark. 147 pages 4- 16 b. & w. plates.
Illustrations by R. Millington. Systematic list
covering 250 species. £7.95 post free from Hobby
Books, 14 Dunmow Hill, Fleet, Hants GU 13 9AN
(see review p. 60 Jan issue). (BB395)
BOOKS ON BIRDS, Natural History, Garden-
ing and Travel bought and sold. Catalogue
available (S.A.E. please). J. T. Radford, Bram-
blings, West Walberton Lane, Walberton,
Arundel, Sussex. (BB423)
xxiv
NATURAL HISTORY BOOKS. Secondhand
and new bought and sold. Catalogues: ). E.
Oliver, Malt Cottage, Croft Yard, Wells, Norfolk.
(BB306)
HENRY SOTHERAN LTD
London 's leading ornithological book stockisti.
IN STOCK — Carol and Tim Inskip: A Guide To
I he Birds of Nepal. £25. 00. Ken Simpson, Nicholas
Day: The Birds of Australia. £25.00. C. H. Fry: The
Bee Eaters. £19.60. Dictionary of Birds. £35.00 until
30th Sept. ICBP, BTO, BOU Publications and a
surprising range of smaller books & reports.
Our new catalogue will be sent without charge on request.
Superb stock available for browsing. gr-
2, 3, 4 & 5 Sackville St, London W 1 X 2 DP. £
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ii. (BB269)
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‘The “British Birds” List
of Birds of the Western
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This completely revised,
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with 15 columns for use
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£1.85 post free
xxv
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xxvi
With one of these, an apiarist can
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British Birds
Volume 78
471
October 1985
471
473
475
482
505
507
508
508
509
510
511
512
512
512
513
513
513
514
Number 10
The ‘British Birds' Best Bird Book of the Year
Rarities Committee news and announcements P.J. Grant and the
Rarities Committee
PhotoSpot 15 Oriental Cuckoo Nigel Redman
Marmora's Warbler; new to Britain and Ireland J. Lunn
Parrot Crossbills in Britain Graham P. Catley and David Hursthouse
Mystery photographs 106 Short-billed Dowitcher Claudia Wilds
Notes
Feeding behaviour and voice of Cory’s Shearwater at sea T. A. Box
Pallid Sw ift in Hampshire Dr Andrew M. Hanby
Dunnock eating from Blackbird faeces Dr K. E. L. Simmons
Field characters of female and first-winter male Siberian Thrush Paul R. Jepson
Yellow legs of Siberian Thrush Dr J. T. R. Sharrock
Cannibalism by Blackbird J. R. Coleman
Second female Blackbird rearing brood of dead female Jim Humphreys
Blackbird eating fox faeces Dr A. P. Radjord
Jackdaws eating dog faeces Bernard King
Rooks feeding on human vomit M. F. Brown
Birds eating dog faeces John Barnes
Starlings eating snowy wax caps Dr A. P. Radford
514
515
516
Red-eyed Vireo catching great green bush cricket B.J. Brown
Letters
Distinction between Mandarin and Wood Duck in female-type plumages Prof. Dr
Heinrich Dathe
Black-headed Yellow Wagtails in western Europe L.J. Davenport
The Black Woodpecker as a British bird R. S. R. Fitter
Announcements
Meeting of Working Group on Granivcrous Birds — intecol
‘A Dictionary of Birds’ — Best Bird Book of 1985
‘The Frontiers of Bird Identification’ — special offer
‘A Field Guide to the Birds ofjapan’ — special offer
New books in British BirdShop
Seventy-five years ago . . .
News and comment Mike Everett and Robin Prytherch
Recent reports Keith Allsopp and Ian Dawson
Reviews
A Sound Guide to Waders in Britain by John Burton and Nigel Tucker John Marchant
A Lighthouse Notebook by Norman McGanch Norman Arlotl
Line-drawings: 475 Marmora's Warbler (J- Lunn): 482 Parrot Crossbills (Graham P. Catley)',
520 Broad-billed Sandpiper and Ringed Plover (Dave Showier), and Red-footed Falcon (Brian
E. Slade); 521 Osprey (David Thelwell)
Front cover: Cormorant, P<x>le Harbour, December 1984 (John Hollyer): the original draw ing
of this month’s cover design is for sale in a postal auction (see page 56 in January issue for
procedure)
British Birds
Managing Editor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock
Personal Assistant Sheila D. Cobban Assistant Editor David Christie
Editorial Board Stanley Cramp, P. J. Grant, Dr M. A. Ogilvie & DrJ. T. R. Sharrock
Photographic Consultants Dr R. J. Chandler & Don Smith
Rarities Committee P. J. Grant (Chairman), D. J. Britton, A. R. Dean, R. H. Dennis,
D. J. Holman, T. P. Inskipp, P. G. Lansdown, S. C. Madge, I. S. Robertson &
K. E. Vinicombe; Peter Colston (Museum Consultant & Archivist); Michael J.
Rogers (Honorary Secretary)
Notes Panels behaviour Dr C. J. Bibby, Dr J. J. M. Flegg, Dr C. H. Fry,
Derek Goodwin, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, DrJ. T. R. Sharrock & Dr K. E. L. Simmons;
IDENTIFICATION P. J. Grant, S. C. Madge, Dr M. A. Ogilvie & DrJ. T. R. Sharrock
© British Birds Ltd 1985
Copyright of photographs remains w ith
photographers. British Birds is
published monthly by British Birds Ltd,
93 High Street. Biggleswade. Bedfordshire
ISSN 0007-0335
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^^-TELESCOPES
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MARK BEAMAN
STEVE MADGE
NIGEL REDMAN
IAIN ROBERTSON
Birdquest offers birdwatchers of all levels of experience professionally arranged and
guided holidays based on a unique combination of ornithological and travel
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1986 Birdquests: THAILAND; Jan 18-Feb 8, £1,680. SOUTHERN INDIA; Jan
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9, £1 ,880. CAPE VERDE ISLANDS; Mar 7-23, £1 ,480. MALAYSIA; Mar 1 6-Apr 4,
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THE MOUNT OF SICHUAN; Apr 26-May 18, £2,170. TURKEY; May 8-25,
£1,130. LAPLAND; May 31-Jun 22, £1,920. SIBERIA, CENTRAL ASIA & THE
CAUCASUS; Jun 1-22, £1,630. PERU; Aug 2-23, £2,440 NEW GUINEA; Aug
2-24, £3,160. KENYA; Aug 9-31, £1,880. RWANDA; Sep 7-23, £1,850.
SOUTHERN AFRICA: NATAL, THE CAPE & NAMIBIA; Oct 4-25, £2,080
For our brochure please contact: BIRDQUEST Ltd., 8 Albert Road East, Hale,
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11
A new departure for
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BRITISH WARBLERS
Eric Simms
This book is a lucid, highly readable, and
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detailed look at each breeding species. Ian Wallace's
six superb colour plates of warblers' plumages, and
his expert line drawings of aspects of morphology
and behaviour, are a major feature of this excellent
book.
£9.95 pb. 440pp. 6 colour plates, 150 line
drawings, maps and black-and-white
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THE NATURAL
HISTORY OF ORKNEY
R. J. Berry
This is the first book to give a complete coverage
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forming a definitive and comprehensive account of
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influence on local ecology. Ranging from the
geological creation of the islands to the effect of oil
technology. Professor Berry traces the history,
development and present status of Orkney wildlife
as it differs from that of the mainland, only six
miles away. For the visitor this is an ideal
introduction to the flora and fauna to be seen in
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valuable record of the island's wildlife.
£9.95 pb. 31Zpp, 20 colour plates and over
100 black-and-white photographs and maps.
Collins
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157
150
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79
165
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85
195
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89
305
353
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239
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269
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294
320
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340
350
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197
234
119
aS ) 10 x 40
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247
129
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131
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365
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TSN eyepieces from
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TS eyepieces from
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Ditto, with 45° eyepiece*
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NEW Kowa TS-9R 20 x 50*
rubber armoured compact
£
55
239
273
174
155
175
86
215
205
33
115
100
25
150
160
94
129
135
75
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a
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fThe A24. We are opposite the Midland Bank. (D576)
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Birds of Paradise
Departing in 1986 on 2nd August, this tour has been
revised and extended to 25 days in order to visit a less
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Tony Pym, who blazed the trail this year, will escort the
trip in 1986.
Twickers World /
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24 HR BROCHURE: 01-892 7851 ABTA/IATA/PATA
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The 1986 programme will include:
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Cox & Kings Special Interest Holidays
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Birdwatcher’s
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names, plus sections for garden birds
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holidays, annual and life lists and 159
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208 pages in attractively bound cover
22 X 14cms. Price £5.50 including
postage and packing from:
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Also a few copies of the first (hard back)
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( D538)
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Sea Parrot?
r) Name the small, migratory gull
with a forked tail.
3
What seabird breeds on Gough
Island in the South Atlantic and
occurs off Britain during late
summer and autumn?
4
5
Name the only juvenile gull in the
world with a wholly white tail.
I’d like to travel with Branta
because
(answer in not more than 12 words)
NAME
ADDRESS
Post to: Branta Travel Ltd
20-24 Uxbridge Street,
London W8 7TA
Closing date 15t h January 1986. Winners will be notified by post.
(D582)
vi
British Birds
VOLUME 78 NUMBER 1 1
NUMBER 11 NOVEMBER 1985
Books for Christmas
here are scores of natural history books around in the shops. All choices
A must be personal, but we think that these 40 are the pick of the bunch.
They are all suitable to buy as a present (or to hint that you would like
bought for you!). They are listed here from the cheapest to the most
expensive.
% A First Book oj Birds by Peter Holden, J. T. R. Sharrock & Norman Arlott
(Macmillan) Paperback £1.25
Field guide for the fixe- to nine-year-old.
^ Bill Oddie’s Little Black Bird Book by Bill Oddie (Methuen) £ 1 .50
A classic. Hilarious (and wise). Not to be missed. (Review: Brit. Birds 74: 546)
>fc The RSPB Book oj British Birds by Peter Holden, j. T. R. Sharrock &
Hilary Burn (Macmillan) Paperback £3.45
A field guide to buy for a beginner. (Review: Brit. Birds 75: 603)
The Big Bird Race by Bill Oddie & David Tomlinson (Collins) £3.95
Story (from both sides) of a 'Big Day' competition. (Review: Brit. Birds 76: 548)
The Birds oj Britain and Europe with North AJrica and the Middle East by
Herman Heinzel, Richard Fitter & John Parslow (Collins) Paperback
£4.95 Hardback £6.95
Needed if you plan a trip to North Africa or the Middle East. (Review: Brit. Birds 65:
445-448)
These books can alt be obtained through British Birds. If listed in British BirdShop on page
ix, just tick the appropriate box. If not listed, you can use the write-in lines on the British
BirdShop list on page ix.
525
526 Books for Christmas
^ The Garden Bird Book edited by David Glue (Macmillan) Paperback
£5.95
Not onl\ good advice, but also ‘staxol lax’, based on BTO research. ( Review: Bril. Birds 75:
437-438)
^ A Sketchbook oj Birds by the late C. F. TunniclifTe (Gollancz) Paperback
£5.95 Hardback £9.95
Even better than his finished paintings — how a real artist sees birds. (Review: Brit. Birds
72: 498)
^ Gone Binding by Bill Oddie (Methuen) £6.95
Nostalgia time: the history of the making of a birdwatcher. Great fun. (Review: Brit. Birds
76: 47 1 )
The Shell Guide to the Birds oj Britain and Ireland by James Ferguson-Lees,
lan \\ ill is & J. T. R. Sharrock (Michael Joseph) £7.95
Detailed information guide covering British species. (Review: Bril. Birds 76: 370-371)
An Atlas oj Birds oj the Western Palaearctic by Colin Harrison (Collins)
Originally £ 15.00, now £7.95
‘Best Bird Book of the Year' in 1982; if you want it, get a copy before it goes out ot print.
(Review: Brit. Birds 75: 480)
.1 Complete Checklist of the Birds oj the World by Richard Howard & Alick
Moore (Macmillan/OUP) Paperback £7.95 Hardback £25.00
Of several world lists, we rate this the best. (Review: Brit. Birds 77: 280)
^ A Field Guide to the Birds oj South-East Asia by Ben King, E. C. Dickinson &
Martin Woodcock (Collins) £7.95
Essential from Burma to Vietnam and Malaysia.
The Oxjord Book oj British Bird Names by W. B. Lockwood (OF P) £7.95
Browsable collection of hundreds of derivations. (Review: Brit. Birds 77: 643)
A Field Guide to the Birds oj Britain and Europe by Roger Tory Peterson, Guy
Mountfort & P. A. I). Hollom (Collins) £7.95
THE field guide. (Reviews: Brit. Birds 47: 62-64; 76: 603-604)
if: Birds in Your Garden by Nigel Wood (Hamlyn) £7.95
. . . and how to persuade them to stay. (Review: Brit. Birds 78: 470)
^ Conjessions oj a Scilly Birdman by the late David Hunt (Groom Helm)
£8.95
David left us the story of his life.
sfc Newman’s Guide to the Birds oj Southern Africa by Kenneth Newman
(Macmillan) £8.95
Much-praised field guide.
^ Field Guide to the Birds o) North America by National Geographical Society
£9.95
Widely regarded as the best single-volume field guide to the area. (Review: Brit. Birds 77:
172-173) '
^ The Frontiers of Bird Identification edited by J. T. R. Sharrock (British
Birds) £9.95 '
1 ,ong out-of-print, now available as a paperback.
527
Books for Christmas
British Warblers by Eric Simms (Collins) Paperback £9.95
I lie latest in the famous New Naturalist series.
^ The Popular Handbook oj British Birds by P. A. 1). Hollom (Wiiherbv)
£ 1 1 .50
An oldie, but a goodie. Not just a field guide. ( Review: Brit. Birds 3(i: 1 3 1- 1 33)
^ Plight Identification oj European Raptors by R. F. Porter, Ian Willis. Bent
Pors Nielsen & Steen Christensen (T. & A. I). Poyser) £12.00
One ol the first and best of the new generation of expert identification guides. (Review:
Brit. Birds 67: 520-521)
^ Roberts' Birds oj Southern AJrica by Gordon Lindsay Maclean, Kenneth
Newman & Geoff 'Lockwood (John Voelcker) £12.50
Fifth edition, but totally revised and reillustrated. (Review: Brit. Birds 78: Hiti)
H5 Birds New to Britain and Ireland by J. T. R. Sharrock & Peter Grant (T. &
A. I). Poyser) £ 12.60
Accounts, with identification notes, of all 83 species discovered since lb-1.3.
^ Nature Photography Yearbook 1985/ 86 by Fritz Polking (NHBS) £ 12.95
Superb photographs by 60 mainly European photographers. (Review: Brit. Birds 78: 610)
Travel Diaries oj a Naturalist by Peter Scott (Collins) vols. I N 2. £12.95
per volume
Birds and beasts and people on Sir Peter's around-the-world travels. Rev iews: Brit. Birds
77: 152; 78: 166)
The Audubon Society Master Guide to Birding edited by John Farrand Jr
(Audubon Society) vols. 1-3. £13.95 per volume
For birders who are 'reallv into I I)'. {Brit. Birds 77: 441-442)
^ Shorelines by Michael W arren (Plodder & Stoughton) £14.95
A bookful of Michael Warren's unique paintings. (Review: lint. Birds 77: 644
s{c The Atlas oj Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland compiled by J. I . R.
Sharrock (T. & A. D. Poyser) £16.00
The work of 10,000 birdwatchers in a Poyser-quality volume. (Review: Brit. Birds 70:
65-68)
,4 Field Guide to the Birds of Japan by Wild Bird Society of Japan & Shinji
Takano (WBSJ) £16.00
Useful if you’re going anywhere in Asia, or if you hope to find an Asian vagrant in Europe.
(Rev iew: Brit. Birds 76: 472-474)
>jc Owls oj Europe by Heimo Mikkola N Ian Willis ( I . & A. D. Poyser)
£16.80
•. . . the finest book on owls ever published' Stanley Cramp. (Bnl. Birds 77: 86)
>fc The Bee-eaters by C. H. Fry ( F. & A. 1). Poyser) £ 19.60
Fascinating: w hollv scientific, but very readable. ( Rev iew: Brit. Birds /8: 207-2081
Seabirds: an identification guide (2nd edn) by Peter Harrison (Groom Helm )
£19.95
A one-man masterpiece. (Rev iew: Brit. Birds 76: 471-472)
528
Books for Christmas
^ A Guide to the Birds of Nepal by Carol Inskipp & Tim Inskipp (Croom
Helm) £25.00
Been or going to Kathmandu? This giant compilation will be essential.
^ The Encyclopaedia oj Birds edited by Christopher Perrins & A. L. A.
Middleton (Allen & Unwin) £25.00
Despite some errors and Americanisms, reviewer considered this 'the best popular
introduction to . . . the birds in the world ... a delight to browse through, beautifully
designed and produced’. [Brit. Birds 78: 609-610)
^ A Dictionary oj Birds edited by Bruce Campbell & Elizabeth Lack (T. &
A. D. Poyser) £39.00
Our top choice this year: 'The British Birds Best Bird Book of 1985’. (Review: Brit.
Birds 78: 467-468)
^ The Atlas oj Australian Birds by M. Blakers, S. J. J. F. Davies & P. N.
Reilly (Melbourne UP) £45.00
An immense task, completed, and now presented in a fine volume. (Review: Brit. Birds 77:
640-641)
^ Handbook oj the Birds oj India and Pakistan. Compact Edition by Salim Ali &
S. Dillon Ripley (OUP) £50.00
Fantastic value — ten volumes combined into one. (Review: Brit. Birds 78: 67)
The Birds oj the Western Palearctic edited by Stanley Cramp and others
(OUP) vols. 1-4. £60.00 per volume
If you haven’t got them, you’d better get them. (Latest reviews: Brit. Birds 73: 602; 76:
324-325; 78: 468-470)
The Audubon Society Encyclopedia oj North American Birds edited by John K.
Ferres (Audubon Society) £60.00
M assive volume, and superb photographs. (Review: Brit. Birds 74: 410)
^ebentp-ftUt pears ago...
‘ON SOME ISLE OF WIGHT BIRDS. Raven (Corvus corax) . — We Hampshire naturalists
were no little grieved last year to hear that the last pair of Freshwater Ravens were first robbed
of their five eggs and then shot. The Royal Society lor the Protection of Birds, aided by Lord
Tennyson and their excellent watcher, Alfred Isaacs, did all that they could to bring the
offenders to justice, but in vain. However, we have the good news to report this year that a pair
nested in another part of the island and safely brought off three young.' (Brit. Birds 4: 181,
November 1910)
Sponsored by
Report on rare birds
in Great Britain
in 1984
ZEISS
West Germany
Michael J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee with comments by
A. R. Dean and K. E. Vinicombe
This is our twenty-seventh annual report. The work of the
Rarities Committee has again been sponsored by ZEISS West
Germany. W e greatly welcome this financial assistance, which enables us
to cope with the expense of processing and publishing the large volume of
records, and to include photographs and drawings of some of the rarities in
this report.
Committee membership is listed on the inside front cover each month,
and on the back of the title page in each volume. Other matters relating to
its work during the year have been published already {Brit. Birds 78:
471-473). The Committee has dealt with 780 records for 1984, 84% of
which have been accepted. About 294 records for 1984 and earlier years are
still under consideration.
Records should be sent to the Secretary, Michael J. Rogers, preferably
via the appropriate county or regional recorder. A copy of the list of species
considered by the Committee, copies of the Rarities Committee Record
Form (which should be used, or its format followed, when submitting
reports), and a recently-updated fact sheet which sets out the constitution
and aims of the Committee and describes the procedures followed when
considering records, can be obtained from the Secretary (please enclose
SAE).
Acknowledgments
As ever, we express our gratitude for the co-operation of observers, regional
and county recorders, and bird observatories, without which this report
would not be so complete and accurate. W e are again grateful to the Irish
Rare Birds Committee (formerly known as the Irish Records Panel) and the
Northern Ireland Bird Records Committee for permission to include their
accepted records, and to their respective secretaries, Kieran Grace and Mrs
P. M. Vizard, for supplying details. Trevor Copp has liaised over Channel
Islands rarity records, which are now dealt with by the Rarities Committee,
and we are grateful for his co-operation. Details of accepted Channel
Islands records are included in the species comments, but not in the
running totals which are for the geographical unit of Britain and Ireland.
The Committee is indebted to many individuals and organisations for
\Hnt. Birds 78: 529-589, November 1985]
529
530
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
assistance during the past year. A. R. Dean and K. E. Vinicombe have
shared the compilation of the running species-totals and have written the
species comments (non-passerines by KEY and passerines by ARD); the
BTO, the NCC, the RSPB and the British Museum (Natural History),
Tring, have liaised over various matters; and the following have been
consulted for advice over particular records: Steen Christensen, P. R.
Colston, Chris Gorben, W. F. Curtis, Jon Dunn, Dave Eades, Lars Jonsson,
Kenn Kaufman, Dr A. G. Knox, Lasse J. Laine, Dr M. A. Ogilvie, R. F.
Porter, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Lars Svensson and Claudia Wilds.
Our report is again enhanced by the inclusion of photographs and
sketches of rarities. We thank the observers concerned and all those who
now routinely submit such valuable evidence with their descriptions,
thereby greatly assisting the assessment process. PJG
Pre-1984 records still under consideration
Pre-1984 records with which the Committee is currently involved include
several Little Shearwaters Pujjinus assimilis, two Madeiran Petrels
Oceanodroma castro, the party of American Wigeons Anas americana at the
Hayle Estuary (Cornwall) in 1981, Semipalmated/Western Sandpiper
Calidris pus ilia / maun at Felixstowe (Suffolk) in 1982 and 1983, two Long-
toed Stints Calidris subminuta, several South Polar Skuas Stercorarius
maccormicki, two Lesser Crested Terns Sterna bengalensis, several Eagle Owls
Bubo bubo, Blyth’s Pipit Anthus godlewskii at Portland (Dorset) in 1983, three
Northern Mockingbirds Mimus polygloltos, two Short-toed Treecreepers
Certhia brachydactyla , several Arctic Redpolls Carduelis hornemanni, two Pine
Buntings Emberiga leucocephalos, and Yellow-headed Blackbird
Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus at Sandbach (Cheshire) in 1970.
The Committee is also engaged upon reviews of both past and pending
records of black-headed Yellow Wagtails Motacilla fiava jeldegg, Citrine
Wagtails M. citreola and Two-barred Crossbills Loxia leucoptera.
Pre-1984 records still being investigated by the BOU Records
Committee include White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala at Bough Beech
Reservoir (Kent) in 1979, Oriental Pratincole Glareola maldivarum at
Dunwich (Suffolk) and Old Hall Marshes (Essex) in 1981, Grey-rumped
Fattier Heteroscelus brevipes at Dyh Estuary (Dyfed/Gwynedd) in 1981, Cliff
Swallow Hirundo pyrrhonota on St Agnes and St Mary’s (Scilly) in 1983,
White-throated Robin lrania gutturalis on the Calf of Man (Man) in 1983,
V aried Thrush Zoothera naevia at Nanquidno (Cornwall) in 1982, and
Yellow-browed Bunting Emberiga chrysophrys at Holkham (Norfolk) in 1975.
PGL
Systematic list of accepted records
The principles and procedures followed in considering records were
explained in the 1958 report (Brit. Birds 53: 155-158). The systematic list is
set out in the same way as in the 1983 report (77: 506-562). The following
points show the basis on which the list has been compiled.
(i) The details included for each record are more than one, and age and sex if known (in
(1) county; (2) locality; (3) number of birds if the case of spring and summer records,
531
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
however, the age is normally given only
where the bird concerned was not in adult
plumage); (4) il trapped or found dead and
where specimen is stored, if known; (5)
date(s); and (6) observer(s) up to three in
number, in alphabetical order. In accord-
ance with our declared policy (see Bril. Birds
68: 1-4), the new county names have been
used, and observers are asked to bear this in
mind when submitting records.
(ii) In general, this report is confined to
records which are regarded as certain, and
‘probables’ are not included. In the case of
the very similar Long-billed Limnodromus
scolopaceus and Short-billed Dowitchers L.
gnseus , however, we are continuing to publish
indeterminable records, and this also applies
to observations of pratincoles Glareola and of
such difficult groups as albatrosses Diomedea
and frigatebirds Fregata.
(iii) The sequence of species, vernacular
names and specific nomenclature follow The
‘ British Birds’ List oj Birds oj the lies tern
Palearctic (1984). .Any sight records of
subspecies (including those ol birds trapped
and released) are normally referred to as
‘showing the characters’ of the race
concerned.
(iv) The three numbers in brackets after
each species’ name refer respectively to the
total number of individuals recorded in
Britain and Ireland (excluding those At
sea’) ( 1) to the end of 1957, (2) for the period
since the formation of the Rarities
Committee in 1958, but excluding (3) the
current year. The decision as to whether one
or more individuals was involved is often
difficult and rather arbitrary, but the
consensus of members is indicated by
‘possibly the same' (counted as different in
the totals), ‘probably the same’ (counted as
the same in totals), or ‘the same' when the
evidence is certain or overwhelming. An
identical approach is applied to records of the
same species recurring at the same locality
after a lapse of time, including those which
occur annually at the same or nearby site. In
considering claims of more than one indi-
vidual at the same or adjacent localities, the
Committee usually requires firm evidence
before more than one is counted in the totals.
A detailed breakdown of the figures for
previous years is held by the Honorary
Secretary.
(v) The world breeding range is given in
brackets at the beginning of each species
comment.
White-billed Diver Gavia adamsii ( 18, 72, 5)
Highland Portmahomack Bay, Ross & Cromarty, adult $ . 16th June to 2nd July when found
exhausted (plate 247), taken into care by R. H. Dennis, but died 19th July ol aspergillosis ( lung
disease); skin now at Inverness Museum (G. C. Hcadlam, D. \V. McAllister. G. MacNab).
247. Adult female White-billed Diver Gavia adamsii. Highland. June 1984 i Da. r Pullan)
532 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
Orkney Rousay Sound, adult, 26th January to early April (C.J. Corse, M. Gray, E. R. Meek).
Birsay, adult, 1st October (J. B. Ribbands). Glims Holm, adult, 18th to 19th December (K.
Fairclough, M. Gray, E. R. Meek).
Shetland Bluemull Sound, adult, 6th November (P. M. Ellis, R. J. Tulloch). Whalsay, adult,
since 26th November 1983, again 1 1th January (Brit. Birds 77: 508), present throughout year
and considered same as that of 22nd April to 5th May 1983 (Brit. Birds 77: 508) (Dr B.
Marshall et at.).
(Arctic Russia eastwards to Arctic Canada) Some typical records. The
annual average for the last ten years has been just under five.
Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps (0, 8, 1)
Gwynedd Aber Ogwen, Caernarvonshire, 13th November to 30th December (S. Hugheston-
Roberts, C. Stephenson et at.).
Western Isles Askernish, South Uist, individual first seen 8th June 1983 (Brit. Birds 77: 508)
present throughout 1984 and to at least June 1985.
(North America) The South Uist individual seems set to emulate the first
British Pied-billed Grebe, which spent five years on the Avon reservoirs.
Strangely enough, there are still no Irish records.
Black-browed Albatross Diomedea melanophris (2, 23, 0)
Shetland Hermaness, L'nst, first seen 1972 (Brit. Birds 77: 508), present from 27th February
(Brit. Birds 77: 335).
(Southern oceans) The 1960s produced 23 new albatross records,
compared with 13 in the 1970s and only four so far in the 1980s. I his
apparent downturn may persuade those who have not yet made the
Hermaness pilgrimage to think again: even albatrosses don’t live for ever.
Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea (few, 20512, -)
1982 Kent F oreness, 30th July (E. Solly).
(East Atlantic and Mediterranean) A late record which takes the 1982
total to 45. This species is, of course, no longer considered by the
Committee.
Little Shearwater PuJJinus assimilis (5, 55, 4)
Cleveland Hartlepool, two, 24th September (T. Francis, G. Iceton, A. Robinson et at.).
Dyfed Strumble Head, 2 1st September (G. H. Rees).
Merseyside Hilbre, 2nd September (A. M. Stoddart).
1979 Humberside Flamborough Head, 30th September (P. A. Eassey, Miss 1. Smith).
1981 Dyfed Skomer, 3, 26th June to 10th July, trapped 29th June and 7th July (i\l.
Alexander, P. C. James et at.) (Arden 72: 236-237).
1982 Dyfed Skomer, 3 , 2 1st June to 25th July, same as 1981 individual (M. Alexander, P. C.
James) (Arden 72: 236-237).
(Atlantic south from Madeira and Caribbean, and southern oceans) The
adjudication of seabird records presents a perennial problem to the Com-
mittee. Ways of improving the consideration of such records are currently
being investigated. I he above well-documented sightings presented no
problems, but a number of earlier rejxtrts are still under consideration. The
one in a burrow on Skomer was particularly intriguing.
American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus (50, 8, 0)
1982 Gwent Magor, first seen 29th ( )ctober 1981 , to at least 3rd January (Brit. Birds 75: plates
34 & .35; 76: 479), last seen 7th (N. Odin, 1). U.pton).
(North America)
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
533
Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus ( 150, 139, 1)
Norfolk Norwich, $ , 3 1 si May to 2nd J une (Mr & Mrs E. \\ ilson per C. Durdin) .
1983 Cornwall Loe Pool, Helston, <3, 8th August (Brit. Birds 77: 509) was found dead.
(V\ est Eurasia, Africa and Australia) No details have yet been received of
1984’s first British breeding record. The Norwich individual spent three
days feeding on goldfish at a garden pond before the tolerant ow ners finally
put up a wire fence to get rid of it.
Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax (165, 150, 2)
Cornwall Skewjack, adult, 29th May (P. Harrison, M. P. Semmens et at.).
Kent Ashford, adult, 29th May (j. S. Russell).
1978 Yorkshire, South Graves Park, Sheffield, adult, 3rd to 9th July (R. P. Blagden et at.).
1983 Cambridgeshire Ouse Washes, adult, 28th to 30th June (A. Ferguson et at.).
1983 Cleveland Redcar, juvenile, 9th October (Brit. Birds 77: 509) was on 8th.
1983 Dorset Radipole, probably second-summer, 23rd June (I). A. Bridges, 1). Tutt et at.).
1983 Leicestershire Aylestone, adult, 25th to 27th April, two, 25th (Brit. Birds 77: 510); both
present 25th to 28th (S. M. Andrews).
(South Eurasia, Africa and the Americas) The two late records for 1983
take that year’s record total to a remarkable 22. In complete contrast. 1984
was the worst year since 1966.
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis (2, 29, 2)
(Almost cosmopolitan in tropics; nearest regular breeding in south of
France) None in Britain. Ireland had its fourth and fifth in 1984: in the
Killag, Kilmore, Tacumshin area of Co. Wexford, from 18th November to
9th December and at Strokestown, New Ross, Co. Wexford, from mid
November into December. This expanding species produced only two
records before 1958, nine in the 1960s, nine in the 1970s and 13 so far in the
1980s. Surprisingly, of these most recent 13, 1 1 have been in western Britain
or Ireland. It has turned up in all months except February and June, but 12
of the last 13 have been in winter (7th November to 5th April).
Little Egret Egretta gargetta (23, 300, 19)
Cheshire Sandbach, 3rd May (A. G. Goodwin, A. R. Pay et at.).
Cornwall River Lynher, 26th August to 1st September (A. E. C. Aston, E. Griffiths. S. C. &
M rs P. S. Madge), also seen in Devon.
Cumbria Rockliffe area, 3rd June (A. Gremin).
Devon Higher Metcombe area, 13th April (G. H. Gush). Lopwell Reservoir. 15th to 17th
August (R. M. Belringer, A. H. J. Harrop et at.), first seen Landulph Marsh 8th (per P. W.
Ellicott); presumed same, Totnes, 5th to 12th September (R. E. Bailey. R. D. T. Shute et at.).
Wembury Point, 22nd (Dr R. B. Wright eta/.). 24th (P. F. Goodfellow); still at Yealm Estuary.
November (per A. H. J. Harrop). Differing individual, Ernie Estuary . 24th August to at least
14th September (R. M. Belringer, Dr R. B. Wright et at.).
Dorset Langton Herring. 5th to 1 1th May (J. Elliott. G. & Mrs P. Walbridge). Christchurch
Harbour. 15th May (D. N. Smith).
Glamorgan, West Oxwich and Llandimore Marsh, 3rd to 9th June (D. G. Davis. D. Rich.
R. G. Smith et at.).
Hampshire Farlington Marshes, 22nd June (G. Farwell. T. Jennings, D. J. Radford),
thereafter many localities to 1st October (per E.J. Wiseman).
Northampton I lira ps ton Gravel-pits, 10th to 15th May (D. Caswell et at.).
Shetland Tingwall, Scalloway. Collarfirth and Weisdale. 1st June to 9th July (D. Coutts.
M. G. Richardson et at.).
Somerset Steart, 1st June (N.J. & MrsS. G. D Agorne).
534
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
Strathclyde Baron’s Haugh Nature Reserve, Lanark, 17th to 26th May (T. Baker et at.).
Sussex, West Pagham Harbour, 23rd May (G. M. & MrS B. James, J. Young*/ at.).
Wight Bembridge, 25th to at least 28th April (P.J. Barden et at.).
1973 Cumbria Bowness-on-Solway area, 26th December to at least 16th March 1974 (Miss
A. M. Baer, Miss E. H. Rhone, J. B. Todd).
1974 Cumbria See 1973 Cumbria above.
1981 Cumbria Border Marsh, Solway Firth, 29th May to 4th June (J. J. Carruthers. G.
Horne).
1982 Yorkshire, North Seamer Pits, Scarborough, 12th to 13th June (DrC. Brown, M. D. &
Mrs D. M. Simmonds).
1983 Hampshire Oxey Marsh, 3rd June (Mrs A. Smart); same, near Pennington Marsh,
3rd (R. P. Coe et at.).
1983 Suffolk Orfordness, 3rd to 9th August [Brit. Birds 77: 51 1), also Minsmere, 28th July;
Havergate Island, occasionally 4th to 26th August; River Deben, 31st July, 30th August;
Martlesham Creek, 2nd to 17th September (per P. \Y Murphy).
(South Eurasia, Africa and Australia) In Ireland, singles at the Ferta
Estuary, Cahircween, Co. Kerry, in April and May; at Dungarvan, Co.
W aterford, on 15th May; at Corballis, Co. Dublin, on 27th May; and at
Shannon Airport Lagoon, Co. Clare, on 12th and 13th July. Also, a late
record of one at Lissagriffin, Co. Cork, on 10th April 1982. Another good
year, bettered only by 47 in 1970 and 22 in 1983 (and equalled in 1982). The
annual average for the last ten years has been 13. I he recent high totals
correspond with a 23% increase in France between 1974 and 1981 and a
marked northward range extension (Brit. Birds 77: 587).
Great White Egret Egretta alba ( 10, 15, 3)
Gwynedd Minflord, Bangor, 7th August (C. Stephenson).
Suffolk Near Walberswick, 22nd July ( Miss J . H. Fitzgerald, Dr E. R. J. Hinde); presumed
same, Minsmere, 31st July to27th September (S. Callaghan, I 1). Charlton et al.)(Brit. Birds
77: plates 243-245).
(Almost cosmopolitan, extremely local in Europe) In view of the recent I
upsurge in records, it seems fitting that Ireland should now get its first: one
at Moneygold, Co. Sligo, from 22nd May into June (plate 248).
248. Great W hite Egret Egretta alba, Co. Sligo, Ma\ 1984 (Oran O'Sullivan)
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea (90, 337, -)
1982 Glamorgan, West ( )xwich, adult, 30th May to 5th June (Brit. Birds 76: 482), to at least
22nd July (P. Britton, N. Odin eta/.).
535
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
1982 Greater London See 1982 Surrey below.
1982 Humberside Southfield Reservoir, adult, 26th August (T. A. Ede).
1982 Surrey Beddington Sewage-farm, adult, 1 1th April (Brit. Birds 76: 428), localit\ is in
Greater London.
1982 Yorkshire, South Barnby Dun, adult, 4th May (P. H. Mason).
(South-central Eurasia, north to the Netherlands; also Africa) No longer
considered by the Committee, but these extras took the 1982 total to 18.
Black Stork Ciconia nigra (26, 24, 0)
1983 Lothian Dirleton, 18th June (J. & Mrs J. Levene), probably same as Borders/Strath-
clyde individual, 1st to 2nd June (Brit. Birds 77: 512).
(Iberia, and Eurasia from France to China, also southern Africa) A blank
year in 1984, but, in view of recent breeding records in Belgium and France
(Brit. Birds 73: 257; 77: 587) and the high total of37 in Sweden in 1983 (Brit.
Birds 78: 339), British records seem likely to show a continued increase.
Glossy Ibis Blegadisjalcinellus (many, 25, 0)
Essex Little Clacton, two, 26th December (P. Newton), presumed same as Kent individuals.
Kent Stodmarsh, two, since 1975 and 1979 respectively (Brit. Birds 77: 512), to at least 12th
April and, at latest, 1st November to end of year, summering as usual on Sheppey, 14th April
to at least 22nd July (per D. W. Taylor el at.).
1983 Kent Stodmarsh, from 1st September to end of year (Brit. Birds 77: 512), at least one,
27th to 28th August (P. M. Potts).
(Cosmopolitan, nearest breeding colonies in Balkans)
Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus (47, 66, 1 )
KentCliffe, adult, 10th March (E. 1). & Mrs V. Lloyd).
(Northeast Europe and Siberia) None at Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, in
the 1983/84 winter, only the fifth since 1958 which has failed to produce
any. Escaped individuals were also seen: in Northamptonshire from 20th
January to at least 10th June; in Humberside on 1st May; and in Derby-
shire from 30th September to the end of the year.
249. Adult Brent Goose Branta bemicla ol race nigricans. Norfolk. January 1984 ( Tim Lubbock )
Brent Goose Branta bemicla ( 1 , 16, 7)
Individuals showing characters of the North American and east Siberian
536 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
race B. b. nigricans , colloquially known as ‘Black Brant’, were recorded as
follows:
Essex Kirby-le-Soken, adult, at least 22nd February (Dr S. Cox). Jaywick, differing adult, at
least 29th February (Dr S. & Mrs P. A. Cox).
Norfolk Cley, adult, 1 1th December 1983 to 1984 {Brit. Birds 77: 513), final date uncertain
(plate 249). Cley area, adults 6th November to early 1985, two, at least 17th November (M. S.
Cavanagh, P.J. Fleath etal.).
Surrey Staines Reservoirs, immature, 27th October to 18th November (D. Coker, R. B.
Hastings, A. V. Moon et at.).
(Arctic North America and East Siberia) In Ireland, one at Carlingford
Lough, Co. Louth, from 4th to 10th November; and one at Gorballis, Co.
Dublin, from 18th November to 24th February 1985. Late Irish records
involve one at Strangford Lough, Co. Down, on 15th September 1982; one
from 14th November 1982 to 9th January 1983; and one on 24th September
1983; one at Faughanvale, Lough Foyle, Co. Derry, from 6th October to
1 4th November 1982. Records of this race have recently been analysed
(Brit. Birds 77: 458-465). Seven is a new peak for this unassuming goose.
Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis (15, 13, 1 )
Essex Kirby-le-Soken, adult, 21st and 24th February (C. Brett, the late Mrs P. Harris, M. &
N. Hutchings); same Mersea Island, 25th (A. & B. Goodey et at.). Presumed same as Suffolk
individual below.
Gloucestershire Slimbridge, adult, 17th January to 1st March (R. D. Goater, D. B. Paynter
et at.), presumed same as Hampshire individual below.
Hampshire Ringwood area, adult, 27th December 1983 to 14th January (Brit. Birds 77: 513),
not present 1 7th and presumed same as Gloucestershire individual.
Lincolnshire North Coates/Saltfleet area, adult, 24th to 30th November (G. P. Catley, M.
Davies, M.J. Warren).
Norfolk North coast localities, 1 1th November 1983 to 17th March (Brit. Birds 77: 513, plate
210), present at various localities between Holme and Wells to 23rd March (per G. E.
Dunmore).
Suffolk Falkenham, adult, 1 1th December 1983 to 1 9th February (Brit. Birds 77: 513), later
seen in Essex above.
(West Siberia) Commuting between the Hampshire Avon and
Slimbridge (some 105 km northwest) also occurred in January 1967 and
January 1969. One seen in the Barmston-Hornsea Mere area of Humber-
side during March is assumed to have been an escape.
American Wigeon Anas americana (22, 108, 5)
Dorset See Hampshire.
Hampshire Bisterne, 8, 5th to at least 14th January, also occasionally at Week Farm, Dorset;
presumed same, Ivy Lake, 18th to 19th February (J. M. Clarke, R. I. Thorpe, J. M. Walters et
at.).
Highland Wick, Caithness, 3, 14th April (K. W. Banks, S. G. Mackay).
Northamptonshire Ditchford, Ringstead and Thrapston Gravel-pits, 3, since 22nd October
1983 (Brit. Birds 77: 514), to 1 1th March.
1983 Dumfries & Galloway Loch Ryan, 8, 13th November to at least February 1984 (Brit.
Birds IT. 513), still present 26th February (R. FI. Hogg, M. Scott).
(North America) Three males in Ireland: at Inch Strand, Co. Kerry, on
3rd October; at Lough Beg, Co. Derry, from 13th October to the end of the
year; and at Lough Foyle, Co. Derry, on 18th October. A fairly typical
showing: the annual average lor the last ten years has been about six.
537
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
Teal Anas crecca ( 1 3, 194, 10)
Drakes showing characters of the North American race A. c. carol inensis,
colloquially known as ‘Green-winged Teal’, were recorded as follows:
Cheshire Woolston Eyes, 5th February (R. Taylor).
Dyfed Pentwd Meadows, Cardigan, 10th December (P. E. Davis).
Gwynedd Llyn Alaw, Anglesey, 19th November to 13th December (J. Clark).
Lancashire Martin Mere, 4th to 7th November (C.J. McCarty).
Lincolnshire Gibraltar Point, 1 1 th November (I). M. Jenkins. A. C. Sims).
Norfolk YVelney, at least 27th to 29th April (J. B. Kemp. R. Neale, J. Revett).
Strathclyde Loch Don, Mull, at least 12th February (R. F. & Mrs E. M. Coomber).
Tayside Kinkell Bridge, Aberuthven, 2bth to 28 th April (M. S. Cavanagh.J. G. Steele?/ at.).
1983 Glamorgan, West Oxwich, 16th January to at least 5th February ( Brit. Birds 77: 514),
still present 28th (N. Odin, I. D. Smith).
1983 Humberside Blacktoft Sands, 23rd to24thJune (K. Allison, A. Grieve, F. I. Holt?/ at.).
1983 Humberside/Yorkshire, North Wheldrake Ings, 17th December (T. J. Barker),
probably returning individual of 1981/82 (Brit. Birds 77: 514).
1983 Shetland Sand water Loch, 16th March to 1 1th April (I. Sandison ?/ at.).
1983 Yorkshire, North Long Preston, 8th March (E. Jackson. S. Ralph. B. Shorrock).
1983 Yorkshire, West Fairburn Ings, 27th October (A. Burn).
(North America) Two in Ireland: at Kinsalebeg, Co. Waterford, on 14th
November; and at Lough Foyle, Co. Derry, on 2nd December. This sub-
species has averaged about 13 a year over the last decade, so 1984 was
pretty typical.
American Black Duck Anas rubripes ( 1 , 11, 1 )
Cornwall C rowdy Reservoir, sex indeterminate, 5th December (P. G. Akers, D.J. Chown).
Gwynedd Abcr, 8 , first seen 1979 (Bril. Birds 77: 515). present throughout year; maximum of
eight hybrids, 16th September (T. Gravett. N. Odin el at.).
Scilly Fresco, $ , first seen 1976 (Brit. Birds 77: 515) and thought present throughout 1983, but
disappeared sometime after autumn that year. At least four hybrids present to at least April
1985 (per M.J. Rogers).
(North America) The Fresco female was presumably seven y ears old
when she disappeared; she had bred at least six times, and produced some
22 hy brid young. File one in Cornwall was the first new arrival since 1981 .
Blue-winged Teal Anas discors ( 19, 94, 8)
Devon Braunton Marsh, 9 or immature, 16th to 20th September ( A. J. Culshaw .
Grampian Fraserburgh, 9 or eclipse 8, 16th September (K. Duncan. R. Smith), shot.
Strathbeg, 19th (per R. H. Hogg).
Hertfordshire Stocker's Lake, 9 , 20th loat least 27th April (R. R. Drew, A. V. Moon el at.).
Norfolk Titchwell. 3, 1 1th to about 16th June (A. Banwell. M. J. Keene. J. B. Kemp);
Welney, 8, 30th September to 5th October (J. B. Kemp?/ at.).
Orkney North Ronaldsay. sex uncertain, 14th to 22nd September ( M. Gra\ el at.).
Western Isles Loch Hallan, South l ist, pair, at least 1 7thjune (J . K. Archer. A. M. Stoddart
el at.).
1983 Cambridgeshire Ouse Washes. 8. 22nd June (Bril. Birds 77: 515), again 25th (D. J.
Odell).
1983 Shetland I nst individual (Brit. Birds 77: 515) shown in plate 274.
(North America) Three were present on Mannez Pool. Alderney.
Channel Islands, from 19th to at least 20th September 1983. and two were
eventually shot. The last ten years have averaged seven per annum, but.
surprisingly, there were only eight in Ireland during that period. Dull
juvenile Garganevs A. querquedala are. perhaps, an under-emphasised pitfall
in autumn.
538
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
Ring-necked Duck Ay thy a collaris ( 1 , 163, 9)
Cheshire Woolston Eyes, d , 26th May to at least 28th August (B. Martin, R. Taylor et at.).
Cornwall Upper Tamar Reservoir, 9, 15th November to 1985 (T. J. Dingle, G. P. Sutton
et at.) (plate 250).
250. Female Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris, Cornwall, November 1984 ( Graham Sutton )
Gloucestershire Flaxley Pool, d, 28th December to 1st January 1985 (J. W. Hale, F. A.
Lander, J. D. Sanders et al.).
Highland Insh Marshes, d, 28th March and 1st April; presumed same, many dates, 1 1th
October to at least January 1985; presumed returning individual of past five winters (Brit.
Birds 77: 515)(Z. Bhatia et al.).
Humberside Tophill Low Reservoir, d , since 30th October 1 983 below, to 29th February and
3 1st March to 20th April (I. Forsyth, J. B. Leeson et al.).
Nottinghamshire Carburton, d , 30th September (L. Holmes).
Orkney Holm, d, 7th to 8th May (J. A. & Mrs R. McCutcheon); same, Orphir, 13th, then
Burray, 2nd to 16thjune (C. J. Booth, Mrs J. Cromarty et al.).
Shetland Sandness, d, at least 20th November (P. V7. Harvey, K. Osborn et al.).
Strathclyde Port Charlotte, Islay, d, 23rd January to at least 15th February (R. D. Bennion
et al.).
Suffolk Benacre, d, 25th to 26th October (R. C. Smith et al.).
1981 Highland Insh Marshes, d, since 1980, 9th February and 15th to 31st March (Brit.
Birds 77: 515); presumed same, 10th November (R. Leavett per Z. Bhatia).
1982 Leicestershire Rutland Water, d, 11th to 18th August (T. Appleton, R. E. Davis,
C. Park).
1983 Humberside Tophill Low Reservoir, d, since 31st December 1982 (Brit. Birds 76: 487),
to 7th April (R. A. Rose et al.). See also Humberside above.
1983 Humberside/Yorkshire, North Wheldrake Ings, d, 7th May (T. J. Barker), probably
same as Tophill Low Reservoir individual above.
(North America) Two males in Ireland: at Dunfanaghy, Co. Donegal, on
31st March; and on the North Slob, Co. Wexford, from 13th to the end of
December. An improvement on the seven new records in 1983, but it is
always difficult to be certain how many relate to wandering individuals.
King Eider Somateria spectabilis (62, 108, 1)
Grampian Ythan Estuary, d, 19th May to at least 4th June; same, Blackdog. June (Dr M. V.
Belle/ al.). Peterhead, d,6th November (M. Innes).
Highland Loch Fleet and usual east Sutherland localities, d , all year (per A. R. Mainwood el
al.), presumed same as 1983 individual (Brit. Birds 77: 516).
Strathclyde Turnberry Point, d, 10th to 12th March (G. Cunningham, R. H. Hogg et al.).
Wemyss and Meigle Bay area, d, 10th December to at least 13th January 1985 (R. M. Smyth).
All presumed same as individual last reported early January 1983 (Brit. Birds 77: 516).
1983 Strathclyde Ardmore, d, 9th January; same, Bute, 28th April to 2nd May; same,
Woodhall, 13th November (I. Hopkins, J. J. Sweeney et al. per R. H. Hogg); all presumed
same as 1982 individual (Brit. Birds 77: 516).
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
539
(Circumpolar Arctic) 1 he Peterhead bird is the only one treated as new
in the totals. 1 1 certainly seems that our supply of King Eiders has dried up,
in marked contrast to the situation in Sweden, where there was a record 51
in 1983 {Brit. Birds 78: 339).
Steller’s Eider Polysticta stelleri (5, 8, 0)
Western Isles Vorran Island, South Uist, (3, first seen 1972 (Bnt. Birds 77: 516), apparently
last seen 12th August (S. J. M. Gantlett).
(Arctic Russia to extreme northwestern Canada) There must have been
hundreds of intrepid observers who, over the last 13 years, made the long
northward trek to see this stunning duck. Indeed, the visitor’s book at the
tiny Howmore hostel must read like a Who’s Who of British twitching.
Unfortunately, it now seems that Steller’s Eider will revert to its former
gross-rarity status, although it is of interest that there were two reports from
Belgium in 1983/84 {Brit. Birds 78: 339).
Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata (75, 127, 35)
Cornwall I owan Head, immature, 24th November (S. M. Christophers).
Dumfries & Galloway Loch Ryan, 9, 7th()ctober (R. \V. Forrester et at.).
Dyfed Burry Port, immature, 6th to 7th October (C. Harper. I. K. Morgan. F. J. Smith).
Fife St Andrew's, c3 and 9, 3rd to 9th March (D. N. Bakewell, G. Megson et at.) (fig. 1). 18th
March, 1st April (G. Andrew, A. Brown); <3 only, 9th December to at least 27th January 1985
(D. E. Dickson, R. Shand et at.).
Glamorgan, West Worm’s Head, Gower, <3. 4th February (P. A. Dean, W. P. Edmunds, C.
Jones).
Grampian Spey Bay, immature <3, 17th April; two 66 and 9. 12th December. <3 and 9
remaining to at least 5th February 1985 (S.J. Aspinall et at.).
Gwynedd Llanfairfechan, 6. since 15th December 1983 (Brit. Birds 77: 517). to 6th April (B.
Boothroyd).
Fig. 1. Male and female Surf Scoters Melanitta perspicillata. Fife, March 1984 (D. A. Bakeuell )
540
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
Highland Loch Fleet and Embo area, 8 . 8th March, 23rd April, 5th June, 27th September to
21st October, 18th. 28th December, all dates presumed to relate to same indiv idual (per A. R.
Mainwood etal.), presumed same as one or other of late 1983 individuals (Brit. Birds 77: 517).
Kent Dungeness, 8 , 14th April (S. W. Gale, T. J. Toohig el at.).
Lothian Gosford Bay, 8 and 9 , 9th April to 7th May (G. Anderson, A. Brown el at.).
Orkney Hoxa, South Ronaldsay, 9, 18th June (Dr R. A. Gheke. DrJ. A. Cole).
Scilly St Mary’s, 9, 2nd October (L. Allan, S. R. Bierley et at.).
1981 Glamorgan, Mid Kenfig Pool, immature, 1 1th October (Brit. Birds 76: 488), was found
by P. Bristow and J. R. Smith; also seen at this locality, 25th October (M. Chown, N. Odin,
D. T. Pitman et at.).
1982 Yorkshire, North Filey Brigg. <5, 24th January (Brit. Birds 77: 517), was 9 or
immature.
1983 Highland Fort William, 8 , 26th June (Ms H. Young).
(North America) Also, 18 in Ireland: seven (four adult males, one
first-winter male, one adult female and one first-winter female) at Balli-
nesker, Co. Wexford, from 7th January to 31st March; four (three adult
males and a first-year) at Lehinch, Co. Clare, from 28th March to 7th April;
adult male at Laytown, Co. Meath, from 10th November to mid December;
four (adult male and three females) at Dundrum Bay, Co. Down, on 9th
November; and a first-winter male at Bundoran, Co. Donegal, on 1st
December. The six reported from Co. Down in the 1983 Report (Brit. Birds
77: 518) referred to only four individuals altogether. This year’s remarkable
total of 35 represents a new peak for this species, whose annual average over
the last ten years has been 16 or 17. The seven at Ballinesker are particu-
larly noteworthy, although eight in Spey Bay, Grampian, on 7th January
1979 (Brit. Birds 74: 464) is the record to beat. It is always difficult to hazard
a guess as to how many are veterans from earlier years, but the following
have been treated as such: two males in Grampian; male in Highland; two
males in Co. Wexford; male in Co. Meath; and the four in Co. Down.
Black Kite Milvus migrans (5, 62, 4)
Devon Lundy, 20th April (R. J. Campey). Brixham and Scabbacombe Sands, 29th August
(G. F. Barlow and family).
Norfolk Loddon, 1st June (N. Davidson).
Sussex, East Pett Level, 30th April (B. H. Flack).
1983 Kent Ashford, 6th September (P. Chantler).
(Most of Eurasia, Africa and Australia) The late 1983 record takes that
year's total to a new peak of nine. This raptor has now been annual since
1974, with a yearly average of about five. The upsurge here coincides with
recent breeding in Belgium (Brit. Birds 75: 570) and increases elsewhere in
Europe, such as in Luxembourg (Brit. Birds 78: 340).
White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla (many, 9, 1)
Norfolk See below.
Suffolk V\ alberswick, first-year, 1 4th April (C. R. Naunton. R. B. & Mrs D. C. Tozer etal.),
also Oulton Broad, 14th (R. C. Smith), Halesworth, 17th (P. F. Goodfellow); found shot,
moribund, near Wells, Norfolk, 1 1th May; died in care 12th; ringed as nestling. Warder See,
Schleswig-Holstein, W est Germany, 5th June 1983 (D. A. Henshilwood et at.).
(Southwest Greenland, Iceland and Eurasia) This record continues the
recent encouraging run of apparently genuine vagrants in eastern counties.
Details of another record, the one in the Brill area of Buckinghamshire,
have never been submitted, despite its vast viewing audience. At a time
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984 541
when this magnificent raptor is on the verge of becoming re-established
here, the disgraceful shooting of the Norfolk individual serves as a poignant
reminder of the mindless destruction which led to its original extermina-
tion.
Red-footed Falcon Falco vesperlinus ( 100, 263, 5)
Dorset Stanpit Marsh, 9 , 7th June (D. NT. Smith).
Glamorgan, West Crymlyn Bog, immature <3, 1 Hth to 23rd May (R. H. Davies, C. Elans,
R. G. Smith el at.) (Brit. Birds 77: plates 154-156).
Shetland hair Isle, first-summer <3, 4th to 17th June (P. \ . Harve\. K Osborn. N. J.
Riddiford et at.). Eshaness, first-summer<3 , 16th to 24th June (D. Coutts, D. Landsman eta/.).
Suffolk Rendlesham Forest. <3, hth to 9th May (B. K. & S. Abbott, A. & G. Swash. R. J.
Waters et at.).
1981 Yorkshire, West Allerton W ater, 9, 19th to 20th May (Brit. Birds 75: 497). locality was
A Her ton By water.
1983 Durham Cowshill, 9 , 2nd August (B. Armstrong).
(hast Europe and south from Siberia) The poorest total since 1971. even
allowing for a Norfolk record (at Holme) which is still in circulation.
Eleonora’s Falcon Falco eleonorae (0, 2, 0)
1981 Humberside Patrington, second-calendar-year, freshly dead, late October (J. & T. R.
Greensides per J. R. Mather); skin retained by T. R. Greensides.
(Mediterranean and northwest African coasts) Found feet-up in a
cabbage patch, this second British record vaguely coincides with other
European extralimitals: in Poland in 1982, in Sweden in 1983 and in
Bulgaria in 1984 (Brit. Birds 76: 273; 77: 588).
Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus (many, 73, 3)
Orkney Graemsay, at least 27th January (M. Gray, E. R. Meek et at.). Rendall and Evie.
Mainland, second-calendar-year 9. 22nd to 23rd April (M. Gray, E. R. Meek. P. Reynolds).
(Circumpolar Arctic) Also, one at Lough Foyle, Co. Derry, on 6th and
7th October. 1 hree typical records. This falcon is currentlv averaging three
or four a year, and has missed only one year ( 1969) since 1958.
Little Crake Porzana paroa (68, 28, 0)
1983 Devon Lundy, 9. 17th April (J- Heath, k. E. Mortimer).
(Central and East Europe and West Asia) Found wandering around on
Lundy’s ‘Puffin slope’, this bizarre record was superbly documented by
some excellent photographs. A typically early spring vagrant: this was the
seventh March/April record since 1958.
Crane Grus grus (many, 1,017, 44)
Borders Near St Boswell’s, immature. 1st to late May (H. B. Mckerchar); probably same,
near Grantshouse, 1 Ith June, possibly since 4th (S. R. & Mrs C. E. Warman). Burnmouth.
adult, 2nd June (F. Evans). Hule Moss, adnlt. 4th to 9th September (Prof. \V. H. R.
Lumsden).
Cornwall St Columb Major, 3rd to 4th December 1983 (Brit. Birds 77: 520), presumed same.
4th to 15th January (S. M. Christophers et at.). Rame Head. 28th April (A. H. J. Harrop).
Cumbria South M alney. 5th October (T. Dean, MrsJ. Robinson-Dean).
Devon Morthoearea, 25th April to about end May (R. E. Lewis etal.).
Dorset Harley Down. 26th April (Dr M. F. & MrsJ. W . Holt).
Dumfries 8c Galloway Gatehouse of Fleet area, hth to 12th April (D. M. Hawker et at.).
542
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
Dyfed Llanddewi Brcfi, adult and first-winter, 23rd December 1983 to at least 18th January
(Brit. Birds 77: 520), both, Pembrey, near Llanelli, 26th January (G. Hall, C. Weekes); adult
found shot about 28th, later died, now in Carmarthen Museum; first-winter remained
Pembrey 26th to 29th (R. A. D. Hughes etal.).
Hampshire Titchfield Haven, three, 7th April (R. \V. Russell, M. G. \\ . Terry, F. M.
Voysey); same, Emsworth, 7th (R. Boatsen, T. A. Jackson).
Humberside Messingham, 6th September (A. & S.Jaques); presumed same, Broomfleet, 7th
(T. Dixon), near Spurn, 7th, 8th (M. L. Denton, J. M. Pinder el at .), Sunk Island, 8th (per
\V. F. Curtis).
Kent High Halstow, five, 3rd April (R. Moore per A. Parker); same, Dungeness, 3rd (W.
Ranee, D. Sutton). Dungeness, 14th April (S. P. Clancy); another, 25th (A. Thorpe et at.).
Westbere, 18th April (A. C. B. Henderson). Sandwich Bay, 14th to 15th May (D. Beadle et
at.); another, 30th (D. Kelly); presumed same, North Foreland, 30th (M. P. Sutherland),
Foreness, 30th (M. H. Davies, F. Solly).
Norfolk E ast coast and Broads area, up to four present for most of year (per G. E. Dunmore);
one or other of same. Great Hockham and other localities, 1st to 23rd April (G. Jessup, D.
Wh ite et at.), but adult found dead, Mundesley, 7th (per P. R. Allard). Weybourne, two, 1st
June (M. A. Beevers), possibly migrants.
Northumberland Hallington Reservoir, 1st to 3rd April (D. & Miss J. Gardner-Medwin).
Budle Bay, 12th September (D. G. Bell).
Orkney Sanday, two, 27th to 31st March (A. Cormack, J. E. Crossley, I. Peace et at.).
Suffolk Kessingland, 2nd May (J. R. Read); another, 16th (S. Abbott, A. V\ . G. Swash),
probably from Norfolk Broads area above.
Sussex, East Beachy Head, five, 5th April (R. H. & Mrs M. E. Charlwood).
Sussex, West Adur Levels, 29th April to 9th May (A. J. Prater et at.).
Tyne & Wear Cleadon Hills, four, 4th April (G. K. Gordon et at.).
Yorkshire, North Wheldrake Ings, 19th May (D. Waudby).
1982 Greater Manchester Near Rochdale, two, 31st October (Brit. Birds 77: 520), first-
named observer was L. C. Cook not Mrs L. C. Cook.
1982 Kent Dungeness, two, 30th October (R. K. Coles), another 40, also 30th (P. J.
Makepeace per P. J. Grant). Lvdd, 14, also 30th (R. K. Coles); all additional to those already
published (Brit. Birds 76; 491).
1983 Cornwall Nanquidno, 23rd October (B. King). St Columb Major, 3rd to 4th December
(Brit. Birds 77: 520), see Cornwall above.
1983 Dyfed Llanddewi Brefi, 23rd December to 1984 (Brit. Birds 77: 520), see Dyfed above.
1983 Greater Manchester Chat Moss, 13th February to 13th March (B. T. Shaw et at.).
1983 Humberside Ellerton, 19th April (T.J. Barker).
1983 Kent Stodmarsh, 5th December (D. Painter).
1983 Orkney Birsay, 30th April to 18th May (Bril. Birds 77: 520), was adult; that at
Tankerness and Holm area was first-year (E. R. Meek et at.).
(North and central Eurasia, locally south to Turkey) Also, seven on the
North Slob, Co. W exford, on 1st December. The late records for the 1982
invasion bring that year's total of new arrivals to 201. The annual average
for the ten years 1965 to 1974 was six, but the corresponding figure from
1975 to 1984 (excluding 1982) was 28. This year’s total of new arrivals was
bettered only in the 1963 and 1982 invasions.
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus (98, 79, 8)
Grampian Ythan Estuary, first-winter, 14th October (1. Macleod); same, Mcikle Loch, 20th
October to 3rd November (R. Proctor et al.)\ remains found, Cotehill Loch, mid November
(per Dr M. V. Bell).
Gwynedd Bardsey, two, 29th April (B. Henshaw, N. J. Phillips et a!.).
Hertfordshire Chandler’s Cross, two, 7th May (Mr & Mrs P. A. Williams et at.), presumed
same as Surrey individuals.
Merseyside Marshside Marsh, 28th April (B. & N. F. Hunt). ,
Surrey Perry ( )aks Sewage-works, two, 8th to 9th May (F. R. Cannings et at.), presumed same
as Hertfordshire individuals.
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984 543
Sussex, East Boreham Street, two, 12th to 18th May (R. & Mrs D. Harris, M. & M.J.
Scott- Ham et at.).
1983 Cambridgeshire Nene Washes, discontinuously, 7th to 14th May, subsequently nested,
but eggs stolen, probably by fox Vulpes vulpes\ last seen 14th June (M. R. Coates. R. I.. K.
Jolliffe, S. Rook etal.).
1983 Cheshire Frodsham, 3rd May (J. C. Evre), additional to two, 2nd to 3rd (Brit. Birds 77:
521).
1983 Humberside Blacktoft Sands, two, 12th May (A. Grieve, D. Pager/ at.).
(Southern Eurasia, Africa and Australia) It seems highly likely that the
1983 Cornish and Cheshire trio were the same and that two of these
subsequently went on to provide Britain’s second-ever breeding attempt on
the Nene Washes. The previous nesting involved two pairs in Nottingham
in 1945. The 1984 records produced a similar statistical headache: could
the two Bardsey birds have returned southeastwards via Hertfordshire,
Surrey and East Sussex?
Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor (27,5, 1 )
Essex Hadleigh Marsh, first-winter, 29th September to 2nd October (P. M. Griggs. A. R.
Perkins, C. W Todd et aI.)(Brit. Birds 77: plate 264; 78: plates 251-254).
251-254. F irst-winter Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor , Essex, September 1984 (Tony
Croucher)
544
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
(Southwest Asia, and North and East Africa) Apart from a one-day bird
in Cornwall in 1980, this was the first since the famous long-staying 1969
Norfolk individual. Judging by its ‘moth-eaten1 plumage and the semi-
permanent clod of earth on the tip of its bill, an Essex field was a poor
substitute for the Sahara Desert.
Pratincole Glareola pratincola or G. nordmanni (36, 65, 1)
Cambridgeshire Grafham Water. 12th August (R. F. Porter).
(South Europe to West Asia and Africa) No positively identified
pratincoles for the first time since 1979. The totals include those specifically
identified.
Killdeer Charadrius vociferus (9, 29, 3)
Berkshire Holyport, Maidenhead. 25th to 26th February (E. E. Green, Mrs R. Lister, E M.
Walker et at.).
Greater London Beddington Sewage-works, 31st January to 1st February (G. Messenbird).
Strathclyde Portencross, Ayr, 2 1st January (C. Campbell).
1983 Lothian Bo'ness, 16th to at least 30th January (Brit. Birds 77: 521), still present 17th
March (M. J. Gibson. A. M. Stoddart).
(North America, West Indies, Peru to Chile) Also, one at Ballymacoda,
Co. Cork, from 15th February to 24th March (Brit. Birds 77: plate 75).
Apart from a blank year in 1977, Killdeers have been annual since 1974,
with an average of two a year. The Greater Eondon and Berkshire
individuals have been treated as one in the totals.
Lesser Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica (6, 87, 12)
All records apparently related to the North American race P. d. dominica.
Cornwall Senncn, adult, 2nd to 28th October (D. S. Flumm, M. P. Semmens el at.). St Just,
juvenile, 18th November (A. H. J. Harrop, H. TafFs).
Humberside Easington, adult, 15th to 18th September (A. Cawthrow, J. Hewitt, J. M.
Turton el at.). See Nottinghamshire below.
Kent Oakhamness Islands, Medway, adult, 22nd July (T. E. Bowley, T. Laws et at.).
Merseyside Marshside Marsh, Southport (formerly Lancashire), first-winter, 12th to 13th
November (MissJ. M. Coates, S. J. & Mrs J. A. Riley).
Nottinghamshire Idle Stop and Misson area, adult, at least 8th to 9th September (J. R.
Coleman et at.), presumed same as Humberside individual above.
255. Adult Lesser Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica, Scillv, September-Octobcr 1984 (Dave
Sadler)
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984 545
Scilly St Agnes, adult, 13th September to 4th October (J. I. Blincow.J. Galeetal.) (plate 255).
Agnes, first-winter, 31st October to 2nd November (G. P. Gill et al.)\ presumed same, St
Mary’s, 2nd to at least 3rd November (C. D. R. Heard etal.)(Bnt. Birds 78: plate 54).
Shetland Fair Isle, first-winter, 17th October (M. S. Cavanagh. X. J. Riddiford etal.).
Somerset Stoke and 1 ealham Moors and Cheddar Reservoir, adult. 4th to 26th October
( 1 . A. Box, D. L. Buckingham, B. Rabbitts et at.).
Tyne & Wear Dorman s Pool and Reclamation Pond, juvenile, 23rd August to 4th October
(T. Francis et at.).
Yorkshire, South Wath lugs, adult. 18th. July (J. M. Turton).
1 983 Cornwall Stithians Reservoir, first-winter. 14th ( )ctober ( Brit. Birds 77: 521 j. to at least
13th November (perS. M. Christophers).
1983 Gwynedd Cemlyn Bay, Anglesey, 3rd April (R. P. Cockbain etal.).
1983 Western Isles Peninerine, South Cist, adult. 2nd to 6th August (Miss S. Alliez, M J
Crosbv).
(North America and Northeast Asia) There is also a late 1983 record of
one at Rahasane I urlough, Co. Galway, on 23rd August (additional to the
September record already published, Brit. Birds 77: 522). Twelve represents
a new peak for this species, which, over the last decade, has averaged seven
a year. It seems conceivable that the April bird in Gwynedd had wintered
here undetected, but, although there are 1 1 November records, onlv one
midwinter record has ever been accepted (at Caerlaverock, Dumfries &
Galloway, in 1974/75, Brit. Birds 71: 499).
Sociable Plover Chettusia gregaria (5, 19, 1)
Glamorgan, West Mouth of River Neath (Xcdd), 20th to 21st October (R. F. Harbird. I. F.
Tew et at.).
(Southeast Russia and west-central Asia) This eye-catching plover was
recorded 16 times between 1968 and 1980. but this was the first since then.
The most remarkable aspect of this record was the fact that the above
observers had actually been fantasising about finding a Sociable Plover
shortly before their discovery: obviously a touch of ESP (Extra Sociable
Plover).
White-tailed Plover Chettusia leucura (0, 2, 2)
Shropshire Locality withheld, 24th to at least 25th May (J. Sankev. P. R. Swales).
Tyne 8c Wear Cleadon, 2 1st May (B. S. Bates. D. A. T. Constantine. T. I . Mills et at.).
(South Russia and Middle East, and west-central Asia) The previous
records w ere in Warwickshire in July 1975 and in Dorset in July 1979. As in
1975, the ones in Britain were matched by others on the Continent: there
were two records in the Netherlands in June and July 1984 {Brit. Birds 77:
588). There must be a distinct possibility, however, that only one
wandering individual was involved in total.
Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla (2, 35. 8)
Cornwall St John’s Lake, juvenile, 19th to 23rd September (A. E. C. Aston. S. C. Madge).
Kent Elmley, adult, 21st to 23rd July (M. C. Buckland et at.).
Scilly Fresco, juvenile, at least 30th September to at least 7th October (P.J. Grant et at.).
1978 Cornwall Hayle, juvenile, date uncertain between 11th and 16th October (X. R.
Phillips).
1983 Devon Lundv, juvenile, 3rd to 4th September (R. Campev. K. E. Mortimer, S. Wingz/
at.).
(North America) There were five juveniles in Ireland: two at Rosslare
546
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
Back Strand, Co. Wexford, from 9th to „ 17th September; two at
Blennerville, Co. Kerry, on 16th September; and one at Tacumshin Lake,
Co. Wexford, on 18th and 19th September. Eight is a new peak, but yet
again most were in Ireland, where Tacumshin recorded its fifth in five
years.
Western Sandpiper Calidris mauri ( 1 , 6, 0)
1969 Scilly Tresco, adult, 19th August (R. F. Coomber, the late D. B. Hunt, the late P. Z.
Mackenzie), previously rejected as Semipalmated Sandpiper C. pusilla (Brit. Birds 71 : 500).
(North America) Re-examination of the photographs in the light of
current knowledge showed this bird to be a classic moulting adult Western,
the fourth ever. The last fully acceptable record was as long ago as 1975.
Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta (0, 1, 0)
1982 Cleveland Saltholme Pool, juvenile, 28th August to 1st September (J. B. Dunnett, T.
Francis. R. T. McAndrew et al.)(Brit. Birds 75: plates 215-217; 78: plate 275).
(Disjunct in forest zone of Siberia) The only previous European record
was in Sweden in October-November 1977 (Var Fagelvarld 37: 333-338).
This superbly confiding stint afforded wader enthusiasts an excellent
opportunity to sort out some of the species’ subtle identification features
and, occurring at the same time as Britain’s first Little Whimbrel Numenius
minutus , provided a truly purple patch for rarity enthusiasts.
Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla (6, 19, 3)
Kent Dungeness, adult, 18th to at least 25th August (P. J. Grant, S. McMinn etal.)(Brit. Birds
77: plate 242), possibly same as East Sussex individual.
Sussex, East Pett Pools, adult, 28th July (P. J. Grant et at.).
1983 Cornwall College Reservoir, juvenile, 3rd to 9th September (B. Cave, Dr G. W. Davis et
at.).
(North America) Coincidentally, there was also an adult in Ireland, at
Ballycotton, Co. Cork, from 9th to 15th August. Anyone who finds two
Leasts and a ‘SemiP’ in one autumn can perhaps be considered unduly
lucky, but the tenacity with which P. J. Grant has tackled the enormous
problems of stint identification has quite clearly been well rewarded. The
crippled Kentish bird and the one in East Sussex have been treated as two
separate individuals, but there must remain at least a slender possibility
that only one was involved. After a gap of four years, there have now been
five records in the last two.
White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis (24, 222, 23)
Cheshire Frodsham, adult, 2nd July to 23rd August (P. A. Ardron, P. R. Brash, J. R. Hough
et at. ) .
Clwyd Shotton Pools, adult, 30th July to at least 8th August (E. J. Abraham et at.).
Cumbria Hodbarrow, adult, 1st to 2nd August (R. I. Kinley, D. B. Thexton et at.). South
Walney, adult, 7th October (J. V. Bhalerao, J. R. C. Dakin etal.).
Essex Two Tree Island, adult, 2nd to 4th September (M. Rowbottom, P. M. Griggs, R.
Howard et at.).
Hampshire Farlington Marshes, adult, 27th to 28th August (G. C. Stephenson et at.).
YVarsash, juvenile, 12th October (D. A. Christie).
Kent Grain, age uncertain, 16th to at least 17th September (A. Parker, J. E. Tilbrook, B.
YVright et at.); another, age uncertain, 30th September to 2nd October (T. E. Bowley, M. C.
Buckland, D. YV. Taylor et at.).
Lancashire Conder Green, adult, 14th to 1 5th July (P. & P. G. Slade et at.).
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984 547
Merseyside Seaforth Dock Pools, adult, 19th August (D. Messenger. M. G. Pennington,
R. C. Wilcox el at.).
Norfolk Titchwell, adult, 23rd to 30th July (A. & B. Goodey, I. Rowlands el at.). Snettisham.
adult, 27th to 20th July (A. Banwell, N. Bostock et at.), not same as Titchwell individual.
Somerset West Huntspill, adult, 29thjuly to 16th August (B. J. Hill, B. Rabbitts etal.).
Staffordshire Tittesworth Reservoir, adult, 6th to 7th July (P. G. Barratt. T. E. Gibson, A.
Sherlock et at.).
Suffolk Minsmere, adult, 28th July to 8th August (S. Callaghan, T. D. Charlton et at.); adult.
12th to 18th September (G.J. Carey, T. D. Charlton, B. D. Gee etal.).
Surrey Perry Oaks Sewage-farm, adult, 30th July to 12th August; presumed same, Staines
Reservoirs, 18th (R. B. Hastings et at.).
Tyne & Wear Wallsend, adult, 7th August (J. D. Holding et at.).
1980 Kent Cliffe, age uncertain, 18th October (Brit. Birds 74: 468). again 22nd (1. J.
Andrews).
1983 Humberside Blacktoft Sands, adult, 10th to 14th Julv (B. Grant. A. Grieve, D. Page
et at.). Melbourne, juvenile, 26th September (T.J. Barker, T. E. Dixon).
1983 Norfolk Breydon Water, adult, 14th July (P. R. Allard).
1983 Scilly Bryhcr, age uncertain, 24th October (R. I. Allison, P. F. Fawkes, M. J. Palmer
et at.).
256. Adult White-rumped Sandpiper Calidrisjuscicollis, Co. Cork. July 1984 ( Richard T. Mills)
(North America) There were also four in Ireland: an adult at
Ballycotton, Co. Cork, on 15th and 16th July (plate 256), and a first-
summer there from 3rd August to 1st September; one at Rahasane
Turlough, Co. Galway, from 15th to 18th October; and one at Lough Beg,
Co. Derry, on 21st October. This species shows some very interesting
occurrence patterns, and this year's bumper crop, bettered only by 25 in
1 980, raises some intriguing questions. A quick analysis of the records since
1958 reveals a distinct double peak: adults in early August and.
presumably, mainly juveniles in early October. Some 68% ofjulv and 47%
of August records involved adults on the East Coast and these presumably
relate in part to birds which have crossed the Atlantic in previous years.
The five in 1984, for example, follow on from a marked late-autumn influx
into western Britain and Ireland in 1983. Could it be, however, that other
548
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
late summer records, particularly those in northwestern England, invoked
individuals which had made a deliberate transatlantic crossing, from
northeast Canada or Greenland, with other waders such as Ringed Plovers
Charadrius hiaticula and Dunlins Calidris alpina ? Most later ones, in October
and November, are presumably genuine storm-driven vagrants, as 68% of
records at that time come from Irish or western British localities, compared
with only 22% from the East Coast. Obviously this is a subject worthy of
more detailed study.
Baird’s Sandpiper Calidris bairdii (5, 105, 5)
Cornwall Siblyback Reservoir, juvenile, 26th to 29th September (P. G. Akers, D. J. Chovvn,
T. Miller el at.).
Dyfed Dale, juvenile, 15th September to at least 1st October (N. A. Lethaby, J. S. Rowe,
A. F. Silcocks et al.)(Brit. Birds 77: plate 265; 78: plate 257).
257. Juvenile Baird’s Sandpiper Calidris bairdii, Dyfed, October 1984 (Howard Nicholls)
Lothian Gladhouse Reservoir, juvenile, 8th September (R. W. J. Smith, Dr L. L. J. Vick).
1982 Grampian Rattray Head, juvenile, 26th September (C. R. McKay, L. Steele).
(North America and northeast Siberia) Two in Ireland; a juvenile at
Tacumshin Lake, Co. Wexford, on 15th September; and one at Knocka-
derry Reservoir, Co. Waterford, on 30th September and 1st October. Some
typical records; the average for the last ten years has been six.
Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola Jalcinellus (23, 58, 8)
Gwynedd Malltraeth, Anglesey, 4th to 6th June (T. Graven, D. Sadler et at.).
Kent Pegwell Bay, two, 23rd to 28th May (D. Beadle, F. Solly et at.); presumed one of same,
Sandwich Bay, 31st (J. McAllister).
Lincolnshire Northcoates Point, 29th May (H. Bunn).
Lothian Aberlady Bay, 25th to at least 29th May; another, at least 2nd June (A. Barr, A.
Brown, P. R. Gordon et at.).
Norfolk Breydon Water, 18th to 22nd May (P. R. Allard et al.).
Northamptonshire Ditchford Gravel-pits, 25th to 26th June (S. P. Fisher, S. G. Page, A. S.
Vials et at.).
1982 Norfolk Gley, 26th to 27th May (Bril. Birds 76: 494), also 28th (M. J. Palmer).
1983 Lothian Aberlady Bay (Brit. Birds 77: 523), first individual stayed to 15th June (per A.
Brown). Tyninghame, 15th June (D. J. Bates et at.), additional to Aberlady individuals.
549
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
1983 Norfolk [ itchwell, 10th September (D. J. B ritton el at.).
(North Eurasia) The two late 1983 records take that year’s total to a
record eight, equalled in 1984. 1 he remarkable upsurge since 1982 has been
maintained, and the recurrence of two at Aberlady Bav is particularly
noteworthy. Inland records, such as the one in Northamptonshire are
especially unusual.
Stilt Sandpiper Micropalama himantopus ( 1 , 13, 1 )
Cheshire Frodsham. first-summer, 16th to ‘28th April (G. Lightfoot.J. Rayner.J.C. Weldrick
el a/.), and various northwest Cheshire localities to 26th Mav and from 7th July; last seen,
frodsham, 3rd October (perS. \\ . Holmes) (Brit. Birds 77: plates 128-129).
(North America) I he first in Britain since 1976, although singles were
seen in Ireland in 1979 and 1983, as well as recent records in Finland. Spain
and Belgium {Brit. Birds 78: 342). Always highly sought after, this year’s
exceptionally long-staying individual was widely appreciated. All the
previous records were in autumn, apart from one in 1970 at Dornoch,
Sutherland, on the similar date of 18th April.
Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subru/icollis (33, 411, — )
(North America) No longer considered by the Committee, but one at
Garretstown, Co. Cork, on 20th September 1982, took that vear’s total to
27.
Great Snipe Gallinago media ( 180, 49, 2)
Lincolnshire Saltfleetby, first-winter, 24th August (Rev. R. J. Abraham); presumed same.
15th to 18th September (G. P. Catley, B. M. Clarkson et at.).
Shetland Fair Isle, juvenile or first-winter, 6th September to 3rd October (D. Coates. P. V.
Harvey et at.).
(Northeast Europe and Northwest Asia) Late August to October has
produced about three-fifths of all the records since 1958. with a peak in
September.
Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus sco/opaceus (9. 81. 6)
Gloucestershire Frampton and Slimbridge. age uncertain. 12th October to 14th December
(D. B. Pavnter et at.).
Kent Dungeness, first-winter, 30th September (S. McMinn et at.).
Orkney Kirkwall, first-winter, 26th to ‘27th October (J. L. Hogarth, E. R. Meek et at.).
Western Isles Hirta, St Kilda, first-winter, 17th to 18th September (M. J. Helps. A. R.
Kitson, P. R. Moore).
1979 Hampshire Farlington Marshes. 5th to 12th May (J. H. Marchant. W. Nelson. P M
Potts et at.).
1983 Essex Old Hall Marshes, adult. 17th toat least 31st July (C.J. Mackenzie-Grieve et al. ) .
1983 Warwickshire Draycote Mater, age uncertain. 10th November (R. C. Mays).
1983 Yorkshire, North Filey, adult. 2nd August (P. J. Dunn. I. Forsyth. H. J. Whitehead
et at.).
(North America and Northeast Siberia) Three in Ireland: the long-
staying adult at Ballycotton, Co. Cork (one of two first recorded in October
1980), remained until 28th March; a first-winter at Swords, Co. Dublin,
from 6th to 11th October; and one at Lough Beg, Co. Derry, on 21st
October. A typical year: the annual average for the last ten years has been
seven.
550
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus or L. griseus (31,1 79, 8)
Tayside Port Allen, 10th to 1 1th and 19th October (E. J. Maguire).
1983 Norfolk Hickling, 24th to 26th October (S. E. Linsell et at.).
(North America and Northeast Siberia) In Ireland, one at Lissagriffin,
Co. Cork, on 5th October; and a late record of one at Lough O’Donnell, Co.
Clare, on 5th October 1983. The above totals include those specifically
identified.
Hudsonian Godwit Limosa haemastica (0, 1 , 0)
1983 Humberside Blacktoft Sands, 26th April to 6th May (A. Grieve, D. Page et at.),
presumed returning individual of September/October 1981 (Brit. Birds 76: 496).
(North America) Assuming this to have been the bird originally involved
in the 1981 sightings, it seems peculiar that it has not been picked up
elsewhere.
Little Whimbrel Numenius minutus (0, 1 , 0)
1982 Glamorgan, Mid Sker, 30th August to 6th September (Brit. Birds 76: 496), second
named observer was D. E. J. Dicks, not Ricks.
(Central and Northeast Siberia)
Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda ( 15, 22, 1 )
Scilly St Martin’s, 23rd to 27th October (R. V. A. Marshall et at.).
(North America) The third consecutive year that one has appeared on
Scilly.
Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis (12, 33, 8)
Avon Blagdon and Chew Valley Lakes, juvenile, 20th to 27th August (L. A. Tucker, K. E.
Vinicombe et at.), also seen Somerset.
Cambridgeshire Ouse Washes, 30th April to 8th May (J. S. Kirby, O. R. Marks et at.).
Essex Fisher’s Green, 28th April (J. Fitzpatrick, G. J. White et at.), also seen Hertfordshire.
Grampian Lossiemouth, 20th to 23rd April (R. H. Dennis, N. Elkins, G. Gervaise et at.).
Hertfordshire Broxbourne, 28th April (G. J. White et at.), same as Essex individual.
Kent Elmley, at least 23rd April (P. N. Collin etal.).
Norfolk Titchwell, 25th May (R. Henry, F. McLaughlin); same. Holme, 26th to 29th (J. R.
Allan, V. Eve, G. F. Hibberd et at.). Cley, adult, 16th August to at least 3rd September (N. G.
Machin, J. P. Martin, T. Smiths at.).
Somerset Cheddar Reservoir, juvenile, 20th August (T. A. Box), same as Avon indiv idual.
(Southeast Europe, and West and East Asia; has recently bred in
Finland) Ireland had its second in 1984: an adult at Tacumshin Lake, Co.
Wexford, on 4th and 5th August, almost exactly two years after the first at
the same locality — could it have been the same bird returning? Over the
last ten years, the annual average has been just over three, with a previous
peak of six in 1979. The remarkable upsurge continues and corresponds
with recent increases in Sweden, Finland and France (Brit. Birds 76: 568;
78: 342). The April records are particularly unusual, but it seems
conceivable that those in Kent, Essex, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire
related to just one northward-moving individual.
Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa jlampes (35,143,6)
Avon A vonmouth, juvenile, at least 30th September to 5th October (A. J. Merritt, H. E. Rose,
G. Youdale et at.).
Dyfed Bosherston Ponds, juvenile, 7th to 22nd October ( R . J . Haycock, D. Little et at.).
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984 551
Greater London Beddington Sewage-works, juvenile, 24th to at least 30th September (G.
Messenbird et at.).
Lincolnshire Covenham Reservoir, 20th May (K. Robinson).
Norfolk Snettisham, adult, 28th August (A. J. Mackay).
Shetland Scatness, 20th to at least 21st May (A. F. T. & G. Fitchett).
1983 Oxfordshire Banbury Sewage-farm, first-winter, 2nd to 18th December (T. G.
Easterbrook, A. Nash, H. Williams et at.) (plate 258).
258. First-winter Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa Jlavipes , Oxfordshire, December 1983 (T. G.
Easterbrook)
1983 Sussex, East Eastbourne, first-winter, 3rd February to 7th April (Brit. Birds 77: 526),
last seen 9th (R. A. Hargreaves et at.).
(North America) The average for the last ten years has been seven, with a
peak of 1 1 in 1981.
Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria (6, 15, 2)
Hertfordshire firing Reservoirs, juvenile, 5th to at least 12th October (R. Hudson. S. \\ ilson
et at.).
Scilly St Mary’s, juvenile, 8th to 14th October; same, Tresco, 19th (D. Gibbs et al.)(Brit.
Birds 78: plate 33).
(North America) Two fairly typical records of one of our more erratic
American visitors.
Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus (3, 19, 1)
Hampshire Langstonc Harbour, 23rd May (D.J. Radford).
(Northeast Europe and Siberia) A red-letter day for the above observ er,
who had earlier found a Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans.
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia (6, 64, 2)
Devon Tavy Estuary, first-winter, 4th November to at least 6th January 1985 (P. J. Barden.
A. W. G.John, R. Smaldon et at.).
Strathclyde Loch Indaal. Islay, 5th June (A. McNeil).
1983 Cornwall Drift Reserv oir, juvenile, 22nd September to at least 13th November (Brit.
Birds 77: 527), last seen 3rd December (L. P. Williams).
552
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
1983 Essex Hanningfield Reservoir, age uncertain, 4th September (G. C. Bond, J. Miller).
(North America) The poorest showing since 1973.
Wilson’s Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor ( 1 , 158, 14)
Cambridgeshire Grafham Water, first-winter, 7th to at least 9th October (I. J. N. Nicholls,
R. F. Porter). Ouse W ashes, age uncertain, 29th October to at least 3rd November (A. J. A.
Dally, Dr F. K. Flammond, M. S. Peck el at.).
Cheshire Frodsham, first-winter, 1st September (Dr W . N. Brooks, A. R. & C. Davies, M. R.
Gough et at.).
Dorset Radipole and Lodmoor, 9 , 2nd July to 5th August (M. Cade, C. Condell et at.).
Grampian Cotehill Loch, age uncertain, 17th to 22nd September (G. F. Bell, Miss A. Nicol,
A. Stalker et at.).
Hampshire Paulsgrove, Portsmouth, first-winter, 18th October (T. Jennings, W. Percy).
Lincolnshire Gibraltar Point, first-winter, 1 1th September to 5th October (T. Fliscock, D.J.
Ridgley et at.); probably same, Anderby Creek, 3rd October (K. Atkin, K. Wilson).
Somerset Steart, first-winter, 13th October (T. Foard, B. D. Gibbs); same, W est Huntspill,
16th to 26th (B. J. Hill, B. Rabbitts et at.).
Strathclyde Hillend Reservoir, age uncertain, 10th October (Dr J. N. Darroch,
J. Middleton).
Sussex, East Rye, 9 , 30th June to 1st July (B. H. Beck, Dr B. J. Yates et at.).
Sussex, West Pagham Harbour, adult, 12th October (C. M. & Mrs B. James, G. C. D. James,
P. W . Maton etal.) (plate 259).
1982 Clwyd Connah’s Quay, adult, 5th September (B. C. Forrester et at.).
1983 Humberside Blacktoft Sands, 9 , 23rd June (A. Grieve, D. Pag eel at.), probably same as
Norfolk individual below.
1983 Norfolk Titchwell, 9, 25th June to 2nd July (C. I. Bushell, G. N. W ilkins et at.).
Presumed same, Cley, 3rd to 1 7th July (D. & Mrs J. Dell et at.). These and the Humberside
sighting all probably relate to the Minsmere, Suffolk, individual of 6th to at least 8th June
[Brit. Birds 77:528).'
(North America) Three in Ireland: single juveniles at Tacumshin Lake,
Co. W exford, on 10th and 11th August and from 31st August to 30th
September; and at Lough Beg, Co. Derry, on 29th September. Also, a late
record of one at Kinsale Marsh, Co. Cork, on 29th August 1983. Ten or 1 1
has been the average for the last ten years, and 14 was bettered only by 19 in
1979 and 17 in 1980. It does seem possible, however, that some duplication
was involved in the above records, particularly the ones in East Sussex and
Dorset. The first Tacumshin individual was remarkably early for a
juvenile.
259. Adult Wilson’s Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor, West Sussex, October 1984 (P. IT. Maton )
553
260 & 261. Second-winter Laughing Gull Larus atricilla, Humberside, November
( Graham P. Catley)
1984
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
Great Black-headed Gull Larus ichthyaetus (5, 0, 0)
1966 Man Calf of Man, 21st May (Brit. Birds 60: 320), now considered not acceptable after
review. 1
(Southern Russia, West and Central Asia) The last accepted record was
at Hove, East Sussex, on 9th August 1932, and this striking gull is now set
lor relegation to Category B. Thorough review of all the old records would,
however, also seem sensible.
Laughing Gull Larus atricilla (2, 33, 7)
* “
554
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
Cumbria Kent Estuary, first-summer, 27th May (P. J. Marsh el at.); presumed same, High
Foulshaw, now second-winter, 14th August (A. F. Gould).
Devon Axe Estuary, first-winter, 6thjanuary (P. G. Akers, D. J. Chown).
Humberside East Park, Hull, first-summer, 16th April (P. Goupland); presumed same, now
second-winter, 9th November to 1985 (K. Rotherham, A. Wrighton el at.) (plates 260 & 261 );
same, Barton-on-Humber, 28th December (G. P. Catley); also in Lincolnshire below. (Brit.
Birds 78: plate 66).
Lincolnshire Thorpe-on-Hill, first-summer, 23rd May (K. Durose, A. G. Sims el at.);
presumed same as Humberside individual.
Tyne & Wear North Shields, first/second-winter, 11th to 12th February (J. D. & P. J.
Holding^ at.)] same, Newcastle General Hospital, 27th February to 12th March, 27th to 28th
July, 12th September to 1985 (N. J. Watmough el at.); same, Seaton Burn, 12th May, 31st
August (A. J. Johnston et at.) (Brit. Birds 77: plates 73-74).
Yorkshire, North Filey, second-summer, 23rd July (H. J. W hitehead et at.).
1982 Gloucestershire Near Frampton-on-Severn, first-year, 2nd January (Bril. Birds 76:
498), again, Slimbridge, 3rd (P. Bristow, N. Odin, M. C. Powell el at.).
(North America) Ireland had its third and fourth in 1984: first-years at
Cobh, Co. Cork, from 25th to at least 29th January (Brit. Birds 77: plates 7 1
& 72); and in the Dublin Bay area from 10th June to 3rd July. A record
showing. It seems odd that three should have been in the Northeast,
especially considering the relative paucity of East Coast records of Ring-
billed Gull L. delawarensis.
Franklin’s Gull Larus pipixcan (0, 8, 2)
Avon Severn Beach, second-summer/adult, 19th May (P. Bowerman, B. Lancastle).
Cheshire Near Runcorn, adult, 18th January (R. Harrison); presumed same, Frodsham, 27th
January (T. Dean, B. Henshaw). See 1983 Lancashire below.
Cornwall Devoran, adult, 22nd June to at least 1st July (P. J. Basterfieid, L. P. W illiams et
d.).
Lancashire See 1983 Lancashire below.
1983 Lancashire Martin Mere, Burscough, adult, 29th December to at least 2nd January
1984. Probably that later seen in Cheshire (D. W . Emley, M. R. Green, G. Halfpenny et at.).
(North America) This species has now been annual since 1980.
Bonaparte’s Gull Larus Philadelphia (11,35, 1 )
Gwynedd Bardsey, adult, 6th to 7th November (N.J. & N. R. Phillips, V'. E. Wood).
1983 Cornwall Swanpool, Falmouth, adult, 5th March (Brit. Birds 77: 529), observer was
M. A. Golley not Colley.
(North America) This gull has been recorded in all but two of the last ten
years, with an annual average of two. The above observers are no strangers
to this species, having been responsible for the discovery of the famous
Cornish adult which returned to St Ives in four consecutive vears from 1968
to 1971.
Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis (0, 264, 84)
Avon Chew Valley Lake, adult, 8th April (K. E. Vinicombe et at.).
Berkshire Reading, first-summer, 23rd March; adult, 2nd April (A. J. Croucher).
Cornwall Marazion, first-winter, 2 1st to 31st December 1983, then Drift Reservoir, January
1 984 (Brit. Birds 77: 529), Drift Reservoir, lstjanuary, later lound moribund, died in care, 5th
February (per S. M. Christophers). Hayle, first-winter, 15th February (D. S. Flumm, L. P.
Williams); second-winter, 24th March (P. G. Akers, D. J. Chown, D. S. Flumm); first-winter
moulting first-summer, 25th March to 26th May, also at Marazion (D. S. Flumm et at.);
first-winter, 19th April (D. S. Flumm et at.)-, first-winter, 7th December to at least January
1985 (D. S. Flumm et at.). Porthleven, adult, 3rd March (P. G. Akers, D. J. Chown). Drift
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984 555
Reservoir, first-winter, 25th to 30th April; same, Penzance and Marazion shore, 3rd to 4th
May (S. M. Christophers, D. S. Flumm, H. P. K. Robinson). Swan Pool. Falmouth, first-
winter, 18th February and 4th March (R. I. Allison, J. F. Babbington. R. Crossley et at.). Par
Beach, first-winter, 1 1th and 25th to 27th December 1983 (Brit. Birds 77: 529), to 7th April (per
S. M. Christophers); first-winter, 8th December to at least January 1985 (S. C. & Mrs P. S.
Madge et at.). East Looe River, second-winter moulting second-summer, 1 1th March (S. C.
Madge et at.).
Cumbria South Walney, second-summer, 15th to 18th April (T. Dean, R. I. Kinley, Miss J. C.
Robinson et at.).
Devon River Plym, first-winter, 7th January (J. C. Nicholls). Slapton and Start Bay, first-
winter, 12th March (J. C. Nicholls et at.). West Floe, Plymouth, second-winter moulting
second-summer, 25th March (R. Crossley). Warleigh Point area. River Tamar, first-winter,
24th December (j. C. Nicholls).
Dorset Radipole, adult, 28th December 1983 (Brit. Birds 77: 530), again 4th to 5th February
(M. Cade, G. Walbridge et at.); adult, 24th February to 8th March (M. Cade et at.);
second-winter, 8th November to at least 3 1st December; adult, 26th November to at least 31st
December; adult, 30th December (M. Cade, J. F. Ryan et at.). Weymouth Bay, probable adult,
7th February (P. G. Akers, M. Cade, D. J. Chown), additional to Radipole individuals. West
Bexington, adult, 21st December (P. G. Akers, D.J. Chown, M. A. Hallett ), same as Radipole
individual. Poole Park, adult, 25th January (P. V. Harvey). Stanpit Marsh, first-winter
moulting first-summer, 14th May (D. N. Smith).
Dyfed, Aberystwyth, two, possibly three adults: single sightings, 1st to 5th March, 7th to 8th,
1 1th, 13th, 15th, two 29th (A. D. Fox); one of same, 3rd April (J. McLoughlin, S. Rook eel at.)’,
first-year, 7th March; second-summer, 22nd March (A. D. Fox).
Glamorgan, South Roath Park Lane, adult, 12th to 25th February (K. R Lloyd et at.).
Rhymney Estuary, first-summer moulting second-winter, 14th July (M. C. Powell et at.), also
in Gwent below.
Glamorgan, West Blackpill, at least nine adults: 2nd to 4th March; another 7th (R. H.
Davies); 14th to 17th April, two, 14th to 16th (R. H. Davies, S. Murray); 16th March to 17th
.April (P. & S. Murray, I. F. lew); 20th to 22nd March (R. H. Davies); 27th March to 3rd
April (R. H. Davies, I. F. Tew); 18th April (R. H. Davies, C. Evans. R. H. A. Taylor); 2nd
October (R. H. Davies). Kenfig Pool and Sker Point, first-winter, 4th to 5th December (N.
Odin et at.).
Gwent Landegfedd Reservoir, Pontypool, adult, 19th to 29th February (P. A. Dean, C. Jones
et at.). Peterstone Wentloog, adult. 16th April (C. Jones, N. Odin et at.). Sluice
Farm, first-summer moulting second-winter, 15th to 16th July (M. C. Powell et at.), same as
South Glamorgan individual of 14th July.
Hampshire Titchfield Haven, first-winter since December 1983 to at least 19th February
(D. R. Bishop, R. A. Chapman), see 1983 Hampshire below. Titchfield Haven and
Stubbington, adult, 4th to at least 1 7th February (R. A. Chapman. J. M. Clarke et at.).
Lothian Aberladv Bay, first-winter. 4th October (P. R. Gordon).
Merseyside New Brighton, second-summer, 28th June (A. M. Stoddart). Moreton, adult.
15th to 16th July (M. Garner, W. S. Morton et at.); adult. 16th to 17th July (E. J. Abraham.
M. J. Gibson, S. J. Jones et at.); first-summer, 16th July (A. M. Stoddart); adult, 28th July to
1st August (M. S. Garner, W. S. Morton. D. G. W eedon); adult, 30th July (A. M. Stoddart).
Somerset Sutton Bingham Reservoir, adult, 14th March (P. G. Akers, M. A. Hallett).
Strathclyde Lochgilphead, Argyll, adult, 26th March (R. A. Hume).
Sussex, West Weirwood Reservoir, adult, 10th to 20th December (Dr M. R. Howard. D.
Shackleton).
1982 Devon Plym Estuary, first-winter. 20th March (R. I. Allison. S.J. Cox et at.). Plymouth,
second-winter, 13th March to 10th April (Brit. Birds 77: 532). also 1 1th (D.J. Odell).
1982 Gloucestershire Slimbridge, second-winter. 1 1th January (L. P. Alder. D. G. Riddle.
M. Thompson), prev iously rejected for this date (Brit. Birds 77: 582) but accepted for 16th to
30th (Brit. Birds 77: 532).
1983 Cheshire Rixton tip, Warrington, first-winter, 12th November (R. Dickinson,
J. Jackson, R. Taylor).
1983 Cleveland Redcar. first-summer, 2 1st July (D.J. Britton).
1983 Cornwall Marazion, first-winter, 21st to 31st December (Brit. Birds 77: 529), see
Cornwall above.
556 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
1983 Dorset Radipole and Lodmoor, adult, 28th December to January 1984 (Brit. Birds 77:
530), see Dorset above.
1983 Dyfed Aberystwy th, adult, 10th to 12th January (A. D. Fox, A. P. Fowles et at.).
1983 Hampshire Titchfield Haven, first-winter, 26th December (Brit. Birds 77: 530), see
Hampshire above.
(North America) A total of 31 was recorded in Ireland in 1984, of which
30 were new arrivals: two adults at Limerick City on 10th February; adult
at Sligo City on 12th February; two adults at the Lough, Cork, on 23rd
February and a first-winter there on 30th December; a first-winter at
Sandvmount, Co. Dublin, from 25th February to 16th June, two adults
there from 22nd March to 21st April, a first-summer from 19th May to 16th
June, and another first-summer from 10th June to 17th August, a second-
winter from 1 1th September to 28th December and a first-winter on 31st
October; three adults at Galway City from 12th January to 23rd March;
adult at Little Island, Cork, on 16th March; adult at Raven Point, Co.
Wexford, on 18th March; adult at Ballymacoda, Co. Cork, on 3rd
September; adult at Dundalk, Co. Louth, from 23rd to 26th September and
a second-winter at Glen Bay, Co. Donegal, on 3rd October. In Northern
Ireland, up to three adults (one from 1983) at Belfast Harbour Estate, Co.
Down, throughout January until at least 20th March, and again from 10th
December into 1985; single adults at Derry City from 20th January to 18th
February; at Longfield, Co. Derry, on 17th February; at the Bann Estuary,
Co. Derry, on 24th March; and at Newcastle, Co. Down, on 30th
December. A late 1983 record involved one (age not given) at Tarbet, Co.
Kerry, from 3rd January to 4th .April. The records from Northern Ireland
in 1981, referred to as ‘second-summer’ (Brit. Birds 75: 508), were first-
summer.
A paper analysing the occurrence patterns of this species has recently
been published (Brit. Birds 78: 327-337). The late records for 1982 and 1983
bring those year’s totals to 76 and 89 respectively (there were also 55 in the
big influx year of 1981). The 1984 total of new arrivals indicates a levelling
off of numbers in the absence of a further large influx of first-years. This
year’s total of newly arriving first-years was 22 (26% of the total); some
45% of these were in Devon and Cornwall. It is interesting to note that
neither of the two main localities, Radipole Lake, Dorset, or Blackpill, West
Glamorgan, produced any first-years in 1984, while in Ireland the
percentage of first-years was a lower 1 7% . The series of late summer adults
in Merseyside was particularly interesting, as was the early October first-
year in Aberlady Bay, Lothian. This was the second such record from this
eastern Scottish locality (Brit. Birds 77: 530) and it may be the strongest
indicator yet that a small breeding population is already established on this
side of the Atlantic.
Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides (0, 4, 0)
Individuals showing characters of the North American race L. g. kumlieni ,
colloquially known as ‘Kumlien’s Gull’, were recorded as follows:
1982 Avon C'.hew Valley Lake, adult, 16th April (A. j. Merritt, K. E. Vinieombe et at.).
1983 Devon Plymouth, adult, 12th to 16th January (B. R. Field, P. Harrison, R. Smaldon)
(plates 262 & 263).
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
557
264. .Adult Iceland (dill Larus glaucoides of race kumlieni, Shetland. Februarv 1983 i Dennis
Coutls)
1983 Shetland I .ervvick. adult. 4th to 8th February (G. Bashford. C. Bvers. M. S. Chapman et
at.) (plate 264).
(Baffin Island and northwest Ungava Peninsula. Canada) The only
previous record was in Co. Kerry in 1958 (Brit. Birds 53: 412). It seems
possible, however, that this race has been to some extent overlooked, and a
number of other records, involving individuals in more problematical
558
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
immature plumages, are still under consideration. One wonders whether
these might be a prelude to Britain and Ireland’s first Thayer’s Gull L.
thayeri.
Ross’s Gull Rhodostethia rosea (2, 39, 2)
Highland See 1983 Highland below.
Norfolk Cley, adult, 9th to 13th May (E. T. Myers et at.). Same, Titchwell, 13th to 14th (A.
Cawthrow,J. Hewitt, P. D. Whiter/ at.) {Brit. Birds 77: plate 157).
1983 Highland Thurso, adult, 20th November to 16th May 1984; presumed same, 12th
November 1984 to at least 7th January 1985 (S. Laybourne, E. W. E. Maughan et at.).
1983 Yorkshire, North Filey Brigg, adult, 17th to 20th February {Brit. Birds 77: 534), was
found by Rosemary Bowman.
(Northeast Siberia, Greenland and Canada) In Ireland, there was an
adult at Galway City from 1 1 th January to 4th March; and a late record of a
first-winter at Ramore Head, Co. Antrim, on 19th and 20th January 1983.
Two other 1983 Irish records are still under consideration. In the light of
recent correspondence on the origins of British Glaucous Gulls Larus
hyperboreus (Brit. Buds 77: 165-166; 78: 355-356), it seems plausible that we
are also getting Ross’s Gulls from two separate sources. Until 1980, 80% of
the total of 25 had been in northern Scotland or eastern England,
suggesting an Arctic origin from the north or east. The 18 recorded in the
last four years represent a remarkable increase, but the percentage
occurring in northern Scotland or eastern England has dropped to 50%, the
remaining 50% having been in western Britain (two) and in Ireland
(seven), compared with only 12% of the previous 24. The recent upsurge in
Ross’s Gull numbers has not been matched by its Arctic congener, the
Ivory Gull Pagophila ebumea, and surely the most logical explanation is that
we are now receiving Ross’s Gulls which have been swept across the
Atlantic from the northwest (perhaps from an expanding Arctic Canadian
or Greenland population?).
Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica (53, 169, 1)
Sussex, West Ferring, 26th April (R. J. Sandison).
1983 Norfolk Holme, 1 1th May (P. R. Clarke).
(Almost cosmopolitan, nearest breeding colony in Denmark) Another
poor showing, no doubt reflecting the current poor state of the Danish
breeding population ( BWP ).
Caspian Tern Sterna caspia (30, 126, 4)
Dorset Poole Harbour, 28th July (M. A. Hallett, R. Newton).
Kent Dungeness, 29th May (A. Warren).
Surrey Papercourt Gravel-pits, 9th August (J. Beck, T. M. J. Doran, R. Stride et at.).
Sussex, East Rye, 9th to lOthJuly (P. F. Bonham. P. E. Philpot. Dr B.J. Yates).
(Cosmopolitan, except South America, but everywhere local) This
species averaged about six a year during the last decade. It has shown a
substantial population increase in the Baltic in recent years (BWP),
although British occurrences have remained remarkably consistent since
the mid 1960s.
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
559
Forster’s Tern Sterna Jorsteri (0, 5, 1 )
Clwyd Point of Air, first-summer, 3rd July to at least 6th August (J. Ravner.C. Rowley etal.).
Gwynedd Near Penmon, Anglesey, adult, 30th September to 20th October (M. Donahue, T.
Graven, H. Knott et at.).
(North America) Also, a first-year at the Bann Estuary, Co. Derry, from
3rd to 5th December 1983. Another 1984 record, from Co. Down, has still to
be ratified by the Irish Records Panel. The remarkable run — since the first
in 1980 — continues. The Clwyd and Gwynedd individuals have been
treated as the same in the totals.
Bridled Tern Sterna anaethetus (3, 5, 1 )
Leicestershire Rutland Water, 8th to 9th June (C. P. Lythall.J. Pearson, P. J. Powell et at.).
(Oceanic islands from the Caribbean east to the Philippines and
Australia) After a long gap from 1958 to 1976, there have now been five in
the last eight years. This, the first to be seen inland, was also the first major
rarity for this superb new reservoir. Another record, from Lodmoor,
Dorset, is still under consideration.
Sooty Tern Sterna Juscata ( 16, 9, 1 )
Kent, Dungeness, 9th July (S. Bellinger, S. McMinn), also seen in East Sussex.
Sussex, East Rye, 9th July (P. Philpott, Dr B.J. Yates) (plate 265), same as Kent individual.
(Tropical and subtropical islands in all oceans, also Red Sea) A typical
record, but the first since 1980.
265. Adult Sooty Tern Sterna Juscata, East Sussex. July 1984 (B.J. Yates)
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus (20, 59, 2)
Sussex, West Pagham Harbour, 2nd June (E. D. Lloyd).
1969 Hampshire (Wight) N ewtown Estuary. Isle of Wight, adult. 26th September (Brit.
Birds 63: 280), now considered on photographic evidence to have been first-winter Common
Tern Sterna hirundo.
(South Eurasia, Northwest, East and Southern Africa, and Australia)
There was also an adult at Ballycotton, Co. Cork, from 4th to 15th August
(plate 276), the first Irish record since 1970. A return to normal after the
high total of eight in 1983.
560
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
266 & 267. Juvenile White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus, Kent, September 1984
( M . Scott- Ham)
White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus (50, 435, 18)
Avon Chew Valley Lake, adult, 8th July (H. E. Rose); juvenile, 28th August to 1st September
(I. R. & N. C. Machin, J. P. Martin et at.).
Dorset Langham, 18th May (J. V. Boys).
Essex Boreham, two, 8th June (C. J. Mackenzie-Grieve, J. Miller et at.).
Hampshire Titchfield Haven, juvenile, 22nd August (R. A. Chapman et at.).
Humberside Tophill Low Reservoirs, adult, 22nd June (P. W. Izzard).
Kent Dungeness, adult, 18th to 2 1st June (J. Gooders, S. McMinn); juvenile, 1st to 7th August
(S. P. Clancy, B. Taggart et a/.); juvenile, 17th to 23rd, also at Lydd (G. Hopwood el a/.);
juvenile, 30th August to 15th September, also at Lydd (D. W. Taylor etal.) (plates 266 & 267).
Grain, juvenile, 26th August to 4th September (T. E. Bowley,J. C. Martin, M. J. Orchard et
at.).
268. White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus. East Sussex, May 1984 (R. D. M. Edgar)
561
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
Norfolk Llyn Point, juvenile, 24th to 27th August (J. B. Kemp et al.)\ adult, 5th September (A.
Banwell, N. Bostock et at.). Denver Sluice, juvenile, 6th to 10th September (M. H. Raines et
at.).
Sussex, East Barcombe Mills Reservoir, 19th May (R. D. M. Edgar. R. S. Kelly, M. Kenefick
et at.) (plate 268). Cuckmere Haven, juvenile, 16th to 28th August (S. Keen, T. \V.
Parmenter).
Sussex, West Chichester Gravel-pits, juvenile, 3rd to at least 10th October (K. Noble, K.
Smith et at.).
1982 Norfolk Titchwell, 6th June (K. Davies, M. Doolan).
1983 Bedfordshire Stewartby, juvenile, 10th to 12th August (D. H. Ball. M.J. Green, M.J.
Palmer et at.).
(Southeast Europe, West and East Asia) This species has averaged 22
per annum over the last decade, and this year’s total represents an abrupt
return to normal after only ten in 1983.
Brunnich’s Guillemot Uria lomvia (3, 15, 1)
Orkney Birsay, long dead, 20th March (E. J. Williams).
1983 Shetland Bannaminn, W est Burra, recently dead, 30th October (M. G. Richardson et
at.), now at Royal Scottish Museum.
(Circumpolar Arctic) The ninth consecutive year of appearance. Surely
these tide-line corpses must represent ‘the tip of an iceberg’?
Snowy Owl Nyctea scandiaca (many, 192, 2)
Grampian Cairngorm Mountains, probably first- or second-year 6 , at least 21st June to at
least 1st October (R. Barton, D. Pierce, J. L. Swallow et at.).
Shetland Fetlar, adult 9 9, four, including probable second-winter (Brit. Birds 77: 538) from
1983 to mid May, two to early June, one to 25th (plate 269). Two, 25th July to at least
November. Recent remains of adult 9, ringed as nestling. Fetlar, 12th July 1969 (Brit. Birds 62:
474), found 27th July (M. Walker et at.). Ronas Hill, Mainland, adult 9. 26th May (per I. S.
Robertson). Uyeasound area, Unst, up to two adult 9 9, many dates 9th April to 23rd July,
both probably from Fetlar; one occasionally, 8th September to 17th October, probably third
Fetlar individual of spring (I. Spence et at.).
269. Female Snowy Ow l Nyctea scandiaca, Shetland, January 1984 (Nick Dymond )
562
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
1983 Shetland Ronas Hill, Mainland, 9, 21st to 22nd June (Brit. Birds 77: 538). Further
sightings of this or other Fetlar individuals: Uyeasound, Urtet, 18th to 19th April (I. Spence el
at.), 16th June (P. Bristow, M. Chown, N. Odin), 26th (per R. I. Allison); Snarravoe, 13th
September; Baltasound, 30th September; Saxa Vord, 6th October (M. Sinclair, F Spence et
at.).
(Circumpolar Arctic) There was also a male on Cairngorm in 1979 and
1980, but there has been noneon Fetlar since 1975.
Tengmalm’s Owl Aegolius Junereus (49, 6, 0)
1981 Durham Fishburn, dead (leg only), ringed as nestling, Greften, near Vang, Hedmark,
Norway, 10th June 1980 (W. R. Lawton per BTO Ringing Office and Oslo Museum).
(North Eurasia and North America) Of the six post- 1958 records, four
have been since 1980, perhaps reflecting a recent small expansion of range
in northwest Europe (BMP). This one did its best to remain undetected,
identification resulting from minimal remains and an efficacious ring.
Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor (3, 8, 1 )
Greater London Barnes Common, adult <3, moribund, 23rd October, died in care 28th (M.J.
Cowlard, Inspector A. Foxcroft (RSPCA) etal.); temporarily retained by M.J. Cowlard.
(North America) The twelfth in all, but the first adult male, and the first
in southeast England.
Needle-tailed Swift Hirundapus caudacutus (2,2, 1 )
Shetland Quendale, 25th May to 6th June (D. Coutts et al.)(Bnt. Birds 77: plates 158-159;
78: 270-273).
270. Needle-tailed Swift Hirundapus caudacutus, Shetland, May 1984 ( Chris Brown)
271 8c 272. Needle-tailed Swift Hirundapus caudacutus, Shetland, May 1984 ( Dave Young )
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
563
273. Needle-tailed Swift Hirundapus caudacutus, Shetland, May 1984 (Dennis Coutts)
(West Siberia to Japan, south to Northern China; also Himalayas east to
Taiwan) The second successive spring record from the Northern Isles, but
only the fifth in all.
Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica (0, 2, 0)
1982 Cornwall Porthgwarra, 21st to 27th October, two from at least 23rd to 25th (G. G.
Hearl, T. P. Inskipp, L. P. Williams et at.) (Brit. Birds 76: plates 6-7).
(North America) The main identification problem is separation from the
similar North and Central American Vaux’s Swift C. vauxi. We hope to
publish full details of this record in due course.
Pallid Swift Apus pallidus (0, 2, 2)
Dorset Portland, 10th November (M. Cade. M. & Mrs W Rogers, G. Walbridge et at.);
another, 10th (M. Cade, P. M. Harris et a/.).
1983 Hampshire Farlington Marshes, 20th May (Dr A. M. Hanby)(Z?n7. Birds 78: 508).
(Mediterranean, North Africa and Middle East) The recently accepted
1983 record was the second ever; the account of the first — in May 1978
(Brit. Birds 74: 170-178) — did much to clarify the field-characters of the
species. The two in November 1984 were apparently associated with an
unusual incursion of southerly air, and three further claims still under
consideration were also in mid November.
Alpine Swift Apus melba (150, 189, 6)
Glamorgan, West Landimore Marsh, 3rd June (N. Odin).
Grampian Greg Ness, 19th October (R. Smith).
Kent Dungeness, 3rd June (N. C. Frampton eta!.).
Sussex, East Beachy Head. 26th April (M. I.. & N.J. Champion et at.).
Sussex, West Selsey Bill, 5th May (P" James et at.).
Wiltshire Swindon, 12th to 13th July (P. E. & Mrs I. Castle, P. S. Read).
564 Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
1983 Berkshire Wraysbury, 9th taat least 22nd May {Brit. Birds 77: 539), also 23rd (M. S.
Garner et at.).
1983 Devon Slapton Ley, 7th May (V. B. Hicks).
1983 Humberside Spurn, 19th July (B. R. Spence).
(South Eurasia, Northwest and East Africa) A slightly below-average
showing. Since 1980, the species has been recorded annually in both Kent
and East Sussex.
Belted Kingfisher Ceryle alcyon (1,3, 1 )
(North America) None in Britain, but one in Ireland, at Ballyvaughan,
Co. Clare, from 28th October until early December and another recently-
accepted record involved a female shot at Dundrum Bay, Co. Down, on
12th October 1980: the second and third for Ireland.
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops superciliosus (2, 1,0)
1982 Cambridgeshire Peterborough, adult, 17th September (M. R. Coates).
(Discontinuously in North, West, Southwest, East and Northeast Africa,
Middle East east to Kazakhstan, and Northwest India) Both the previous
records were in Scilly: in July 1921 (Bull. Brit. Om. Cl. 92: 57-59) and June
1951 (Brit. Birds 45: 225-227). This individual, which appeared one foggy
morning in a lorry park in central Peterborough, left the fortunate observer
feeling somewhat incredulous. The escape risk is small.
Bee-eater Merops apiaster ( 154, 170, 10)
Derbyshire Edale Cross, 22nd July (B. & Mrs L. Carthy).
Gwent Peterstone Wentloog, 25th July (M. Chown, S. N. G. Howell); same, Blackrock, 25th
(P. A. Dean, C. Jones).
Gwynedd Bardsey, 23 rd July (P. Hope Jones, N.J. Phillips et at.). South Stack, Anglesey, 25 th
August (R. N. Macklin). Tyn-y-Croes, near Conwy, 3rd September (MrsJ. E. Griffith et at.).
Lancashire Fleetwood and Bispham area, 30th July to 1st August (P. Scholeseta/.); presumed
same, Leighton Moss, 5th (S. Bell, D. Chapman et at.), Heysham Harbour, 8th (A. Mackenzie,
P.J. Marsh et at.), and Middleton, 8th (S. P. Coyle).
Suffolk Havergate Island, 30th June (R. J. Jones et at.). Minsmere, 12th August
(P. Kitchener, B. A. Ryan, L. A. Wheatland etai).
Sussex, East Beachy Head, 25th May (P. Clement, M. E. Nolan, A. Quinn).
Sussex, West Sidlesham Ferry, 19th August (I. R. Watts et at.).
1983 Humberside Spurn, 8th June (N. C. Moores).
(South Europe, Southwest Asia and Northwest Africa) An above-
average showing, but not comparing with the 25 in 1 983 nor the 21 in 1981.
Atypical numbers reached Scandinavia in 1984 (Brit. Birds 77: 589; 78:
343), and in recent summers the species appears to be reconnoitring areas
to the northwest of its usual range.
Roller Coracias garrulus ( 135, 73, 1)
Derbyshire Morley, adult, 18th to 19th July (D. Buckley, J. Dawes, D. Page et at.).
(South and East Europe, West Asia and Northwest Africa) The poorest
showing since 1972. Derbyshire was favoured by the appearance of a
Bee-eater Merops apiaster in the same week (see above).
Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla (40, 225, 13)
Devon Lundy, 31st May to 3rd June (H. & S. Davies, I. Lewington, A. Parsons).
Gwynedd Bardsey, 30th April (N. J. Phillips et at.).
565
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
Kent Dungeness, 27th to 28th July (S. P. Clancy, T. J. Toohig, R. Walters et at.).
Norfolk Wells, 26th May (S.J. Broyd).
Scilly St Mary s, 1 3th to 27th October (R. A. Hargreaves, D. Nurney et at.); 26th October to
3rd November (R. P. Bowman et at.).
Shetland Fair Isle, 23rd September to 8th October (P. V. Harvey, N.J. Riddiford. S. A. Webb
et at.); 26th to 27th September (P. V. Harvey, S. M. Henson, J. A. Hopper et at.); 6th to 19th
October when taken into care injured; released 7th November, last seen 8th (N. J. Riddiford et
at.)] 2 1st to 25th October (N.J. Riddiford, I . S. Robertson et at.). Out Skerries, 26th to 27th
September (J. D. Okill, I Sandison el at.).
Somerset Berrow, 9th May (B. Rabbitts).
1977 Fife Isle of May, 26th May (Brit. Birds 71:511), also 27th.
1983 Cleveland Saltholme Pools, 17th to at least 18th April (Brit. Birds 77: 545), also 19th to
20th.
1983 Devon Lundy, 29th to 30th September (R. J. Crossen, K. A. Mortimer, G. N. & I. D.
Smith).
1983 Humberside Spurn, 25th May (N. C. Moores, B. R. Spence).
1983 Scilly I rcsco, 1st October (A. Vittery).
Fig. 2. Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla, St Mary’s, Scilly. October 1984 ( 1). Numey)
(South Eurasia, North and East Africa) Also, one in Ireland, at Lady’s
Island Lake, Co. Wexford, on 14th and 15th September; and one in the
Channel Islands, at St Ouen, Jersey, on ‘29th and 30th May. A typical
showing by recent standards, but including only the second July arrival
since 1958 (though one summered in Cleveland in 1974, Brit. Birds 68: 323).
Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica (7, 78, 6)
Fife Isle of May, 23rd to 24th May (J. Torino et at.).
Kent Sandwich Bay, 10th October (D. M. Batchelor).
Northamptonshire Ditchford Gravel-pits, 4th September (A. S. Vials).
Scilly St Mary's, 24th to 29th April (J. D. Sanders. H. TafTs et at.); 13th to 19th October (S.J.
Broyd, F. R. Cannings et al.)(Brit. Birds 78: plates 25-26. fig. 2); another. Tresco. 15th to 16th
October (A. J. L. Smith*/ at.).
(South and East Eurasia, and Africa) A return to form after three lean
years. The Fife individual was only the second in Scotland since 1976, and
the seventh in all.
566
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris (120, — )
1981 Kent Dungeness, 30th August (R. A. J. Forsyth, T. J. Toohig).
(Europe, South Asia and Northwest Africa) This species was removed
from the list of those assessed by the Committee at the end of 1982 {Brit.
Birds 75: 338).
Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni (1, 26, 7)
Berkshire Bracknell, 19th February to 15th April (D. Parker et at.) (Brit. Birds 77: plates 76,
107 & 108).
Shetland Fair Isle, four: 30th September to 5th October (P. Aley, P. V. Harvey, N. J.
Riddiford et at.); 2nd October (P. V. Harvey, W. S. Morton, D. J. Weaver et at.)', 22nd to 23rd
(P. V. Harvey, N. J. Riddiford et at .); probable first-winter, trapped, 12th November (K.
Osborn, N. J. & Mrs E. A. Riddiford). Whalsay, 26th to31st October (DrC. Mackenzie et at.).
Kergord, 20th to 25th November (P. M. Ellis et at.).
(Northeast Russia to Central and East Asia) The best year yet. Since
1958, this species has mustered 33 records, compared with 141 for Red-
throated Pipit A. cervinus ; since 1980, however, the comparative figures have
been 20 and 27, respectively. The wintering individual in Berkshire was
unprecedented. It frequented a suburban garden and attracted around
1,000 observers, who were both well-behaved and suitably grateful {Brit.
Birds 11: 268). The householders coped admirably, and provided a
thoughtful analysis of the lessons to be learned {Brit. Birds 11: 430-431).
Pechora Pipit Anthus gustavi (13,12,0)
1983 Dorset Portland, 27th September (G. Walbridge).
(Northeast Russia, across Siberia to Bering Strait) Only the third in
England, the first on the South Coast, and found during the observer’s
lunch-break.
Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus (30, 134, 7)
Devon Lundy, 28th September (S. J. Hayhow, S. H. Holliday).
Norfolk Salthouse, 16th May (S. J. M. Gantlett). East Winch, 2nd October (A. Banwcll, N.
Bostock, A. Hale).
Scilly St Mary’s, 4th to 8th November, two, 7th to 8th (C. D. R. Heard et at.).
Shetland Fair Isle, 25th May (P. V. Harvey, N.J. Riddiford etal.).
Tyne 8c Wear Seaton Burn, 7th to 1 1th May (A. j. Johnston et at.).
(Arctic Eurasia) The last five years have produced 27, only half the total
(55) for 1975-79.
Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola (2, 33, 1)
Cornwall Drift Reservoir, 27th August (P. G. Akers, D. J. Chown).
1977 Lincolnshire Gibraltar Point, 22nd May (Brit. Birds 72: 532), now considered not
acceptable after review.
(Northeast and East Russia, West Siberia and West and Central Asia)
Despite the identification problems, the species has been recorded annually
since 1966. Phis was the first August arrival. It is of interest, therefore, that
one (awaiting ratification) was trapped in the Netherlands during 24th
August to 8th September {Brit. Birds 78: 343).
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
567
274. Female or immature Blue-winged Teal Anas discors , Shetland, September 1983 (Nick Dymond)
275. juvenile Long-toed Stint Calidns subminuta, Cleveland, September 1982 ( Paul Doherty)
568
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
276. W hiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus, Co. Cork, August 1984 ( Kieran Grace)
277. Male Desert W'heatear Oenanthe deserti, Cornwall, November 1984 ( Brian R. Field)
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
569
278. Male Pcndulinc Tit Remi~ pendulums, Kent, March 1984 (Paul Doherty)
279. Swainson’s Thrush Catharus ustulatus. St illy, October 1984 ( David 11. Bums )
570
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
280. Male Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas, Shetland, June 1984 (Dennis Coutts)
281. White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis, Northern Ireland, December 1984 ( Anthony
McGee han )
571
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
Thrush Nightingale Luscinia luscinia (2, 50, 6)
Humberside Spurn, first-summer, in song, 23rd to 29th May, trapped 23rd (J. Cudworth.
B. R. Spence, G. Thomas el at.); first-summer, 30th May to 2nd June, trapped 30th (B. R.
Spence el at.).
Lincolnshire I heddlethorpe Dunes, first-year, trapped, 2nd September (M. Boddy).
Shetland Fair Isle, 7th June (P. V. Harvey, N.J. Riddiford etal.).
Suffolk Landguard, 13th to 14th May, trapped 13th (M. C. Marsh, B. Ranner, M. Wright el
at.).
Sussex, East Beachy Head, first-year, 26th August to 1st September, controlled 26th. 27th
and 1st September, ringed as first-year, Molen, Vestfold, Norway, 14th August (R. D. M.
Edgar, Miss S. P. Hitchings et at.).
(Scandinavia, East Europe and West Asia) The five-yearly totals since
1960 have been nil, six, 17, 15 and 17, respectively; thus, although the
species became a much more regular visitor after 1970 (associated with
expansion in northwest Europe), it has shown no progressive increase. The
Beachy Head individual was only the second in the extreme southeast of
England and had travelled 1,099 km on a bearing of 2 14°. A spring record
from the Isle of May, Fife, is still in circulation, w hile a report of a third
individual at Spurn is yet to be considered.
Red-flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus (3, 6, 1)
Shetland Fair Isle, 9 or immature, 21st September (P. V. Harvey, K. Osborn, N. J. & Mrs
E. A. Riddiford).
(Northeast Europe across Asia to Japan) The second for Fair Isle, which
was also host to the last, in September 1981.
Stonechat Saxicola torquata (1,68, 9)
Individuals showing characters of one or other of the eastern races >9. t.
maura or stejnegeri , colloquially known as ‘Siberian Stonechats’, were
recorded as follows:
Essex Holland Haven, 9 or immature, 14th October (P. Loud).
Humberside Spurn, first-winter 8, 8th November to at least 1 1th December, trapped 12th
November (J. M. Bayldon, K. Rotherham, B. R. Spence et at.).
Norfolk Blakeney Point, 9 or immature, 5th October (G. E. Dunmore, S. C. Joyner).
Sheringham, 9 or immature, 6th October (T. Davis, D. Sadler. Dr M. P. Taylor et at.).
Scilly Brvher, 8, 13th to 26th October (B. C. Forrester. J. A. Hazell etal.) (Brit. Birds 78: plate
32).
Shetland Fair Isle, first-winter 9, 29th September to 3rd October, trapped 29th (N. J.
Riddiford et at.); 9 or immature, 30th September to 5th October (P. Alev, P. V. Harvey et al.).
Suffolk Minsmere, 9 or immature, 7th October (C. Gomersall. R. A. Hume. M. Langman et
at.). Landguard, 9 or immature, 7th to 10th October (J. R. Askins. S. Piotrowski et al.).
1982 Shetland Fair Isle, 9 or immature, 10th to 12th October, trapped. 10th (N. J. Riddiford
et at.).
1983 Lancashire Downholland Moss, 9 or immature, 26th December (M. G. Pennington).
1983 Shetland Cunningsburgh, 9 or immature, 20th to 23rd November (A. Fitchett et at.).
(White Sea, eastwards across Siberia) Between two and ten have
occurred annually since 1974. The 1983 Lancashire individual, on 26th
December, was the latest ever, though there was one in Northumberland on
9th December 1981 (Brit. Birds 75: 51 7). Lars Svensson ( Identification Guide to
European Passerines , 3rd edn) has expressed the opinion that maura and
stejnegeri should be regarded as synonymous, and this has the approval of
I. S. Robertson, author of a useful paper on the identification of ‘Siberian’
Stonechats (Brit. Birds 70: 237-245).
572
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka (3, 8, 0)
1983 Devon Preston, Paignton, $, age uncertain, 4th to 6th December (M. R. A. & R. E.
Bailey, D. M. Normanria/.).
(Southeast Europe and South-central Asia) This is the third accepted for
1983. No other year has produced more than one, but seven of the eight
post- 1958 records have been since 1976.
Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti (11, 10, 2)
Cornwall Porthgwarra, 8, 17th to 20th November (W. R. Hirst, L. P. Williams et at.) (plate
Fig. 3. Male Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti, Cornwall, November 1984 ( D . Numey)
Highland Freswick, Caithness, 8, 26th December to about 10th January 1985, trapped 27th
December (H. Clark, S. Laybourne, S. A. M. Manson et at.).
(North Africa, Northwest Arabia and east to Mongolia) The first records
since 1978 of this characteristically late vagrant (nine of the 23 records have
been between November and January). There were also two in 1970, but no
other year has produced more than one.
White-crowned Black Wheatear Oenanthe leucopyga (0,1,0)
1982 Suffolk Kessingland, 1st or 2nd to 5th June (B. J. Brown, L. E. Fox, R. S. Terry et at.).
(North Africa and Middle East) The first record for Britain and Ireland,
now accepted for category A by the BOU Records Committee. It is difficult
to decide whether this or the Marmora’s Warbler Sylvia sarda {Brit. Birds 78:
475-481, 575) was the more unexpected. Full details will be published
shortly.
Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis (6, 11, 2)
Humberside Spurn, 8, 3rd to 4th May, trapped 4th (V. Grantham, B. R. Spence, G. Thomas
et at.).
Scilly St Mary’s, probably first-winter 8, 16th to 18th October (D. Satterthwaite et at.).
1968 Scilly Samson, 8, 21st April (Mrs M. E. I ^acey).
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984 573
(Central and southern hurasia) I he St Mary’s individual was the first to
oct ur in autumn since one on F air Isle in October 1 936. There has not been
a definite female since 1962, since when there have been 12 males: whether
this indicates more than the male’s greater conspicuousness is open to
speculation.
Siberian Thrush Zoothera sibirica (1,2, 1 )
Orkney \\ idewall, South Ronaldsay, 3, 13th November (Mrs R. McCutcheon).
(Central Siberia east to Japan and south to Tasmania) The previous
records were in October 1954, December 1976, and December 1977.
Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus (0, 1, 1)
Scilly St Mary’s, 28th October (S. M. Andrews etal.).
(North America) The first was on Fair Isle on 2nd June 1975;
unfortunately, neither decided to linger.
Swainson’s Thrush Catharus ustulatus (1,8, 1 )
Scilly St Agnes, 30th September to 1 1 th October (P. A. Dukes et at.) (Bril. Birds 78: plates 27 &
279).
1983 Scilly St Mary’s, adult, 17th to 19th October (Bril. Birds 77: 550; plate 221). David
Brewer of Ontario, Canada, has kindly pointed out (in lilt.) that adults of this genus cannot be
distinguished from immatures in autumn, although immatures can sometimes be told from
adults.
(North America) The St Agnes individual was the fourth in Scilly, and
the first to arrive in September.
Grey-cheeked Thrush Catharus minimus ( 1 , 16, 1 )
Scilly Fresco, 21st October (D. J. Holman).
(North America and Northern Siberia) Two years in succession in Scilly
for both this and the previous species.
Eye-browed Thrush Turdus obscurus (0, 6, 2)
Orkney Evie, Mainland, immature, 25th to 26th September (E. R. Meek. J. B. Ribbands).
Scilly St Mary’s, 3, 20th October (C. B. Collins. P. A. Flint. R. A. Ives et at.).
(Siberia and Fiastern Asia to Japan) There were three in 1964, one in
1978, two in 1981 and now two in 1984: singletons appear to be the
exception. The one on St Mary’s was a particularly stunning individual and
conveniently turned up on the day of a mass-twitch to Scilly to see the
Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida : not a bad day-trip.
Black-throated Thrush Turdus ruficollis (3, 11, 0)
1983 Greater Manchester Sale Meadows (formerly Cheshire), 3 , T. r. atrogularis. 24th
November (J. P. Shaughnessy).
(Central Asia) Since 1974, this species has appeared in every year except
1980 and 1984.
American Robin Turdus migratorius (11, 17, 1 )
Surrey Haslemere, first-winter, 12th October, possibly taken by Magpie (Miss R. Ritchie.
Miss V. Z. Walmsley).
(North America) Also, a recently accepted Irish record: one found dead
at Saintfield, Co. Down, on 15th January 1982. The Haslemere individual
574
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
began as a mystery garden bird, but, after an encounter with a Magpie Pica
pica , a few stray feathers were found which confirmed the identification.
This is not the first in the area: one frequented Windsor Great Park between
12th February and 5th March 1966 {Brit. Birds 61: 363).
Lanceolated Warbler Locustella lanceolata (9, 22, 4)
Shetland Out Skerries, 18th September (Dr C. Mackenzie). Fair Isle, first-year, 20th to 21st
September, trapped 21st (j. A. Hopper, N. J. Riddiford et at.); 23rd September (T. P.
Andrews, K. Osborn, N.J. Riddiford et at.).
Tyne & Wear Prior’s Park, trapped, 13th November (A. Belshaw, M. P. Carruthers, G.
Harrison et at.).
(East Eurasia from Central Russia to North Japan) The tendency
towards clusters of records has been noted elsewhere (J. T. R. & E. M.
Sharrock, 1976, Rare Birds in Britain and Ireland). The Tyne & Wear
individual was only the third in England and the latest since the very' first,
in Lincolnshire on 18th November 1909.
River Warbler Locustella Jluviatilis (0, 8, 2)
East Anglia (county withheld) In song, 13th July to 3rd August (observers’ name withheld).
Shetland Fair Isle, 7th June (N. J. & Mrs E. A. Riddiford).
(Central and East Europe and West-central Asia) Further records which
reflect the continued population- and range-expansion in Western Europe
{Brit. Birds 76: 509; 77: 240).
Savi’s Warbler Locustella luscinioides (many, — , — )
1982 England (county withheld) In song, 21st to 28th May (observers’ names withheld).
(Europe, West and Central Asia and Northwest Africa) This species was
removed from the list of those assessed by the Committee at the end of 1982
{Brit. Birds 75: 338).
Paddyfield Warbler Acrocephalus agricola (2, 7, 2)
Cleveland Hartlepool, first-winter, trapped, 27th October (D. Clayton, R. T. McAndrew et
at.).
Shetland Fair Isle, trapped, 30th May (D. Bird, P. V. Harvey, N. J. Riddiford et at.).
(South Russia and Asia) The last four years have produced six records.
The Hartlepool bird is the second-latest ever, and that on Fair Isle the first
in spring. Incidentally, singles have occurred in Finland in June or July in
four years since 1980 {Brit. Birds 77: 590).
Blyth’s Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum (9, 3, 1)
Humberside Spurn, 8, trapped, 28th May (J. Cudworth, B. R. Spence et at.).
(Northeast Europe, across Asia to Mongolia) As with the previous
species, this is the first to occur in spring, and the near-coincidence of dates
is noteworthy. Another spring record, from Norfolk, is still under
consideration.
Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus (23, 107, 2)
Norfolk Titchwell, 20th May (A. Dawe, M. J. Keene el at.).
Yorkshire, North Knaresborough, in song, 19th May (J. R. Mather et at.).
(Europe, Southwest and East Asia and North Africa) The species
failed to appear in 1983, so these two are especially welcome. The last five
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984 575
years, however, have produced only 1 1 in total, compared with 31 during
1975-79.
Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida (2, 10, 1)
Scilly St Mary’s, 16th to 26th October (C. D. R. Heard et al.)(Bnt. Birds 78: plate 29).
(Iberia and Northwest Africa, discontinuously east to Kazakhstan) This
surprisingly striking bird was the first since 1977. Being the first since 1967
to remain more than one day, it became the focus of much attention (Brit.
Birds 78: plate 62). Arrangements are in hand for a review of all previous
records.
Booted Warbler Hippolais caligata ( 1 , 18, 1 )
Kent Foreness, 6th to 1 1 th October, trapped 9th (D. C. Gilbert. C. H. Hindle. D. \V. Taylor et
at.) (Brit. Birds 78: plate 22).
1982 Norfolk I itchwell, 18th to 21st September (Brit. Birds 77: 551), first identifiers should
include R. W. Forrester.
1983 Yorkshire, North Scarborough, 1 1th to 16th October (M. Marshall, M. D. Williams et
at.).
(Northwest Russia, east to Mongolia and south to Iran) With the
acceptance of the 1983 North Yorkshire individuals, the species has
occurred annually since 1980, and these five years account for exactly half
the grand total to date. A further record, from Dorset, is still under
consideration, and details of one at Landguard, Suffolk, in early October
have yet to be submitted.
Marmora’s Warbler Sylvia sarda (0, 1 , 0)
1982 Yorkshire, South Midhope Moor, 8 , 15th May to 1 1th July (J. E. Dalc.G. Lee. J. Lunn
et at.) (Brit. Birds 75: plates 145 & 146; 78: 475-481).
(Western Mediterranean islands and, locally, coasts) One of the great
surprises of 1982, now admitted to category A of the British list by the BOU
Records Committee.
Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans (12, 113, 13)
Gwynedd Bardsey, 9 , S. c. albistnata, trapped, 3rd May (B. Henshaw, N. J. Phillips et at.).
Hampshire Hayling Island, <3, 23rd May (D.J. Radford. J. M. Walters).
Man Calf of Man, 8, S. c. albistnata . trapped. 28th April (P. M. Howlett. D. Walker); 8.
trapped, 17th June (P. M. Howlett, D. \\ alker).
Northumberland Newton Pool, 8, 7th May (Dr J. R. Irving. D. R. Shannon, E. Slack). Low
Hauxley, first-year 9, 5th to 19th November, trapped 5th (S. W. Anderson, E. R. Meek, M.
Nattrass et at ).
Scilly St Agnes, 8. 27th April (J- VV. Hale. J. D. Sanders). St Mary’s, 3rd November (S. C.
Harrap et at.).
Shetland Lerwick, 8 , 1 4th May (A. F. T. & G. Fitchett et at.). F air Isle, probable 9 . 25th May
to 1st June (D. P. Bell, N.J. Riddiford etal.).
Sussex, East Fairlight. 8. 22nd April (S. J. R. Rumsey).
Tyne 8c Wear Whitley Bay, 16th November (M S. Hodgson).
1968 Humberside Spurn, first-winter 9. 21st to 31st October, trapped. 21st (M. Densley,
F. C. Gribble, B. R. Spence et at.), previously accepted as Spectacled Warbler S. conspiallata
(Bnt. Birds 62: 479; 71: 53-58, plate 10).
1979 Highland Reay, Caithness, first-winter 9 , 8th to 29th September, trapped, 8th (E. W . E.
Maughan et at.).
1980 Northumberland Low Hauxley, first-winter 9 , 26th to 27th October, trapped 26th
(S. W. Anderson, T. A. Cadwallender, E. R. Meek et at.).
1980 Scilly St Mary’s, first-winter 9 . 24th to at least 29th October, trapped 28th (B. Bland.
576
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
C. Murphy, C. S. Waller el at.).
1983 Scilly Gugh, 19th October (J. A. Hazell, A. Stanford el at.). St Mary’s, 19th October
(K. E. Vinicombe, P.J. Wilson el at.).
(South Europe, West Turkey, and Northwest Africa) Also, one in
Ireland, on Great Saltee, Co. Wexford, from 2nd to 8th May. The most
recent years, 1983 and 1984, with 13 records each, are the best yet. With
only two previously, the three November individuals are of particular note,
those at Low Hauxley and Whitley Bay being the latest ever. The review of
previously accepted records of Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata will be
explained in a separate item.
Green Warbler Phylloscopus nitidus (0, 1 , 0)
1983 Scilly St Mary’s, first-winter, 26th September to 4th October (A. Davison, B. Reed,
J. H. Ross et at.).
(Northern Turkey east to Afghanistan) The first record of this very close
relative of Greenish Warbler P. trochiloides. Although first-winter
individuals can be relatively distinctive, it should be noted that adults can be
virtually indistinguishable from Greenish ( Sandgrouse 6: 69-75; Brit. Birds
78: 437-451).
Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides (13, 108, 5)
Norfolk Scolt Head, 25th August (P. Feekes, S. C. Joyner, N. Williams). Hunstanton
Golf-course, 16th to 18th September (R. L. K. Jollifle, H. Ramsay et at.).
Tyne & Wear Marsden, first-winter, 22nd to 25th August, trapped 23rd (G. K. Gordon, T. I.
Mills et at.) (plate 282). Prior’s Park, first-winter, 26th to 29th August, trapped 26th (M. P.
Carruthers, K. G. Dures, K. D. Shaw etal.).
282. F irst-winter Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides , Marsden, Tyne & Wear, August
1984 (A. Armstrong)
1983 Highland Aberfeldy, in song, 21st May to 25th June (R. H. Dennis, W. Mattingley).
1983 Strathclyde Mull of Kintyre Lighthouse, dead, 25th May (E. J. Maguire etal.)', retained
by RSPB Scottish Office.
The following records, previously published as accepted, have now been
reviewed and are no longer considered acceptable:
1958 Lincolnshire Wisbech, 2rd November (Brit. Birds 53: 170).
1959 Sussex, East Eastbourne, 10th September (Brit. Birds 53: 425).
1961 Cleveland See 1961 Yorkshire.
1961 Kent Dungeness, 24th September (Brit. Birds 55: 579).
1961 Middlesex (now Surrey) Perry Oaks Sewage-works, 1st January to 26th February
(Brit. Birds 55: 579).
1961 Shetland Fair Isle, 4th September (Brit. Birds 55: 579).
1961 Surrey See 1961 Middlesex above.
1961 Yorkshire (now Cleveland) Redcar, 20th October (Brit. Birds 55: 579).
1962 Sussex, East Eastbourne, 19th October (Brit. Birds 56: 405).
577
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
1962 Sussex, West Selsey Bill, 27th September (Brit. Birds 56: 405).
1963 Scilly St Agnes, 26th to 27th November (Brit. Birds 57: 274).
1964 Dorset Verne Common, 21st November (Bnt. Birds 58: 366).
1964 Greater London See 1964 London below.
1964 London Dollis Hill, 1st October (Brit. Birds 58: 366).
1964 Scilly St Agnes, 20th to 31st December, and into 1965 (Brit. Birds 58: 366).
1965 Scilly See 1964 Scilly.
1965 Sussex, East Eastbourne, 1 7th September (Bnt. Birds 59: 294).
1966 Berwickshire (now Borders) St Abb’s, 15th October (Brit. Birds 60: 326).
1966 Borders See 1966 Berwickshire above.
1966 Cleveland See 1966 Yorkshire below .
1966 Yorkshire (now Cleveland) Redcar, 6th to 13th November (Brit. Birds 60: 326).
1967 Cleveland See 1967 Durham below.
1967 Durham (now Cleveland) Hartlepool, 16th to 17th September (Brit. Birds6l: 351).
1967 Norfolk Wells, 24th September (Brit. Birds 62: 490).
1967 Scilly 2 1st September; another 29th to 30th October (Brit. Birds 61 : 35 1 ).
1968 Humberside See 1968 Yorkshire below.
1968 Yorkshire (now Humberside) Spurn, 19th October (Bnt. Birds 62: 480).
1972 Kent Dungeness, 26th September (Bnt. Buds 66: 349).
(Eurasia, east from northern Germany) Also, one on Cape Clear Island,
Co. Cork, from 6th to 10th October; and an earlier record, from Hook
Head, Co. Wexford, on 12th September 1981. Of 22 in Ireland previously
accepted between 1952 and 1970, only three are now retained (Irish Birds 2:
536-545). The post-1958 total for Britain and Ireland is thus reduced by
25%; most of those now rejected are considered to have been eastern forms
ol ChifFchafFP. collybita displaying a rudimentary wing-bar. f ull details of
the review have been published in a recent paper (Brit. Birds 78: 437-451).
Late August and the East Coast are now established as the time and place
to see this species.
Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis (19, 109, 8)
Cleveland Hartlepool, 6th September (T. Francis, R. C. Wilson).
Dorset Portland, first-year, trapped, 6th October (M. Rogers. P. P. Jennings et a/.).
Orkney North Ronaldsay, first-year, trapped, 23rd September (S. J. Aspinall, Dr K. F.
Woodbridge et at.).
Shetland Fair Isle, first-year, 3rd September; first-year, 14th to 17th September (P. \
Harvey, K. Osborn, N. J. Riddiford et at.); age uncertain. 15th to 22nd September (P. V.
Harvey, R. McCurley, K. Osborn el at.).
Tyne & Wear Whitburn, 12th to 1 4th November (D. Foster, T. I. Mills et at.). Seaburn. 17th
November (B. S. Bates).
(North Fenno-Scandia east to Alaska) Eight were also recorded in 1970
and 1976, but the only better year was 1981 , which produced a remarkable
1 7. The two in Tyne & Wear were the first in November.
Pallas’s Warbler Phylloscopus proregulus (3, 313, 7)
Dorset Portland. 8, trapped, 28th October (M. R. Lawn, M. Rogers); 6 and $ . trapped. 2nd
November (M. R. Lawn, M. Rogers et at.).
Dyfed Strumble Head, 31st October (N. A. Lethaby).
Norfolk Happisburgh, 1st to 4th November, trapped 1st and 2nd (J. R. Appleton. M. Fiszer,
Mrs B. M. E. Unsworth). Blakeney Point, 10th November (G. E. Dunmore et at. ) .
Suffolk Landguard, trapped, 28th and 29th October (G. J. Jobson et a I.).
1982 Grampian Newburgh, 13th October (G. R. McKay).
1982 Highland Halkirk, Caithness, 13th October (S. Laybourne).
1982 Lothian Dunbar, 13th October (B. Robertson).
(Central, East and Southeast Asia) Another poor year by the standards
578
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
of the past decade, but the phenomenal 1982 total advances to 127 (39% of
the all-time total). An analysis of this influx and the associated meteoro-
logical conditions has been published recently [Brit. Birds 78: 381-392). T he
annual figures for the last six years have been 1 1, 22, 33, 127, eight and
seven, respectively, which suggests that a population cycle may have been a
contributory factor.
Radde’s Warbler Phylloscopus schwarzi ( 1 , 43, 2)
Kent Bough Beech Reservoir, 28th October (S. J. Broyd, G. J. A. Burton).
Scilly St Agnes, 25th October (E. J. Abraham, L. J. Flooks, Dr J. Forster el at.).
(Central and East Asia) A typical year, following none in 1983 and a
record 14 in 1982.
Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus juscatus ( 1 , 39, 4)
Dorset Portland, trapped, 27th October (M. Rogers, B. Sheldon et at.).
Scilly Fresco, 15th to 20th October (L. G. R. Evans, R. Filby, P. J. Heath et at.). St Mary’s,
23rd to 24th October (D. Gibbs, D. Pag eel at.).
Tyne 8c Wear Marsden, first-year, 8th to 14th November, trapped 9th (G. K. Gordon, T. 1.
Mills et at.).
1983 Kent Grain, 9th November (T. E. Bowley, M.J. Orchard).
(Central and Northeast to Southeast Asia) One was trapped in the
Channel Islands, at Vale, Guernsey, on 5th November 1983. This and the
previous species are still running neek-and-neck, with grand totals of 44
and 46, respectively, and 18 apiece during the last five years. Radde’s,
however, failed to appear at all in both 1980 and 1983, while Dusky has
appeared annually since 1978.
Bonelli’s Warbler Phylloscopus bonelti (3, 77, 6)
Cumbria South VValney, in song, 7th May (T. Dean, S. Lawson, L. H. Sanderson et at.).
Dorset Hengistbury Head, 24th to 25th May (B. J. K. Caswell, M. Opie).
Gwynedd Bardsey, trapped, 20th August (N. J. Phillips, G. Poole. D. Suddaby et at.).
Shetland Whalsay, first-winter, 7th October (DrC. Mackenzie).
1983 Scilly St Mary’s, 21st to 22nd August (the late D. B. Hunt, J. Marra, Dr R. A. Studdard
et at.). St Agnes, 22nd September (T. J. Addinell, G. D. Blair, A. M. Stoddart).
(Central, West and South Europe, Levant, and Northwest Africa). Also,
two in Ireland: at Old Head of Kinsale, Co. Cork, on 22nd August; and at
Hook Head, Co. Wexford, from 25th August to 2nd September. The
five-yearly totals since 1970 have been fairly steady at 19, 23, and 22,
respectively, so 1984 was a slightly above-average year. A further record
from Shetland is still under consideration.
Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis (2, 9, 2)
Kent I- oreness, 8, 24th May to 9th June (M. H. Davies etal.).
Scilly St Martin’s, 6 , 20th to 2 1st May (R. D. Penhallurick, D. P. Wyatt et a!.).
(Central and Southeast Europe, West Russia and south to Japan) Ten of
the 13 have been in May, but 1979 is the only other year to have produced
two.
Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus (0, 9, 0)
Kent Stodmarsh, 3, at least 1st to 25th March (M. S. Garner, G. T. Martin et at.) (Brit. Birds
579
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
77: plate 109; 78: plate 278), presumed same as 1983 individual below.
1983 Kent St Margaret’s Bay, 17th October (A.J. Greenland). Stodmarsh, d, at least 22nd
November (I. P. Hodgson et at.).
(Scattered from Western Europe east to Manchuria) These two bring the
1983 total to three, and, given continued activity on the Continent (Brit.
Birds 78: 344), it is disappointing that there were no certain new arrivals in
1984.
Isabelline Shrike Lanius isabellinus ( 1 , 16, 1 )
Devon Berry' Head, first-winter showing the characters of one of the races phoenicuroides-
speculigerus , but closest to phoenicuroides, 4th to about 14th November (A. J. I.awrence, S. J. I.ees,
R. E. Bailey el at.) (Brit. Birds 78: plate 53).
(South Asia to China) I here are several outstanding records caught up
in the review of all pre-1980 records. 1 he latest Soviet treatise on shrikes
(L. N. Panow, 1983. Die Wiirger der Palaarklis) suggests that phoemcuroides
and isabellinus/ speculigerus should be recognised as distinct (semi) species, a
proposal which, if adopted, would be good news for listers encountering
classic adults, but could be frustrating for observers faced with an autumn
immature.
Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor (32, 89, 3)
Shetland Fair Isle, d , 2nd to 6th June (N. J. Riddiford et at.).
Tyne Sc Wear Wideopen, 16th to 18th July (G. P. Bull et al.\. Jarrow. 9, 17th to 28th
November, trapped 23rd (G. E. & Mrs D. M.Cox, D. Fullerton, 1. I. Mills et at.) (plate 283).
(South and East Europe and Southwest Asia) The Jarrow individual was
the latest since at least 1958, and it was this, perhaps, which generated some
debate about its identity, finally resolved when it was trapped. Records
have declined somewhat since the mid-1960s, the past four quinquennial
totals being 23, 23, 17 and 14, respectively.
283. Female Lesser Grey Shrike iMnius minor. Tyne & Wear, November 1984 (.4. Donnison)
Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator (101, 359, 6)
Cornwall Sennen, juvenile, 25th to at least 28th August (R. Andrew. P. Harrison. V. R.
Tucker et at.).
Cumbria Walney Airfield, 2nd to 7th June (A. Lawton, K. Parkes).
Dorset Melcombe Regis, juvenile, 16th to 22nd September when found dead (J. B. Good, B. J.
& P. A. Gregory et at.).
580
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
Kent Kingsgate, juvenile, 6th to 10th October (D. C. Gilbert, S. D. \V. Mount el at.).
Norfolk Rolling, 25th April (R. Clark, K. Davies).
Scilly St Agnes, juvenile, 13th to 14th October (B. R. Field, T. Marlow et at.).
1980 Suffolk Sizewell, 15th to 18th June (Brit. Birds 74: 488), last seen 21st (\\ . Simpson).
1983 Scilly Tresco, 6th May (D. P. Wyatt). St Mary’s, 10th to 14th May (P. V. Harvey, M. S.
Smith et at.).
(West, Central and South Europe, Southwest Asia and North Africa)
The two additional records bring the total for 1983 to 22, a figure exceeded
only by the 24 in 1968. By comparison, the six in 1984 are fewer than any
year since 1963.
Rose-coloured Starling Sturnus roseus (160, 136, 9)
Cornwall Helston, adult, 1 1th to at least 24thjune (D. S. Flumm, S. C. Hutchings, J. Walker
et at.). Hayle, adult, 19th July (P. & Mrs S. W ilcox).
Dyfed C iastlemartin, adult, 1st July (R. Eynon, S. Hinton et at.).
Lincolnshire Sleatord, adult, 21stjune (K. Durose, D. Jenkins, A. C. Sims).
Orkney Hoy, adult, 5th to 7th June (K. Fairclough et a/.).
Strathclyde Fionnphort, Mull, adult, 13th June (R. F. Goomber et a/.).
Sussex, East Beachy Head, adult, 24th to 26th August (T. YV. Parmenter, C. A. W alkere/a/.).
Western Isles Ranais, Lewis, adult, 3rd to 4th August (Dr G. F. Mackenzie et at.). Hirta, St
Kilda, adult, 7th to 13th August, trapped 9th (M. Arrowsmith, P. R. Moore et at.).
1983 Borders St Abb's, adult, 10th June (1. &J. Gibson, P. Hood).
1983 Cambridgeshire See 1983 Lincolnshire below.
1983 Devon Lundy, juvenile, 25th toat least 30th September (R.J. Grossen, K. A. Mortimer,
G. N. & I. D. Smith).
1983 Lincolnshire Market Deeping, adult, mid January to 8th March (Brit. Birds 77: 554),
also Deeping Gate side of River W elland, Cambridgeshire, 5th March (R. 1. Allison, A. S.
Vials).
1983 Shetland Baliasta, Unst, adult, 14th to 20th June (Brit. Birds 77: 556). first-named
observer was P. Bristow, not P. H. Bristow.
1983 Strathclyde Cornaig Beg, Coll, adult, 9th August to 4th October (R. F. Goomber,
J. F'raser et at.). Arinagour, Coll, second-summer or adult, at latest 1 1 th August to 1 7th or 18th,
when killed by cat (R. F. Goomber et at.).
(Southeast Europe and Southwest Asia) An adult in Ireland: at Slvne
Head, Co. Galway, on 28th June 1983. Another good year for summer
adults, but thcseven-year sequence of autumn juveniles in Scilly came to an
end. The five additional records for 1983 bring the total to 14, making that
the best year since at least 1958.
Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus ( 1 , 20, 1 )
Kent Dungeness, first-winter, 3rd to 10th October (S. P. Clancy, N. C. Frampton,
G. Hopwood et at.).
(North America) A rather elusive individual, which was the first away
from Ireland and western Britain.
Serin Serinus serinus (76, — , -)
1981 Norfolk Holkham Meals, in song, 3rd June (R. F. Porter).
(West Central and Southern Europe, and Northwest Africa) This
species was removed from the list of those assessed by the Committee at the
end of 1982 (Brit. Birds 75: 338).
Arctic Redpoll Carduelis homemanni (30, 62, 3)
Orkney Finstown, first-winter 9, trapped, 12th October (E. R. Meek, E.J. W illiams).
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
581
Shetland \\ halsay, two trapped, including adult d, 21st October (Dr B. Marshall etal.).
(Circumpolar Arctic) 1 hese three trapped individuals were associated
with a considerable influx of the nominate (‘Mealy’) race of Redpoll C.
flammea {Brit. Birds 78: 62, 120). A considerable number of untrapped
redpolls (particularly in the Northern Isles) also displayed characters
associated with Arctic Redpoll: it is hoped that the central hie of
descriptions, together with recently published opinion on the features of
hornemanni and so-called hornemanm-flammea intermediates (for example,
Svensson, 1984, Identification Guide to European Passerines ; Molau, 1985, Var
Fagelv. 44: 5-20), will provide a more reliable basis for assessment of these
and several other outstanding records.
Parrot Crossbill Loxia pytyopsittacus ( 10, 207, 16)
Norfolk Holkham Meals, at least a pair since 1983 (Brit. Birds 77: 556); three 6 6 and one
other, 30th January to 7th February; two 6 6 and one other to at least 20th March; one pair
bred, raising one of four young; pair and juvenile still present to at least 9th April (J. B. Kemp
el at.); 6 , 16th October (J. B. Kemp) (Brit. Birds 78: 482-505, plates 229-232).
Suffolk I .ocality withheld, up to seven, 29th April to late summer; pair with two juveniles,
30th July; probably bred (D. Croxson, R. V. A. Marshall el at.).
1983 Berkshire Easthamstead Forest, 6 and three 9 9 or immatures. 29th January to at least
6th February (E. E. Green, G. D. R. Heard et at.).
1983 Norfolk (Brit. Birds 77: 556) See Norfolk above.
1983 Orkney North Ronaldsay, first-year 6 , trapped, 2nd October (the late R A.
Gawthorne).
(Northern Europe, from Norway east to Russia and south to Estonia)
Breeding, confirmed in Norfolk and probable in Suffolk, was a welcome
postscript to the invasion of 1982/83.
Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes githagineus (0, 3, 1)
Sussex, West Church Norton, sex uncertain, 18th to 23rd May when taken by Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisus (N. Crooks, C. M., R. and Mrs B. James, R.J. Senior et at.).
(Southeast Spain, Canary Islands, Northern Africa, and Southwest
Asia) The previous three were in Suffolk in late May and early June 1971 . in
Sutherland in June 1971, and in Orkney in May 1981. This was thus the
first readily available to the current generation of birders, and it is a pity
that it came to grief.
Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia (1,7, 1 )
(North America) None in Britain, but a female at Loughermore Forest,
Co. Derry, from 30th September to 2nd October: the second for Ireland.
Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica striata (0, 18. 3)
Devon Lundv. first-winter, 10th to 14th October, trapped 14th (J. M. B. King. \\ . E. Oddic.
A. & N. Trout) (plate 284).
Scilly St Agnes, first-winter, 2nd to 16th October (_J. 1. Blincow. D. Young et at.) {Brit. Birds
78: plates 23-24).
1983 Scilly Bryher, first-winter, 22nd to 23rd October (Brit. Birds 77: 558). finders included
R. Samuel.
(North America) Also, one on Cape Clear Island, Co. Cork, on October
6th: the third for Ireland. W ith these three records, Blackpoll Warbler
draws alongside Red-eyed Yireo Vireo olivaceus as the most-numerous
582
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
285. First-winter male Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas, Scilly, October 1984 ( Peter
Basterjield)
Scilly Bryher, first-winter 8, 2nd to at least 17th October (S. Kolodziejski, P. G.J. Skinner et
at.) (plate 285).
Shetland Fetlar, c J, 7th to 1 1th June (Misses J. & \1. Gates, D. Walker el at.) (plates 280 &
286).
(North America) The first, which was also a male, was on Lundy, Devon,
284. First-winter Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica striata, Devon, October 1984 (J. M. B. King)
American passerine to reach these shores in the years since 1958 (2 1 each);
and a further 1984 record from Scilly has only recently been received.
Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas ( 1, 0, 2)
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
583
286. Male Common \ ellowthroat Geolhlypis trichas, Shetland, June 1984 (A iall Mach in )
on 4tli November 1954. After an absence of 30 years, it is especially
surprising that there should be a spring record and an autumn record in the
same year.
Savannah Sparrow Ammodramus sandwichensis (0, 1, 0)
1982 Dorset Portland, showing characters of the Sable Island race .4. s. princeps, colloquially
known as ‘Ipswich Sparrow', 11th to lbth April, trapped 12th (S. J. Broyd, k. I.. Fox, M.
Rogers etal.) [Brit. Birds 75: plate 122).
(North America, Mexico and Guatemala) Savannah Sparrow was
predicted as a future Nearctic vagrant to Britain by Chandler S. Robbins
{Brit. Birds 73: 453). The race princeps breeds only on Sable Island and
winters along the Atlantic coast between Nova Scotia and Georgia. It has a
total population of only a few thousand, but is arguably well-placed geo-
graphically for transatlantic displacement. A full account will be published
shortly.
White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis ( 1 , 12, 1 )
(North America) None in Britain, but the second for Ireland: a much-
watched bird at Duncrue Street Marsh, Belfast, Co. Antrim, from 1st
December until May 1985 {Brit. Birds 78: plates 64, 65, 149, 150 & 281).
This event recalls the one which wintered at Lowestoft, Suffolk, from 16th
November 1968 to 1st January 1969, when it died {Brit. Birds 62: 488). A
comparably long-staying individual was at Thurso, Caithness, for about
four months from early May 1970 {Brit. Birds 64: 366).
Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica (34, 129, 6)
Borders St Abb’s, 6 , 23rd May (W. R. Brackenridge, M. S. Cavanagh).
Cleveland South Gare, 29th to 30th September (S. C. Bell. G. W. Follows. M. D. \\ allace el
at-)-
Kent Shellness, Sheppey, 3th to 6th October (D. L. Davenport, D. \\ Tavlor, P. Worsley et
at.).
Scilly St Mary’s, 14th to 15th October (J. R. Delve. J. Miller, H. P. K. Robinson et at.).
Tresco, 16th to 25th October (J. A. Braggs, J. R. Chantler, T. J. Toohig etal.).
Shedand Fair Isle, 21st May (G. & \V. Morris, N. J. Riddiford et at.).
1983 Shedand Scalloway, 2nd to 3rd October (Dr C. Mackenzie et at.).
1983 Sussex, East Beachy Head, 6 . 8th to 12th October (R. H. & Mrs M. E. Charlwood et
at.) (plate 287).
(Northeast Europe across to North Asia) A fairly typical year by recent
584
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
287. Male Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica, East Sussex, October 1983 ( David Sadler)
standards, though in general the species has increased in the past decade,
with five-yearly totals since 1970 of 18, 43 and 38, respectively. Although
certain years (for example, 1975, 1976 and 1980) have been good for both
this and the following species, there is no consistent correlation; in 1984,
Rustic Bunting was quite definitely the poor relation.
Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla (94, 210, 38)
Devon Lundy, 20th to 25th April (R.J. Campey, YV. E. Oddie et al.); first-winter, 7th to 12th
October, trapped 9th (G. Bace, J. M. B. King, W. E. Oddie); first-winter, trapped 14th
(J. M. B. King, N. Trout).
Dorset Portland, 14th October (M. Cade).
Fife Isle of May, first-winter, trapped, 2nd October (Mrs YV. Mattingley et al.).
Gwynedd Bardsey, in song, 28th to 29th April (N.J. Phillips, G. Poole etal.); first-winter, 3 1st
October to 7th November, trapped 5th (N.J. Phillips etal.).
Highland Inverness, 16th to 21st April (S.J. Aspinall, C. H. Crooke, MrsC. A. Munro).
Norfolk Holkham Meals, 5th October (D. Foster, J. McCallum); 1 1th November (P. Peekes,
S. C. Joyner).
Northumberland Fame Islands, 26th September (J. Haw, N. Holton, D. Sharrod).
Orkney North Ronaldsay, 21st September (S. J. Aspinall); another, 30th September to 1st
October (J. J. Sweeney).
Scilly St Agnes, two, 13th to 15th October (C. Bradshaw et al.). St Mary’s, 14th to 18th
October (R.J. Fairbank, R. B. Hastings, S. M. Whitchouse et al.); another, 14th October to
4th November (D. J. Fisher, J. Hewitt et al.). Tresco, 26th October to 4th November, two 27th
to 31st, three 30th (N. Borrow, A. S. Cook, B. Wright et al.) (fig. 4).
Shetland Fair Isle, eleven: 15th to 20th September, two 15th to 16th (N. Bostock, P. V.
Harvey, YV. Simpson etal.); 18th to 23rd, trapped 19th (P. V. Harvey, N.J. Riddilord, YV.
Simpson et al.); 2 1st to 22nd, two 22nd; 22nd to 4th October (P. V. Harvey, YV. Simpson etal.);
22nd September to 1st October, trapped 22nd (P. V. Harvey, N. J. Riddilord, Y\ . Simpson et
al.); 23rd to 24th September (P. V. Harvey, YV. Simpson etal.); 2nd to 7th October, two, 2nd to
5th (P. V. Harvey, W. S. Morton, K. Osborn, N. J. Riddilord et al.). 7th to 14th October,
trapped 7th (S. Bellinger, K. Osborn, N. J. Riddilord et al.). Out Skerries, 18th to 27th
September, two, 18th to 22nd, one trapped 22nd (P. M. Ellis, Dr C. Mackenzie, J. 1). Okill et
al.). YVhalsay, 23rd to 24th September; another 2nd October (Dr C. Mackenzie). Eshaness,
4th to 7th November (R. Gall eta!.). Scousburgh, 14th to 18th November (D. J. YY'eaverela/.).
Strathclyde Portencross, Ayr, 22nd to 26th January (J. E. Burton, B. C. Forrester, R. H.
Hogg et al.).
1982 Shetland ( )ut Skerries, 6th to 20th October (Brit. Birds 76: 526), should read 6th to 20th
September.
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
585
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Fig. 4. Little Buntings Emberiza pusilla, Tresco, Scilly, October 1984 (A7A Borrow)
1983 Fife Isle of May, 30th September (J. Callion. Mrs \V. Mattinglev, D. White).
(Northeast Europe and North Asia) A phenomenal year, surpassing
quite easily the previous record of 25 in 1976; the number on Fair Isle alone
exceeds the national annual total for all but five of the years since 1958.
Autumn arrivals fell between 15th September and 1 4th November. Apart
from one in Northumberland, all the September records were in Orkney
and (especially) Shetland. October arrivals were more widespread, but two
or three November arrivals were again in Shetland. Of the 34 autumn
records, 24 were accounted for by Shetland and Scilly: how many were
missed in between?
Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola (10, 103, 7)
Kent Margate, 9 or immature, 3rd October (D. C. Gilbert).
Orkney North Ronaldsay, 9 or immature, 18th September (M. Gray el at.).
Shetland Fair Isle, four 9 9 or immatures: 8th to 9th September (D. Coates. K. Osborn. N. J.
Riddiford el at.): 1 7th to 22nd September ( K. Osborn. X. J. Riddiford el at.) (fig. 5); 22nd to
24th September (N. Bostock. k. Osborn, \\ Simpson etal.) (fig. 5); 3rd to 4th October (W '. S.
Morton, K. Osborn el at.). Quendale. 9 or immature, 19th September (Sir R. Lrskinc-Hill).
1980 Shetland Sumburgh, 9 or immature, 6th September (C. R. Kightley el at.).
1981 Strathclyde Kenney. I irce. Argyllshire, 9 or immature. 3th September (L. G. Gatlin,
k. E. Verrall), previously rejected {Bril. Birds 75: 532), but accepted after further stud\ .
586
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
(Northeast Europe across North Asia) Although there are three pre- 1958
Norfolk records, the one at Margate was the first 'in the extreme southeast of
England.
Fig. 5. Female or immature Yellow-breasted Buntings Emberiza aureola, Shetland, September
1984 (from colour painting by W. Simpson)
Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala (9, 51, 1)
Shetland Fair Isle, 6, 4th June (N.J. Riddiford).
(Southeast Europe and Southwest Asia) Another poor year. The five-
yearly totals since 1965 are 11, 15, 17 and four, respectively.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus ( 1 , 14, 0)
(North America) None in 1984, but one at Bull Rock, Co. Cork, on 10th
October 1983. Thus, there were three in both Ireland and Britain in 1983,
and all six were immature males.
Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus (0, 10, 1)
Devon Lundy, 23rd to 25th September (S. J. Hayhow, N. Odin el at.).
(North America) The eighth in southwest England, but the hrst in
Devon. A total of 15 American landbirds of 12 species is noted in this report:
1984 was thus significantly inferior to both 1983 (27/16) and 1982 (25/14,
plus several pending), but would have been regarded as a good year by
earlier standards.
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
587
Appendix 1. List of records not accepted
1984
Pied-billed Grebe Kendal, Cumbria, 2nd to 8th November. Black-browed Albatross
Padstow, Cornwall, 15th June. Albatross Portobello, Lothian, 23rd September. Little
Shearwater Hunstanton, Norfolk, four, 5th September. Little Bittern Radipole, Dorset, 23rd
August. Night Heron Preston, Lancashire, 28th November. Cattle Egret Hest Bank.
Lancashire, 8th March. Little Egret Driffield, Humberside, 29th April; Sandbach. Cheshire,
1 6th May; Parrett Estuary, Somerset, 21st August. Great White Egret Horsev Island. Devon.
25th April. ‘Black Brant’ Cattadale, Islay, Strathclyde, 9th Februarv Ring-necked Duck
Frodsham, Cheshire, 31st August. ‘Northern’ Eider Holyhead Bay, Gwynedd, 5th February .
Surf Scoter I urnberry Point, Strathclyde, 3rd January; Portland, Dorset, 6th Januarv. Black
Kite Rendlesham Forest, Sullblk, 15th April; Great Hockham, Norfolk. 1st June; Fairmile
Bottom, \\ est Sussex, 4th June; Blythburgh, Suffolk. 5th August. Booted Eagle Walberswick.
Suffolk, 24th July. Lesser Kestrel Kendal. Cumbria. 7th to 10th December. Red-footed
Falcon Big Moor, Derbyshire, 5th May; Papa Westray. Orkney, 12th June; Blvthburgh.
Suffolk, 27th September. Gyrfalcon Thurso Ba>. Highland, 28th January; Eday. Orkney.
22nd February; Glen Esk, Tayside, 18th March. Little Crake W rangle, Lincolnshire, 18th
November. Crane Roadsca, Cumbria, 7th March; W alberswic k. Suffolk. 2nd June; Green
Street, Kent, thirty, 20th June; Brechin, Tayside, 2nd October. Black-winged Stilt
Aberporth, Dyfed, two, 9th August. Collared Pratincole Kendal, Cumbria, 27th November.
Lesser Golden Plover Hilbre, Merseyside, 30th September; Fife Ness, f ile. 7th October.
Semipalmated Sandpiper Gronant, Clwyd. I 1th June. White-rum ped Sandpiper
Minsmere, Suffolk, 25th July; Conder Green, Lancashire, 26th to 27th September. Baird’s
Sandpiper ritchfield Haven, Hampshire. 7th January; Malltraeth, Gwynedd, 13th May;
Crowdy Reservoir, Cornwall. 12th September; Mount’s Bay, Cornwall, 22nd October.
Broad-billed Sandpiper Aberlady Bay, Lothian, 1th June. Great Snipe Meikle I-och.
Grampian, 1st May. Dowitcher Donna Nook, Lincolnshire, 15th November. Greater
Yellowlegs Pagham Harbour, W est Sussex, 15th September. Terek Sandpiper Bonnington
Lynn, Strathclyde, 24th September. Wilson’s Phalarope Pwllheli, Gwynedd. 20th
September. Laughing Gull Fairburn lugs, North/West Yorkshire, 26th February;
Rhosneigr, Gwynedd, 24th March; Bidston Tip, Merseyside, 1st July ; Sandside, Cumbria,
30th August; Rostherne Mere, Cheshire, 9th December. Franklin’s Gull Peterhead.
Grampian, 24th July; At Sea, Sea area Plymouth. twro, 3rd October; Dungeness. Kent. 17th
October. Slender-billed Gull Tatton Mere, Cheshire, 28th April. Ring-billed Gull
Blackmoorfoot Reservoir. W est Yorkshire, 3rd January ; Eling Great Marsh, Hampshire, 9th
February; Plymouth, Devon, 23rd February; Poole Park, Dorset, 3rd March; Gunthorpe.
Nottinghamshire, 5th March; Plymouth, Devon, 7th March; Slapton, Devon, 1st April;
Dunfoot, Strathclyde, 11th April; Fareham Creek, Hampshire. 13th October; Pitsford
Reservoir, Northamptonshire, 27th October; Llyn Coron, Gwynedd, 18th November;
Farlington, Hampshire, 2nd December; Lincoln, Lincolnshire, 26th December. California
Gull Kingsbridge, Devon, 5th February Gull-billed Tern Beachy Head. East Sussex, three.
18th May; South Walney . Cumbria, 24th June. Aleutian Tern Hilbre. Merseyside. 24th
September. Forster’s Tern W alberswick, Suffolk, 3rd August; Red Rocks. Merseyside. 28th
August. Briinnich’s Guillemot Fame Islands, Northumberland, 12th June. Scops Owl
Kendal, Cumbria, 16th December. Pallid Swift Handa Island. Highland. 5th May;
Guckmere Haven, East Sussex, 3rd June. Alpine Swift Kentrigg. Cumbria. 26th May;
Spraughton, Suffolk, 7th October. Bee-eater St Margaret’s Bay. Kent. 1st August; Lamorna.
Cornwall, 14th August; Dungeness, Kent. 20th August. Roller Westbury. W iltshire. 30th
June. Black Woodpecker Ashurst. Hampshire, early July. Crag Martin Tittesworth
Reservoir, Staffordshire, 10th May. Red-rumped Swallow Waltham Abbey. Essex. 5th June;
Ditchford Gravel-pits, Northamptonshire, 5th September; Hilbre, Merseyside, two, 1st
November. Red-throated Pipit Titchwell. Norfolk. 20th May: Corrour, Highland. 10th
August White-throated Robin Kendal. Cumbria, 11th November. Isabelline Wheatear
Coll, Strathclyde, 27th May; King's Langley. Hertfordshire, two. 16th August. Black
Wheatear Southwold, Suffolk. 5th to 7th April; Blackwatcrfoot. Strathclyde. 11th to 15th
June; South LTist. Western Isles, I 1th July . Swainson’s Thrush Castletown, Man. 17th May
Red-throated Thrush Beeston, Nottinghamshire, 29th Januarv. Black-throated Thrush
588
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
Hunstanton, Norfolk, 2nd May. River Warbler Stevenage, Hertfordshire, 5th May.
Paddyfield Warbler Kendal, Cumbria, 18th to 21st November. Great Reed Warbler
Folkestone Warren, 18th May. Arctic Warbler Tresco, Scilly, 13th October. Pallas’s
Warbler Salcombe, Devon, 19th November. Dusky Warbler Wells, Norfolk, 16th
September; St Agnes, Scilly, 23rd October; South Walney, Cumbria, 25th November.
Bonelli’s Warbler Alresford, Hampshire, 12th September. Lesser Grey Shrike Kington
area, Hereford & Worcester, 22nd April. Rose-coloured Starling St Mary’s, Scilly, 18th
October. Nutcracker Epsom, Surrey, four, 15th March; W est Luccombe, Somerset, 10th
August. Arctic Redpoll Llyn Cefni, Gwynedd, 16th January; Rattray Head, Grampian, 5th
November; Northmet, Hertfordshire, 4th December. Little Bunting Harborne, West
Midlands, 5th April; Skegness, Lincolnshire, 29th April. Yellow-breasted Bunting Westray,
Orkney, 14th July.
1983
Little Shearwater Skomer, Dyfed, 3rd May. Blue-winged Teal Northam Burrows. Devon,
13th March; Elsham Tarn, North Yorkshire, 9th to 11th August; Hesketh Out Marsh,
Lancashire, shot, 8th or 9th October. Surf Scoter Fort W illiam, Highland, $, 26th June.
Collared Pratincole Elmley, Kent, 1st July. Red-necked Stint Gliffe, Kent, 4th September.
Broad-billed Sandpiper Elmley, Kent, 13th to 14th May. Great Snipe Lewes, East Sussex,
17th to 18th December; Rutland W ater, Leicestershire, 27th December. Greater Yellowlegs
Troon, Strathclyde, 13th August. Spotted Sandpiper Hayle, Cornwall, 8th September.
Slender-billed Gull Breydon Water, Norfolk, 9th May. Ring-billed Gull Teign Estuary,
Devon, 29th & 31st October. Ross’s Gull Scarborough, North Yorkshire, 11th February.
Gull-billed Tern Hound Point, Lothian, 1 1 th September. Whiskered Tern Camel Estuary,
Cornwall, 8th to 9th August. White-winged Black Tern Queen Mary Reservoir, Surrey,
18th August. Scops Owl At Sea, Irish Sea, end April. Alpine Swift Gosforth, Cumbria, 30th
May. Bee-eater Murston, Kent, two, 22nd September. Red-throated Pipit Hayle, Cornwall,
1 4th October. Citrine Wagtail North Ronaldsay, Orkney, 19th to 2 1st September. ‘Siberian’
Stonechat Cosmeston Country Park, South Glamorgan, 6th October; Burnham Norton,
Norfolk, 27th November. Siberian Thrush Ebrington, Gloucestershire, 14th November.
Greenish Warbler Coquet Island, Northumberland, 31st August; Margate, Kent, 26th
October. Bonelli’s Warbler St Mary’s, Scilly, 14th May. Nutcracker Whalley, Lancashire,
at least eight, 2nd October; South Witham, Lincolnshire, 28th October. Parrot Crossbill
Lindley Wood Reservoir area, North Yorkshire, two, 10th May. Little Bunting Bempton
Cliffs, Humberside, 17th April; Gibraltar Point, Lincolnshire, 27th December.
1982
White-billed Diver Burghhead Bay, Grampian, 7th March; 30th October; Lossiemouth.
Grampian, 24th November. Cory’s Shearwater Spurn, Humberside, 18th August.
Semipalmated Sandpiper Weaver Bend. Cheshire, 3rd to 4th October. Red-necked Stint
Fair Isle, Shetland, 11th to 13th August. White-rumped Swift Portland & Lodmoor, Dorset,
8th May. Olivaceous Warbler St Agnes, Scilly, 29th September. Greenish Warbler St
Mary’s, Scilly, 7th to 9th November.
1981
Pallid Swift Lodmoor, Dorset, 23rd June. Citrine Wagtail St Mary’s, Scilly, 23rd October.
1980
Swainson’s Thrush Lundy, Devon, 14th April.
1979
Ring-billed Gull Flamborough Head, Humberside, 5th August. ‘Kumlien’s Gull’ Belvide
Reservoir, Staffordshire, 4th November.
1978
Lesser Yellowlegs Beddington Sewage-works, Greater London, 17th August. Pallid Swift
St Agnes, Scilly, 8th October. Fan-tailed Warbler Marazion, Cornwall, 16th May.
589
Rare birds in Great Britain in 1984
1976
Magnificent Frigatebird Dungeness, Kent. 15th September.
1962
Parrot Crossbill I’etney Loc k, Lincolnshire, 13th October.
M. J. Rogers, 4 Pentland Flats, St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly TR21 OHY
Mystery photographs
288. juvenile Baird’s Sandpiper Calidns bairdii, Co. Cork. October 1982 (Richard T. Mills)
-g Last month's photograph by Richard T. Mills (plate 241,
X \/ / repeated here as 288) is so sharp and evenly lit, and gives such a
vivid impression of how the bird must actually have looked, that one is
tempted to jump to a rapid conclusion. Other than settling for a wader of
the genus Calidris, it would, however, be wiser to refrain for a moment until
590
Mystery photographs
we can consider all the options. There is no substitute in wader
identification for careful observation and an initially open mind.
A good place to start would be to try to determine the bird’s age. A
number of waders (Sanderling C. alba in breeding plumage, for example)
show the general pattern of streaky head and breast, patterned upperparts,
and white belly. The evenness of wear across the upperparts of this bird
strongly suggests, however, that it is a juvenile, not yet started on its
post-juvenile moult. The fact that we can see the median coverts and one
row of lesser coverts is another pointer towards a juvenile, since on adults
the scapulars would typically be longer and overlie the wing-coverts almost
completely.
Quite apart from the absence of black spotting on the upper belly and
flanks, it is obvious that we can rule out juvenile Dunlin C. alpina and,
indeed, the other ‘curve-billed sandpipers’. The bill is short, probably
falling within most people’s image of ‘about as long as the head’. Judging by
the length visible above the knee, the legs also look quite short. Switching
our attention to the rear of the bird reveals a feature shared only by Baird’s
C. bairdii and VVhite-rumped Sandpipers C. Juscicollis: a long extension of
the primaries beyond the tertials and the tail.
Separation ofjuveniles of these two species in monochrome is not a trivial
matter, but VVhite-rumped has a broader body, a blunter and slightly
decurved bill, a clearer supercilium, and a usually well-marked whitish
mantle V. The scapulars show a distinct contrast between the dark (rufous-
tipped) upper rows and the paler (greyish-based and even-paler-tipped)
lower rows. Whilst the bill of Baird’s is straighter than that of most
White-rumped, the dark line of the lores is not in line with the bill, giving
the illusion of decurvature. Our mystery bird, however, with its uniform
scapulars, obscure supercilium, and finely-pointed bill, is clearly a Baird’s.
It was photographed in Co. Cork in October 1982. John Marchant
289. Mystery photograph 108. Identify the species. In what month, approximately, was the
photograph taken? Answer next month
Notes
Interspecific aggression between Little Grebe and
Dipper On 19th August 1982, at Loch Beannacharain,
Ross & Cromarty, I saw a Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
diving close to the shore of the loch around the mouth of
the River Meig, while a Dipper Cinclus cinclus was feeding
in shallow water close to the river bank at its mouth. At
times, the Dipper was only partly submerged, but occa-
sionally it disappeared completely from view. It attracted
the attention of the grebe, which swam towards where it
was feeding. When the grebe was within a metre or two of
the Dipper, it thrust its head forward and swam faster, aiming at the
Dipper. The latter returned to the bank and ran a few metres upstream.
The grebe then dived and surfaced next to the Dipper, continuing its chase
with head thrust forward again, and swimming fast towards it. This forced
the Dipper to fly upriver a few metres. The grebe dived again, surfacing
close to the Dipper once more. This time, the latter flew off up the river. The
grebe then preened briefly and began diving in exactly the spot where the
Dipper had been feeding.
A comparison of the foods of the two species, as given in The Handbook ,
shows that there is a good deal of overlap. Competition for food would seem
the likely explanation of the Little Grebe’s aggression. These two species
probably do not often come into contact, since their habitats do not usually
overlap; it would appear, however, that, where they do, the Dipper may
lose a dispute. D. R. Collins
11 Shelley Road, Kettering, Northamptonshire SS169LD
Female Mallard and Tufted Ducks moving eggs to new nests While
catching incubating female Mallards Anas platyrhynchos and Tufted Ducks
Aythya fuligula during a study of their breeding biology', I observed some
interesting nest-site behaviour. Small traps made of plastic garden fencing
were secured over each nest with metal pegs. A cord was attached to some
fine mesh netting over the entrance. From about 20m, this cord could be
pulled to raise the netting in front of the entrance, thereby capturing the
incubating female. On 20th June 1981, such a trap was placed over a
Mallard nest containing nine eggs; each egg was numbered. The following
day, the entrance netting was raised. On my approach, the female flew off
from close-by. The nest trap was empty, and a new nest containing the
numbered eggs had been constructed outside the trap; the female had
presumably rolled these eggs through the mesh of the trap into the new,
poorly made nest.
The same behaviour was exhibited by two Tufted Ducks. A trap was
placed over the first nest and, after the netting was raised, the trap was
found to be empty; the eight numbered eggs had been rolled through the
591
592 Notes
mesh into a new, poorly made nest directly outside the trap. A female
Tufted Duck with nine eggs did the same.
All three of the above clutches were in the late stages of incubation, and
all the eggs from the new nests hatched successfully. Females are more
likely to desert from disturbance early in incubation, but this tendency
declines as incubation progresses. David A. Hill
Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology, Department of Zoology ,
South Parks Road, Oxford 0X1 3PS
Heavy hippoboscid infestations on Buzzards On 15th July 1976, at
Llangunog, near Carmarthen, Dyfed, Lawrence James found a recently
fledged male Buzzard Buteo buteo, emaciated, close to death and weighing
only 490g; it had a massive infestation of80 or more hippoboscids (common
dipteran blood-sucking ectoparasites). On 27th July 1977, at Bwlch
Newydd, near Carmarthen, Glyn Howells found another fledgling male, in
poor body condition, with signs of being poorly nourished and weighing
610g; it had an infestation of over 35 and possibly as many as 50 hippo-
boscids. In both cases, the hippoboscids were identified as Ornithomya
avicularia, a very common bird parasite, by Dr A. M. Hutson, then of the
British Museum (Natural History), who commented that he had found up
to 35 hippoboscids ( Crataerina pallida) on Swifts Apus apus without any
apparent deleterious effects to the birds. Carl G. Jones
Montclare, St Clears, Dyfed SA334NA
Golden Eagle taking badger cubs On 16th June 1980, while wardening a
pair of Golden Eagles Aquila chrysaetos at an English eyrie, I observed the
following. At 13.48 GMT, the female left the eyrie and crossed the valley to
join the male quartering a hillside about 1 ,6 km from my observation point.
As I watched, I noticed a movement below the two on an open grassy area:
an adult badger Meles meles was moving down the hill, closely accompanied
by a small cub. After circling the animals several times, the female eagle
suddenly dived at the badgers, at which the cub took refuge beneath its
parent. The eagle landed about 45cm from the badgers, which began to
back away from it, the cub still underneath the adult though clearly visible
between its front legs. The eagle lunged after them for several metres until
the badgers gained the safety of a boulder pile, where they were lost to sight;
the eagle moved off, out of my field of view. Continuing to watch the boulder
pile, I heard an awful scream and, quickly scanning the hillside, I relocated
the female eagle carrying a second badger cub with another adult badger in
pursuit; after about 70m, the badger gave up the chase; soon after, the eagle
landed on a large boulder and began to tear at the cub. The adult badger
went to join the first two in the boulder pile. Shortly afterwards, the female
eagle took the cub to the eyrie and began to feed the eaglet. Alan Davies
6 New Street, Gyffin, Conway, Gwynedd
Mike Everett has commented as follows: ‘This is the first eye-witness account l have seen of
a Golden Eagle taking a badger cub. Badger cubs fie well within the size-range of prey taken by
Golden Eagles, but arc usually only rarely captured, partly because they are largely
Notes
593
( i ( pusc ular or nocturnal. No mention ol them is made in most European food studies, but they
are included by Witherby etal. ( 1939), Glutz et al. (1971), Gordon (1955) and YVust (1981) as
rarely or occasionally taken. Noveletto & Petretti (1980) found one badger cub among 169
prey items from five localities in the Italian Appennines, and Mathieu & Choisy (1982)
recorded five among 1 12 items from seven eyries in the southern French Alps. The latter is
particularly interesting: small carnivores ( 18% by weight) are the second most important prev
group after lagomorphs (64%) in this area, and badger cubs represented 48% by weight of all
small carnivores taken. The Lake District eagles live in an area with a poor “normal” food
supply (brown hares Lepus capensis scarce, Red Grouse Lagopus lagopus rare), and in
consequence their prey is very varied (M. J. Everett in prep.): it is perhaps not surprising that
badger is on the list.’ Eds
REFERENCES
Glutz von Bi.otzheim, U. N., Bauer, K. M., & Bezzel, E. 1971. Handbuch der Vogel
Xiitteleuropas. vol. 4. Frankfurt am Main.
Gordon, S. 1955. The Golden Eagle. London.
Mathieu, R., & Choisy, J.-P. 1982. L’Aigle royal ( Aquila chrysaetos) dans les Alpes Meridion-
ales Franyaisesde 1964 a 1980. Le Bievre 4: 1-31.
Noveletto, A., & Petretti, F. 1980. Ecologia deH’Aquila reale negli Appennini. Riv. Ital.
Cm. 50: 127-142.
Witherby, H. F.,Jourdain, F.C. R., Ticehurst, N. F., & Tucker, B. W. 1939. The Handbook
oj British Birds, vol. 3. London.
W ust, W . 1981. Avifauna Bavanae. vol. 1. Munich.
Kestrel persistently running for insects on golf green Throughout the
first week of April 1983, at Gillingham Golf Course, Kent, a Kestrel Falco
tinnunculus fed in an unusual manner on one particular green. On 5th, I went
out to watch the behaviour and found the bird, a male, behaving as had
been reported by many golfers. 1 1 stood on the green and would periodically
lower its head slightly, trim its wings tighter across its back, and run for
2- 10m before stopping and apparently taking very small prey from the
ground. It was virtually oblivious of human presence and of the arrival of
golf balls on to the green; only when play was actually in progress on the
green would it suspend activities and retire to a staked sapling nearby. T he
food taken was not earthworms, for no tugging was invok ed, and the prey
was so small that a successful run could not be distinguished from an
unsuccessful one. In view of the ‘hunting trim' adopted by the Kestrel
before each run, there can be little doubt that the food was animate and not
vegetable matter; it was probably some insect species whose movement was
just visible to the bird on the close-cropped green. Unfortunately, no
Kestrel pellet could be found, so the prey species could not be determined.
Extrapolating from my half-hour's observation, perhaps 300 or 400 items
were taken in this way each day. On 8th April, normal hovering hunting
was resumed over the rough areas of the course and neighbouring areas,
and the Kestrel was never again seen visiting the green. L. J . Davenport
68 First Avenue, Gillingham , Kent ME72LG
Peregrines utilising wire nest of Carrion Crows Peregrines Falco pere-
grinus in Britain frequently take over old and new cl iff nests of Ravens Corvus
corax, but onlv rarely the smaller nests of Carrion Crows C. corone (see
RatclifFe, 1980, The Peregrine Falcon). One of the latter, found in Strathclyde
594
Notes
290. Nest of Carrion Crows Corvus corone taken over by Peregrines Falco peregrinus. Strathclyde
1982. Substantial part of nest consists of remnants of fencing wire (John Mitchell )
in 1982, was even more unusual: the deposed crows had built a substantial
part of their nest from left-over ends of fencing wire as a ready-made
substitute for the normal large twigs (plate 290). John Mitchell
22 Muirpark Way, Drymen, by Glasgow
One Peregrine killing another on ground On 14th February 1983, on
top of Castle del Rey, near Pollensa, Mallorca, I saw a Peregrine Falco
peregrinus flying around level with my position; after about a minute, it
headed away up the valley. At the same time, my attention had been caught
by a continuous and loud alarm call emanating from the scrub some 45m
directly below me. I looked down and found the source of the noise, which
was still going on incessantly: two more Peregrines were locked in combat
on the ground, only occasionally moving position (not like a ‘cock fight’).
The noise continued for approximately ten minutes, stopped for two short
breaks, then finally ceased altogether after about 15 minutes in total; soon
after, one of the Peregrines assumed a ‘normal’ position above the other and
began to pluck and eat it. I descended the castle and got to within 45m,
before I had to show myself. The victor then took to the air with an annoyed
call or two and disappeared. I found the body of the other Peregrine, gashed
deeply in the back of one side of the neck, and took it back to Pat Watkin-
son’s apartment, where a ringer measured and weighed it: wing measure-
ment 36cm, weight 900g. Peter Lomax
4 Highbury, West Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 3BX
Notes
595
Dr I). A. Ratdifle has commented as follows: ‘This observation may help to explain how the
several recorded instances of cannibalism in Peregrines came about. Presumably an aggres-
sive, perhaps territorial, encounter develops into a serious battle, and if one of the combatants
is killed it is then treated as food.’ Eds
Oystercatcher with abnormally long bill On 22nd February 1981, at
Aber, Gwynedd, I saw an Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus with a bill
about twice as long as those of other Oystercatchers in the same field. It
seemed to be feeding quite normally. The extraordinary length of the bill
would appear to be well outside the normal range for this species (plate 291 ).
Roy T ravis
188 Smallshaw Lane. Ashton-under- Lyne . Lancashire 0L6 8RA
Abnormally long or deformed bills are usually the result of injury, often to just one
mandible. In this instance, however, it seems probable that the extraordinary bill-length was
genetically determined. Eds
291. Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus with abnormally long bill, Gw'ynedd, February 1981
( Roy Travis)
Feeding behaviour of Little Stint At 18.30 GMT on 4th September 1982.
at Audenshaw Reservoirs, Greater Manchester, I saw a juvenile Little Stint
Catidris rninuta feeding normally on the exposed mud at the side of one of the
reservoirs. Suddenly, it stretched its head into the air and snapped its bill,
approximately six times, at the clouds of midges hovering above it, as if
attempting to catch them. After resuming normal feeding for about two
minutes, it repeated this behaviour, and then again continued to feed
normally. I could not determine whether this was a genuine attempt to feed
in this way, or simply an aggressive reaction to the presence of the midges,
which distracted it from its normal feeding. Roy 4 ravis
188 Smallshaw Lane. Ashton-under- Lyne. Lancashire OL6HRA
Although this feeding behaviour is not mentioned for Little Stint in B\\ P vol. 3. it is actually
596
Notes
far from rare. Dr C. H. Fry has pointed out that it is practically the only mode of foraging by the
species at Lake Chad in spring, and Dr J. J. M. Flegg reports that it is standard behaviour in
Kenva. too. Eds
Red-necked Phalarope taking berries from water On 3rd October
1982, at Daventry Reservoir, Northamptonshire, S. R. Gale and I noticed a
juvenile Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus picking up small red
berries similar to those of cotoneaster Cotoneaster from the surface of the
water. The wind had caused a build-up of these berries along the shore.
While we watched, the phalarope picked up about 20 berries, about halfof
which it swallowed and halfit dropped. Gary Palmer
42 Finchfield Lane, Merry Hill, Wolverhampton WV38EF
BWP lists seeds, though rarely in quantity, among food taken by the Red-necked Phalarope,
but does not state whether this includes berries. Eds
Black-headed Gulls apparently taking lime fruits On 7th January'
1983, in Oxford, I saw half-a-dozen Black-headed Gulls Larus ridibundus
apparently taking what was left of the fruits at the top of a large lime Tilia X
vulgaris, gliding and hovering almost in the tree. One had the bract and stem
of a fruit sticking out of its beak. E. M. Maddock
20a Osier Road, Headington, Oxford 0X3 9BJ
The feeding method (if not the food in this instance) is well recorded in the literature (e.g.
Brit. Birds 64: 86-87). Eds
Nightjars drinking in flight Professor Anthony Pettet’s account of a
xNightjar Caprimulgus europaeus drinking from the Blue Nile in Sudan (Brit.
Birds 75: 377) reminded us that we had seen the same behaviour on the
River Aide near Snape, Suffolk. At dusk on 9th July 1969, a Nightjar flew
low over the river and dipped its bill a number of times into the water; as it
did so, it extended its head forward and down with the mouth fully open,
lowered its feet, depressed its tail slightly below the body axis (though clear
of the water) and slowed its flight as if about to land. The same behaviour is
well known for the Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor (j. K. Terres, 1980,
The Audubon Society Encyclopedia of North American Birds).
Robert M. Gibson and Philip J. Bacon
Department of Biology, UCSD, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
ITE Merlewood Research Centre, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria LA116JU
Rock Pipits using rooftops as summer and autumn territories During
many visits to Scillv, in summer and autumn and occasionally in winter, 1
have noticed about six Rock Pipits Anthus spinoletta on St Mary’s using three
very high and sloping roofs of houses which overlook steep rocks bordering
Porth Cressa beach as feeding territories. They spend long periods on the
rooftops, and dominant individuals, presumably males, may drive awav
other Rock Pipits, which then confine themselves to the beach areas.
Bernard King
Gull Cry, 9 Park Road, Newlyn, Penzance, Cornwall
Notes 597
House Sparrow associating in flight with Black-headed Gull There are
several reierences to House Sparrows Passer domesticus associating in flight
with a larger bird, often a pigeon Columba or do ve Streptopelia (e.g. Brit. Birds
75. 37, D. Summers-Smith, 1963, The House Sparrow). The 173 pursuit
incidents summarised by K. G. Spencer {Brit. Birds 69: 274). however,
included no gulls Larus among species ‘victimised’. On 27th January 1983, 1
saw a sparrow' and Black-headed Gull L. ndibundus in flight over a south
London street at little more than rooftop height. T he gull twisted and
turned, apparently taking evasive action, while the sparrow whirred and
beetled closely behind it, following every change of direction and sharp
alteration of height. As I was driving, I did not see the beginning or end of
the incident, nor ascertain the sex of the sparrow'. G. B. Ashby
31 Tudor Close , Cheam . Surrey
Snow Bunting feeding on sea-slaters On 16th October 1982. in force
9-10 southerly winds on St Mary’s, Isles ofScillv, I noticed a female Snow
Bunting Pleclrophenax nivalis on a path about 10m ahead of me. The path was
flanked by a hedge of tamarisk Tamarix and the New Zealand shrub
Pittosporum on the landward side, and the pebbles of the seashore extended
right up to the path on the seaward side. I approached to about 2m. when
the bunting reluctantly flew; it immediately circled around, landed about
5 m behind me and continued to feed avidly. I then noticed the food source
that was proving so irresistible: enormous numbers of sea-slaters Ligia
oceamca 1.5-2. 5cm long were being driven out of the shingle bv the vers
heavy sea and were crossing the path to shelter in the base of the hedge. The
arrival of a group of walkers finally put the bunting to flight before I could
determine the exact size of the prey being taken, but. even if onlv the
smallest specimens were eaten, this would seem to have been a case of
opportunist feeding on prey unusually large for this species.
John R. Hopkins
Penny Meadows. Bridford. Exeter. Devon
Letters
Definition of a birdwatcher Do other British Birds readers also get
branded as bird losers rather than bird watchers by their non-birder
friends? If so, we no longer have any problem in explaining this subtlety.
We merely point to the beautifully objective note by Dr K. E. L. Simmons
{Brit. Birds 78: 243-244), who calmly obsersed the antics of copulating
House Sparrows Passer domesticus in the middle of a busy road until a car
provided the inevitable climax.
A case of observation interrupted by a Passer- bye? ,JOHN Rossetti
Minsmere. Longleat Lane. Holcombe. Somerset BA35DL
‘A Guide to the Birds of Venezuela’ Dr Jim Flegg, in his review of. 1 Guide
to the Birds of Venezuela {Brit. Birds 78: 260-261), is right on target when he
598
Letters
says that the test of bird guides is fin their illustrations, accompanying text
and layout, particularly when it conies to use fn the field.' Thus I find it
curious that he made no mention of the illustrators, particularly Guy
Tudor, who led the team of those who prepared the plates in this book.
Tudor himself prepared 24 of the 40 plates, but, more importantly, he was
the author of the notes accompanying the plates. These notes, summarising
the field marks ‘Peterson-style’, help unravel an otherwise bewildering
array of birds. Paul J . Baicich
7607 Latham Avenue, Fort Washington, AID 20744, USA
Dr Flegg has welcomed publication of Paul J. Baicich’s letter, as it, deservedly, 'gives the
book an extra pat on the back’. Eds
Turtle Dove decline Recent books on British birds do not suggest any
decline in numbers of the Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur here, as has been
reported for some parts of the Continent.
My impression is that the species has greatly decreased in the past 25
years or so. It has certainly done so in those parts of Kent and Surrey where
I knew it best. In places where, in the course of some hours rambling and
observing, I used (at appropriate times of year) to see and/or hear a score or
more of Turtle Doves, I now see, if lucky, one or two. In areas where I
always saw only a few, there are now, and for at least five years have been,
none.
This has certainly not been through a lack of suitable nesting habitat. In
a few places, wood edge and thorn scrub that formerly harboured nesting
Turtle Doves now harbours nesting Collared Doves S. decaocto, but in many
areas where Turtle Doves formerly bred there are no Collared Doves
breeding.
Persons with whom I have discussed this have confirmed my impressions
so far as Surrey and much of Kent and Hertfordshire are concerned, but
some have stated that Turtle Doves can still be found in their former
numbers in parts of eastern Kent and in East Anglia. Very recently,
however, a friend of mine who, like me and unlike most birdwatchers, is a
pigeon-addict, spent a week on a driving holiday in East Anglia, visiting
many areas. He was particularly keen to see this species as he lives in the
north. Yet, in what is generally held to be the very heartland of the species,
and where I had been told it had not decreased, he saw only seven (and
heard only about five others) in a whole week in which he was looking out
especially lor them.
I can think of very many possible factors which might, singly or in
combination, have caused or be causing what I believe to be a marked and
continuing decline in the numbers of this species. First, however, it seems
important to learn whether or not my impressions of such a decline are
correct. I should be most interested to hear from anyone who has noted, or
not noted, any change in numbers over the past ten or more years in areas
which he or she has regularly visited in late spring or summer.
Derek Goodwin
6 Crest View Drive, Petts Wood , Kent BR5 1BY
Letters
599
Since 1961, numbers ol most common breeding species have been monitored annually by
the B I ( ) s Common Birds Census. John M archant has commented as follows: ‘Since 197 1, the
CBC index value for 1 urtle Doves on farmland has risen from 108 (relative to an arbitrary 100
in 1966) to a peak ol 152 in 1976 and returned to a level of 90 in 1984'. We hope that anyone
with relevant information on I urtle Dove numbers will respond to the invitation in Derek
Goodwin’s final sentence. Eds
Announcements
Loose binders: AVAILABLE AGAIN We are delighted to announce that we
have arranged for loose-leaf binders to hold a full year’s issues of British
Birds to be available once more. The new binders are identical in style to
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Please order using the British BirdShop form on page ix.
New books in British BirdShop The following books have been added to
our list in British BirdShop (see page ix). We are pleased to be able to offer
subscribers the chance to obtain them post and packing free (to UK & Irish
addresses; add 50p for overseas).
The Dragonflies of Great Britain and Ireland by C. O. Hammond (Harley Books)
A Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles by Bernard Skinner (Viking Penguin)
Subscribers’ use of British BirdShop helps to subsidise British Birds,
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Please use the British BirdShop form on page ix.
Your January issue Please note the ‘Request’ below: 'Resubscription
urgency’. As usual, the January issue will be despatched in mid month
(rather than in the last week of the preceding month, as with all other
issues). This is partly the result of Christmas and New Year holidays
affecting our and our printer’s work schedules, but is also deliberately
designed to give time for as many resubscriptions as possible to be included
in the new' year’s address list. Expect your January issue in the second half
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Requests
Resubscription urgency If your subscription runs from January to December and you want
to receive your January 1986 issue in January, please resubscribe NOW (or before the end of
November at the latest). The end-of-the-year rush creates a mountain of mail, and everyone's
computer entry has to be updated ready for the label production for the January issue. We
600 Requests
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time for the despatch of the January issue. (Late resubscription will be processed if possible,
but it may be inevitable that subscribers renewing after 30th November receive their January
issue in February.) As usual, your address label is in red if your subscription is due, and the
resubscription form is on the back.
Subscribers using Direct Debit need take no action.
‘Why didn’t I get the last issue?’ Now that we’re computerised, things are usually more
efficient, but snags still do occur. A fault in the program recently resulted in everyone who
resubscribed in August being omitted from the address-sheet printing. We didn’t realise, until
complaints started to roll in, and the pattern became clear.
Every month, a few address sheets get stuck together during the mechanical packing for
despatch. So, ifyou find two labels in your envelope, please tell us — the chap named on the one
behind yours is wondering what’s happened to his BB.
It is. of course, not all the fault of the computer program or the despatch machinery.
Sometimes it’s human error by one of us. We try, but sometimes get snowed under by mail, or
just make a silly mistake.
If you have a query or a complaint, please write. We will deal with your problem as soon as
possible. Please don’t telephone: we do not have the staff to man the phone and deal with the
post: a phone call interrupts and takes time away from the routine w'ork of the usuallv-one-
person ‘Circulation Department’. Please address your letters to me: Mrs Erika Sharrock,
Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ.
News and comment
Robin Prytherch and Mike Everett
Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of ‘British Birds’
Birds in Gillingham John Holloway has
sent us a copy of his 64-page booklet The Birds
oj Gillingham. The area dealt with is the
Borough of Gillingham, Kent, which in-
cludes a variety of habitats from estuarine to
urban, and the time span is 1945-84. Over
200 species are listed, including a good
sprinkling of unusual ones. The text is broken
up by many of John’s lively and excellent
line-drawings. The booklet is available for
£1.95, post paid, from John Holloway, 2
Manor Cottages, Lower Twydall Lane,
Gillingham, Kent.
Expedition Competition The International
Council for Bird Preservation has announced
that it will be running another Conservation
Expedition Competition to encourage more
expeditions to carry out conservation-based
ornithological research abroad and to gain
experience of international conservation
issues and co-operation. Winning teams
could get up to $1,000 each for the best two
proposals. The deadline for entry is 31st
January 1986. Full details and entry forms
are provided in a guide which costs £3 and
can be obtained from 1CBP, 219c Hunting-
don Road, Cambridge CBS ODI..
Oriental Bird Club The OBC’s second
meeting will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday
14th December, at the Finsbury Library , 245
St John’s Street, London ECU Speakers will
include Wint Verheugt on ‘Indonesian
wetland birds'. Per Alstrom & Urban Olsson
on ‘Identification of Oriental birds,
including Bhylloscopus warblers, pipits and
buntings', and Paul Goriup on ‘Indian
grassland birds'. Non-members wishing to
attend should write to the OBC, c/o The
Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DI..
News and comment
601
292. Comet aircraft at Gatwick Airport; Kestrels Falco tinnunculus nested successfully in wing
(Alan Timbrell, British Airports Authority)
Wings over Gatwick The Gatwick Airport
Authority changed training schedules
because of a pair of Kestrels Falco tinnunculus.
The birds had chosen to nest in the wing
structure of an old Comet aircraft used to train
the drivers of air bridges, the extendable
tubes that link the terminal with the door of
the aircraft (plate 292). During the Kestrels’
occupancy, airport workers refused to dis-
turb them, returning to a normal routine only
after the five chicks had successfully fledged
at the end of June. How encouraging to see
that a British airport’s large busy organisa-
tion is keen to take such an interest in
unscheduled visitors!
Irish Rare Birds Committee At a meeting
at the Garryvoe Conference in November
1984, it was decided to change the name of
the Irish Records Panel to the Irish Rare
Birds Committee. It was felt that the new
name is more descriptive of the Committee’s
work. A report of the purpose and functions
of the IRBC can be found in Irish Birds (2:
364-375). A list of the species considered by
the Committee can be found in the ‘Irish Bird
Report’ ( Irish Birds 20: 32-34), or copies can
be obtained from the Secretary.
Some changes in personnel have also taken
place. The Committee is now made up of five
voting members: K. Preston (editor of the
Irish Bird Report), O. J. Merne, J. K.
Fitzharris, K. Mullarney and P. Smiddy. P.
Smiddy has also taken over from Kieran
Grace as Secretary, and he can be contacted
at Ballykenneally, Ballymacoda, Co. Cork,
or phone 024-98286. All records of rare birds
should be sent to the Secretary. (Contributed by
P. Smiddy)
Eric Parker This year marks the thirtieth
anniversary of the death of Eric Parker, the
Surrey naturalist, broadcaster and prolific
writer on all aspects of wildlife and the
countryside. Yet it is not for the shell-full of
books he wrote that he would wish to be
remembered — absorbing though they are —
but rather as an effective campaigner against
all forms of animal cruelty. His greatest
achievement in this area was undoubtedly
the campaign he mounted in support of the
Wild Birds Protection Act (1933). which
suppressed a cruel, nationwide business in
the sale of wild birds.
Nowadays, it seems incredible that an
annual show of cage-birds could hav e been
held at the Crystal Palace which included
classes for woodpeckers, skylarks, fly-
catchers and the like, the exhibiting of which
was described as ‘an innocent recreation'. It
seems equally incredible that the show's
official guide should recommend, among its
directions for ‘making caged skylarks sing',
keeping them in total darkness for four days
and feeding them on w hisky -impregnated
mealworms! Such revelations, in his articles
and broadcasts, aroused great support from a
public shocked to learn that wild birds were
openly sold in paper bags in the middle of
602
News and comment
London. Parker himself, when gathering
evidence, visited a street-market in Club
Row, London, where Blackbirds were sold in
15cm X 10cm cardboard boxes, and House
Sparrows and Linnets in small, paper bags.
The f ull horrors of this trade are described
in his autobiography, Memory Looks Forward,
although his account does not dwell on the
personal abuse and animosity which his
correspondence reveals he had to lace. Then,
as now, vested interests existed which did not
deny the cruelty involved, yet sought to
justify it on grounds of economic necessity.
These interests extended to a small group of
members of the House of Commons w ho, at
one time, seemed likely to obstruct the Bill
and have it thrown out. It was, perhaps,
more than coincidence that the Government
of the day espoused the Bill at the eleventh
hour, following a letter Parker had written to
the Prime Minister.
A further campaign followed, this time an
exposure of the methods of unscrupulous
egg-collectors, which resulted in his book.
Ethics oj Egg-Collecting.
His books are still worth reading, and the
lovely garden at Feathercombe, which he
turned into a bird sanctuary, is a living
tribute to his memory. But, above all, he
deserves to be remembered for his devotion
to the fight against the persecution of wild
birds. ( Contributed by Dr Anthony Reeve)
Wetlands Campaign The \V\VF and the
IUCN have launched a fund-raising
campaign to benefit wetlands worldwide.
Birdwatchers do not have to be told how
valuable these habitats are to birds. Just
think of how much fime you spend looking at
birds on lakes, rivers, reservoirs, marshes,
coastal lagoons, and so on. Frequent
comments in these columns and in other
journals, magazines and newspapers are
ample testament to the destruction and
threats that wetlands face. The WWF and
the IUCN want our money, of course, but
teachers, group leaders and other interested
people might like to get further information
about the Wetlands Conservation Pro-
gramme from WWF-UK, Panda House, I 1-
13 Ockford Road, Godaiming, Surrey GU7
1QU.
Filey Brigg report The Filey Brigg Orni-
thological Group’s Annual Report for 1984 is
now available, price £1.30 (inch p & p) from
Peter Dunn, lb Southwold Rise, Southwold,
Scarborough von :srb.
Scandinavian Sea Bird Group The
Scandinavian Sea Bird Group was estab-
lished in 1978 by ornithologists in Denmark
and Sweden, with Norway joining in 1984.
The objective of the group is to investigate
the occurrence of seabirds in the Kattegat
especially. From 1985, the Skagerrak and
part of the North Sea were included in the
primary investigation area. Yearly counts
have been made by the Group, and dupli-
cated reports have been published annually
since 1978. In the autumn of 1984, an influx
of Gannets Sula bassana, Sooty Shearwaters
Pujfinus griseus and Little Auks A lie alle was
remarkable. At Blavands Huk, Denmark,
160 Sooty Shearwaters were seen on one day
and up to 500 Little Auks per day at the
Skaw, Denmark. The Seventh Annual
Meeting of the Group was held in November
1984, at Kullen, Sweden, with 35 enthusi-
astic seabird observers discussing topics such
as counts from ferries in the area, meteoro-
logical problems, oil pollution and accounts
from migration sites. The next meeting will
take place on 3rd November 1985 at
Getteron, near Yarberg, Sweden. All orni-
thologists with a special interest in seabirds
are welcome. In 1985, the Scandinavian Sea
Bird Group is to publish a new journal,
Pelagicus. This, and the old reports, are
available, price £2.50, from Dansk Orni-
thologisk Forening, D.O.F.-salg, Ycster-
brogade 140, DK-1620 Copenhagen Y,
Denmark. The Group is keen to make
contact with other seabird enthusiasts in
Britain and Ireland. The person to write to
on this and other matters is Erik Yikkels^
Rasmussen, Hjortsvej 18, DK-4500
Nyk^bing, Sjaelland, Denmark.
New Recorder for Gwent Brian J . Gregory,
Monmouth School, Monmouth, Gwent, has
taken over from Dr W. A. Yenables as
Recorder for Gwent.
Our bias We are sometimes accused of
having a distinct regional bias in ‘News and
comment’ in that we seem to report very little
that goes on outside England, and for that
matter rather little that goes on outside cer-
tain areas and ‘good places’. There is pro-
bably some truth in this, but it is also a fact
that the content of the feature reflects the same
bias in what you write to tell us about! We
hear very little from Scotland, Wales and
Northern Ireland (with a few notable excep-
tions): so what about it, those of you who
have something to say?
Recent reports
Ian Dawson and Keith Allsopp
These are largely unchecked reports, not authenticated records
I lie dates in this report refer to August unless
otherwise stated.
1 he cool unsettled weather experienced
this summer continued during August as a
series ol low-pressure systems tracked east-
wards bringing mainly cool air in from the
North Atlantic. ( )nly on 12th, 29th and 90th.
when an anticyclone to the southeast came
near, did warmer air arrive from the south.
I he winds were predominantly westerly in
the south, with easterlies only in the lar
north, l ew days were without rainfall.
The easterly winds brought Fair Isle
(Shetland) excellent numbers of birds, both
regular and scarce drift migrants: there were
plenty of Barred Warblers Sylvia nisoria from
10th with a maximum of five on 21st, 10
Garden Warblers S. harm on 90th. and
maxima often Wrynecks Jynx torquilla, eight
Reed Warblers Acrocephalus scirpaceus, 410
Wheatears Oenanthe oenanthe and eight Red-
backed Shrikes Lanius collurio (an autumn
record), all on 20th. 1 he first two Fieldfares
Turdus pilaris appeared there on lath, and
other good birds included four Icterine
Warblers Hippolais iclerina. a Subalpine
Warbler S. cantillans from July to 2nd, two
Aquatic Warblers .4. paladicola mid month,
three Scarlet Rosefinches Carpodacus ery-
thrinus , an Ortolan Bunting Embert'a
hortulana on 20th and 21st. a male Black-
headed Bunting E. melanocepha/a from 1th to
1 4th, and a Citrine Wagtail Molacilla cilrtola
on 21st to end a superb month. Another
Citrine W agtail appeared on the same day at
Tyninghame (Lothian).
By contrast. Sandwich (Kent) had a poor
month, with Whinchats Saxicola ntbetra and
Wheatears ‘very scarce’, few Pied Fly-
catchers Eicedula hypoleuca , and only a single
Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus. on 29th.
1’here was, however, an impressive south-
ward movement there of 8,500 Swifts . [pus
apus on 10th. Even more (18,000) had flown
out to sea at Dungeness (Kent) on 2nd.
Orkney shared some of Fair Isle's good
fortune, with three Red-backed Shrikes and
a Wryneck on North Ronaldsav from lbth
and, after one on Floy in July, there were four
further reports of a single Bee-eater Alerops
apiaster around the islands. I his species was
noted over Mansfield (Nottinghamshire) on
loth July, Norwich. (Norfolk) on 22nd. and
irregularly at Gibraltar Point (Lincolnshire)
from 2()th to 29th, with two others passing
through there on 28th. l he only Barred
Warbler reported awav from Fair Isle was
one at Spurn (Humberside) on 25th. and
single Icterine Warblers were found at
Minsmere (Suflblk) on 24th. Landguard
(Sullolk) on 27th and Spurn on 2 1st.
Melodious Warblers //. pohylotta were
equally scarce, with none until 21st at
Portland (Dorset), and further singles on
Jersey (Channel Islands), the Isle of Wight.
Porthgwarra (Cornwall) and Nanquidno
(Cornwall) in the last few dav sof the month.
Three Wrynecks reached Sullolk in the last
week, and there were Aquatic Warblers at
Spurn, Blakenev (Norfolk) and Marazion
(C lornwall). and two. an adult and a juvenile,
at St Ouen's Pond (Jersevi on 21st. To com-
plete the picture of scarce passerine
migrants, there were Hoopoes t pupa epops at
Portland around 10th and Hengistburv
Head (Dorset) on (51st and 1st September, a
Serin Serinus serinus through Spurn on 1st.
Tawny Pipits Anthus campestns at Blakenev
about 22nd and several in Last Sussex at the
end of the month, and single Ortolan Bun-
tings at Spurn and Blakenev around 25th.
Of the common migrants. Willow
Warblers Phylloscopus trochilus occurred in
larger numbers than usual at the English east
coast observatories, w ith, for example, a fall
ol 200 at Landguard on 27th. though \\ alnev
(Cumbria) in the northwest had reduced
numbers of this species and of most other
regular passage migrants te.g. 20 bird-days
for Tree Pipit .4. Irivialis compared with 154
for August last year). Alter the earlier
irruption of Crossbills Loxia aim rostra. Great
Spotted Woodpeckers Dendrocopus major.
perhaps of Scandinavian origin, trickled
through Spurn, w ith a maximum of three on
18th.'
Rarities not already mentioned were
Alpine Swifts Apus melba at Berry Head
603
(Devon) from about 10th to 18th and at
Barnsley (South Yorkshire) on 22nd, a Little
Swift A. ajjinis at Slapton (Devon) on 15th
and lbth, a Thrush Nightingale Luscinia
luscinia and Blyth’s Reed Warbler Acro-
cephalus durnetorum on Shetland in the third
week, Bonelli’s Warbler P. bonelli near St
Ives (Cornwall) on 8th, and a Woodchat
Shrike L anius senator at St Catherine’s Point
(Isle of Wight) on 22nd. There was also a
potential addition to the British and Irish
list: a Black-faced Bunting Emberiza spodo-
cephala on the Hayle Estuary (Cornwall) on
4th (the escape risk will have to be assessed
carefully).
Waders
The month provided an excellent variety of
waders. Curlew Sandpipers Calidris ferru-
ginea occurred in above average numbers,
with notable counts of around 100 at Clilfe
(Kent), and 66 at Stanpit Marsh (Dorset) on
14th, and a record count of four on Fair Isle
on 31st. Most of the other regular migrants
appeared to be in lower numbers than usual,
especially Greenshanks Tringa nebularia. A
notable movement of Common Sandpipers
Actitis hypoleucos took place early in the
month, with 107 at Abberton Reservoir
(Essex) on 4th, 35 on the Severn below
Lydney (Gloucestershire) on 5th, and 75 on
this date at Sandwich, though this figure is
half what is expected there in early August.
There was a widespread movement ol Dot-
terels Charadrius morinellus in the latter half of
the month, with reports from Cumbria, Nor-
folk (plates 301 & 302), East Sussex, the Isle
of Wight and Cornwall. Kentish Plovers C.
alexandrinus have been scarce this year, with
individuals only at Holkham Gap (Norfolk)
on 6th, at Cley (Norlblk) a little earlier, and
at Minsmere on 23rd. Temminck’s Stints
Calidris temminckii stayed at Aberlady
(Lothian) from 17th to 22nd, and on the
Norfolk and Suffolk coasts, while a record
Recent reports
flock of 251 Black-tailed Godwits Lirnosa
limosa for Sandwich passed through north on
10th. A Stone-curlew Bnrhinus oedicnemus at
Colliford Lake (Cornwall) on 13th was well
out of range, and the strong winds brought
good numbers for August of Grey Phalar-
opes Phalaropus Julicarius to delight
seawatchers, with 1 1 off Malin Head (Co.
Donegal) on 4th, nine off Porthgwarra on
11th, and five past Hengistbury Head on
15th.
Eurasian vagrants had widely scattered
origins. The Greater Sand Plover C.
leschenaullii remained in the Cley/Blakeney
area until at least 2 1st. The autumn's second
adult Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris
acuminata was at Aberlady on 17th, a Marsh
Sandpiper T. stagnatilis flew through Spurn
on 21st, and 30th saw the arrival of a Great
Snipe Gallinago media on Fair Isle and a
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus on
the River Hamble (Hampshire). Totally
unexpected was Britain and Ireland's second
Little Whimbrel Numemus minutus, in the
Blakeney/Cley/Salthouse area from 24th
(the first, in Mid Glamorgan in 1982, was also
in late August).
Of presumed Nearctic origin were three
Pectoral Sandpipers C. melanotos in
Cornwall as well as several more on the
English east coast. A Long-billed
Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus appeared
at Arne (Dorset) on 31st July, while the
Minsmere Greater Yellowlegs T. melano -
leuca remained until 13th, and its smaller
cousin, the Lesser Yellowlegs T. flavipes,
was reported from Staines Reservoir
(Surrey) on 7th and 8th. Wilson’s Phala-
ropes P. tricolor graced Devon early in the
month, Cley on 15th and lbth, and Aberlady
on 31st. Single Buff-breasted Sandpipers
Tryngiles subruficollis appeared early at
Ballycotton (Co. Cork) on 3rd, and Rogers-
town (Co. Dublin) on 6th, and later on Tees-
side (Cleveland) around 21st, and at
Davidstow (Cornwall) from 31st into Sep-
tember. Baird’s Sandpipers Calidris bairdii
were at I.issagriffin (Co. Cork) on 4th and
Tacumshin (Co. Wexford) from lbth to 18th,
while the English east coast surprisingly held
a monopoly on Semipalmated Sandpiper
C. pusilla, an adult at Easington (Humber-
side) on 13th, and White-rumped Sand-
pipers C.Juscicollis, at Spurn and Easington
on 7th and 8th, Cley from 18th, and L itch-
well (Norfolk) gt the end of the month. In
contrast to its recent extreme rarity, another
Stilt Sandpiper Micropalama himantopus was
found, at Dungeness on 22nd. A Lesser
Recent reports
Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica was on St
Mary’s (Stilly ) in the third week, and the
same island played host to a Solitary
Sandpiper T. sohtaria from 3 1st.
Seabirds
The persistent strong westerlies kept West
Coast seawatchers happy. Cornwall had a
virtual monopoly on Great Shearwaters
PuJJinus gravis, with small numbers especially
oil Porthgwarra, although there was one oh
Walney on 2nd. Cory’s Shearwaters
Calonectris diomedea were more widespread
and included individuals oil Spurn on loth
and Kith, Gullane Point (Lothian) on 10th,
and Walney on 20th, and the high total of 5 I 3
passing Porthgwarra on 29th. Surprisingly,
605
there were very lew large shearwaters oil
Cape Clear (Co. Cork) until late in the
month. Sooty Shearwaters P. griseus were
much more w idespread, and a movement ol
200 an hour west past North Ronaldsay took
place on 26th. Movements ol Manx Shear-
waters P. pujjinus of the race mauretanicus , so-
called ‘Balearic Shearwater’, included 29 oil
Porthgwarra on 4th and one oil Skokhoim
(Dyfed) on 5th. Single Little Shearwaters P.
assimilis passed Ayr (Strathclyde) early in the
month and St Ives on 24th. A pelagic trip oil
the Irish coast on 17th was successful in
finding the prize objective, a Wilson’s
Petrel Oceanites oceanicus at 51° 03'N/10° 54'
\\ , 88km southwest of Mizen Head (Co.
Cork), amongst large numbers of Storm
Petrels Hydrobales pelagicus attracted, to chum
293-295. Wilson's Petrel Oceanites oceanicus (with two Storm Petrels Hydrobales pelagicus in plate
295), at sea off Co. Cork, August 1985 ( Dennis Weir)
606
Recent reports
(fish oil) (plates 293-295). Two adult
Sabine’s Gulls Larus sabini were the other
highlight of the trip, and there were further
reports of singles off Co. Clare on 5th and
Berry Head on 18th.
A Forster’s Tern Sterna Jorsteri was on the
Boyne Estuary (Co. Louth) on 3rd; St Ives
had another on 11th, and a South Polar
Skua Stercorarius maccormicki on 24th, while
there was an exceptional passage, for Corn-
wall, of over 100 Black Terns Ghlidonias niger
there on 30th, with more over the following
two days. A total of 66 Black Terns graced
Farmoor Reservoir (Oxfordshire) on 14th,
and there were also good movements of
Common Terns Sterna hirundo through the
month, with a peak of 400 present at Sand-
wich on 11th, and 60 through Island Barn
Reservoir (Surrey) on 30th.
The gales late in the month brought a
scattering of seabirds inland, with an ailing
juvenile Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius
longicaudus at Ditchford Gravel-pit (North-
amptonshire) on 27th, an adult dark-phase
Arctic Skua S. parasiticus at Farmoor
Reservoir on 29th, and an immature Shag
Phalacrocorax aristotelis on the River Ouse at St
Neots (Cambridgeshire) from 28th.
A Whiskered Tern Chlidomas hybndus was
present into August at Kinsale (Co. Cork),
while an adult Franklin’s Gull Larus pipixcan
reached South Uist (Western Isles) on 6th,
and a Ring-billed Gull L. delawarensis came
in to roost at Leigh-on-Sea (Essex) from
10th, still a great rarity on the English east
coast.
Water birds
A Purple Heron Ardea purpurea remained at
Tonbridge (Kent) into August, and Little
Egrets Egretta gargetta were at Foulness
(Essex) throughout July, and at Havergate
(Suffolk) for the first half of the month: this
individual had yellow lores recalling Snowy
Egret E. thula. Another Little Egret with
unusual bare-part coloration — on the Exe
Estuary (Devon) from about 19th — sent
pulses racing for a day. Fair Isle had migrant
Spotted Crake Porzana porgana on 16th, and
Corncrake Crex crex on 20th, while a Black
Stork Ciconia nigra appeared on Scilly
towards the end of the month.
A Blue-winged Teal Anas discors re-
mained at Thrapston Gravel-pit (Northamp-
tonshire) from 25th into September, a
Ferruginous Duck Aylhya nyroca was seen at
Easington on 23rd, and three Ruddy Shel-
ducks Tadoma Jerruginea appeared at
Frodsham (Cheshire) in mid month (plates
296-298). Three Brent Geese Branta bernicla
had returned to Sandwich by 5th, and there
were as many as 98 in Chichester Harbour
(West Sussex) on 24th. Black-necked
Grebes Podiceps nigricollis were at Gloucester
from 1st to 6th and on Walney on 13th and
20 th.
Raptors
Ospreys Pandion haliaetus remained in The
Dukeries (Nottinghamshire) into August,
and were seen at Spurn on 21st and
296-298. Ruddy Shelducks Tadoma Jerruginea, Cheshire, August 1985 ( Steve Young)
Recent reports
607
299 & 300. b irst-summer male Red-footed Falcon Valeo vespertinus, Somerset, July 1985 (Brian
Thomas)
Bassenthwaite Lake (Cumbria) from 25th to
27th. The only rarities reported were a first-
summer male Red-footed Falcon Falco
vespertinus in The Mendips (Somerset) to 4th
(plates 299 & 300), and a Black Kite Milvus
migrans on Teesside on 1st.
I he current reintroduction schemes in
Western Scotland saw the first wild-bred
White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla
fledgling taking its maiden flight on 28th
July — hopefully heralding the first successful
reintroduction of a bird species to Britain
since the Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus tiearb
1 50 years ago.
301 & 302. Juvenile Dotterel Charadrius morinellus , litchwell. Norfolk, August 1985 Andreu I
Moon)
608
Latest news
On 30th September: Europe’s first-ever
Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus found at Sum-
burgh (Shetland) and Northern Parula
Parula americana appeared at Hengistbury
Head. In first half of October: Indigo
Bunting Passenna cyanea in Ireland, perhaps
not escape since there was Philadelphia
Vireo Vireo philadelphicus also in Ireland and
Recent reports
Wilson’s Warbler Wilsonia pusilla in Ply-
mouth (Devon), both new to Britain and
Ireland; Yellow-billed Coccyzus americanus
and Black-billed Cuckoos C. erythroph-
thalmus in Scilly within two days of each
other; Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor
in Wirral. Highest-ever numbers of Yellow-
browed Warblers Phylloscopus inomatus in
Sweden, followed by 20 in a day in Scilly.
Reviews
The Countryside & Wildlife for Disabled People: a regional access
guide to nature reserves, country parks and open spaces throughout
the United Kingdom. Compiled by Anthony Chapman. The Royal
Association for Disability and Rehabilitation, London, 1985. 392 pages; 27
black-and-white plates. Paperback, £1.00.
This is an essential guide for any disabled birdwatcher, especially one venturing into unknown
territory. Most able-bodied birdwatchers will also find it useful.
The emphasis is on birds, the main interest of the compiler, himself a wheelchair user, but
other handicapped people are not forgotten. Each site has a simple compact key describing the
access arrangements, a one- to three-star rating, brief details of the main features and interest
of the site, plus the Ordnance Survey map reference.
A total of 479 sites is covered, compared with 390 in the 1982 edition, the increase being
nationwide. The sites are numbered within regions, with maps showing the location by
number for each of the 16 regions.
From personal experience on holiday and detailed knowledge of local sites, it is clear that the
information given is accurate. Some extra details would have been helpful, however, especially
for the major sites. Perhaps wardened locations should provide such details in special leaflets
for the handicapped. A star guide for the various hides at, say, Minsmere or Slimbridge would
be valuable (not all paths or ramps are equally negotiable, particularly in bad weather).
Although opening times have been omitted for reasons that are explained in the
introduction, I would still have liked the latest available information, plus notes on the number
of reserved car spaces for the disabled.
The increase from 168 pages to 392 between editions, whilst keeping the price unchanged (a
bargain at £ 1 ), has been due partly to the increase in sites, but mostly to an enormous increase
in the number of advertisements. Fortunately, they are confined to the left-hand pages, except
for advertisement features on gardening and architecture (of interest to some handicapped
people).
I’he photographs include some helpful to the handicapped, as well as the more normal
natural history ones. Oh! for a campaign to replace stiles and other obstacles by kissing gates
suitable for wheelchairs — see page 245. Clearly, more photographs would put up the price, but
the important facts for the handicapped are the essential heart of this useful guide.
D. V. Mardle
A List of the Birds of The Gambia. A List of the Birds of Great Britain.
A List of the Birds of Greece. A List of the Birds of Israel. A List of the
Birds of Majorca. A List of the Birds of Morocco. A List of the Birds
of Spain & Portugal. A List of the Birds of The Isles of Scilly. A List of
the Birds of Norfolk. Compiled and published by David Fisher and
Stephen Gantlett. 1985. Paperback, 75p each.
Whenever preparing for a holiday, I would make out a rather cumbersome grid-style checklist.
Now, Messrs Fisher and Gantlett have done the job for me, but far more neatly, in a
manageable booklet format.
Reviews
609
So far, the duo have produced seven country lists and two county lists. The latter are
comprehensive lists of species for the counties concerned, but the countrv lists contain only
those species which occur commonly, plus annually occurring rarities. My initial reaction to
the abbreviated national lists was one of disappointment, but, on reflection, it is a verv
reasonable approach. Most short-term visitors toa country can normally expect tosceonlv the
relatively predictable species. Any species encountered that is not on the list can be written in:
there is ample space for these additions. Obviously, special attention should be given to ‘write
ins , as they are likely to be national rarities needing supporting notes when submitting records
to the country concerned.
1 he booklets are neatly designed as two-week checklists. They each have a brief introduc-
tion, a section to record one’s daily whereabouts, and, of course, the checklist, with 15 spaces
after each species to record one’s daily log, plus space for ‘write ins’.
In a nutshell, these are excellent little booklets, well worth 75p when planning one’s trip. In
fact, the way some of us use lists, it would be worth having a couple or more per trip.
M y one criticism is that, as a courtesy to the ornithologists of the area covered and as a
service to purchasers, each list should have included an address to which records should be
sent. I am sure that many interesting records are merely filed by observers in holiday notes,
and thereby lost as national or county records.
\\ ith the amount of foreign travel undertaken by British birders, I hope that the enterprising
duo will ‘crack on’ and get more venues ‘listed’! D. J . Holman
The Wildlife of the Thames Counties: Berkshire, Buckinghamshire,
and Oxfordshire. Edited by Richard Fitter. Robert Dugdale, Oxford,
1985. 214 pages; 79 black-and-white plates; ten line-drawings. Paperback,
£4.95.
This book is remarkable value for money and I would unhesitatingly recommend it to anyone
living in, or close to the borders of, Berkshire. Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire as a useful
introduction to the wealth of wildlife which can be found in the area.
The task of assembling the material and editing the work was entrusted by BBONT, the
naturalists’ trust for the three counties, to Richard Fitter, its sometime Chairman and
President. Not unnaturally, the dozen naturalists who were approached to contribute have, or
had, close association with the Trust. Their style of writing and the material thev have
included reflects this association, and highlights several authors’ lack of knowledge of other
societies, their publications and modern records. Some chapters may, therefore, be considered
by some to be ‘old fashioned’, but fortunately this is not true of that on birds, by \V. D.
Campbell, known to many for his regular contributions in The Guardian's Countrv Diary He
concludes his excellent piece with information on birdwatching sites, but this is far from
complete and exhibits puzzling omissions. For instance, Willen Lake is excluded from the list
of major aquatic sites; it is, however, included in the comprehensive gazetteer of principal
wildlife sites at the end of the book.
The other topics covered are the physical background, land-use history, vegetation, the
flora, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, fishes, butterflies and moths, other terrestrial
invertebrates, freshwater invertebrates, conservation, and the Bix Bottom Nature Reserve.
There is an appendix listing the museums with natural history collections, a bibliography and
an index. The work is enhanced by a number of very well-chosen photographs.
R. F. Youngman
The Encyclopaedia of Birds. Edited by Christopher M. Perrins and
Alex L. A. Middleton. George Allen & Unwin, London & Sydney, 1985.
463 pages; 700 colour illustrations; many black-and-white line-drawings.
£25.00."
This is the third volume in the Unw in Animal Library, volumes 1 and 2, covering mammals of
the world, having been verv well received.
After a brief introduction entitled ‘What is a bird?’, the meat of the volume is a familv -by-
family survey of the birds of the world. As in the contemporary .4 Dictionary' of Birds, these
accounts are w ritten bv experts worldwide and initialled, but there the similarity ends, for The
Encyclopaedia is aimed at a more popular market. Thus, the penguin contributions in both
610
Reviews
books are written byj. P. Croxall, but in a noticeably different style. It is profusely illustrated
in colour, with both photographs and paintings; and of course does not pretend to be a
comprehensive reference work on bird behaviour; thus, you will look in vain for ‘Anting’ in the
Glossary or Index.
Each group of families or order is introduced by an inlormation panel giving maps showing
world distribution and the number of genera and species. A second panel gives further details
of each family, listing selected species. The textual accounts are generally very readable, and
spiced with all sorts of strange facts. Did you know, for instance, that Ostrich brains were a
delicacy in ancient Egypt? Or that Darwin’s Rhea was first recognised as different while
Darwin was eating Rhea leg on board HMS Beagle?'. In addition, there are ‘box features’
highlighting unusual adaptations and behaviour such as ‘Flamingo’s Milk’ and ‘Talking
Parrots’; and there are a number of two-page spreads on special topics such as ‘Pesticides and
birds of prey’.
Many of the excellent colour photographs are unfamiliar. I was particularly taken with the
displaying Great Argus Pheasant on page 15, and the Osprey on page 1 15 bringing in prey to
its Red Sea mangrove nest set against a desert backdrop. Indeed, many of the photos show
birds in their habitat. The paintings of representative species are the work of ten artists,
including Robert Gillmor and Eaurel Tucker, and the line-drawings by Ian W illis speak for
themselves.
What then are the drawbacks? The very fact that this is an editorial compilation allows for
inconsistencies and mistakes to creep in. Although published in Britain, the book is clearly
aimed at the American market, with American spelling and usage, and usually American bird
names. It is rather unfortunate that the authority used for the species totals and names is
Gruson, whose Checklist of the Birds of the World has serious shortcomings. The worst feature,
however, is the photographic captions, which were presumably not the responsibility of the
authors, and at least provide a source of amusement: the Bee-eater caption states ‘Note the
subtle (sic) colour scheme: lilac-blue breast, russet back of the head, yellow throat patch’; or
that to the Fiscal Shrike: ‘It also frightens birds in cages, especially canaries’. Others are
inconsistent: two different photos are captioned ‘Cape Gannet’ and ‘African Gannet’, yet these
are the same species; or wrong: ‘Many chicks of two species (sic) of Ostrich (North and South
African Ostriches) . . . '. The bird topography diagram in the introduction is downright bad.
I he dictates of space mean that coverage of passerine families in particular is very limited,
with, for example, only two and a half columns for the 339 species ofSylviinae; and not every
family is illustrated (e.g. the flowerpeckers Dicaeidae ) — a must surely in a work of this kind. If
the mammals could be treated in two volumes, why not birds, for the passerines get less than
150 pages.
It is the reviewer’s job to be critical: the general impression though is of a job well done. This
is now the best popular introduction to the bewildering variety of birds in the world, and is a
delight to browse through, beautifully designed and produced. Readers requiring more
information will, however, find few suggestions for further reading, and will have to turn to .1
Dictionary. Ian Dawson
Nature Photography Yearbook 1985/86. Edited by Fritz Polking.
Natural History Book Serv ice, London, 1985. 140 pages; 105 colour plates;
60 black-and-white plates. Jt 1 2.95.
II you have any interest in bird photography or, indeed, any sort ol natural historv photo-
graphy (or have a friend who does), you ought to acquire a copy of this book. The English price
is ridiculously cheap for 105 magnificent, and magnificently reproduced, colour photographs.
I he briel texts, in seven languages including English, give details of the photographer
(including his photograph) and ol his photographic equipment, methods and techniques. The
work of 60 photographers is featured. Despite the fact that the cover calls it (within a star)
'International', there is a very strong bias towards German photographers (20). with seven
Finnish, five Dutch, four Hungarian, and one to three ol 1 1 other nationalities. The only three
British photographers included are David T. Grewcock, John Hawkins and David 1 losking. A
more balanced selection in future years might greatly increase the sales of this Yearbook outside
( jcrmany. Nevertheless, it prov ides an excellent opportunity for seeing the range of techniques
ol many ol Europe’s top nature photographers. The pictures are wonderful.
J . 1 . R . Sh ARROCK
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CYGNUS WILDLIFE HOLIDAYS
1986 Escorted birdwatching tours
Sri Lanka — Jan 12-Feb 2 £1 ,160; Thailand — Feb 4-19 £1 ,290;
Northern India — Feb 1 0-28 & Feb 25-Mch 1 3 £1 ,1 90;
Kenya — Feb 25-Mch 1 3 £1 ,585: Southern India — Mch 7-24 £1 ,455
Texas — Mch 31 -Apl 1 6; £1 ,035; Israel Apl 5-20 £955;
Jordan — Apl 1 3-29 £930; T urkey — May 4-20 £975;
Camargue — May 1 0-1 8 £490; Austria May 1 8-30 £535
Soviet Asia — May 25-June 8 £975; (extension to Siberia June 7-14 £320)
Departures later in the year to Pyrenees, Switzerland, Kenya. Arizona and Gambia.
For further details contact:
Paul Dukes
Cygnus Wildlife Holidays Limited,
96 Fore Street, Kingsbridge,
South Devon TQ7 1 PY.
Tel: (0548)6178.
ORNITHOLIDAYS
1986
MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATION OF
BRITISH TRAVEL AGENTS
Holidays Organised
by Birdwatchers for Birdwatchers
Twenty-one years’ service to birdwatchers & naturalists
Programme will include:
Kenya
The Seychelles
Tanzania
Zimbabwe
Zambia
Okavango Delta
Rwanda
Morocco
Madagascar
Southern India
Northern India &
the Himalayas
Kashmir
Nepal
Assam & Sikkim
Sri Lanka
Thailand
Jordan
New Zealand
Arctic Norway
South West Spain
Spanish Pyrenees
Andorra
Majorca
The Camargue
Southern France
Lake Neusiedl
The High Alps
North East Greece
Turkey
Bulgaria
Czechoslovakia
Yugoslavia
LAWRENCE G. HOLLOWAY
ORNITHOLIDAYS
DEPT. 2, 1 -3 VICTORIA DRIVE, BOGNOR REGIS, SUSSEX, ENGLAND, P021 2PW
ATOL LICENCE No. 743 Tel: 0243 821230 (D523)
THAI LAND 21 daysjan £1,499
VENEZUELA 21 days Feb/Mar £1,750
EASTERN AUSTRIA 12 days May £430
TURKEY AND GREECE
CENTRAL & SOUTHERN TURKEY
16 days April/May £695
EASTERN TURKEY (2 trips)
16days May/June £750
TURKEY SPECIAL INTEREST TRIP
£POA
N/YV TURKEY - GREECE
12 days Aug/Sept £POA
CENTRAL TURKEY & BOSPHORUS
MIGRATION
1 1 and 1 8 days Sept £PO A
Privately organised parties catered for and
special trips arranged for any interest. Write
for details.
CHRIS L. SLADE
8 The Grange, Elmdon Park, Solihull,
West Midlands B92 9EL.
Tel: 021-742 5420/021-705 5535.
In conjunction with Regent Holiday U.K. Ltd.
(D529)
FOCALPOINT
Telescopes and binoculars for the
discerning birdwatcher.
TELESCOPES
Great range, including the Bausch &
Lomb Criterion Optolyth’s Kowa’s,
Habicht, Spacemaster, Discoverer,
Opticron's and the Nikon Spotting
Scopes.
Kowa’s still at pre-increase prices.
BINOCULARS
Compare Zeiss & Leitz with Nikon,
Habicht, Optolyth Kowa and the
superb 9 x 35 ‘Elite’ (and many
others!).
Detailed info, pack and full price list
on request.
FOCALPOINT
14 Cogshall Lane,
Comberbach Northwich,
\07m Cheshire CW9 6BS.
Tel: 0606 891098.
xii
Classified Advertisements
All advertisements must be
PREPAID
and sent to
British Birds Advertising
Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham,
Bedford MK44 3NJ
Telephone 0621 815085
HO LI DA Y A CCOMMODA TION
CLEY. 3 Quality cottages (sleep 4, 6 and 8).
Quiet. Comfortable. Excellent value. Brochure:
(0353) 740770. (BB405)
CLEY. Attractive house in village, four bed-
rooms, large garden, garage, c.h. Available all
year. Details from Mrs E. Album, 17 Lyndale
Avenue, London NVV2. Tel: 01-431 2942. (BB58)
ISLAY FIELD CENTRE. Accommodation
available from July at £24 per week. Islay
Natural History Trust, Port Charlotte, Islay.
Tel: 049 686 209. (BB384)
ISLE OF MULL, Staffa Cottages. Small, com-
fortable guest house with friendly atmosphere.
On upper slopes of Tobermory Bay with views
out to the Sound of Midi and Morvern. All rooms
h&c, radiators and electric blankets. Staffa
Cottages Guest House, Tobermory PA75 6PL.
Tel: 0688 2464. (BB356)
NORTH NORFOLK’S HERITAGE COAST.
Flint cottage in small, peaceful village. Close sea.
broads and marshland birdwatching areas.
Sleeps 6 4- cot. Full C.H., Colour T.V., Parking.
Available all year. Brochure from Sanderlings,
Pineapple House. St Martins Lane. Norwich
NR3 3AG. (BB372)
NR. NTH NFK RESERVES. Guest House run
by birder for birders. Haydn House. Avenue
Road, Hunstanton. Tel: 331 15. (BB308)
HAYLE ESTUARY 10 mins, walk to hide. Bed
and breakfast £5.50 June and from Sept, St Ives 3
miles. Trendreath House. Lower Lelant, St Ives,
Cornwall. Tel: Hayle 753714. (BB288)
NATIONAL TRUST VILLAGE on Exmoor.
Self-catering holiday homes. Centrally heated,
near Porlock. Sea, moors, woods and marshes all
within walking distance. Stamp for brochure.
Sheila Wright, The Pack Horse, Allerford. Nr.
Minehead. Tel: (0643) 862475. (BB72)
NORTH NORF'OLK. Cosy and comfortable
cottage-style bungalow. Sleeps 6. Available for
short-term lets. Central heating in winter. Over-
looks Holme reserve and handy for Snettisham,
Titchwell and Cley. Norman Sills, Brancaster
(0485)210432. (BB413)
ISLES OF SCILLY, M incarlo Guest House, St
Mary’s. Superbly situated in own grounds
overlooking the harbour. Terms from £8.50
(plus VAT) for B&B £12.75 (plus VAT) BB it
EM. Tel: 0720 22513. ( BB 140)
WELLS, NORFOLK B&B., (Les Rentiers
recommended). H. it C., Tea and Coffee facilities
in all rooms. Anne Taylor, The Cobblers (0328
710155). (BB111)
SIBTON (nr Minsmere), Suffolk. The White
Horse Inn. A unique and charming 16th century
freehouse in 2V2 acres, £n suite accommodation,
bed and breakfast or weekly rales. Ample car
parking. CC location site. Bar snacks or
restaurant meals available. Tel: Peasenhall 337.
(BB68)
SOUTHWOLD. ‘Avondale’, North Parade,
overlooking sea. Bitb/em, CH, dglazed, licensed.
Open all year. Ideal Minsmere, Havergate,
Walberswick. Good food, friendly atmosphere.
Tel: 0502 722538. (BB179)
WIVETON. Blakeney and Cley one mile. 16th
century cottage, sheltered, beautiful. Sleeps 5-6.
Woodhouse, The Old Farmhouse, Lancing
College, West Sussex. (BB385)
LAKES/DAI.ES. Ashley Bank. High quality
food and accommodation in excellent bird-
watching/nature study area. Up to 40 persons.
05873-214. (BB433)
NORTH NORFOLK COAST, fishermens
cottages. Open all year. Oak beams. Colour TV
and open fires Oct/March, Ray Hewitt, Brig
Square Holiday Cottages, Freeman Street. Wells
next the Sea. Tel: 0328 7 10440. (BB366)
ORKNEY. Our Island Hotel, ideal for ornitholo-
gists, habitat, moorland, shore, cliffs,
lochs, attracts 70 breeding species. Excellent
migration, good walking. Brochure: Taversoe
Hotel. Rousay, Orkney. Tel: 085 682 325.
(BB191)
LAKE DISTRICT, between Kcndal/Winder-
mere, 17th century manor house in own grounds.
All bedrooms colour TV, tea-making facilities
and h&c. Dinner, bed. breakfast £18 per person.
Aitken, High Hundhowe, Burneside. Kendal
LA89AB. Tel: 0539 22707. (BB419)
WARM WELCOME, B&B/EM optional. Close
to marshes. Heritage Coastal Walks. Central for
Cley and Titchwell reserves. Mrs Court,
Eastdene, Northfield Lane, Wells-next-the-Sea,
Norfolk. Tel: (0328) 710381. (BB251)
ISLES OF SCILLY. Derek and Mary Scofield
welcome you to their comfortable family guest
house, situated on the shore with unrivalled
views. We offer a happy atmosphere, home
cooking and a select wine list. Ideal for spring and
autumn birdwatching. Send stamp for brochure
to Beachfield House, St. Mary’s. Book Now for
October. Tel: 0720 22463. ( BB92)
ISLE OF MULL. Enjoy friendly atmosphere of
small comfortable guest house run by keen
ornithologists. Lin and Pete Miller. Baliscatr.
Tobermory. Tel: 0688 2352. (BB354)
xiii
NORTH NORFOLK. Friendly village pub, an
oystercatcher’s cry from Holme and Titchwell
reserves. Traditional hospitality, weekend bar-
gain breaks speciality; B&B, packed lunches,
dinner, Cheques Inn, Thornham 229. (BB440)
NEAR MINSMERE, delightful converted barn.
Sleeps 6/7. Fully equipped and linen provided.
Turner, Vine Cottage, I he Street, Middleton.
Saxmundham: Tel: Westleton 208 after 6pm.
(BB254)
15th CENTURY COACHING INN midway
Ross/Hereford amidst gentle wooded hills, 2
fields from River Wye. A comfortable and
informal place, with proper emphasis on real food
real ales, civilised prices. Log fire, 12 ch
bedrooms, fourposter. Egon Ronay, Relais
Routier. AA & RAC**. Green Man Inn.
Fownhope, Hereford. Tel: F’ownhope (043 277)
243. *AA & RAC**. (BB367)
WINDMILL and two cottages. 5 miles Blakeney.
Sleep 8, 6 and 4, available all year. Sae: 195 East
End Road, London N2. l ei: 01-883 8137.
(BB461 )
ISLES OF SCILLY — Seaview Moorings, St.
Mary’s. Home cooking and personal service from
resident proprietors, Tony and Linda. Over-
looking harbour, close to quay and towiv —
licensed — in-room tea and coffee making facili-
ties— pets welcome. SAE for details or telephone
Tony or Linda Dingley on 0720 22327. (BB437)
YOU WILL FIND A WARM WELCOME and
every comfort in this attractively situated and
secluded country hotel. Excellent birdwatching
amidst moorland, forest and river. Home
cooking, home produce. Full central heating, h&c
and electric blankets in all bedrooms. Terms £84
db&b for week. Brochure from Old Manse Hotel,
Duthill, Carrbridge, Inverness-shire PH23 3ND.
Tel: (047 984). (BB230)
SEE PUFFINS, skuas, seals and a lot more.
Private boat takes you among otherwise
inaccessible colonies. A nature-lover’s dream.
Full board in castle, or self-catering cottages.
Send for details: Balfour Castle, Shapinsay,
Orkney. Tel: 085 671 282. (BB427)
HUNSTANTON. Small private hotel owned by
itinerant birdwatcher. Ideal centre for Norfolk
coast reserves. BB & Evening Meal (optional).
Packed Lunches. Licensed bar. Weekend spring
and autumn bargain breaks for groups and
societies. Shelbrooke Hotel, Cliff Terrace,
Hunstanton PE36 6DY. Tel: 049 53 2289.
(BB376)
Dunwich/Minsmere. Modern individual
self-contained flat overlooking sea, ch, ctv,
fine views and settings.
Westleton/Minsmere. Comfortable two
bedroomed bungalow ch, ctv.
Write to:
Greyfriars, Dunwich, Suffolk I PI 7 3DW
or phone Westleton 327. (BB442)
ROYAL FOREST OF DEAN, Coleford,
Lambsquay Hotel AA*H&B. All facilities.
Delicious food and wine. Peaceful surroundings.
Dogs welcome. S/c flat available — special breaks.
Tel: 0594 33127 for brochure. (BB344)
NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS National
Park. Coast and country. For the largest selection
of inspected self-catering cottages, farmhouses
etc, contact: Ingrid Flute, White Cottage,
Ravenscar, Scarborough Y013 ONE. Pel:
Scarborough (0723) 870703. ( BB67)
ISLE OF ISLAY, HEBRIDES. Five superbly
equipped cottages, open throughout year. Perfect
situation with views, minutes to charming village.
Short drive to R.S.P.B. reserve at Gruinart.
Brochure: Mrs Sarah Roy, Lorgba Holiday-
Cottages, Port Charlotte, Isle of Islav, Argyll.
Tel: 049 685/208. ' (BB430)
NORTH NORFOLK, HOLT. Cosy cottage in
quiet square. Modernised and refurnished.
Coastline, sanctuaries, walking distance. Shops,
pubs, two minutes. Birdwatching, painting or
unwinding. Sleeps 2/4. From £80 p.w. Mrs Balch.
Tel: 0442 53437. (BB398)
NORFOLK BROADS. Well equipped serviced
caravans, good location. Tel: 02774 25359.
(BB407)
COUNTRY COTTAGES between Alnwick &
Belford sleep up to 6. Fully equipped, self-
catering, available throughout the year. Well
placed for Holy Island & Fame Islands, Cheviot
Hills and many places of natural beauty. S.a.e.:
Mrs P. Foster, Coxons, Craster, South Farm,
Alnwick, Northumberland. Tel: 0665 76640.
(BB389)
FARM COTTAGES between Lindisfarne Re-
serve and The Fames. Comfortable and well
equipped. Sorry no pets. Brochure: Mr J.
McNish. Outchester Farm, Belford, North-
umberland. Tel: 066 83 336. (BB45)
ULLSWATER, Hartsop, spacious modernised
self-catering accommodation adjoining 17th
century cottage. Sinclair, Hartsop, Patterdale,
Cumbria. Tel: 085 32 438. ( BB383)
SPEY VALLEY — home of the osprey, crossbill
and crested tit. Impressive Victorian house.
Superb views. CH, log fires. Home cooking. Tel:
0479 2201 or write Rossmor, Grantown on Spey,
Moray. (BB190)
GALLOWAY for coast. Lochs and Hills. Private
Hotel ideally situated for birdwatching and
holidays. Small parties welcome. Comfortable
accommodation and excellent food. Open all
year. Pel: 0556 2173. Merrick Hotel, Castle
Douglas, Kirkcudbrightshire. (BB1I3)
THE BALCARY HOTEL
Auchencairn, nr Castle Douglas
AA, RAC***. Ashley Courtenay. F'amily run
country house in magnificent setting on the
shores of the bay. Tel: 055 664 217. ( BB3 1 6)
xiv
WEST SUSSEX. Black Mill House Hotel,
Bognor Regis. Sea, Marine Gardens, 300 yds.
Cocktail bar, games room, enclosed garden. Gar
park. Visit Arundel Wildfowl Trust. Mini-Breaks
lrom £41.50 — 2 days. Member SEE Tourist
Board. A A* Brochure. Tel: 0243 821945.
(BB402)
CLOSE TO HILBRE ISLAND Bird Sanctuary,
Y\ it ral Way nature walk, etc. A warm welcome
awaits you at The Park Hotel, West Kirby
(licensed). Groups welcomed. Tel: 051-625 9319.
(BB451 )
HOTEL LAWNS— Holt— North Norfolk-
Central for bird watchers, £29 two-day bargain
breaks from October to May. Excellent food. Tel:
021.371 3.390. (BB422)
BARDSEA. Morecambe shore. All electric
cottage sleeps 4. Easy reach Walney, Leighton
Moss. Tel: (0229) 53159). (BB364)
NEWPORT, PEMBS. ( Coastal cottage, adj. Nat.
Park, 5 mins. Sea and Estuary. Sleeps 8. Tel:
0222 752965. (BB70)
GALLOWAY. Hills, lochs, forests and sea.
Speciality, birds of prey and waterfowl. High
quality houses, cottages, flats. Details send 28p
stamp to: G. M. Thomson & Go, 27 King Street,
Castle Douglas. (BB441)
SOUTHWOLD (Nr Minsmere). Comfortable
flat, sleeps 4. All vear. Tel: Oxford 25(X)33.
(BB438)
WELLS, B&B, comfortable accommodation,
full c.h. Warm welcome. Shayes, Lodorc,
Warham Road. Tel: 0328 710470. (BB382)
ANGLESEY. The Old Rectory, Rhoscolyn. nr
Holyhead. Ideal birdwatching centre, lovely
coastal walks. Close to beautiful south facing
sandy bay. Dinner, B&B, write/phone brochure.
Edna Alcired. Tel: 0407 860214. (BB387)
NORTH NORFOLK. In Glaven Valley. Coast
5 miles. Bed and breakfast. Evening meal
optional. Beck Farmhouse, Thornage. Tel: Holt
3945. " (BB445)
BARN HOUSE, Bempton. Pleasantly situated,
comfortable farmhouse style B&B, Schofield. 5
Newsham Hill Lane, Bempton, Bridlington. Tel:
0262850523. (BB73)
TITCHWELL, Manor Hotel, overlooking
reserve. Centrally heated, licensed, informal.
Noted for food and comfort. Tel: Brancaster
(0485)210221. (BB410)
BED AND BREAKFAST. Mrs I). Crowden.
Rosev ilia, Middleton, Saxmundham. Suffolk.
Tel: Westleton 489 between 6-7 pm. (BB50)
MINSMERE 12 miles B.&B. or B.B.&E. meals.
Excellent farmhouse cooking with friendly
atmosphere. Daily or weekly rates. Phone
Ubbeston (098683) 235 for reservations. (BB428)
DERBYSHIRE/PEAK DISTRICT. Self-
catering properties. Personally inspected. Rural
Vacations Ltd. Pipworth Lane. Eckington.
Sheffield S3 1 9EY. Tel: 0240 432202. ( BB360)
BIRDWA TCHING HO LI DA YS
HEBRIDES. The Hotel, Isle of Coll, Argyll
PA78 6SZ. Tel: 087 93 334. AA* RAG. Open all
year, central heating. Over 100 species to be seen
including skuas, raptors, water rail etc. May we
send you our brochure? (BB317)
FALKLAND ISLANDS
Falkland Islands specialised wildlife. Get
close to nesting black-browed albatrosses, 5
species of penguin, other rare birds. Gdr
Angus Erskine leading small group 23 Jan '86
on 2 wk trip. £2,995. Many other wildlife
expeditions to Arctic July/Aug ’86 from £950
either staying at lodges, in boats, or camping.
Write Erskine Expeditions, 14 Inverleith
Place, Edinburgh.
( BB420)
SKOKHOLM AND SKOMER ISLANDS,
Pembrokeshire, Dyfed. Full board accom-
modation; birdwatching/photography courses.
Send s.a.e. to Dept BB. WWTNC, 7 Market
Street. Haverfordwest. (BBI16)
GALLOWAY BIRDS
Four days by minibus from the luxurious lour-star
('ally Palace Hotel to the best bird-watching in S.W.
Scotland — Caerlaverock and Loch Ken for geese and
ducks; the Solway shore for waders; Hen Harrier
roosts; raptors; owls and perhaps Golden Kaglc.
Evening films and talks. Nov 17-21: Feb*l6-20. £150
all inclusive. Brochure/ reservations David Hawker,
YVindywalls. Gatehouse of Fleet. Castle Douglas
Tel: 05574 249.
(BB425)
GOOSE WEEKENDS in Galloway; Friday
dinner to Sunday lunch in comfortable house
with superb views and good food. Led excursions
by car. Thousands of geese and ducks. £50.
Galloway Birds. Windywalls, Gatehouse of Fleet.
Tel; 05574 249. (BB426)
SPAIN — Birding 1986
Tom Gullick fives in Spain and will show you
the rarest birds in the most beautiful and
remote areas. Expect to see 5 eagles. 3
vultures, bustards, sand grouse, white-headed
duck, galinule. eagle owl, black stork, with
many ducks, waders and passerines on
spring migration. 11, 8 and 5-day tours for
3-4 persons only, by Range Rover. 8 years
and over 500 field days of experience in Spain.
Tom Gullick, c/o Mrs. M. C. Parker,
5 Tile Barn Close, Farnborough,
Hants GU15 8LS. Tel: 0252 547213.
(BB343)
xv
GIBRALTAR MIGRATION
Large variety of raptor species and passerines rarely seen in
UK, resident species, sea birds. AND a paradise for botanists:
600 species of wild flowers.
Experienced leadership by Bernard Hicks. Well-planned flexible programme,
evening talks and discussions. Excursion to Spain.
7 days half-board, twin-bedded studio apartment, private facilities, balcony over-
looks Mediterranean. Scheduled flight from Gatwick with Cadogan Travel (ATOL
078B). March 10-17 or 17-24 £266 per person. March 24-31 (Easter) £299.
April 21-28 and April 28-May 5 £307 ~
Full details from our UK agent, Peter Bell, 35 Well Lane, Stock, Ingatestone,
Essex CM4 9LZ. Telephone: 0277 840333 «
BOTH WORLDS APARTHOTEL, SANDY BAY, GIBRALTAR ~
BIRDS OF ARRAN, a Beagle Wildlife holiday.
A week amongst the birds and natural history of
one of Scotland’s most beautiful islands. Small
groups in a quiet hotel setting. Land Rover
transport. For brochure. Tel: 0642 225333.
(BB460)
THE ULTIMATE MOROCCAN
EXPERIENCE FOR THE
BIRDWATCHER— Spring ’86
Originated by Bryan Bland and
Hobo Travel.
See the birds and experience
Morocco
For full details please contact:
Hobo Travel, Town Street,
Swanton Morley, Norfolk NR20 4PB
Tel: 036283 629
OVER 100 SPECIES on our 40 areas, and
Morecambe Bay’s winter visitors close by. Join a
BIRDWATCHER’S HOUSE PARTY, or block
book a group. Castle Head Field Centre,
Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria (04484 4300).
(BB1 18)
SEA EAGLES & CRANES • Our regular (3rd
year) weekend for Cranes and White-tailed
Eagles 20-23 Feb • Dutch W ild Goose Chase
Weekend 6-9 Ecb for geese, harriers and more •
Blakeney Break 16-19 Jan super weekend based
at the first-class Blakeney Manor Hotel • Wings
over Gibraltar — a week of raptor migration 1 7-24
March • Annual spring in Andalucia & Goto
Donana 5-12 April — filling up fast • East Anglia
Special 1 1-17 May — the Great Bird Race Route
for maximum species at peak period • Elcvoland
& Flanders 26 May-1 June for Black Woody,
Tcngmalm’s Owl plus superabundance of
breeding birds • |( )HN ( X )( )DERS I .attenden's
Farm, Ashburnham, E. Sussex TN33 9PB. Pel:
0323 833245. (BB456)
WILDLIFE HO LI DA YS
NAMIBIA/S. W. AFRICA Personally escorted
3-week tented Bird W'atching/Wildlife Safari
departing 9th May visiting Kalahari Gemsbok,
Etosha Pan, Namib Desert, Brandberg Moun-
tains, Fish River Ganyon, Ai-Ais Hot Springs and
the Augrabies Falls. All inclusive, £1,325.
ADVENTURE AFRICA, The Square,
Ramsbury, Wiltshire. (0672 20569). (BB439)
OVERSEAS HO L ACC
BIRDING IN COSTA RICA’S TALAMANCA
RAINFOREST (300 m) AND HIGHLANDS
(2,500 m) with all the comforts of private homes.
Each location includes vast stretches of virgin
forest. Weekly rates: $450 US double. Rainforest:
Michael Snow, Apartado 73, Siquirres, Costa
Rica; Highlands: Steve Friedman. Apartado 655,
Cartago, Costa Rica. (BB455)
PROVENCE-RARE Mediterranean birds.
Family — country house — English speaking.
Year round. Genin, J.C. 04300 Sigonce, France.
(BB449)
OVERSEAS
BIRDING ABROAD? Site guides and trip
reports on: Kenya, Gambia, Thailand, India,
Israel, M orocco. Canaries, Madeira, Mallorca,
South America, Europe, Asia, Africa etc. lei:
0905 54541. (BB448)
BIRD REPORT
HANTS/SURREY BORDER BIRD REPORT
1984. £1.60, from J. Clark, 4 Cygnet Court, Old
Cove Road, Fleet, Hants. (BB40I)
CAITHNESS BIRD REPORT, 1984, £1.70
post paid. From E. Maughan, ‘Burnside’,
Harbour Road, Rcay, Thurso, Caithness KW14
7RG. ( B B 152)
SCOTTISH BIRD REPORT 1984. £2.50 (inc
p & p) from SOC (SBR 1984), 21 Regent Terrace,
Edinburgh EH 7 5BT. (BB453)
XVI
AVON BIRD REPORT— 1984. £2.25 post free
from P. J. Chadwick, 3 Hill Burn, Henleaze,
Bristol, Avon BS9 4RH. (BB444)
BIRDS IN CORNWALL 1984. £2.85p inc.
p.&p. from Stan Christophers, 5 Newquay Road,
St Columb Major, Cornwall TR9 6RW.
(BB434)
LINCOLNSHIRE BIRD REPORT 1984.
£2.50 (post paid) — includes Gibraltar Point
Report, descriptions, articles, photographs.
Lincolnshire Bird Club, 42 VVolsey Way, Lincoln
LN2 4QH. Also available, 1979, 8U, 81, 82, 75p
each; 1983. £1. All post paid. (BB447)
LONDON BIRD REPORT 1984
Produced by the London Natural
History
Society. Report £3 post paid and membership
details from Mrs H. B. Housego, 1 1
0 Mead-
vale Road, London W5 ILR. Back
numbers
available.
( BB 158)
RETIREMENT HOMES
THE SLIMBRIDGE COUNTRY
RETIREMENT HOME
is ihe ideal choice lor lovers of the countryside with
all its natural activity, wildlife and satisfying interests.
If you are a birdwatcher, no better spot could be
found as the home is situated in the beautiful Severn
Vale, just Va mile from Peter Scott’s famous Wildlowl
Trust. This refuge boasts “the largest collection o!
wildfowl in the world; over 2,500 birds of some 180
different kinds."
Newly reburbished, this small family-run home offers
gracious, tastefully-decorated accommodation with
every luxury for your comfort and safety. All the
latest regulations have been fully met. plus many
happy extras.
Please enquire for further details and prospectus to:
The Slimbridge Country Retirement Home.
Patch House, Slimbridge, Glos.
Tel: Cambridge (Glos.) (045 889) 774.
(BB443)
PERSONAL
CRETE— EASTER BIRDWATCHING, hints,
sites, checklist. £2.50 inc p.&p. S. Coghlan, 25
Thorpe Lane, Huddersfield, W. Yorks HD5 8TA.
(BB417)
THE GREAT BRITISH BIRDTABLE
Feeding the birds seems to be a national obsession.
There are more birdtablcs in Britain than anywhere
else in the world and they are soon to be featured
in a new BBC Natural History Unit programme
to be filmed over the next two winters. If you have
unusual visitors to your feeding station the BBC
would like to hear from you. Novel designs and
unusual locations are also of interest. Please write to:
The Great British Birdtable. Room 142.
BBC Bristol. W'hiteladies Road. Bristol BSS2LR. t BB Hib)
THE HAWK TRUST cares about all birds of
prey. Why not help us with our conservation
projects? For information, contact 1 he Member-
ship Secretary (JB), The Hawk I rust,' FREE-
POST, Beckenham, Kent. Tel: Loughborough
215598. (BB459)
BOOKS
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Volume 78 Number 1 1 November 1985
525 Books for Christmas
528 Seventy-five years ago . . .
529 Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 1984 Michael J. Rogers and
the Rarities Committee, with comments by A. R. Dean and K. E. Vinicombe
589 Mystery photographs 107 Baird’s Sandpiper,
591 Interspecific aggression between Little Grebe and Dipper
59 1 Female Mallard and Tufted Ducks moving eggs to new ne
592 Heavy hippoboscid infestations on Buzzards Carl G. Jones
592 Golden Eagle taking badger cubs Alan Davies
593 Kestrel persistently running for insects on golf green L.J. ,
593 Peregrines utilising wire nest of Carrion Crows John Mitc/u
594 One Peregrine killing another on ground Peter Lomax
595 Oystercatcher with abnormally long bill Roy Travis
595 Feeding behaviour of Little Stint Roy Travis
596 Red-necked Phalarope taking berries from water Gary Pah
596 Black-headed Gulls apparently taking lime fruits E. M. M
596 Nightjars drinking in flight Robert M. Gibson and Philip J. B,
596 Rock Pipits using rooftops as summer and autumn territoi
597 House Sparrow associating in flight with Black-headed Gt
597 Snow Bunting feeding on sea-slaters John R. Hopkins
Letters
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597 ‘A Guide to the Birds of Venezuela’ Paul J. Baicich
598 Turtle Dove decline Derek Goodwin
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608 A List oj the Birds of The Gambia; ... of Great Britain; ... of Greece; ... of Israel; ... of
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6 1 0 Nature Photography Yearbook 1985/86 edited by Fritz Polking Dr J. T. R. Sharrock
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609 The Wildlife of the Thames Counties edited by Richard Fitter R. E. Youngman
609 The Encyclopaedia of Birds edited by Christopher M. Perrins and Alex L. A. Middleton ^
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IDENTIFICATION P. J. Grant, S. C. Madge, Dr M. A. Ogilvie 8c Dr J. T. R. Sharrock
© British Birds Ltd 1985
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u
FORM AND
FUNCTION
IN
,«**r
Volume 3
Edited by A.S. King and J. McLelland
July 198 5, 470pp., $99. 50H90.00 (UK only),
ISBN 0.12.407503.7
Volume 3 of this major four volume series focusses on topics related to locomotion and the special sense
organs. The purpose and high standard of the first volumes is maintained, the emphasis being on the
close relationship between anatomy and adaptation to function in the various systems described. Not
confined to domestic species, numerous, clear and beautiful illustrations help to show how and why
birds are built as they are.
CONTENTS: Integument, R.I.C. Spearman andj. Hardy, l ocomotor Systems, R.J. Raikow. Somatic Peripheral
Nerves, A. Bubien-Waluszewska. Nasal Cavity and Olfactory System, B.G. Bang and B.M. Wenzel. The External and
Middle Ears, R. Kuhne and B. Lewis. The Inner Ear, C.A. Smith. Eye, G.R. Martin. Structure and Eunction of Avian
Somatosensory Receptors, K.M. Gottschaldt. Structure and Function of Avian Taste Receptors. H. Berkhoudt.
THE ATLANTIC
ALCIDAE
Edited by D.N. Nettleship and T.R. Birkhcad
December 1985, 600pp.,
$40. 00/ £3 5. 00 (UK only), ISBN: 0.12.51 5670. 7 (Hbk )
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The auks, or Alcidac, are one of the most specialised groups of seabirds. They are also an extremely
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CONTENTS: Evolution and characteristics of the Atlantic Alctdae, J. Bedard. Distribution and status of the Atlantic
Alcidae, D.N. Nettleship and P.G.H. Evans. Breeding ecology of the Atlantic Alctdae. M.P. Harris and T.R.
Birkhcad. Ecological adaptations for breeding in the Atlantic Alcidae, T.R. Birkhead and M.P. Harris. Population
parameters of the Atlantic Alcidae, P.J. Hudson. Feeding ecology of the Atlantic Alcidae, A.J. Gaston. Colonialitv and
social behaviour in the Alcidae. T.R. Birkhead. The Atlantic Alcidae at sea, R.G.B. Brown. Conservation of the
Atlantic Alcidae, P.G.H. Evans and D.N. Nettleship. ( D597)
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British Birds
VOLUME 78 NUMBER 12 DECEMBER 1985
Jay
movements
in autumn
1983
A. IV. G. John and J. Roskell
A huge movement of Jays Garrulus glandarius occurred in Britain
in late September and October 1983. Although there have been
previous influxes ofjays, believed to be from the Continent, into southeast
England in autumn, the size and extent of the 1983 movements were greater
than any previously reported. The movement was observed mainly in the
counties bordering the English Channel and in East Anglia, but observers
as far north as Perthshire remarked on the increased numbers ofjays and
presence in areas where they were previously unknown. The purpose of this
paper is to describe the movements, so far as possible in a quantitative way,
and to suggest a link with the widespread and severe failure of the acorn
crop in 1983, both in Britain and on the Continent.
Methods
An appeal for information was made to all county recorders in England and
Wales, and published in British Birds and BTO News; information was also
sought from recorders in Scotland and Ireland. The response was good, and
well over 100 individual observers also sent reports. The records have been
summarised by county, and, for the purposes of this paper, most counties
have been arbitrarily grouped into larger areas (see fig. 1). The only
exceptions to this are the coastal counties where the movements were most
marked: Norfolk, Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, Dorset. Devon and Cornwall.
611
[Bnt. Birds 78: 61 1-637, December 1985]
612
Jay movements in autumn 1983
Counties are dealt with in the following order (see fig. 1 ):
1. Northeast: Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, Durham, Cleveland, Yorkshire, North
Humberside, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire
2. Lincolnshire and South Humberside
3. Northwest: Cumbria, Lancashire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Isle of
Man
4. Norfolk
5. East Anglia (excluding Norfolk): Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Huntingdon
6. East Central: Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire,
Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, Greater London
7. Southwest Central: Somerset, Avon, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire
8. Northwest Central: Shropshire, Staffordshire, Hereford and Worcester, West Midlands,
Warwickshire
9. Wales
10. Kent
1 1 . Sussex and Surrey
12. Hampshire and the Isle of Wight
13. Dorset
14. Devon
15. Cornwall
16. Scotland
One consideration must be borne in mind when looking at the results
shown here. With a species such as thejay, where flocks gathering (mainly)
acorns are a well-established aspect of autumn behaviour, it is not alw ays
possible to separate ‘local’ birds from immigrants. In the counties which
experienced the largest numbers, most of the movements were recorded at
or near the coast, suggesting immigrants from elsewhere, and including
identified Continental birds. In the more inland counties, some of the larger
flocks were almost certainly ‘local’. Where it seemed probable that two
observers had counted the same birds, this was taken into account. In view
of the huge numbers seen in some counties, however, it is almost inevitable
that some overlap occurred. In contrast, it is likely that in areas, or on dates,
where there were few observers, particularly at coastal sites, large numbers
ofjays escaped detection.
The geographical spread of the movements, using different sizes of dots
to show numbers of birds, is illustrated in fig. 2; in all cases, the number
represents the highest single bird-day count at each site. For the counties
where sufficient records were available, numbers of Jays were amal-
gamated to give, approximate bird-day totals and these are shown as
histograms (fig. 3) . W here times are given, these are all in BST.
Descriptions of the movements by county
1 . The Northeast
The most notable aspect of the movement in the Northeast was the small
number of Jays seen coming in from the sea at five sites: Whitby,
Scarborough, Filey, Flamborough and Spurn. On 9th October, 28Jays flew
in from the sea high over Whitby and continued inland heading W. On
1 1th, six at f lamborough Head were only the second record of jays there;
on the same day, 1 5 were seen at Spurn (only the twelfth record from there),
ten of which arrived from the NW. Four of these flew out to sea until lost to
sight, and six headed out over the Humber towards Grimsby. At
Jay movements in autumn 1983
613
Fig. 1. Map of England and Wales, showing areas from which records of Jays Garrult/s
glandanus in autumn 1983 have been described (see text for details). Scotland is area 16 in the
text
Scarborough, three Jays came in ofF the sea on 14th October heading \V.
Passage of Jays over the town, mainly in a northwesterly direction, was
observed over the following ten days, totalling 67 bird-days, with a
maximum of 22 NW in an hour on 19th October. At Filey, Jays were
recorded flying in off the sea on October 19th (six), 20th (ten), and 23rd
(six) and on November 5th (two) and 12th (three). Jays had never been
recorded before at Filey. The peak numbers seen at Flamborough were 25
on 17th October, when Spurn recorded 30 Jays (ten of which flew in off the
sea heading NW). The peak at Spurn occurred two days later, when 39
were present, including one flock of 14 in from the sea heading NW; these
were later seen heading S along the point. Spurn recorded a total of 95
bird-days for Jays in October; Flamborough's total was 75 bird-days.
Away from the coast, the movement was less noticeable, although some
sizeable numbers were seen. The first indications were in late September,
when 12 Jays moved SW at Knaresborough on 24th. On the following day,
1 7 flew S high over Fairburn Ings and, farther south in Nottinghamshire, a
party of 15 headed W over Hoveringham Gravel-pits. For the next two
days, abnormal numbers of Jays appeared in several gardens around
Mansfield, totalling about 35 (up to five in a garden). Elsewhere in
Nottinghamshire, a forester reported unusual numbers of Jays seen in open
country during the last week of'September.
Early in October, 33 moved S over Settle and 31 W over Hallam Moors,
Sheffield, both on 2nd. The same day, a flock of 15 was seen flying over
614
Jay movements in autumn 1983
Holme Pierrepont Gravel-pits, Nottinghamshife. The highest count in the
Northeast was on 6th, when 58 flew W over Concord Park, Sheffield.
Elsewhere in Yorkshire, there were 20 at Todwick and 27 in Parlington
Park, Leeds, on unspecified dates in October. At Malham Tarn, 15 moved
S on 13th; all these were said to be Continental on plumage, including one
trapped for ringing. Over 25 Jays were seen at YVilsic, near Doncaster, on
22nd October. In Derbyshire, much higher numbers than usual were
recorded, many being seen over open country' away from breeding areas.
The only sizeable movement was of 35 or more seen on 1 1 th November
moving S over Dronfield in two hours, but 13 (plus eight dead on a gibbet)
seen at Scarcliffe on 10th December was ‘easily the largest midwinter count
here’. Late in November, 28 or more were present at VVatchwood Planta-
tion and Loxcovert Plantation Reserve, near Nottingham, on 23rd. One
Yorkshire observer reported ‘. . . gamekeepers in the Malton district . . .
complained about the massive increase ofjays . . . which they have had to
shoot’.
Although the effects of the movements were apparent farther north, in
Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, Durham and Cleveland, no sizeable
numbers were reported, the largest being 15 at Dipton, Durham, on 22nd
November.
2. Lincolnshire and South Humberside
Jays are normally very rare on the Lincolnshire coast (G. P. Catley in litt.),
but they were not so in October 1983. The majority were seen along 16 km
of coast betw een Donna Nook and Mablethorpe, during 8th- 19th October.
In this area, day totals of 20 or more Jays were recorded at Donna Nook on
10th, North Somercotes Warren on 13th, Saltfleetby on 8th and 19th,
I heddlethorpe on 8th and 18th (both times moving N) and Mablethorpe
on 16th. A flock of 14 Jays came in over the sea at Saltfleetby on 8th heading
NW. Larther north, along the south bank of the Humber, 16 flew W at a
height of about 65 m over Barrow-on-Humber on 12th, and several flocks of
12-20 moved W over Winteringham around 18th. The only sizeable
movement observed at Gibraltar Point was 45 flying S on 1 7th.
The total numbers of bird-days recorded in October at the four main sites
were 84 at Saltfleetby, 70 at Theddlethorpe, 65 at Gibraltar Point and 6 1 at
Donna Nook. Two small peaks in numbers, each with over 60 Jays seen in
the county, were on 8th and 18th. Ofsix trapped for ringingat Donna Nook,
none showed the characteristics of the Continental race G. g. glandarius. At
Saltfleetby on 19th, M. J. Tarrant watched a flock of 17 feeding amongst
seaweed at high-water mark on the foreshore. 4'hey picked up the seaweed
and tossed it aside in the manner of Blackbirds Turdus merula. Beneath the
seaweed were various wind-blown seeds.
3. The Northwest
The movement in the Northwest was not pronounced, but Jays were
generally more widespread and slightly more numerous than usual. Only
five counts of over 20 were reported. In Cheshire, the largest number seen
was a flock of 1 7 at Risley Moss Nature Reserve, near Warrington, on 26th
Jay movements in autumn 1983
615
Fig- 2. (a) Map of England and Wales showing locations (other than those in Devon and
Cornwall) from which reports of 20 or more Jays Garrulns glandarius were received. The size of
dot represents the highest bird-day total at each site, as indicated in the key. (b) Map of Devon
and Cornwall, on larger scale, to show the more frequent records from those counties. Key as
in (a)
616
Jay movements in autumn 1983
September. During fieldwork for the 1983/84 Winter Atlas in Cheshire,
higher numbers of Jays were recorded than in the previous two winters. In
Merseyside, on three separate days between 11th and 18th September,
flocks of 29, 31 and 34 flew S over Walton Hall Park, Liverpool, in the
morning. At Gavton on the Wirral, 22 flew S on 25th September. During a
journey from Liverpool to Anglesey along the A55 on 8th October, a
continual southerly movement of small flocks of six to ten jays was seen
(between 07.00 and 09.30). In the Greater Manchester area, there was a
small peak on 10th October, when 35 were recorded at Chorlton Meadows/
Sale Water Park and 14 at Pennington Flash.
In Lancashire, the only high count was of 30-40 in one acre (0.4 ha) of
woodland at Penwortham, Preston, sometime in October. A ‘large influx’
was noted in the Anglezarke-Rivington area in mid October. In the Fylde
area, west Lancashire, where Jays are not known to breed, small numbers
were recorded w idely from mid October to the end of November, with a
maximum of 12 at Naze Point, Freckleton, on 23rd October. I’he largest
count in Cumbria was of 16 flying S over Sizergh Castle, near Kendal, on
28th September. No Jays were recorded in the Isle of Man.
4. Norfolk
The first signs of unusual numbers ofjays were on 24th September, with 2 1
at Snettisham and 35 flying W at Titchwell. A lull of six days followed, then
on 1st October 43 came in from the sea at Wells, 40 flew' W at Holme and 30
were seen at Paston. It was not until 10th October, however, that the first
large flock was seen in the east of the county; on that date 100 (in two groups
of 50) flew N at Reedham, one of the few sizeable inland records in Norfolk.
On 1 2th, over 50 moved N at Moulton St Mary. The influx reached its peak
in Norfolk on 13th October, when over 400 Jays were counted, most flying
W along the north coast; 94 were seen in 10 minutes at Muckleborough
Hill, Weybourne, 134 at Walsey Hills (mainly in the morning, largest flock
30), 63 in 15 minutes at Cley, 50 at Brancaster Staithe and 55 S at
Snettisham. On the following day, over 300 moved W, again along the
north coast, including 74 at Holkham in 20 minutes, 70 at Brancaster
Staithe and 123 at f itchwell (including 86 in one hour). Interestingly, the
next two days — a weekend — produced no sizeable counts other than 30 W
at Holme on 16th.
Large numbers were again recorded on 17th, when 87 flew S at Winter-
ton-on-Sea in an hour and 1 15 came in from the sea at Yarmouth (in groups
of 20-30); on the north coast, 61 moved SW past Holme Bird Observatory.
On 18th, 40-50 arrived from the sea between Weybourne and Sheringham.
The next day, over 100 were at Stokesby and 138 at Snettisham. The influx
in Norfolk ended abruptly on 20th, and no sizeable numbers were seen
thereafter. Jays of the Continental race were caught and ringed at
Happisburgh on 11th and 12th October.
To summarise the pattern for Norfolk, Jays were seen coming in over the
sea on the east and north coasts. While some moved S or N along the east
coast, most were seen flying W along the north coast, then S along the E
shore of the Wash towards the f ens. The movement reached its peak on
Jay movements in autumn 1983
617
500
1000-
500
IOOO-i
1000
1000
5000
3000
1000
* P- T ,
L. i Ll. Xl 1* 1 . .
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9
1
30 10 20 31
SEP
OCTOBER
NOV
pi„ 3 Occurrence of Jays in eastern and southern England, shown as histograms, for the
period ‘24th September to 9th November 1983. (a) Norfolk, (b) Kent, (c) Sussex, (d)
Hampshire, (e) Dorset, (0 Devon, (g) Cornwall. Vertical axis represents b.rd -day totals;
horizontal axis represents days. Horizontal bars below histograms lor Kent and Devon
indicate weekends
618
Jay movements in autumn 1983
13 th and 1 4th October; a total of nearly 1 ,900 bird-days was recorded in the
period 24th September to 19th October. At four well-watched sites, the
total number of Jays recorded was as follows: YValsey Hills 245 (6th- 16th
October); I itchwell 297 W (24th September-3rd November); Holme Bird
Observatory 293 W (3rd-31st October); and Wolferton 198 S (23rd
September-3 1st October).
5. East Anglia (excluding Norfolk)
The only Jays reported in September were eight over Havergate Island on
24th. Early in October, 35 were seen at Hollesley, Suffolk, and three came
in over the sea at the Naze, Essex, on 2nd. Observers in Cambridgeshire
recorded 15 flying W high over Milton on 2nd and 15 S over Earith on 5th.
Just over 100 Jays were recorded on 8th, with 50 at Hainault, Essex, and in
Suffolk 40 in the Benacre/Kessingland area and 1 1 flying in from the sea at
Gunton/Lound. The next day, 30-40 were seen at Havering, Essex. At
Colne Point, Essex, where the species is highly unusual, 24 were seen on
13th and flocks of 1 1 and 14 moved W on 17th and 19th, respectively. Jays
seen flying in from the sea included six at Felixstowe Ferry' on 13th and 12 at
Gunton/Lound on 15th (a further 12 were seen near Gunton on this date).
Between Southwold and Kessingland in Suffolk, one observer logged
small parties of Jays totalling 120 heading inland from the sea on 18th from
09.00-1 1.00. On 19th, a flock of 20 flew high to the SYV over Milton. Two
rather vague statements from near Lowestoft confirm the general increase
in numbers: ‘extraordinary numbers’ at Sotterley on 30th October and
‘saturated with Jays in October’ from Somerleyton.
The largest number seen in East Anglia, including Norfolk, was about
200 at Fletton Brick-pits, just south of Peterborough, on 29th October. The
date and location of this observation strongly suggest that these birds were
part of the large numbers of Jays which moved S into the Wash after passing
along the north Norfolk coast. Subsequently, in fieldwork for the 1983/84
Winter Atlas in the Peterborough district, Jays were noted as being much
more widespread than in the previous winter.
6. East Central
Here the movement was first noted in Hertfordshire on 24th September,
when 16 moved SW high over I ring. On the next day, 24 flew E at
Cheshunt Gravel-pits, Hertfordshire, in IV2 hours. The largest passage
through this area took place on 2nd October, when over 200 were recorded.
About 100 moved W high over Shotover Country Park, Oxford, including
one flock of 30. In Buckinghamshire, 95 were counted; these included flocks
totalling 45 in two hours flying W over open farmland centred on Drayton
Parslow, 20 at Ivinghoe and 2 1 W over Wetidover Woods. The only other
notable October counts were of 40-50 S over Stevenage, Hertfordshire, on
4th, and 50 at Shotover Country Park on 30th. In Leicestershire, although
Jays were recorded in non-traditional areas, the only double-figure counts
were often or more at Rutland Water on 22nd and 23rd October, and 1 1
just south of Leicester on 29th. The highest counts in Bedfordshire were of
18 flying over Fancott on 18th October and 19 at Luton Hoo Park on 4th
Jay movements in autumn 1983 6 1 9
December ( normally only one or two in this heavily-keepered locality’),
but small parties were present and stayed for several weeks in places, such
as Blunham, where Jays are usually absent. In early November, 43 flew W
high over Towcester on 2nd; near Yardley Chase, also in Northampton-
shire, 20 were present on 20th. Slight increases in the number of Jays were
noticed in Berkshire, the maximum being up to 20 seen at Dinton Pastures
in September and October.
Jays ascribed to the Continental race (seen at close quarters) were noted
in Hertfordshire as follows: four at Digswell on 16th October, and one at
Long Marston during 13th- 16th November.
7. Southwest Central
An early movement was of 28 flying N over Sutton Bingham Reservoir,
Somerset, at 15.00 on 24th September. No further signs of an influx were
seen until 3rd October, when 19 flew S along the Longhope Valley, Forest
of Dean, Gloucestershire. On 4th, a flock of 25 passed over Wellington,
Somerset, and a total of 40-50 (in ones and twos) was recorded flying SW
over Devizes, Wiltshire, in the morning. The following morning. 40 moved
W in two hours over Berwick St James, Wiltshire, and at 08.45 a flock of 34
flew W at Cotham Bridge, Bristol. Three observers in the Salisbury area
counted over 200 moving W, including 160 W over Salisbury between 08. 15
and 08.45, on 6th. This movement could well be connected with the large
numbers seen on 5th passing W and NW over Southampton, only 34 km
away (see Hampshire). Also on 6th. 29 headed SW in 15 minutes at Abbot's
Leigh, Bristol. A lull occurred on 7th, then on 8th movements seen in
Somerset included 32 N at Berrow in three hours from 07.00 and 49 W at
Watchet in one hour from 07.45. During the next two days, a number of
counts of 20 or more were recorded, including 30 N at Puriton on 9th and 31
at Berrow' on 10th. A large flock of 1 15 was seen moving W over Stoford,
Somerset, at 09.15 on 1 1th, and a further big count was of 125 W over
Yeovil the next day. It is possible, even likely, that these last two
observations, together w ith the records of 122 at Thornford on 6th and 1 15
at Clifton Wood on 7th (see Dorset), refer to the same large flock, since none
of these sites is more than 6 km away from the others. They have, however,
been counted separately for the purposes of the analysis.
During the following ten days (up to 22nd October), no sizeable
movements were seen, but five sightings of 20-30 were recorded. These
included 30 W at Sutton Bingham Reservoir on 14th and 22 flying over the
Wildfowl Trust, Slimbridge. on 21st: the largest number seen in
Gloucestershire. The next day, there were 50 at Steart. Somerset. The final
day when larger-than-normal numbers were seen was 23rd October, when
76 flew NE in an hour at West Huntspill, Highbridge, Somerset, 40 were
seen at Burnham-on-Sea, and 22 at Blagdon.
Although no further large numbers were recorded during the autumn,
there was one very late report of note: 140 were observed flying W over
Tisbury, Wiltshire, on 28th December.
Jay movements in autumn 1983
620
8. Northwest Central
In the West Midlands area. Jays were much more numerous than usual in
autumn 1983, parties of six to 12 being seen ‘literally everywhere’ (G. R.
Harrison in litt.). The influx was first noted in late September, reached a
peak around the end of October, and by mid November most had moved
on. There were no reports of more than 12. In Herefordshire, too, the
highest count was of 1 2 seen at Lyonshall in an hour on October 2nd. There
were many sightings in Shropshire of small numbers of Jays in areas where
they are usually absent or very scarce, the largest count being 25 at
Shavington on 29th October.
9. Wales
The only sizeable numbers of Jays recorded in Wales were in the two
southern counties of Glamorgan and Pembrokeshire, although there were
several unusual reports from elsewhere. The records for South Wales will
be dealt with here by county, from east to west.
In Gwent, where the normal size of autumn flocks is ten to 12 (W. A.
Venables in litt.), visible passage is very unusual, and there were only three
observations of note. Southward passage of Jays, totalling 45 or more
(largest flock 16), was observed over Monmouth on one day at the end of
September. On 4th October, 21 moved WSW over Caldicot in two hours,
and on the following day a flock of 22 flew high above Pontypool.
By comparison with Gwent, the influx was well recorded in Glamorgan,
where the Jay . . continues to increase’ ( 1983 Glamorgan Bird Report). The
first signs of higher numbers were 35 at Lavernock Point on 23rd September
and 24 there on 30th. Most of these were coasting (in all directions), and
none flew out to sea. The first few days of October were quiet, but on 5th 27
flew over Penylan in ten minutes and about 20 were at Creigiau ‘in the first
week of October’. The highlight of the Jay influx in Glamorgan came on 6th
at Kenfig Pool (and dunes), where 1 18 or more flew NNW parallel with the
coast (in flocks of 36, 20 and 62). The next day, one flock of 60 or more
moved N over Kenfig and 28 flew over Nottage. Jays were last recorded at
Kenfig (where they are normally scarce) on 27th October, with counts of 18
on 10th and 27 on 20th; a total of 252 bird-days was recorded in autumn
1983, compared with 22 in 1981 and none in 1980 or 1982. The last October
report was of 15 at Sully on 29th. Nearly all the movements recorded were
coastal; no influx was reported at well-watched inland sites such as
Llanishen/Lisvane Reservoir and Ystrad Llwynypia. The 1983 Jay influx
— the largest ever recorded in Glamorgan — lasted from 20th September to
29th October, and included at total of over 500 bird-days. Surprisingly, no
signs of larger numbers were noted in Carmarthenshire, where the biggest
count was of about 20 at Whitland during a Winter Atlas census at the end
of November.
The only Welsh county other than Glamorgan to report large numbers of
Jays in autumn 1983 was Pembrokeshire, where a total of well over 600
bird-days was recorded. The sole September count noted was 18 at
Westfield Pill on 28th. As in Glamorgan, Pembrokeshire experienced peak
numbers on 6th October, when 32 were seen on Skomer and 200 flew S at
621
Jay movements in autumn 1983
nearby Martin s Haven. On the following day, there were 39 Jays at
Strumble Head. A flock of 40 appeared in fields near St Dogmaels on about
1 5th October and remained in the vicinity for several weeks. On Skomer, 38
were present on 1 7th; the same number was noted on the island on 18th and
26th. At Strumble Head on 19th October, an observer watched 127 Javs
flying YV out to sea (and two NYV) until they were out of sight. The nearest
land to the west of Strumble Head is Carnsore Point on the southeast coast
of Ireland, 90 km away. There were, however, no reports of unusual
numbers ofjays in Ireland in autumn 1983 (K. Preston in litt.). Although
Jays remained around until early December, subsequent counts never
exceeded 25. These included 20 at Stackpole on 31st October, 25 at
Abereiddy on 8th November and, at the end of November, 20 at Gemaes
Head and 25 at Ceibwr. The last observation was of25 at Heathfield on 3rd
December.
Farther north, at the RSPB reserve at Ynyshir in Cardiganshire, the
influx was first noted on 25th September, when 25 were present in the oak
woodland. From then on, Jays were seen flying N over the reserve almost
daily until 15th October, with a maximum of 50 on 12th. Thereafter
‘numbers’ were present in the woodland until the end of the month.
Elsewhere in the county, several Jays were seen in October and November
in the coastal villages of Aberporth and Aberarth where they are very rare,
and 1 1 flew NE high over Llanerchaeron on 22nd October.
There were no unusual records from Montgomeryshire or Radnorshire
(where the highest count was an unremarkable 16 at Builth Road on 22nd
December). In northwest Wales, although there were no sightings of large
numbers, several movements of interest w ere noted. At Great Orme Head,
Llandudno, on 1st October, a flock of seven Jays flew due W out to sea
heading for Anglesey. After about 100 m they turned and headed back
inland along the headland. This was only the second time Jays had been
seen there. During the weekend of 8th/9th October there was a regular
passage of small parties (three to six birds) flying S over Anglesey, where
the Jay is a scarce and local breeder. Elsewhere on Anglesey, small numbers
(largest flock seven) were seen flying back and forth all day on 19th October
near Brynsiencyn, in the southeast. At Llyn Alaw Reservoir, in the
northwest of the island, a maximum of eight was seen on 14th November.
The only record ofjays at Bardsey Bird Observatory was of 19 on
29th October, including one flock of 13 flying in over the sea from the south.
On the nearby Lleyn Peninsula, 15 were seen on 9th November.
10. Kent
The immigration of small numbers of jays into Kent is a fairly regular
feature in autumn, and small flocks can occasionally be seen arriving over
the sea in September and October (Taylor et at. 1981). In 1983, the first
movements w ere noted inland: at West Blean \\ oods, there were 20 on 24th
September and 32 flew W high up the next day. Eighteen Jays flying W at
Foreness on 30th September and four at St Margaret’s on 1st October gave
little hint of what was to follow.
On Sunday 2nd October, over 1,500 Jays were recorded in Kent. These
622
Jay movements in autumn 1983
included 896 coasting SW at St Margaret’s, 149 mainly S at Sandwich Bay
Bird Observatory, 1 14 SW at Margate (in 28 minutes from 08.30), 1 12 SW
at West Blean Woods (in three hours), 1 10 NW at Dungeness (at 09.30), 55
SE at Bough Beech and 52 W at Gliffe. Unfortunately, no migration watch
was done in the Foreness area on 2nd; in view of the numbers seen there
later in the month, it is likely that large numbers of Jays were missed. The
movement at St Margaret’s took place from one hour after dawn for the
next three hours. Indeed, most movements timed during the influx
throughout the country took place in the morning, especially during the
first fewr hours after dawn.
Table 1. Daily totals of Jays Garrulus glandarius seen in Kent at the Foreness area, Thanet,
and St Margaret’s in October 1983 (data from I. P. Hodgson)
Locality
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
1 1
Foreness
0
17
46
5
108
0
8
19
0
0
274
St Margaret’s
4
896
0
0
0
0
0
157
4
26
199
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
Foreness
16
197
62
32
41
4
0
136
16
58
109
St Margaret’s
16
23
48
0
7
139
57
248
83
50
53
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Foreness
41
0
221
43
181
34
0
230
20
St Margaret’s
41
12
201
113
74
54
35
40
45
For the rest of October and into early November, large numbers of Jays
were recorded in the county (see fig. 3), predominantly in the Foreness area
and at St Margaret’s (see table 1 ) . Movement at these two sites occurred on
different days; on some days when large numbers (over 100) were recorded
at one, few Jays were seen at the other. Only on 30th October were
substantial numbers recorded elsewhere: 102 moving N at Sandwich Bay
Bird Observatory. On a further eight days in October (of which only three
were at weekends), over 200 Jays were counted in Kent. The last sizeable
movement was on 9th November, when 95 coasted SE at Foreness.
The presence or otherwise of trees seems to have strongly influenced
migrating flocks (Hodgson 1983). At Sandwich Bay, few Jays were seen
over the largely treeless estate, most being recorded from the Greenwall, a
line of mature trees to the north of the Observatory recording area.
Similarly, although large numbers were recorded at Foreness, and at Blean
Woods (an inland site), a total of just three Jays was seen in 14 days at
Reculver, a treeless area, 16 km west of Foreness, on the north Kent coast.
Most of those seen at St Margaret’s arrived from the northeast, often from
high in the sky, and dropped into the valleys, where they moved steadily
SW through the trees. On reaching the lighthouse at the southwest end of
the valley, they turned due W and headed for the nearest visible trees. A
watcher on the clifltop at Aycliffe, a treeless area southwest of Dover and
due southwest of the top of the valley at St Margaret’s, saw no Jays during
this movement (I. P. Hodgson in litt.). This would tend to suggest that most
of Kent’s Jays arrived in east Kent, to the north of St Margaret’s.
Jay movements in autumn 1983 623
Although the belief is that these large numbers ofjays were immigrants
horn the Continent, none of the Jays recorded at St Margaret s or in the
Foreness area was seen arriving from the sea. At Dungeness, the warden
had difficulty deciding the race of those trapped (S. McMinn in lilt.).
I o summarise, the influx in Kent lasted from 25th September to 9th
November, during which over 6,000 Jays were counted, with a peak of over
1,500 on 2nd October. Movement was predominantly southerly or south-
westerly, and 80% were seen at Foreness and St Margaret’s.
1 1 . Sussex and Surrey
1 he first substantial numbers ofjays were seen on 25th September, when
1 19 were recorded in Sussex, mainly flying NE, at several sites. These
included 26 flying N at a height of about 35 m over Pagham Harbour at
08.45, having been first sighted flying along the coast from Selsey Bill. The
next movement of note was on 30th September, when 103 flew N at Hurst
Green ( 19 km inland). On 1st October, 1 10 flew’ mainly VV at four sites. The
following day, a total of 465 was recorded, 286 of which moved X at
Cissbury in two hours, and 52 headed VV at Patcham. The next day. fewer
were seen, the only count of note being 65 flying SE at Woodingdean. The
migration reached its peak in Sussex on 4th October, two days later than
the Kent peak; on that day, 819 Jays were logged. 733 of which moved S or
VV. T hese included 300 VV at Beachy Head. 165 VV at East Brighton
Golf-course (comprising three flocks in IV2 hours: 29 at 08.47. 51 at 08.53
and 85 at 10.20), 122 VV at North Brighton, 1 13 VV at Parham and 52 E/NE
at Church Norton (at 13.15).
As was the case in several other counties, the movement finished
abruptly on 5th October, when the only count was 21 VV at Fairlight.
Thereafter, although Jays were more abundant and w idespread than usual
in the county, the only movements recorded were of occasional high-flying
birds. Despite the influx in Sussex being relatively brief, nearly 2,000 Jays
were recorded in total, a quarter of which moved N or NE and the rest
mainly VV.
In Surrey, the movement was seen mainly on two days. On 24th
September, 40 Jays (including one flock of 17) flew SSE over VVitley
Common. The next day, over 80 Jays were seen in the county, including 31
at Frensham Common and 25 SSE over VVitley Common.
1 2. Hampshire and the Isle of W ight
Usual numbers of Jays were seen in the county until the last week of
September. On both 25th and 26th September, over 200Jays were counted,
with movements recorded in all directions. On 25th. 97 moved 'all ways' at
Portsdown Hill. Portsmouth (27N. 28E. 24S. 18VV), over 50 were seen at
Timsbury (31 of which flew N) and 34 moved E at Titchfield Haven. The
next day, 52 were seen at Portsdown Hill (40 of which flew’ S), 77 headed
NE/E in 80 minutes at Chilling Wood, and 76 E at Brownwich Farm (the
farm is only 0.6 km southeast of Chilling Wood, so these could have been
the same birds).
During the next w eek, although a number of flocks of 20 or more Jays
624
Jay movements in autumn 1983
were recorded, there was no significant movement. All this changed on 4th
October, and for the next three days large numbers of Jays were seen
moving W, mainly at Southampton, Weston to Warsash and Portsdown
Hill. On 4th, 240 flew NW between Weston and Warsash, 90 NW at
Portsdown Hill, 88 at I itchfield Haven (in four flocks, largest 42) and 42 W
at Sinah Common, Hayling Island, in one hour. Peak numbers were
recorded on 5th October, when about 500 moved W at Weston, 200 W at
Portsdown Hill (including 165 in Vi hour, with one straggling flock of 86;
the movement, however, not detected until 09.00) and 91 W (as well as 23
E) at Hook. The main movement on 6th was observed over Southampton
itself, where one observer at Swaythling estimated ‘over 500’ passing W
during the day; he counted 185 or more from 08.00 to 09.00 and 66 or more
from 1 2.00 to 13.00. A further complementary count was of 97 heading NW
over Southampton city centre in Vs hour from 10.55. At Portsmouth, 91
Jays flew NW from Hayling Island past Eastney sewage-outlet and 48
headed W/N at Portsdown Hill, the last sizeable movement seen here.
Numbers dropped abruptly after 6th October, and the highest sub-
sequent count was 61 W over Swaythling on 8th (25 at 09.00 and 36 at
09.45). On 22nd-23rd, a slight upsurge in numbers included sightings of 43
moving NE in 30 minutes at Camp Farm on 22nd and 45 S across Fareham
Creek on 23rd. A late count was of 45 Jays passing W over the New Forest (9
km east of Ringwood) on 29th October.
Only two counts of note were reported from the Isle of Wight, both in
November. On 1st 100 or more Jays were seen at Alverstone Garden
V illage, near Sandown, and 28 were at Osborne, East Cowes, on 20th.
To sum up, the 1983 influx of Jays in Hampshire lasted from 25th
September until approximately 23rd October, during which a total of at
least 3,400 bird-days was recorded. The main movement occurred during
4th-6th October, with a peak count of nearly 1,000 on 5th, one day later
than the peak in Sussex. There were no comments on the plumage ofjays
seen in Hampshire in autumn 1983.
13. Dorset
The first sizeable numbers were all seen inland: a flock of 46 at Compton
V alence on 22nd September was followed two days later by 32 at Puddle-
town. It was, however, not until the first week of October — from 4th to
7th — that the main movement took place. On 4th, 100 coasted W at West
Fleet, Abbotsbury, between 09.00 and 10.00, and 61 flew W at Stour
Meadows, Sturminster Marshall, 4’he next day, the only movements
reported were 37 SW at Boscombe and 48 SE at Bimcombc Hill, Wey-
mouth; in addition, 20 were seen at St Adhelm's Head. By far the greatest
number ofjays — nearly 1,000 — was recorded on 6th: 700 flew W at Brid-
port between 08.30 and 12.00 (largest flock 75) and, later in the day, 46
were seen feeding on the chalk downs between Bridport and Dorchester.
Also on 6th, 122 moved W at Thornford from 09.00 to 1 1.00 (in ten flocks,
largest 40, flying at a height of about 20 m) and 100 flew W at Radipole
School. The three main counts on 7th were all from inland sites: 1 15 at
Clifton Wood, 35 W at Thornford and a further 35 W over Martin Down
625
Jay movements in autumn 1983
NNR on the Dorset/Hants border.
During the following ten days, several westerly movements of Jays were
noted, particularly on 1 1th and 17th at West Fleet, and on 17th at Preston
(36 VV). An observer at Radipole School counted 126 heading VV on 19th
October. At Portland Bird Observatory, where Jays are rare (one in May
1981 was only the ninth Observatory record), two flew N\V on 20th and
they were recorded on a further 15 bird-days (maximum three) up to 4th
November. The last two significant movements were on 25th. when 68 were
counted at Durlston Country Park, including one flock of 49 flying E at
09.30, and 55 flew7 N at Studland Nature Reserve. At Durlston Country
Park, Jay numbers reached a peak from 25th to 28th October, and large
flocks persisted into November, with a maximum of 40 seen on 1st; at this
site there were bird-day totals of 580 in October and 477 in November.
A total of nearly 2, 000 Jays was recorded in Dorset, most moving VV. from
22nd September to the end of October; highest numbers were seen on 6th
October, one day later than the main Hampshire movement.
14. Devon
L nlike some of the coastal counties to the cast, Devon recorded verv few
Jays in September, the only appreciable count being 23 at Axminster on
22nd. The first signs of anything unusual were on October 2nd. w hen small
flocks of five to ten, totalling 1 14, were recorded during three hours in the
morning, flying SVV and VV very high over Venn Ottery Common; at Eittle
Haldon, 124 flew W in small loose flocks between 12.00 and 13.40, at a
height of about 65 m. The next day, 76 passed VV over Exeter from 10. (X) to
10.30, and on 6th 90 headed VV over the River Clvst at Topsham in 12
minutes. A further movement was noted at Venn Ottery Common on 10th
when a total of 160-170 flew7 VV or SVV during the day (again flying high in
small parties). On 1 1th, 60 moved VV over Bullers Hill, Haldon. in Vi hour.
60 N at Jennycliff (Plymouth), and 75-100 w7ere seen in the East Okement
valley on the northern edge of Dartmoor. The next two days were com-
paratively quiet, but on 14th nearly 400 Jays were recorded, including 122
at Prawle, 60 SSVV at Modbury, and a flock of 51 VV at Colyton. Strangely,
since it was a weekend, no large counts were reported on 15 or 16th.
On Monday 17th October, observers in the Plymouth area witnessed a
huge westerly movement ofjavs. At Jennycliff. just southeast of Plymouth,
one observer watched a steady northwesterly movement of small groups
(three to ten) between 08.30 and 09.45, which he estimated totalled
approximately 1 ,000 Jays, including one quite compact flock of 500-600 at
09.10. The birds seemed to call continuously as they flew over. Two
observers on Staddon Heights, immediately southeast ofjennycliff, counted
over 2,200 Jays flying NNVV (then heading VV over Plymouth) between
10.30 and 15.00. Some attempted to fly VV across Plymouth Sound, but
were driven back by strong westerly winds. On Plymouth Hoe. where flocks
had been seen moving VV since 08.00. 635 flew V\ from 09.45 to 12.00.
mostly at roof-top height, including one large flock of 280 at 11.45
(presumably the same flock was seen moving over Staddon Heights at
1 1 .30). Jays were migrating over a fairly broad front, since ‘large numbers'
626
Jay movements in autumn 1983
flew W over Central Park, Plymouth, and 100-140 headed N and W at
Crownhill, Plymouth, between 12.00 and 12.40 (these two sites are 2V2 and
5 km, respectively, north of Plymouth Hoe). It is believed that well over
3,000 Jays moved YV through Plymouth on 1 7th October. Elsewhere on the
same date, 100 were present at Holsworthy.
Large flocks were not seen in coastal north Devon until the following day,
when 300 Jays were seen in Anchor Woods, Barnstaple. On 19th, 300 or
more were present at Hartland Point and 60 flew SYV over Instow in 20
minutes. In the Plymouth area, 300 headed NNW over Staddon Heights in
two hours, and 100 were seen at Brixton. For the next few days, there were
fewr significant movements, 70 moving NNE over Powderham in 2V2 hours
on 22nd being the largest count. Then, on 23rd, 100 Jays, mainly in small
groups, but with one flock of 50, moved W high (at 70-140 m) over Start
Point in 2V2 hours, and 78 flew N over Exminster marshes at 09.30 in
groups of five to 15.
Nearly 1,000 Jays were recorded in the county on 24th October. In the
south, over 400 passed SYV over Newton Abbot and 84 NE at Slapton in
three hours; in addition, 80 flew E over Devonport, Plymouth, at 07.30. In
north Devon, 360 were counted at Barnstaple in IV2 hours. At Newton
Abbot, 300-500 Jays passed SYV in small numbers each day on 24th and
throughout the following week. In late October, 57 were at Braunton
Burrows on 26th, ‘hundreds’ were reported at Saunton and Combe Martin,
and woods at Muddiford were described as ‘full ofjays eating chestnuts’. In
north Devon, Jays were first recorded flying out to sea on 27th October. On
29th at Baggy Point, Jays were flocking around the cliffs, some moving N
along the coast. On 3rd November, a massive coastal movement was seen in
north Devon. There were 800 or more at YVoody Bay and 500-600 at Duty
Point, both near Lynton; many of these were seen flying N out to sea. These
were the last substantial movements recorded in Devon. Despite the large
numbers on the north coast, none was reported from Lundy (18 km
northwest of Hartland Point).
Only one observer commented on the race of those in Devon: one shot at
Modbury in mid October was believed to be of the Continental race (S. C.
Madge in litt.)-
To sum up, the movement through Devon was first noted on 2nd
October, and the last large flocks were reported in coastal north Devon on
3rd November. The peak day, when over 3,000 moved W over Plymouth,
was on 1 7th October. In total, over 9,000 bird-days were recorded. To put
the 1983 influx in Devon into perspective, the largest number previously
recorded in the county was 27 in October 1975.
15. Cornwall
Jays are most common in the east and centre of the county, becoming
progressively scarcer as one moves west (Penhallurick 1978). The invasion
of jays into Cornwall in October 1983 was notable both for the huge
numbers involved — more than 1,000 Jays were recorded in the county on
six days — and for the distribution: the vast majority were in west Cornwall.
The first real signs of the influx were not until 10th October, when 50
Jay movements in autumn 1983 627
moved YV at Trewey Common, Zennor, and 25 W over Saltash. On 11th,
there were counts of 20 or more at eight sites, including 106 moving E over
Penzance, a flock of 7 1 at Hustyn \\ ood, near Y\ adebridge, and 68 flying S
at Cot V alley, St Just. The following day, 125 headed S\V over Saltash, and
72 were present at Nanquidno, St Just. The first date on which over 1,000
Jays were recorded in the county was 13th October: 460 were seen on the
Lizard, 200 (including one flock of 126) were present at Porthgwarra, 126 at
Skewjack and, in the east, 1 19 moved SE over Millbrook in 15 minutes from
1 7. 15 (in flocks of 15, 92 and 12). At Porthgwarra, the flocks flew up over
Cwennap Head, where they climbed for several hundred metres as if to
head out to Scilly, but, after flapping around for a minute or so at this
height, they always flew back down into the valley, often ‘whiffling’ down
out of the sky in the manner normally associated with Curlews Numenius
arquata (D. S. Flumm in litt.)\ none was seen to fly out to sea. The next day,
two observers in west Cornwall counted 196 Jays (in flocks of 79, 63 and 54)
heading S over Nanquidno valley from 09.30 to 10.30; the two observers
then moved N to Cot Valley, St Just, where they recorded 104 flying S
between 10.40 and 1 1.40. A report of 300 or more heading S at Kenidjack
farm, St Just, on the same day probably refers to the same birds. In east
Cornwall, also on 14th, 310 moved SE over Millbrook towards Maker
Heights from 08.25 to 10.30, and a further 179 NE (09.00 to 09.45) from
Mount Edgcumbe towards Plymouth. Other notable records on 14th were
of 90 at Trevail, St Ives, 80 N at Mevagissey, and 80 or more moving S in
scattered flocks over the Lizard.
A report on 15th October of about 2,000 Jays around or heading N over
Housel Bay on the Lizard included 800 in a single field. A gamekeeper at
Crafthole, not far west of Millbrook, counted 500 moving YV during the day,
the peak movement being 200 in V2 hour around 10.30. Other sizeable
numbers seen that day included 350 at Porthgwarra and 300 N at
Kenidjack, St Just. The following day (16th) was a Sunday. Despite this
and the presence of many observers, particularly in w-est Cornwall (an
American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla was present at Kenidjack Valley), the
only movement observed was of ‘large numbers’ (similar to those on 17th)
moving W at Kenidjack.
The movement reached its zenith in Cornwall, as in Devon, on 17th
October. At Kenidjack Valley, 1,800 Jays moved W in an hour, including
1,000 in ten minutes; the observer left while the movement was still going
on. At Trevescan, Sennen, near Land's End, an observer estimated 1,500
passing through his garden during the day, all heading NW. In view- of
these huge numbers present in the Land’s End area, it is notable that not a
single Jay w-as reported from the Isles of Scilly (only 40 km away), where
there were large numbers of birdwatchers. Between 08.30 and 11.30, at
least 500 were counted passing YV over Rospeath, Marazion. They flew
straight over at a height of about 30 m, none stopping to feed or rest, and
none was seen carrying food. Elsewhere on the south coast, there were 200
or more at Porthgwarra, and 104 moved YV at Drift Reservoir. In the other
direction, 126 flew E in eight minutes over Penzance, continuing across
Mounts Bay until out of sight. On the north coast, 200 or more moved YV at
628
Jay movements in autumn 1983
Hayle, and at least 770 headed W over St Ives between 1 1 . 15 and 13.35 (650
of these in 40 minutes from 11.15). Those seen at St Ives arrived from the SE
and were silent and very closely approachable. A total of nearly 6,000 Jays
was recorded in Cornwall on 17th October. Two shot near Sheviock,
Torpoint, were given to S. C. Madge on 17th and both were sent to Tring
for examination. One (an adult) was identical to Scandinavian birds of the
nominate race; the other (a first-winter) was typically British (P. R. Colston
in litt. ) .
Large numbers of Jays were still present in west Cornwall on 18th
October, with the same observer at Trevescan again estimating a total of
1,500 heading NW throughout the day. At nearby Sennen, a separate
observation was of a loose flock of 200 heading NW at 1 1 .00. Other sizeable
counts were 100 or more at Bosigran, Land’s End, 186 at Porthgwarra and
315 moving SW over Saltash.
On 19th October, the last day on which exceptional numbers of Jays
were present, nearly 5,000 were counted in Cornwall, over half of them on
the Lizard. At Caerthillian about an hour after dawn, Jays began to appear
to the south, and at least 1,600 were then counted heading NNW in just
under an hour, after which very few were seen. Not far away, at Mullion,
1,000 were counted heading NW. Farther west, at Rospeath, Marazion,
200 or more moved W between 09.00 and 1 1.30. On the north coast, 468
headed W at Hayle and 230 flew W at Zennor. At St Just, near Land’s End,
90 moved S at Nanquidno and 270 were recorded at Kenidjack. Two
notable counts elsewhere in the county were of 132 flying N at Gerrans and
303. Jay Garrulus glandarius, Hertfordshire, April 1974 ( E . A. Janes)
Jay movements in autumn 1983 629
46 1 S\\ at Saltash. An observer on I revose Head at 08.50 watched a flock
°f .Jays beading out to sea, flying at a height of 200-250 m, directly into a
force 6-7 NVV wind. 1 hey made very slow progress and were eventually lost
to sight over the sea, still heading NVV . 1 1 is interesting to speculate as to the
late of these birds, since the next land in that direction is Ireland, and no
unusual numbers were reported from there.
Very few Jays were recorded in Cornwall thereafter, the only counts of
note being a flock of 100 in Mount Edgcumbe Park on 22nd and 110
heading E at Par on 23rd.
I o summarise the Cornish movements: the first signs of unusual
numbers were on 10th October, and numbers rose sharply on 13th, when
over 1 ,000 were recorded for the first time. Peak numbers occurred on 1 7th,
with approximately 6,000 Jays being seen. Passage was predominantly in a
westerly direction. Very few Jays were recorded in Cornwall after 19th
( )ctober, with only two counts of about 100. Jays were recorded on a total of
nearly 21,000 bird-days in Cornwall in October 1983.
16. Scotland
Increased numbers of Jays were noted, particularly in the east coast
counties of Angus, Perthshire, East Lothian and Berwickshire; despite this,
no count of 20 or more was reported in autumn 1983 from anywhere in
Scotland. I n late October, eight were at St Abb’s Head on 24th and seven at
Ay ton Castle on 28th; seven flew S over Eyemouth on 18th November. In
East Lothian, where there had been only three previous records this
century, sightings included seven at Dirleton on 12th November and six at
Tyninghame on 17th; at Seacl iff Woods there were four on 3rd and 18th
December. One Jay trapped at Dirleton on 24th November appeared to be
a British bird on plumage. In Perthshire, 14 were seen at Pitlochry on 31st
December. In western counties, increases were noted in Ayrshire
(maximum 12 at Darvel on 18th December), Kirkcudbrightshire and
Dumfriesshire.
An unusual passage of Jays, which was presumably connected with the
influx, took place at Dirleton early in 1984. On 25thjanuary, between 12.30
and 14.00, a total of 45 Jays (in parties of six to 20) flew VV low over fields:
the westerly movement was repeated the next day, this time totalling 80
Jays. No large numbers were seen subsequently.
An observation of interest, and not without some relevance to the
occurrence ofjays in the Lothians in 1983, was made by Young (1984). He
suggested that a very large temporary roost of 320 Jays seen 10 km south of
Edinburgh, in Midlothian (where Jays are scarce), on 17th October 1982
may have consisted of Continental immigrants; numbers dropped rapidly
to 123 on 18th, and to only 18 on 19th. No Jays were seen at this site during
October 1983.
Return movements in spring 1984
There were several reports of unusual numbers ofjays in the spring of 1 984,
some of which presumably relate to return passage. It must be remem-
bered, however, that spring gatherings are a normal part of the Jay’s
630
Jay movements in autumn 1983
behaviour: they consist of up to 20 or more birds and are most frequent from
late February to late April in southern England (Goodwin 1976).
In east Cornwall, 30-40 Jays were seen feeding under trees in Mount
Edgcumbe park on 19th April. In Devon, counts in excess of 20 were
recorded at several sites. At Exminster Marshes, 53 moved N (in four
groups) in 1 XU hours on 23rd April; 28 were seen at the nearby Exeter Canal
on 28th April. Also on the Exe estuary, 33 flew N at Starcross on 10th May.
Notable numbers of Jays were seen at two places in Dorset. At Durlston
Country Park a total of 524 bird-days was recorded in March, April and
May, compared with just 39 bird-days in the same period in 1983. At
Portland Bird Observatory, there were 18 Jays on 14th May and 12 on 25th
May.
On the Yorkshire coast, Jays were much in evidence. Spurn Bird Obser-
vatory recorded an unprecedented total of 262 bird-days between 20th
April and 19th June, with a peak in numbers in late May and early June.
None was seen flying in from or out to sea, either at Spurn or farther north at
Flamborough Head. Although numbers seen at Flamborough were very
low (only 12 bird-days between 22nd April and 17th June), they were still
most unusual for this locality.
Previous records of movements of Jays in Britain
Cordeaux (1883a) quoted the earliest record, from Sheppard & YVhitear
(1826), of Jays flying in to Suffolk, ‘some years’ prior to 1826, and what
appears to be the next report of extensive Jay movements, in 1876, when
Gatke noted large numbers of Jays flying in a westerly direction over
Heligoland (West Germany), for at least three days, during 21st-23rd
October 1876. There is no record of these birds having reached England. In
October 1880, a flock of between 200-300 appeared at St Margaret’s Bay,
on the Kent coast (Crichton 1880). Crichton also referred to ‘extreme cold
prevailing in the East of Europe’ at this time. A further movement of Jays
occurred during 6th-8th October 1882 on Heligoland, very similar to that of
1876 (Cordeaux 1883a). Cordeaux pointed out that Gatke’s notes include
no mention of Jays on Heligoland between these influxes. On both
occasions, the movement took place in strong easterly winds. The move-
ment of 1882 was also noted in the western half of north Lincolnshire
(Cordeaux 1883b), Oxfordshire (Aplin 1883), north Northamptonshire
early in the month (Lord Lilford 1883), and from woods on the western side
of the River Avon, Hampshire (Corbin 1883), where increased numbers
were present from 11th or 12th October to the middle of the month, but
decreased by the end of the month. According to Witherby (1935), flocks
were reported from Yorkshire to Kent in 1882. Cillham & Homes (1950)
quoted Ticehurst’s (1909) report of the arrival of ‘immense numbers’ of
Jays in north Kent during 8th- 15th October 1886.
During the 20th Century, an extensive movement of Jays has been
reported in Britain or western Europe in each decade. Large numbers were
again recorded in the woods west of the River Avon and in the New Forest,
Hampshire, in the first half of October 1902 (Corbin 1902). This movement
was also reported from Uckfield, Sussex, in the first week of October,
Jay movements in autumn 1983 63 1
numbers remaining high into November, but decreasing later (Morris
1903), and Irom Bloxham, Oxfordshire, from 8th October, increasing to
29th and with even more in November and early December (Aplin 1903).
In September-October 1910, an influx of Jays occurred in Kent and Suffolk,
‘definitely ascribed to migrants from the Continent’ (Witherbv 1935), while
in the following year, 191 1, Jays were abundant in southwest Hampshire in
late August or early September (Corbin 1911). Witherbv (1935) also
recorded an influx of Jays, again identified as Continental birds, in Norfolk
in 1918. Ferns et at. (1977) quoted Ingram & Salmon ( 1939) in reporting a
large flock of Jays at St Mellons, Gwent, in October 1923.
Boyd (1946) commented on an unusual flight of four Jays, S\V, ‘at a good
height , in Cheshire in mid October 1930. He further commented that Jays
were unusually common in late October 1931, mid October 1937 and late
October 1941. Boyd also recorded a group of five seen flying S at a very
considerable height near Kendal, Westmorland, in mid October 1937.
I hese observations, he suggested, represent dispersal of the species. In this
connection, it is relevant to note Frost’s (1978) suggestion that occurrence
of Jays in unusual localities, or flying ‘very high as if on passage’, may be
explained by a poor acorn crop at the time.
I hree Jays shot at Shoreham, Sussex, in December 1934 were attributed
to the Continental race (Harrison 1935). In 1935, a large movement ofjavs
occurred in Hampshire and south Wiltshire, in early October (Witherbv
1935). Increased numbers were seen near Newbury, Berkshire, in earlv
November, but no unusual numbers were reported from Norfolk or Kent.
Twelve years later, in 1947, three Jays, identified as Continental birds,
were recorded in very severe weather during March, in Yorkshire
(Wagstaffe, Williamson & Bramley 1947), while a large number ofjavs.
again including identified Continental birds, appeared in Kent early in
October (Harrison 1948). Thesejays were reported from various places in
Kent, with some southerly movements, and were noticed throughout
October, and into November (Gillham & Homes 1950; Harrison 1948).
Harrison’s belief that this movement would extend to other counties was
apparently confirmed, as Cohen & Taverner (1972) stated that in the
winter of 1947/48 there were an estimated 2,000 on the Mottisfont Estate,
Hampshire. Subsequently, Continental Jays were recorded in Kent in
December 1947, and March and April 1948. suggesting that overwintering
occurred (Harrison 1948).
In September-October 1957. there occurred the widely reported influx of
tits and other species into Britain, analysed in great detail by Cramp, Pettet
& Sharrock (1960). Jays were first reported in Kent and Sussex in mid
September, with birds flying in over the sea, SW and N\\ into Kent, and N
into Sussex. Numbers increased in the second half of the same month on the
Kent coast, with some in Norfolk, while large numbers were seen on the
Suffolk coast in late September and October. The largest numbers reported
were 600-1,000 moving SW on 21st September at Ingatestone, Essex, with
smaller numbers the next day. Unusual occurrences this autumn included
six Jays near Dublin in late October, which overwintered there, while a
flock of Jays flying over Hilbre on 4th October was the first record for the
632
Jay movements in autumn 1983
island (Hardy 1966). Numbers seen in the WesfCountry at this time may,
it is suggested in the paper, have been the result of a good breeding season
reported there. Similar unusual numbers reported in the Merseyside area
(Hardy 1958) were also explained by good breeding success. In view of
Harrison’s (1948) observation on overwintering, Prendergast & Boys’s
( 1983) record of 24 Jays at Portland Bill in May 1958 may relate to the 1957
influx.
Numbers ofjays were recorded in the London area in October 1959, and
in 1961 (Homes, Cramp & Wallace 1964). Prendergast & Boys (1983)
recorded over 40 at Brownsea Island, Dorset, in October 1972, and over 60
at Radipole Lake and Chapman’s Pool, Dorset, in October 1977.
Discussion
Origin of the Jays
During the present century, and especially since the 1940s, Jays have
shown a steady and widespread increase in Britain (Parslow 1973). This is
believed to be due to a combination of several factors, including greatly
reduced keepering and increased afforestation, particularly in Scotland.
The effect of keepering is illustrated by the fact that over 50% of the
recoveries of ringed Jays have been ofindividuals so killed (Hickling 1983).
As a result of this increase, it is likely that Jays are now at a fairly high
population level.
The population spread is only gradual, however, since there is limited
dispersal of young birds. Holyoak (1971) cited only four movements of over
32 km of Jays ringed as nestlings or juveniles. The sedentary nature of
British Jays was confirmed by Mead & Hudson (1984), who found that
98% (271 outof276) of those recovered between 1972 and 1981 were within
50 km of their ringing site. In contrast, in the period October 1983 to May-
1984, seven of the 39 Jays recovered (18%) had moved over 50 km,
reflecting their increased mobility.
Although there is no ringing evidence to involve Continental Jays in the
movement of 1983, a Jay trapped at Dungeness in October 1955 was
recovered in the Netherlands in June 1956. There is no doubt that some
reached Britain from the Continent in autumn 1983, since Jays were seen
coming in over the sea at a number of East Coast sites. While many of the
Jays seen in east Kent were believed to have crossed from the Continent,
none, however, was actually recorded coming in off the sea, except for those
at Dungeness on 2nd October.
Some observers described the Jays they saw in autumn 1983 as
‘Continental’, but the question of precisely what is a ‘Continental’ Jay is a
difficult one. The Jay shows a gradual change in plumage colour from east
to west across its range, becoming progressively more rufous westwards,
with the most rufous birds in Ireland (see Coombs 1978). Individuals with
the different plumage types occur in all populations, however, but Dr
C. J. O. Harrison (in litt.) believes that it is generally safe to describe birds
which are pinker, greyer and paler than our usual Jays as ‘probably of
Continental origin’.
Jay movements in autumn 1983
633
304. Jay Garrulus glandarius, German Democratic Republic, September 1977 ( Gunter Rmnhojer)
The location and timing of the Jay movements in autumn 1983 suggest
that, although some Continental birds were certainly involved, their
numbers were greatly swelled by British birds moving, we believe, in search
of food. The main pattern of movement is show n in fig. 3. Beginning w ith
large numbers in Kent in early October, a predominantly westward
movement of Jays was observed along the English south coast. Peak
numbers were recorded progressively later in October westwards, cul-
minating in the huge numbers present in Devon and Cornwall during
17th- 19th October. In most counties, the large flocks rapidly moved on
westwards or dispersed, and Jay numbers apparently returned to normal
levels soon after.
Food and feeding of Jays
Jays are adaptable feeders and their diet includes acorns and other nuts,
wild fruits and seeds, grain, insects, eggs and nestlings of small birds, and
small mammals (Holyoak 1968; Bossema 1979). Acorns, however, form an
important part of the diet for much of the year, particularly in autumn and
634
Jay movements in autumn 1983
winter. As well as feeding heavily on acorns in autumn, .Jays store large
numbers of them (several thousands per bird) for use later in the winter,
spring and even early summer (Bossema 1979). The Jay has a specially
enlarged oesophagus which enables it to transport acorns (up to nine at a
time, the last one usually carried in the bill). It also carries beech mast and
hazel nuts in the oesophagus, and stores them, in the same way. Nilsson
( 1985) has shown that, in south Sweden, Jays store beech mast only when
acorns are not available, and he specifically quotes this as occurring in
1983. Bossema (1979) suggested that there is a ‘symbiosis’ between oaks
and Jays, the trees benefiting from the Jays’ widespread planting of acorns,
many of which germinate into seedlings, while the Jays benefit by using not
only acorns as food, but also collecting defoliating caterpillars to feed their
nestlings.
In autumn 1983, there was a severe and widespread failure of the acorn
crop, but such failures have occurred previously. Jones (1959) stated that
both sessile oak Quercus petraea and pedunculate oak Q. robur fruit with great
irregularity, uniformly heavy crops occurring about once in six or seven
years, moderate crops about once in three or four years, while ‘years in which
there is an almost complete failure to produce seed are frequent’. The Seeds
Section of the Forestry Commission reported a 90% failure of acorns in
1983, both in Britain and on the Continent (A. F. Mitchell in litt.).
Comments on the state of the acorn crop were made by observers from
many areas, including Lancashire (‘virtually nil’ — Burnley), Wales (‘very
poor year’), Essex (‘very scarce in local woodlands’ — Bradwell), Kent
(‘almost complete failure’ — Petts Wood), Flampshire (‘negligible’ —
Portsdown Hill) and Devon (‘almost nil’ — Ashclyst Forest). Probably
more than one reason contributed to this failure. Jones (1959) suggested
that, while a warm late summer and autumn encourage the production of
flower buds, and abundant seed in the following year, cold weather the
following spring may destroy the flowers. These descriptions fit the weather
for July to October 1982, and April and May 1983 (Meteorological Office
1983, 1984). The European weather was described as exceptionally dull
and chilly in spring 1983 (Lecomte 1984; Jones 1983). It is possible,
therefore, that the number of acorns was reduced at the time of flowering.
Developing acorns are subject to attack by several insects. Even in a good
seed year, as many as 25% of acorns may be damaged by insects,
principally weevils of the genus Curculio and larvae of the tortricid moth
Cydia ( = Enarmonia ) splendana (Jones 1959). In a poor seed year, the
proportion of seed infested by insects is much higher, Jones (1959) quoting
figures of up to 50% damaged. During recent years, another cause of acorn
loss, the cynipid wasp Andricus quercuscalicis , which induces the so-called
‘knopper’ galls on acorns, has spread over much of southern England, and
is now causing considerable damage to acorns. Again, it is likely that the
proportion of acorns infested will be higher in poor seed years. In autumn
1983, a high rate of galling (about 75%) by this wasp was ‘. . . more or less
universal south of a line from the Humber to the Severn’ (M. J. Crawley in
litt.). It seems likely, therefore, that the poor acorn crop began primarily as
a result of natural failure due to climatic reasons, and that the small number
635
Jay movements in autumn 1983
of developing acorns was secondarily reduced by proportionately higher
than usual infestation by damaging insects. Direct competition for the
available acorns must occur from other vertebrate consumers, such as
squirrels and the YV oodpigeon Columba palumbus. Jones (1959) suggested
that the \\ oodpigeon probably consumes a greater proportion of the acorn
crop in England than any other animal, and quoted R. S. Troup in stating
that a YV oodpigeon can carry up to 60-70 acorns in its crop, and consumes
twice this number daily.
As a result of the scarcity of acorns. Jays were seen in autumn 1983
feeding on a wide variety of other foods. These included sweet chestnuts
Castanea saliva , beech mast Fagus sylvatica , acorns of holm oak Quercus ilex,
blackberries Rubus fruticosus, and berries of hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, ivy
Hedera helix , yew Taxus baccata and sea buckthorn Hippophae rhamnoides.
Although this account has been restricted to the Jay movements in
Britain, there was a similar acorn failure on the Continent. Despite the
large numbers of Jays seen in southern England, no sizeable movements
were reported from France or Belgium (P. S. Redman in litt.). None was
seen at Cap Gris Nez, where 400 Jays were recorded coasting Y\ in October
1955 (Redman 1956). An invasion of Jays was reported in Switzerland in
autumn 1983 {Brit. Birds 77: 591). In Poland there was a report of large
numbers of Jays moving YV across the frontier (C. J. Mead in litt.). At two
Polish migration stations on the Baltic coast, Mierzeja YVislana (54° 2TN
19° 1 9 ’ E ) and Bukowo-Kopan (54° 28’N 16° 25’E), a marked westerly and
southwesterly passage of over 1 ,600 Jays was seen between 28th September
and 17th October, the main movement being from 28th September to 2nd
October, when over 800 were recorded (P. Busse in litt.). There was a large
irruption ofjays in southern Sweden in late September and October 1983.
About 10,000 migrated YV to NYY at Vanersborgsviken, Yastergotland, in
the last week of September and the first week of October. During the week
around 20th September, about 3,000 were counted at Karlshamn and
about 1 ,300 at Araslovssjon, both in the southeast. At Getteron. on the west
coast, 1,500 flew N on 25th September and 500 S on 1st October. At
Falsterbo, only 100 were seen (P. Alstrom in litt.).
Similar movements have been recorded in the past (e.g. during the 1957
influx into Britain), suggesting that movements here are related to those on
the Continent. Coupled with the increased Jay population, however, the
failure of the acorn crop would probably be more apparent than in earlier
years, when Jays were scarcer. Similarly, it is possible that, assuming the
Jay population remains high and the parasitic wasp Andricus quercuscalicis
continues to spread, future acorn crop failures could result in similar
extensive Jay movements.
Acknowledgments
We gratefully acknowledge all those observers and county recorders who sent us their records,
without which this paper could not have been written. We would also like to thank those who
helped in any way with the paper. They include: J. D. Aldridge, P. Alstrom, W \\ . Ashby. S.J.
Aspinall, M. J. Baker. R. F. Baker. K. Baldridge, P. B. Barlow. D. M. Batchelor. H R
Beecroft, T. Beer, J. Best. K. Boot. B Boothroyd, A. Brown, J. W. Brucker. R. W. Bullock.
A. J Bundy, R. Burridge, P. Busse, Miss B. Cape, Miss M. Cape. P. F„ Castle. G. P. Catley.
636
Jay movements in autumn 1983
B. Cave, R. Champion, R. Chapman, S. M. Christophers, J* Clark, J. E. Clark, J. S. Clark,
R. Clarke, M. R. Coates, J. Confino, Mrs S. Cowdy, S. Cox, M.J. Crawley, J. Cudworth,J. F.
Cullen, J. E. Dale, A. H. Davis, P. E. Davis, G. Dickerson, C. M. Dickman, A. Dobbs, Mrs K.
Doyle, P. A. Dukes, P. J. Dunn, R. Durman, P. J. Dwyer, S. Elcoate, P. VV. Ellicott, M.
Feather, D. S. Flumm, 1 Forsyth, M. W. Fraser, H. J. Freeman, G. H.J. Fursdon, C. Furse, G.
Gill, T. W. Gladwin, R. D. Goater, P. F. Goodfellow, D. Goodwin, R. Gould, G. P. Green, M.
Gromadzki, G. H. Gush, M. A. Hallett, DrC.J. O. Harrison, G. R. Harrison, M. Harrison, P.
Harrison, R. Harrison, M. Hastings, S.J. Havhow, P. J. Heath, C. H. Hindle, I. P. Hodgson,
M. S. Hodgson, P. D. Horsfield,J. Howard, R. Hubble, H. Huggins, R. E. Humphrey, M.J.
Ireland, G. C. Jackson, C. Jarvis, D. J. Jarvis, A. R. Jenkins, P. Jennings, M. Jones, M. G.
Kelsey, H. Kendall, M. Kendall. R, \Y. Key. R. Khan, J. Kieser, P. A. Kirkpatrick, C. A. E.
Kirtland, D. Kramer, Dr P. C. Lack, D. VV. G. Ladbrook, P. A. Lassey, M. R. Lawn, R.
Leeming, W. G. D. Legge, A. J. Livett, N. A. G. Lord, J. D. Lough, R. Lovegrove, G. J.
Lumsden, R. T. McAndrew, G. D, NlcLeish. S. McMinn, S. C. Madge, J. H. Marchant. J.
Martin, J. R. Mather, Mrs A. L. VV. Mayo, C. J. Mead, J. Medland, P. Miller, ]. Minihane,
A. F. Mitchell, A. V. Moon, S.J. Moon. D. R Moore. R. Morris, D. Moss, D. J. Moxom, H.
Murray, R. Murray, VV. Nelson, J. A. S. Newman, R. Newton, P. Nicholson. B. Nightingale,
D. Norman, R. K. Norman, N. Odin, C. D. Orman, S. M. Palmer, J. Parker, S. T. Pash, B.
Pattenden. K. Pellow, M. K. Peter, J. Phillips, J. D. Powne, A. J. Prater, K. Preston, L. R.
Price, B. Rabbitts, P. S. Redman, G. Rees, A. A. Richards, P. VV. Richardson, D. H. V.
Roberts, R. VV. Robinson, M. Rogers, M.J. Rogers, K. B. Rooke, H. E. Rose,J. Rowe, P. M.
Sadler, J. Sankey, M. Seaford. M. Seago, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, B. Shorrock, T. B. Silcocks,
B. E. Slade, R. Smaldon, A. J. Smith, B. R. Spence, K. G. Spencer, R. Squires, J. Stafford, P.
Standley, M. J. Tarrant, K. Taylor, M. Taylor, R. S. Thomas, P. Thomson. R. Thornett, S. R.
Tucker, V. R. Tucker, VV. H. Tucker, H. Turner, R. Turner, D. M. Vaughan, G. A. Vaughan,
VV. A. Venables, C. J. Vines, K. E. Vinicombe, G. Walbridge, F. R. VValley, P. Walton, A.
Ward, D. Washington, M. Washington, J. Wheatley, P. R. Wilcox, A. Williams, L. P.
Williams, M.J. Williams, T. Williams, E. Willson, P. Willson, J. D. Wilson, \1. G. Wilson, P.
Wilson, A. E. L. Woods, and S. F. Young.
Summary
Large numbers of Jays Garrulus glandarius were recorded, mainly in southern England, in
autumn 1983. Although the largest numbers were seen during October, in Norfolk and the
English south coast counties from Kent to Cornwall, there were reports of unusually large
flocks ofjays from many counties in England and Wales. Movement was predominantly in a
westerly direction, and Jays were reported flying in over the sea at several East Coast sites. The
highest numbers were seen in Devon and Cornwall during 1 7th- 19th October, after which few
large flocks were reported. These movements were probably in response to a severe failure of
the acorn crop in autumn 1983, both in Britain and on the Continent.
References
Aplin, O. V. 1883. Migration of thejay. The Zoologist Ser. 3, 7 : 128.
1903. Migration ofjays. The Zoologist Ser. 4, 7: 28.
Bossema, L. 1979. Jays and oaks: an eco-ethological study of a symbiosis. Behaviour 70: 1-117.
Boyd, A. VV. 1946. The Country Diary oj a Cheshire Man. London.
Cohen, E., & Taverner, J. H. 1972. A Revised List oj Hampshire and Isle oj Wight Birds. Oxford.
Coombs, C. J. F. 1978. The Crows. A Study oj the Corvids oj Europe. London.
Corbin, G. B. 1883. Migration of thejay. The Zoologist Ser. 3, 7: 77.
1902. Migration ofjays. The Zoologist Ser. 4, 6: 434-435.
191 1. Notes from south-western Hants. The Zoologist Ser. 4, 15: 152-155.
Cordeaux, J. 1883a. On the migration of the common Jay. The Zoologist Ser. 3, 7: 1-3.
1883b. The migration of the common Jay. The Zoologist Ser. 3, 7: 76-77.
Cramp, S., Pettet, A., & Sharrock, ]. T. R. I960. The irruption of tits in autumn 1957. Brit.
Birds 53: 109-111.
Crichton, A. VV. 1880. Unusual migration ofjays. The Zoologist Ser. 3, 4: 71.
Ferns, P. N., Hamar, H. VV., Humphreys, P. N., Kelsey, F. D., Sarson, E. T., Venables,
W. A., & Walker, I. R. 1977. The Birds oj Gwent. Pontypool.
637
Jay movements in autumn 1983
1' rost , R. A. 1978. Birds of Derbyshire. Buxton.
Gillham, E. H., & Homes, R.C. 1950. The Birds of the North Kent Marshes. London.
Goodwin, D. 1976. Crows oj the World. London.
Hardy, E. 1958. Ornithology of the Liverpool and north-west area, 1957-58. Merseyside
Naturalists’ Association Bird Report 1957-58 , page 30.
1966. I he ornithology of the Liverpool area, north-west England and North Wales,
1963-66. Merseyside Naturalists’ Association North-western Bird Report 1963-66. page 43.
Harrison, J. M. 1935. Continental Jays in Kent. Brit. Birds 29: 27.
1948. Immigration of Continental Jays into Kent. Brit. Birds 41: 180-181.
Hickling, R. (ed). 1983. Enjoying Ornithology. Calton.
Hodgson, 1. P. 1983. The influx of Jays into Kent in autumn 198.3. Kent Ornithological Society
Newsletter , December 1983, pages 7-9.
Holyoak, D. 1968. A comparative study of the food of some British Corvidae. Bird Study 15:
147-153.
1971. Movements and mortality of Corvidae. Bird Study 18:97-106.
Homes, R. C., ( !ramp, S., & Wallace, D. I. M. 1964. The years 1955 to 1961 . In The London
Natural History Society, The birds oj the London area. Pp. 295-322. London.
1 ngram, G. C. S., & Salmon, H. M. 1939. The birds of Monmouthshire. Trans. Cardiff Nat. Soc.
60: 93-127.
Jones, E. \\ . 1959. Biological flora of the British Isles: Quercus L.J. Ecol. 47: 169-222.
Jones, P. D. 1983. A summary of climatic events during the period March 1983 to May 1983.
Climate Monitor 12: 30-33.
Lecomte, D. M. 1984. Unusual weather in 1983— Part 1. W M 0 Bulletin 33: 206-220.
Lilford, Lord. 1883. Ornithological notes from north Northamptonshire. The Zoologist Ser . 3,
7: 27.
Mead, C. ]., & Hudson. R. 1984. 1984. Report on bird-ringing for 1983. Ringing & Migration 5:
153-192.
Meteorological Office. 1983. July to October 1982. Monthly H eather Report 99: 121-200.
1984. April and May. Monthly Weather Report 100: 61-100.
Morris, R. 1903. Migration ofjays. The Zoologist Ser. 4, 7: 27-28.
Nilsson, S. G. 1985. Ecological and evolutionary interactions between reproduction ofbeech
Fagus sylvatica and seed eating animals. Oikos 44: 157-164.
Parslow, J. 1973. Breeding Birds of Britain and Ireland. Berkhamsted.
Penhallurick, R. D. 1978. The Birds oj Cornwall and the Isles of Scil/y. Penzance.
Prendergast, E. D. V., & Boys, }. Y. 1983. The Birds oj Dorset. Newton Abbot.
Redman, P. S. 1956. Notes on selected migrants at Cap Gris Nez, north France, in 1955. Brit.
Birds 49: 396-397.
Sheppard, R., & Whitear, W. 1826. .4 catalogue of Norfolk and Suffolk birds, with remarks.
Taylor, D. W., Davenport, D. L., & Flegg. J. J. M. 1981. The Birds of Kent: a review oj their
status and distribution. Meopham.
Ticehurst, N. F. 1909. ,4 History oj the Birds oj Kent. London.
Wagstaffe, R.. Williamson, K.. & Bramley. W. G. 1947. Continentaljay in Yorkshire. Brit.
Birds 40: 21 1 .
Witherby, H. F. 1935. Large movement of Jays in Hampshire. Brit. Birds29: 212-214.
Young, J. G. 1984. Large, temporary roost ofjays in Midlothian. Scot. Birds 13: 88.
A. W. G. John. Brook Cottage, Sampjord Spiney, Yelverton , Devon PL20 7QX
J. RoskelL 18 Oak Tree Park , Glenholt, Plymouth PL6 7JZ
European news
We are delighted to record that this selection includes a contribution
from Morocco. We had invited the national authorities in a number of
North African and Middle Eastern countries to nominate an official corre-
spondent and to supply regular six-monthly notes for selective inclusion in
this feature. We are, however, for the present, retaining the title ‘European
news’ since we believe that ornithology is not yet quite sufficiently
organised in some countries for us to aim to produce a comprehensive
six-monthly ‘West Palearctic news’. That is, however, a possible long-term
aim, and we welcome offers of regular contributions from the national
societies in countries not yet included.
This eighteenth six-monthly selection also includes contributions from
20 European countries. The official correspondents whose detailed six-
monthly reports are summarised in this feature are acknowledged at the
end of this contribution. This feature is intended as a news service; anyone
requiring further information or quoting records in other publications
should refer to the literature of the relevant country. If you have made
observations in any of the countries included here and do not know to whom
records should be sent, we suggest that you send a copy to the relevant
‘European news’ correspondent listed at the end of this summary, who will
pass your records on to the correct person.
Records awaiting formal verification by national rarities committees are
indicated by an asterisk(*).
Unless otherwise stated, all records refer to single individuals
Black-throated Diver Gavia arctica morocco
First record since 1895: ofT Temara near
Rabat on 6th January 1985.
White-billed Diver Gavia adamsii Sweden
High numbers: 22 in 1984 (22 also in 1983),
most in October (seven).
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus Spain
First record for Canary Islands: Arinaga,
Gran Canaria, on 12th November 1984.
Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea
morocco Large northerly movements: over
21,000 passing Cap Rhir in 86 hours 20
minutes during 6th-23rd August 1983,
probably feeding movements from colonies
on Selvagems Islands.
Manx Shearwater Pujfinus puffinus Sweden
Second and third records o I P. p. mauretamcw.
Varberg on 30th August 1984 and Halmstad
on 7th October 1984*.
Madeiran Petrel Oceanodroma caslro France
Black-browed Albatross Diomedea melano-
First record: found dead after hurricane
phris morocco First and second records:
adult flying south ofT Tamri, north of
Agadir, on 17th March 1983, and adult flying
southwest at El-Harboura near Rabat on
13th September 1984. spain Correction:
record in August 1984 (Brit. Birds 78: 358)
accepted only as albatross Diomedea.
Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis morocco First
record: found dead ashore in Moulay —
Bouselham on 12th January 1985.
‘Hortense’ in Ardeche in September 1984.
Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Estonian ssr
Second breeding: up to 40 individuals on islet
in Vainameri in 1985, but nests not counted
(first breeding was in 1984, Brit. Birds 78:
338).
Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis morocco
Largest-ever winter concentration: 55 at
Sebkha-Bou-Arcg lagoon on 20th January
1985. SWITZERLAND Sixth record: immature
near Basle on 25th September 1984.
Bulwer’s Petrel Bulweria bulwerii morocco
Sixth record: flying north olfCap Rhir, north
of Agadir, on 6th August 1983.
White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus morocco
First record: Ouarzazate Dam from 13th
February to 3rd April 1983.
638
[Brit. Birds 78: 638-645, December 1985]
European news
Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis
morocco filth to eighth records: light-phase
at Oued Massa estuary on 20th July 1983,
dark-phase at Skhirat on 1 2th May 1984,
dark-phase at Oued Yquem estuary during
23rd-28th May 1984, and light-phase at Sidi-
Moussa near Oualidia on 0th October 1984
(cf. recent records in Austria, France, the
Federal Republic of Germany and Greece,
Brit. Birds 77: 233, 586: 78: 338).
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea itai.y Increased
breeding numbers: 965 pairs in 1 1 colonies in
1984 (675 pairs in same colonies in 1981).
morocco First breeding record: two occupied
nests at Ouarzazate on 13th May 1984, at
least one young reared. Spain First breeding
in eastern half of Iberia: at least 14 nests in
reed-beds of Albufera de V alencia in spring
1984, and several young reared.
Black Stork Ciconia nigra Luxembourg First
summering record: three adults (one
probably first-summer) present throughout
summer 1985; no proof of breeding (cf.
spring/summer records in Belgium since
1979 and recent breeding in France and
Belgium, Brit. Birds 77: 587).
White Stork Ciconia ciconia Switzerland
Total of 109 pairs at occupied nests (106 of
them near sites of reintroduction, where they
are fed) in 1984. 64 of them successfully
rearing young.
Bald Ibis G eronticus eremita morocco
Population census in spring 1982: 380 indi-
viduals at 15 sites, but only 93 breeding pairs
in 12 colonies, mainly in southwest.
Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia Czechoslo-
vakia Second and third breeding records: at
new reservoir in southern Moravia, four
nests, three with eggs in 1984, and four nests,
two with eggs (but later flooded) in 1985; first
breeding was in southern Moravia in 1949.
Mute Swan Cygnus olor morocco First
record: three at Marja Zerga from 3rd
January to 5th February 1984. two
remaining until 9th March.
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus Greece
Winter influx: large numbers in north,
including 1 15 on Lake Mitrikou, in January
1985.
White-fronted Goose . 1 riser albifrons Greece
Largest number since 1969: over 25,000 on
Evros Delta on 6th March 1985.
Snow Goose Anser caemlescens Poland Filth
or sixth record: adult and immature north of
\\ roefaw on 4th November 1984. one of them
found injured on 7th November; origin
uncertain.
639
Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis Greece
Largest-ever number: 2.000 on Evros Delta
on 6th March 1985.
Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus garnbensis
morocco First record: Oued Sous estuary on
12th and 23rd March 1984. then at C)ued
Massa estuary on ten dates from 23rd March
to 12th December.
Wood Duck Aix sponsa Yugoslavia Second
record for Slovenia: male at Bled on 22nd
March 1978.
Mandarin Aix galericulata morocco First
record: pair in the Rif at Al-Anasar pond on
9th January 1984.
Wigeon Anas penelope morocco Most
abundant wintering duck: 28,400 in January
198.3, 18,600 in January 1984. and 26,500 in
January 1985 (about 85% on lagoon of Merja
Zerga).
American Wigeon Anas americana morocco
First record: male at Oued Massa on 27th-
28th December 1984, subsequently three
males and two females on 29th-30th
December, two males and one female on
22nd January 1985, and two males during
24th-27th February 1985.
Baikal Teal Anas jormosa SPAIN First record:
adult male in Valencia on 19th January
1983* (cf. eighth French record, on 26th
March 1983, Brit. Birds 76: 567).
Teal Anas crecca morocco Second record of .4.
c. carolinensis: male at Oued Massa on 25th
and 27th April 1984.
Blue-winged Teal Anas discors morocco
Fourth record: two separate pairs at Oued
Massa estuary on 12th and 16th March 1983.
Poland First record: male in breeding
plumage at Trzciana near Rzeszow on 9th
April 1984.
Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris
Greece Fifth record: female on Naxos Island
on 1st May 1984. morocco Highest-ever
counts of wintering flocks: 1.680 in January
1982, 1,000 in January 1983 and 1.400 in
January 1984. all at Sidi-Bou-Rhana.
Breeding-range extension: southwest of
precious known range, first proof of breeding
at Oued Massa estuary in 1982, at least five
broods in spring 1984; and pair with young at
Oued Saquiat-Al-Hamra at Layoun (former
Spanish Sahara) on 23rd April 1985.
Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina
Switzerland First breeding record at Lake
of Geneva; national total of nine broods at six
sites, in 1984 (cf. range expansion or
increases in Austria, Czechoslovakia and
Poland. Brit. Birds 77: 587).
640
Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris morocco
Third and fourth records: male at Oualidia
on 25th February 1984, and male at Oued
Nlassaon 19th October 1984.
Surf Scoter Melanitta perspidllata spain First
record: immature male in Corme-Laxe
during 22nd January to 5th March 1983*.
Goldeneye Bucephala clangula Belgium First
suggestions of breeding: pair on lake in east
until July, display, copulation and prospect-
ing of nestbox noted, morocco Fourth
record: Oualidia lagoon on 22nd November
1984*.
Pallas’s Fish Eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus
Finland First record: shot in Pori in ‘about
1910’.
White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla
Estonian ssr Most-successful breeding
season for 20 years: 14 occupied nests, 12
young fledged from six nests (3, 2, 2, 2, 2, 1).
Finland Improved breeding success: 24
young fledged in 1985 and 30 in 1984 (cf. Brit.
Birds 74: 260); population about 50 pairs.
(Gf. increases in Norway and as winterer in
France and Greece, Brit. Birds 78: 340.)
Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus
Switzerland Seventh record: in Jura on 1 1th
September 1984 (sixth was in April 1983,
Brit. Birds 76: 567).
Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus morocco Third
confirmed breeding record since 1950s:
young in nest near Fes in May 1984. Poland
Fourth or fifth post- 1945 record: weak
immature caught near Raciborz on 1st June
1984.
Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus Luxembourg
First brood for 40 years, and probably first-
ever successful breeding: three young fledged
in early August 1985.
Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus morocco
Eleventh record: male at Merja Zerga lagoon
on 13 th January 1985.
Rough-legged Buzzard Buleo lagopus
France Small influx: ten to 12 in Alsace in
January-February 1985. Luxembourg
Influx: ‘unusually large number of sightings’
during late February to late April 1985.
(Apart from high numbers in Finland in
October 1982, there has been no report of an
influx in Europe since winter 1978/79, Brit.
Birds 73: 258; 76: 273.)
Tawny/Steppe Eagle Aquila rapax Finland
Seventh record: Harko on 5th October 1984
(sixth was in May 1984, Brit. Birds 77: 588).
Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca Netherlands
Only record ( 1963/64) now rejected.
European news
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus Nether-
lands Both records (1964 and 1979) now
rejected. Sweden Ninth record: Skane during
26th-28th September 1984.
Osprey Pandion haliaetus France First inland
breeding: pair in 1984 and 1985 in ‘centre’.
morocco First census of Mediterranean
coast: 18 breeding pairs along 75 km of
coastline in June 1983; three new nests
discovered in spring 1984 and 1985;
Moroccan population appears to be the
largest in the Mediterranean region.
Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus
morocco Tenth record: male near Fes on
5th-6th May 1984.
Eleonora’s Falcon Falco eleonorae France
Breeding: at least one pair bred on
Mediterranean coast in 1984. Poland
Second record: Plawniowice near Katowice
on 29th September 1984 (first was in
September 1982, Brit. Birds 76: 273).
Peregrine Falco peregrinus Finland Poor
breeding success: 58 nestlings in 47 terri-
tories in 1985: 1.2 per territory compared
with about 2 in ‘normal’ years.
Hazel Grouse Bonasa bonasia Netherlands
Only record (1888) now rejected.
Corncrake Crex crex Switzerland Dramatic
decrease: only one singing male in 1984.
Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Malta Second
and third breeding records; two separate
pairs in spring 1985 (first was in spring 1984,
Brit. Birds 77:' 588).
Allen’s Gallinule Porphyrula alleni morocco
Fourth record: adult at Oued Massa estuary
on 4th April 1985 (only recent European
records were in Spain in December 1975 and
in Finland in May 1979. Brit. Birds 71: 584;
73: 575).
Crane Crus grus morocco Winter censuses:
during 1982/83-1984/85, more than 2,000
wintering, south to Marrakech and Agadir,
but mostly (1,500) in north.
Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo
morocco Small population (about 20 indi-
viduals) still exists iu Middle Atlas; pair
displaying and mating in spring in 1983 and
1984, but apparently no young reared
because of high level of human disturbance.
Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis undulata
morocco More than 250 individuals of this
threatened (and protected!) species were
killed, by hunters from the Middle East, in
eastern and southern Morocco between
January 1984 and January 1985.
641
European news
Great Bustard Otis tarda Latvian ssr Fifth
record: spring 1985*.
Black -winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni
Poland Fourth record: two at mouth of River
Vistula on 30th August 1984.
Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii
Netherlands Third record: Den Oever from
7th August 1985 onwards* (note that since
1978 there have been the first to sixth records
for Britain & Ireland, third for France, fourth
to sixth for Malta, first to third for the
Netherlands, first for Norway, second to
fourth for Poland and fourth for Sweden, Brit.
Birds 75: 27; 78: 341).
Caspian Plover Charadrius asiaticus France
Second record: almost full summer plumage
in Aude on 26th April 1985* (since 1978,
there have been records in Italy, Malta,
Norway and Romania; the first French
record was in August 1980, Brit. Birds 76:
274; 78: 341).
Lesser Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica
Poland Third record: near Jastarnia on 16th
November 1984.
Sociable Plover Chettusia gregaria spain Fifth
record: near Barcelona on 21st December
1984*.
White-tailed Plover Chettusia leucura
morocco First record: adult at Oued Massa
estuary during 24th-28th December 1983.
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata
Netherlands All three records (1969, 1972
and 1974) now rejected.
Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus
scolopaceus Netherlands The 1983 record
(Brit. Birds 76: 568) is now' first, not second,
following rejection of 197 1 record.
Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda
Netherlands Only record (1953) now
rejected.
Redshank Tringa totanus Yugoslavia First
breeding record for Slovenia: pair with two
young on 18th June 1985.
Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa fiavipes
Netherlands All six records during 1964-80
now rejected.
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia spain
Second record: Torremolinos on 14th May
1982 (first was in August 1979, Brit. Birds 73:
258).
Wilson’s Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor
Finland Third record: male in Soderskar
bird sanctuary on 26th June 1985. Spain
Second record: Aviles on 25th and 28th
August 1984.
Grey Phalarope Phalaropus Julicarius
Switzerland First spring record: adult male
in central Switzerland during 1 0th- 1 1th June
1984.
Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus
morocco Third 20th-Century record: lagoon
of Khnifiss on 26th April 1985.
Gulls Larus italy First winter census:
207,029 individuals of 12 species in 1984.
Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus
Belgium Largest west European colony: 15
pairs at Zwin Reserve in 1985. Czechoslo-
vakia Third breeding record: three nests in
1984 at reservoir in southern Moravia (first
and second records: Brit. Birds 77: 237).
France Winter census: 1,823 in January
1984. morocco Winter census: 415 on
Atlantic coast between El-Jadida and
Oualidia in January 1984. spain First
breeding: adult incubating nest with three
eggs in colony of Audouin’s Gulls L. audouinii
on islet off.Mallorca on 13th June 1984; since
only one adult seen, there is possibility of
hybridisation w ith an Audouin’s Gull.
Laughing Gull Larus atricilla France Sixth
record: first-winter in Loire-Atlantique in
March 1985*.
Franklin’s Gull Icarus pipixcan spain Second
record: Torremolinos on 29th October 1983.
Sabine’s Gull Larus sabitu Switzerland
Seventh record: adult at Klingnan Reservoir
on 20th September 1984.
Bonaparte’s Gull Larus Philadelphia
Netherlands First record: adult at
IJmuiden on 4th August 1985* (one in 1960
and two in 1975 now rejected).
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus France
W inter census: about 1 million in January
1984.
Slender-billed Gull Larus genei morocco
First proof of breeding since 1967: 12 nests
with eggs near Tarfaya on 19th July 1985.
spain First winter records: 15 in Cordoba on
7th-8th January 1982: 35 on Ebro Delta on
23rd January 1983; 16 on Ebro Delta and 87
near Huelva in January 1984.
Audouin’s Gull Larus audouinii morocco
Winter census: 766 in January 1984. south to
Agadir, but mostlv (737) on Mediterranean
coast. First mainland breeding: 20-25 pairs
near Al-Hoceima in spring 1983-85.
Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis morocco
First to third records: Essaouira on 1 1 th
August 1982 and 10th April 1983. and first-
winter at Akhirat near Rabat on 5th
February 1985. Poland First record: second-
642
summer at Sopot in Gdansk Bay on 5th April
1984. spain Second record: Ebro Delta on
18th and 20th February 1984*. (Cf. recent
records in Britain & Ireland, France, Federal
Republic of Germany and Sweden, Brit. Birds
75: 27, 571; 76: 568; 78: 327-337.)
Common Gull Larus cams Austria First
breeding record in eastern Austria; pair
suspected in 1984 at Illmitzer Zicksee,
confirmed in 1985.
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus
Belgium First breeding records: one pure
pair and two mixed pairs (with Herring Gulls
L. argentatus) at Zwin Reserve in 1985.
morocco Winter census: most abundant
gull, with 22,000 in January 1984, 95% on
Atlantic coast from Tangier to Agadir.
Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus Finland
Largest-ever spring concentration: over 30 at
Kotka refuse dump in early April 1984.
morocco Fourth record: third-winter at
Skhirat on 6th January 1985.
Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus
Greece Fifth record: adult on Evros Delta on
7th March 1985.
Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla morocco
Exceptional wreck: 2,500 estimated stranded
on shore on Mediterranean and Atlantic
coasts from 20th January to mid March 1984.
spain Wreck: beached bird surveys in
January-February 1984 revealed 1,455
corpses on Atlantic coast (where usually very
few) and 24 on Mediterranean coast (usually
none); also frequent inland reports. (Cf.
exceptional wreck in Portugal in December
1983 to January 1984, Brit. Birds 77: 589.)
Ivory Gull Pagophi/a ebumea Netherlands
Only record (before 1815) now rejected.
Caspian Tern Sterna caspia Finland
Declining: 800 pairs in 1984 census, 30% less
than in 1970s.
Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis France
Winter census: 146 in January 1984.
European news
Black Tern Chhdonias niger Portugal Strong
spring passage: many in Sado estuary coastal
lagoons to south on 16th May 1985.
Guillemot Uria aalge morocco Second
record away from Strait of Gibraltar: Cap
Rhiron 23rd December 1983.
Briinnich’s Guillemot Uria lomvia Norway
First record in inner Oslofjord: from late
February to early April 1985 (plates 305 &
306).
Puffin Fratercula arctica Portugal
Exceptional wreck: many (mainly adults)
dead in January-February 1985 (two with
rings were from Scottish colonies on St Kilda
and Stile Skerry ).
Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto morocco
Two reported in dunes of Mehdia north of
Rabat, on 24th September 1983*, confirma-
tion required (none of three previous records
entirely satisfactory). spain Southerly
expansion continuing: breeding range
limited to northern humid seaboard in 1960s
and 1970s, but during 1981 number of
observations inland, and now seems estab-
lished in several villages and towns in
Catalonia, Aragon and Old Castile.
Rufous Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis
Finland First to third records: Utajarvi on
2nd October 1980, Jamsa during 14th-23rd
December 1984, and Helsinki during
January to April 1985 (previously noted as
the first record, Brit. Birds 78: 343). Sweden
Long-staying individual: Beijershamn,
Oland, from 19th February to at least May
1985. (Note, also, wintering in Sweden,
December 1976 to April 1977, and in
Norway, February-March 1978, Brit. Birds
73: 259; 78: 343.) '
Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis
morocco First record: several at Marrakech
in winter 1982/83 and spring 1983.
Tengmalm’s Owl Aegolius Junereus France
Breeding population: 15 singing in Pyrenees-
Orientales in 1984.
305 8c 306 Briinnich’s Guillemot Uria lomvia , Norway, March 1985 (John Stenersen)
643
European news
Nubian Nightjar Capnmulgus nubicus
morocco First record: pair in desert at
Merzouga on 3rd May 1984*.
Plain Swift Apus unicolor morocco Fourth
record: eight at Agadir on 14th March 1983.
Pallid Swift Apus pallidus NETHERLANDS
Only record {Brit. Birds 73: 576) now
rejected.
Alpine Swift Apus melba Poland Second
record: Tatra Mountains on 12th June 1984.
Little Swift Apus affinis Spain First record: up
to eight in Torremolinos on 4th June 1981
(two apparently repairing old nest of House
Martins Delichon urbica on a building); thus,
observations at nearby Guadalhorce river in
January-February 1982 (Brit. Birds 76: 274)
constitute second record.
Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius
France Range extension: first breeding
record for Loire-Atlantique (Brittany) in
1984.
White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos
leucotos Netherlands Both records (1972 and
1979) now rejected.
Hoopoe Lark Alaemon alaudipes morocco
Outside normal range: Taouvirt near Taza
on 19th March 1983 was far north of usual
localities (the only recent European records
were in Malta in July, August. September
and December 1977 and October 1980, Brit.
Birds 75: 28).
Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra
Finland Second report: Hyvinkaa during
17th- 18th March 1985.
Black Lark Melanocorypha yeltoniensis
Netherlands Only record (1914) now
rejected.
Sand Martin Riparia riparia Switzerland
Dramatic decrease: in 1984, compared with
1983, 35% fewer colonies and 47% fewer
nests in ‘representative area in western
Switzerland’ (cf. ‘disastrous population
crash’ in Luxembourg in 1984, Brit. Birds 78:
343).
House Martin Delichon urbica MALTA
Breeding attempt: pair earning nest
material for several days at Valletta in 1985.
but site deserted (four previous confirmed
breeding records, first in 1981. Brit. Birds 75:
28, 572).
Richard’s Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae
morocco Seventh record: two south of
Agadir on 28th December 1984. Poland
Seventh record: one to three at Jastarnia on
seven dates during 15th September to 6th
October 1984.
Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni
Netherlands Only record (1978) now
rejected. Poland Influx: one to 13 (on 20th)
at Jastarnia during 9th-27th September 1984
(only two previous records).
Pechora Pipit Anthus gustavi
Netherlands All nine records ( 1960-75) now
rejected.
Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola Finland
Hybrid pair: for third successive year, male
paired with female Yellow Wagtail M.flava at
same site in south.
Alpine Accentor Prunella collarts
Luxembourg Second record: two on two
occasions, 19th and 26th February 1985 (first
record was in 1974). morocco First breeding-
season record in Middle Atlas: pair on top of
Jbel Bou-Iblane (3,190 m) on 9th June 1983
(previously known only from High Atlas).
Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos Finland
Ninth record: Ligskar bird observatorv on
29th May 1985.
Red-rumped Wheatear Oenanthe moesla
morocco Outside normal range: in spring
1984, female near Taza on 25th March 1984.
female near Aknoul on 13th April 1984, and
two at Segangan near Nador on 8th April
1984.
Black Wheatear Oenanthe leucura
Netherlands Only record (1969) now
rejected.
Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius
Netherlands Only record (1977) now
rejected.
Black-throated/Red-throated Thrush
Turdus ruficollis Finland Tenth record: T. r.
atrogularis near Porvoo during 25th-29th
December 1984 (ninth was in May 1981. Brit.
Birds 75: 270). Poland Second or third
record: male T. r. ruficollis near Lwowek
Slaski on 1st April 1984. Spain Deletion:
February 1983 record (Brit. Birds 78: 344) not
accepted.
Fieldfare Turdus pilaris morocco Eighth
record: two at Daiet Afourgah on 7th
January 1984.
American Robin Turdus migratorius
Netherlands Only record (1971) now
rejected.
Fan-tailed Warbler Cisticola juncidis France
Huge decrease: following severe 1984/85
winter. Yugoslavia Decrease: population in
peninsular Istria died in 1984/85 winter, and
a few pairs remain only in Mima Delta.
Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler Locustella
644
certhiola Netherlands Only record (1963)
now rejected.
Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida
Austria Second and third records:
Rhein delta in May 1985*.
Booted Warbler Hippolais caligata France
Deletion: record on 20th October 1981 (Brit.
Birds 75: 271) not accepted.
Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglolta
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY Minimum of
20 pairs discovered in southeast Saarland in
1985 (previously known from only two sites).
Sweden Second record: Segerstad, Oland, on
6th October 1984* (first was in October
1978, Brit. Birds 72: 592). Switzerland
Northward expansion continues: first
breeding in Vaud in 1983. (Cf. range
expansion in Belgium, the Federal Republic
of Germany and Switzerland, Brit. Birds 77:
590.)
Tristram’s Warbler Sylvia deserticola
morocco More widespread than supposed:
in Middle Atlas at Almis Marmoucha and
Oulad Ali in April 1984.
Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans Belgium
First and second records: Bruxelles on 23rd
April 1984* and near Libramont in April
1985*. Finland Eighth record: L&gskar bird
observatory on 29th May 1985. Sweden
Twelfth and thirteenth records: male at
Hoburgen on 16th May 1984, and female at
Nidingen on 31st May 1984.
Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus Juscatus Belgium
Third record: trapped and ringed at Heist
during lst-3rd November 1985 (first and
second were in October 1979 and October-
November 1982, Brit. Birds 76: 276). Finland
Correction: Aspskar on 7th (not 17th)
October 1984 (Brit. Birds 78: 344). Poland
Fourth record: Osieczna on 1st December
1984. Sweden Sixth to eighth records:
Bjornsfyr on 28th September 1984, Hobur-
gen on 3rd October 1984, and Svenska
Hogarna on 3rd October 1984.
Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis
Estonian ssr Sixth and seventh records: two
males singing in YV-Saaremaa on 20th May
1985. Netherlands First since 1976: female
at Maassvlakte during 1 0th- 1 2th May 1985*.
Bearded Tit Panurus biarmicus Finland Third
record: male in Salo during 13th- 1 5th May
1985 (second was in October-November
1984, Brit. Birds 78: 344).
Short-toed Treecreeper Certhia brachy-
dactyla Sweden Third record: Falsterbo on
6th May 1984 (first and second were in May-
European news
June and October 1983, Brit. Buds 77: 242;
and note expansion in Denmark, Brit. Birds
76: 570).
Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus Finland First
confirmed breeding: four fledglings in Turku
in July, spain Continued westerly expansion:
several nests found in valley of Guadiana
River, close to Portuguese border, in 1981
and 1982. (Cf. increases, passage and
vagrancy in Belgium, France, Federal
Republic of Germany, Luxembourg, Malta,
the Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland and
Yugoslavia, Brit. Birds 78: 344.)
Isabelline Shrike Lanius isabellinus Poland
Second record: male showing characters of L.
i. phoenicuroides caught on Hel Peninsula on
18th September 1984 (first was in September
1981, Brit. Birds 75: 573).
Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor
Switzerland Decline: only four broods at
last remaining site in 1984, and none fledged
(cf. breeding contraction in Austria, Brit.
Birds 77: 242).
Alpine Chough Pyrrhocorax graculus
Netherlands Only record (1882 or 1883)
now rejected.
Starling Sturnus vulgaris spain Expansion in
Canary Islands: after first breeding in La
Laguna on Tenerife in 1976, new colony of
about 20 pairs found in Maspalomas on Gran
Canaria in 1984.
Rose-coloured Starling Sturnus roseus
Greece Extensive influx: in north in July
1984, including one flock of over 500 indivi-
duals. Poland Small influx in May-June
1984: two near Lubiewo during 19th-20th
May, 21 near Gardno Lake during 1 7 th-20th
May, and one on Hel Peninsula on 2nd June.
(Cf. small influxes in Austria, Finland and
France in May 1984, Brit. Birds 77: 591 .)
Rock Sparrow Petronia petronia
Netherlands Both records (before 1858)
now rejected.
Siskin Carduelis spinus Luxembourg Probably
breeding: present throughout summer 1985
and probably breeding (only confirmed
breeding was in 1982), evidently ‘overspill’
from neighbouring Belgian Ardennes, ‘where
hundreds of breeding pairs reported this
summer’.
Arctic Redpoll Carduelis homemanni Finland
Large influx: nearly 400 mist-netted, mainly
in north and northeast, during February to
April 1985.
Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes githagineus
morocco Northerly range extensions: in
645
European news
spring 1984, nesting on Mediterranean side
up to coastal relief from Beni-Boufrah (west
ol Al-Hoceima) to Nador, and on Atlantic
side in Khatouat Hills just southeast of
Casablanca; on 7th April 1985, one heard
near Ouezzane, far northwest even of new
range extension. (Note British record in May
1984, Brit. Birds 78:581.)
Rock Bunting Emberiza cia Netherlands
Both records ( 1876 and 1967) now rejected.
House Bunting Emberiza striolata morocco
Northerly range extension and consolida-
tion: since appearance in Casablanca in
1960s, arrived Rabat spring 1982, proved
breeding 1983, population increasing and
colonising all districts of Rabat-Sale
neighbourhood in spring 1984 and 1985.
Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica Latvian ssr
First nesting record: summer 1985 (cf.
increasing vagrancy and spring records in
Bulgaria and Poland, first breeding in
Estonian SSR in 1979, and expansion in
Sweden, Brit. Birds 75: 573; 76: 276. 570; 77:
242, 591).
Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola
Latvian ssr First record: male in May 1985
(first record in Estonian SSR was in May
1977. Brit. Birds 72:280).
Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea Finland
First record: Voyri during 5th-8th May 1982
(probably an escape).
Correspondents
Austria Peter Prokop, Osterreichische Gesellschaft fur Y'ogelkunde, c/o Naturhistorisches
Museum Wien, A-1014 Wien 1, Burgring 7, Postfach 417
Belgium Rene de Liedekerke & Drs Franklin E. E. Tombeur, ruedes Haies 20, B-5296 Pailhe
Czechoslovakia Dr Karel Stastny, Institute of Applied Ecology and Ecotechnology,
Agriculture L'niversity in Prague, 281 63 Kostelec n. C. lesy
Estonian ssr Dr V. Eilleleht, Academy ofSciences of the Estonian SSR. Institute of Zoolog)
and Botany , 2 1 Vanemuise St, SU-202400 Tartu
federal republic of Germany Alistair Hill, Dachverband Deutscher Avifaunisten,
Bundesdeutscher Seltenheitenausschuss, Albrecht-Haushofer-Str. 10, 3200 Hildesheim
Finland Martti Hario, The Finnish Ornithological Society. P. Rautatiekatu 13. SF-00100
Helsinki 10
France Dr Philippe J. Dubois, EeCabestan, 73 avenue Robespierre. 17000 Ea Rochelle
grand duchy of Luxembourg David Crowther, 18 rue des Eglantiers, E-8227 Mamer
Greece George 1. Handrinos, 50 El Yenizelou Street, 166 75 Glyfada
italy Marco Gustin, Stazione Romana per E’Ossen azione e la Protezione Degli L’ccelli, c/o
Oasi Naturalc WWF Bosco di Palo. Via Palo Laziale 2. 00055 Eadispoli (Rome)
Latvian ssr Drjanis Baumanis, Laboratory of Ornithology, Miera 3, Salaspils
malta Joe Sultana & Charles Gauci, The Ornithological Society. PO Box 448, Yelletta
morocco Michel Thevenot, University Mohammed V, Institut Scientifique. Charia Ibn
Batouta. B.P. 703 — Rabat
Netherlands Kees Scharringa, Trompenburg 15, 1852 CB Heiloo
Norway Geoffrey Acklam. Nordliveien 18, 1320Stabekk
Poland Dr E. Tomiafojc, Wroclaw’ University, Museum ofNatural History. Sienkiewicza 21,
50-335 Wroclaw
Portugal Dr Antonio Teixeira, GEM PA, Servi^o Nacional de Parques. Reservas e Conser-
va^ao da Natureza, Rue da Lapa 73, 1200 Lisboa
Spain Dr Eduardo de Juana, Departamento de Zoologia. Facultad de Ciencias. C-XY,
Universidad Autonoma, 28049 Madrid
Sweden Per Alstrom, Marholmsvagen 105, S-43600 Askim
Switzerland Dr N. Zbindcn, Schweizerische \ ogelwarte, CH-6204 Sempach
Yugoslavia Iztok Geister, 64202 Naklo, Pokopaliska pot 13
No information was received from Albania. Bulgaria. Denmark, the Faeroe Islands, the
German Democratic Republic, Hungary, Iceland or Romania.
Product reports
Barbour ‘Durham’ jacket
I am old enough to remember the days when senior birdwatchers went
about in old raincoats and battered trilbys, and to have lived through the
era of the excellent (but now rare) duffle coat into the present period when
the range of fieldwear available to us is so vast that making a sensible choice
is very difficult. At the end of the day, I suppose what we wear is very much
a matter of personal preference and what we can afford.
Many of us practise a curious form of inverted snobbery which manifests
itself in a positive tendency (a) to look as scruffy as possible, (b) to ignore
the realities of the weather, and (c) never to be seen dead in the sort of
efficient weatherproof gear worn by, for example, fishermen and field
sportsmen. This may explain the relative rarity of the classic Barbour jacket
among birders (although 1 am sure expense is also a crucial factor), even
though it will look marvellously scruffy when old, and despite the fact that
anyone who has one will tell you it is probably without equal as an
all-round, all-weather jacket.
The ‘Durham’ differs from the original Barbour in having a fixed hood and
being totally unlined. It is, basically, a superior form of lightweight water-
proofjacket which can be rolled up into a fairly small, compact sausage and
easily stowed away or carried. I have used mine for 18 months, in all
weathers, including blizzards, horizontal sleet and hail, and torrential rain,
and, try as I might, I cannot find fault with it. It is light, comfortable,
thoroughly waterproof (the shoulders, incidentally, are double-layered)
and even reasonably windproof — although in winter it is best worn over
another, warmer jacket or a few layers of sweaters. It has two reasonably
large side-pockets with double flaps which fasten with big press-studs and
are reliably waterproof. The cuffs too can be fastened with press-studs, as
can the front opening, although the latter is principally closed by a robust
metal zip. T his zip runs right up to the chin, where it meets the drawstrings
which pull the hood in about your face: this arrangement is surprisingly
comfortable, as is the hood itself, despite its being unlined. Another plus
feature for the hood is that, unlike most others, it is actually head-shaped.
What puts many people off Barbour jackets is the fearful smell of the
patent oily wax with which they are treated. It pervades the inside of the
jacket as well and owners of new ‘Durhams’ are well advised to wear old
jackets or soon-to-be-discarded sweaters underneath; fortunately the odour
soon disappears. My ‘Durham’ is probably overdue for re-waxing, a job I
view with some misgivings, although those who have done it tell me that it is
really very easy.
Apart from the minor nuisance of re-waxing, the only other drawback of
the Barbour ‘Durham’ is its price, currently £50.00. That apart, I can
thoroughly recommend it. It even looks slightly scruffy when new, and in
this respect definitely improves with age! Mike Everett
646
\linl. Birds 78: 64fi, December 1985)
Savannah Sparrow: new to the
Western Palearctic S.J. Broyd
At 06.08 gmt on 1 1th April 1982, at Portland Bill, Dorset, Gary Edwards
saw a small bird land about 15m away. Although he and three other
observers watched it for about one minute down to 2Vi m or so before it
disappeared beneath a rock, none was able to identify the species. About 12
minutes later, a group of observers which included Keith L. Fox and Ron
King noticed a small, streaky passerine on some nearby rocks. Their views
were brief, as the bird quickly disappeared. Some suggested that it was a
Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla , and others that it w'as a strange-looking
Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis , but the presence of yellow about the super-
cilium prevented specific identification. A search of the immediate area
revealed only a female Yellowhammer E. citrinella , and the mystery bird
was soon forgotten.
Later that afternoon, I was searching for migrants along the east cliffs of
the Portland Bird Observatory recording area when I noticed a small,
streaky bird feeding in the short grass at the cliff-edge. It was halfobscured,
so I approached closer; as l did, it turned towards me, revealing its small
triangular bill and very noticeable yellow supercilium. Its boldly streaked
underparts and pink legs helped me to identify it as a Savannah Sparrow
Ammodramus sandwichensis, a species I had seen commonly in North America.
I quickly attracted the attention of my wife and J. Tilbrook, who were close
by. As soon as it was clear that the sparrow was settled in the one area. I
hurriedly returned to the observatory to alert others. A small crowd quickly
gathered, including RK, who felt fairly sure that the sparrow was the bird
he had seen earlier that morning at the Bill.
During the course of the afternoon, I took the follow ing field notes:
size and structure Smaller than accom- the tip ol the longest extending only just
panying Rock Pipits Anthus spinoletta, seeming beyond the tip of the longest tertial. The head
closer to Little Bunting in size. The notched and its triangular bill were small,
tail looked shorter than that of Little
Bunting, and the legs slightly longer. The tail
was shorter than the total wing length. Five plumage Head Supercilium yellow,
primary tips were visible on the closed wing, extending from base of bill to well bevond the
A
[. Bril . Birds 78: 647-656, December 1985]
647
648
Savannah Sparrow: new to the Western Palearctic
eye, narrowing and suffusing to creamy white
towards the nape. Lateral crown-stripes
brown with finer dark brown streaks, con-
trasting with a fine pale straw-coloured
median crown-stripe, which also showed a
few fine darker fleckings. Median crown-
stripe most noticeable when viewed head-on.
Nape greyish-straw with very fine greyish-
brown flecking. Lores and ear-coverts
greyish-straw, bordered by thin dark brown
lines above and below, which did not meet at
rear edge. The upper border formed an eye-
stripe, which became more prominent be-
hind the eye, and the lower formed a
moustachial stripe beginning at the base of
the bill and ending at the nape. Submous-
tachial stripe white, contrasting with a dark
brown malar stripe, which was thin at the
base of the bill but widened to form a
triangular area at side of throat. Throat and
chin white. Underparts White, with bold
brownish-black streaking radiating out from
307. Savannah Sparrow Ammodramus sandwichensis , Dorset, April 1982 (John M archant )
308. Savannah Sparrow Ammodramus sandwichensis, Dorset, April 1982 (John Marchant)
309. Savannah Sparrow Ammodramus
sandwichensis , Dorset, April 1982 (R. H. Hogg)
649
Savannah Sparrow: new to the Western Palearctic
malar stripes to form distinct gorget across
breast. I'wo broad streaks stretched the
length of the flanks and were noticeably more
brown. Belly, vent and undertail-coverts
unmarked. Wings Median coverts brown
with bully fringes and off-white tips. Greater
coverts similar. Both sets of tips formed
pencil-thin wingbars, detectable only at close
range. Primaries and secondaries brownish,
d enials dark brown with pale buff fringes.
L pperparts Mantle and scapulars brownish-
grey, with two very noticeable off-white
‘braces’ running parallel towards the rump.
Both braces edged brown, adding to their
prominence. Rump greyish-brown with
darker brown streaks. Tail brown, light at
base, darker towards tip.
bare parts Eye dark and beady, with thin
yellow eye-ring. Bill dark horn on upper
mandible with pink lower edge; entirely pink
on lower mandible. Legs pink, but looked
orange in some lights.
The sparrow remained in the area until 16th April, during which time it
was watched by several hundred observers. On 12th April, it was trapped
and ringed by M. Rogers, who took the following description in the hand:
plumage Grown grey-brown with sepia
feather centres, ill-defined off-white central
crown-stripe. Supercilium lemon-yellow, the
yellow coloration extending from above
nostrils to 3 mm behind eye, thereafter be-
coming off-white, broadening and extending
almost to nape. Lores and ear-coverts light
brown with a dark chestnut spot at rear.
Moustachial stripe dark brown, extending to
border the ear-coverts. Submoustachial
stripe white. Nape and upper back medium-
brown with darker feather centres, one row of
white feathers producing a short white stripe
on each side of back, the feathers to the
outside of this stripe having much darker
centres than rest of back. Rump light brown
with dark feather centres, uppertail-coverts
lighter than rump. Tail as rump, central
feathers fairly worn, outer tail feather light
fawn. Primaries, secondaries and tertials
light ginger-brown, tertials being very dark-
centred. Lesser coverts brown, tinged olive-
green; median coverts brown, tipped
fawn, forming a light wingbar; greater
coverts ginger-brown with darker centres.
Primary coverts as primaries. Chin white.
310. Savannah Sparrow Ammodramus sandwichensis, Dorset, April 1982 ( S . G. D. Cook )
-T 1‘V
-■Ti
.v
ImuGimlusion of plate 310 has been subsidised by a generous donation from the estate of the late I
Miss Violet Maxse. Lds]
650
Savannah Sparrow: new to the Western Palearctic
bordered with dense gorget of brown streaks
extending to upper belly and along flanks.
Belly white. Undertail-coverts white with
light brown centres, underwing silver-
brown, axillaries very pale brown.
bare parts Upper mandible steel-grey with
pink cutting edge, lower mandible pink. Iris
dark brown, pupil black, orbital ring pale
yellow. Legs and feet pink (flesh).
wing formula 3rd. 4th and 5th primaries
equal. 2nd — 2mm, 6th —2mm, 7th —8mm,
8th — 10mm,*9th — 13mm; 1st 6mm shorter
than primary coverts. 3rd to 6th primaries
emarginated on outer web.
measurements W ing 80mm. Tail 61mm,
depth of tail notch 13mm. Bill (to skull)
14mm. Tarsus 24mm. Hindclaw 8mm.
Weight 26.7 g at 15.00 gmt on 12th April;
when retrapped at 16.00 hours on 16th April,
its weight had increased by 4.3g, to 31.0g,
proving its ability to adapt to its diet of small
flies.
Throughout its stay, the sparrow remained very’ confiding, which
enabled close study. It ran about actively in search of food, in a similar
manner to that of the resident Rock Pipits, and even established a small
territory, which it defended with short bursts of song delivered from the top
of large limestone blocks, under which it roosted at night. P.J. Grant noted
this song as a two-second, buzzy ‘tit-tit-titti seee seee\ with the penultimate
syllable up-slurred and the final one down-slurred.
Racial diagnosis
The Savannah Sparrow has many subspecies. Colour-forms range from
dark brown to light grey. The race known as the ‘Ipswich Sparrow’ A. s.
princeps (formerly considered a separate species) is the largest, and the
Portland bird's measurements fall within those of this race. Confirmation of
this is provided by the following extract and table from a letter to MR from
Professor}. D. Rising of the University of Ontario:
T compared the measurements of your bird with those from four different localities from
eastern Canada. 1 have similar measurements from several different localities from throughout
North America, but, in general, 1 know that there is little size variation east of the Rockv
M ountains except that the Sable Island birds are large. So these localities are characteristic.
651
Savannah Sparrow: new to the Western Palearctic
312. Savannah Sparrow Ammodramus sandwichensis. Dorset. April 1982 (David M. Collridge)
314. Savannah Sparrow Ammodramus sandwichensis, Dorset. April 1982 (D. Hughes)
313. Below' left, Savannah Sparrow
Ammodramus sandwichensis , Dorset, April 1982
(. S . G. D. Cook )
652 Savannah Sparrow: new to the Western Palearctic
315. Savannah Sparrow Ammodramus sandwichensis, Dorset, April 1982 (R. H. Hogg)
The measurements are from study skins, and the specimens were prepared in a way that makes
it impossible to take a bill to skull measurement comparable with yours. I selected Sable Island
for the reasons stated above, and Halifax (even though the samples from there are not large) as
the nearest mainland population. 'River John’ is a large sample from northern Nova Scotia, on
the coast of Northumberland Strait, which separates Prince Edward Island from Nova Scotia.
River John is about 20 miles [32 km] west of Pictou or New Glasgow. Wallaceburg is in what is
called S.W. Ontario. Your measurement of80mm for the wing length is larger than that of any
Savannah Sparrow from these localities, except lor males from Sable Island (their average is
77.8mm and wings of 80mm are not unusual). Note that my specimens were measured
somewhat later in the season and would be slightly more worn. 1'ail length of 61 mm is, again,
out of range for all but males from Sable Island, but not unusual for that population. Tarsus
length of 24 mm is larger than any I have. Clearly, I think, we have measured these differently
(or perhaps I get post-mortem shrinkage); nevertheless, long tarsus (and this clearly is a long
tarsus) is consistent with Sable Island. Hind claw of 8 mm is within the range of River John and
Wallaceburg, but close to the average for males from Sable Island.
‘There is generally a lot of variation in weights, though little variation in the way they are
taken. The weights that you give are quite high for a Savannah Sparrow (see table) and 1 think
clearly preclude the possibility that your bird is anything other than an Ipswich Sparrow. I
think that there is no doubt but that your bird is from the Sable Island population.
Furthermore it could be argued strongly that it is in all probability a male from that
population.’
In the field, the race princeps may sometimes be difficult to distinguish,
but it is generally larger and greyer than other subspecies of Savannah
Sparrow. Its legs are long and, according to Robbins et at. (1966), it prefers
to walk rather than hop. The Portland bird certainly had long legs and was
often seen striding through the grass.
[The inclusion of plate 315 has been subsidised by ZEISS West Germany]
653
Savannah Sparrow: new to the Western Palearctic
Table 1. Measurements and weights of Savannah Sparrows Ammodramus sandu ichensis
(supplied by Professor J. D. Rising in litt.) compared with Portland individual
Locality
Sex
No.
Mean
Range
Date of collection
Portland
WING LENGTH
Sable Is
8
23
77.8
73.3-83.4
late May
9
15
73.1
68.7-76.9
late May
Halifax
3
12
69.6
65.8-71.7
late May
9
15
65.8
62.4-68.9
late May
80 mm
River John
8
30
70.2
66.6-74.8
late June
9
21
66.2
62.9-69.7
late June
Wallaceburg, Ont.
3
40
68.5
64.7-72.7
late May /early June
9
15
64.0
61.6-66.4
late May/early June
TAIL LENGTH
Sable Is
8
23
59.3
56.1-63.0
9
13
56.0
51.0-58.6
Halifax
3
12
53.2
49.1-58.6
9
14
49.8
47.2-52.8
River John
8
28
53.4
50.0-56.5
61 mm
9
18
50.0
46.2-52.0
Wallaceburg
3
37
52.4
48.6-56.1
9
9
49.3
47.9-50.6
TARSUS
Sable Is
8
21
22.6
21.7-23.5
9
12
21.9
21.4-22.9
Halifax
3
10
2L.2
20.6-21.8
9
13
20.3
19.7-21.4
24 mm
River John
3
23
20.6
18.7-22.0
9
18
20.2
18.2-21.5
Wallaceburg
C?
37
20.1
18.3-22.3
9
12
20.0
19.2-20.5
HIND CLAW
Sable Is
C?
21
7.8
6. 9-8. 8
9
15
7.4
6. 8-8. 4
Halifax
3
11
7.0
6.4-7.6
9
15
7.0
6.2-7.8
River John
3
27
6.9
6. 2-8.0
8 mm
9
20
7.3
6.4-8. 2
Wallaceburg
8
38
7.4
6. 2-8.6
9
14
7.0
5. 7-8.0
WEIGHT
Sable Is
8
25
27.9
21.0-32.5
late May
9
16
26.1
22.4-31.5
late May
Halifax
3
12
21.0
18.5-23.2
late May
9
15
19.1
17.5-20.6
late May
River John
8
31
20.0
17.4-22.5
latejune
26.7-31.
9
22
18.9
16.0-22.5
latejune
Wallaceburg
8
41
19.8
16.9-23.6
late May/earlvjune
9
14
18.9
16.5-22.2
late May/early June
654
Savannah Sparrow: new to the Western Palearctic
Further confirmation that the Portland individual belonged to the race
princeps was provided by Professor Ian A. McLaren ofDalhouse University,
Flalifax, Nova Scotia (in litt. to BOU Rarities Committee), who is probably
more familiar than anybody with princeps and who included the following
useful characters for distinguishing this race:
‘A feature of even the darker and more brownish Ipswich Sparrows in spring is the presence of
at least some remnants of the pale to light grey margins of nape, mantle and back feathers.
Eastern Savannah Sparrows sometimes have such greyish or even whitish margins on the
lateral nape, but never, in my experience, on back or coverts . . . The greyish margins of the
nape, back (and lesser coverts?) are noted in the excellent descriptions by Keith Fox.
Interestingly, the description of the bird in the hand from the Portland Bird Observatory does
not mention these grey margins. It is easy to be distracted by the brown feather centres of the
back and by the brown wings. However, the grey margins of the central back feathers,
scapulars, and nape are very clear on John Marchant’s slides, and in my view are diagnostic.
‘. . . I believe that the slides by John Marchant are diagnostic in showing the narrow, tawny
streaking [on the breast] of a typical spring Ipswich Sparrow, quite unlike that of any
Savannah Sparrow' that I have seen.’
There is also some circumstantial evidence worth noting. The Portland
bird's choice of habitat, close to the sea, is in keeping with princeps. In North
America, it can be found feeding along the tideline with Snow Buntings
Plectrophenax nivalis and Lapland Buntings Calcarius lapponicus. The Portland
sparrow rarely strayed from the short grass at the cliff-edge and often
searched for food on small ledges on the cliff-face.
According to Professor Rising (in litt.), the race princeps migrates up the
eastern seaboard of North America during the first two weeks of April, two
weeks earlier than other races of Savannah Sparrow. This timing fits well
with the Portland bird’s arrival. Additionally, princeps regularly heads
eastwards out over the Atlantic to reach its breeding grounds on Sable
Island off Nova Scotia, which could increase its odds of occurring in the
Western Palearctic at this time of year.
316. Savannah Sparrow Ammodramus sandwichensis, Dorset, April 1982 (R. H. Hogg)
Savannah Sparrow: new to the Western Palearctic
655
317. Savannah sparrow Ammodrarnus sandwichensis, Dorset, April 1982 ( S . G. D. Cook)
The race princeps is nevertheless a very scarce bird, with a springtime
population of approximately 2,000-3,000 (Stobo & McLaren 1975). Its
occurrence in Britain is, therefore, quite remarkable.
318. Savannah sparrow Ammodrarnus sandwichensis , Texas, April 1982 (Amoud B. ;an den Berg)
656
Savannah Sparrow: new to the Western Palearctic
Notes on the species
The Savannah Sparrow is a very common species of agricultural country
and grassland throughout North America. It is resident in the south, but
northerly populations migrate south as far as Costa Rica. It is a regular
migrant along the eastern seaboard during both spring and autumn, and
has long been considered likely to occur as a transatlantic vagrant (see
Robbins 1980). It builds a small nest of grass and moss on the ground,
normally in a hollow sheltered by grass, or in a small bush or tree. It lays
four to six eggs, which are spotted with brown and purple. The incubation
period is about 12 days.
Acknowledgments
I should like to thank M. Rogers for providing in-the-hand data and for corresponding with
Professor J. Rising on the racial identification of Savannah Sparrow; Professor Rising for his
comments; and P. J. Grant for advising on an earlier draft of this paper. British Birds is most
grateful to the 1 1 photographers who supplied photographs of this bird, some of which are
included here and all of which were invaluable for reference and assessment purposes.
Summary
A Savannah Sparrow Ammodramus sandwichensis showing the characters of the race princeps,
colloquially known as ‘Ipswich Sparrow’, was present at Portland Bill, Dorset, from 1 1th to
16th April 1982. It was trapped on 12th and 16th April. Details are given ofits identification
and racial determination. This has been accepted as the first record of this Nearctic passerine
for the Western Palearctic.
References
Godfrey, W. E. 1966. The Birds oj Canada. Ottawa.
Gooders, J. (ed.) 197 1 . Birds oj the World, vol. 8. London.
Robbins, C. S. 1980. Predictions of future Nearctic landbird vagrants to Europe. Brit. Birds 73:
448-457.
, Bruun, B., Zim, H. S., & Singer, A. 1966. Birds of North America. New York.
Stobo, W. T., & McLaren, I. A. 1975. The Ipswich Sparrow. Nova Scotian Inst. Sci. 27: 2nd
suppl.
S.J. Broyd, 27 Kirkley Road , London SW19
g>rtjentp-ftoe pears ago...
‘YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER IN LINCOLNSHIRE. On October 3rd, 1910, I shot a
Yellow-browed Warbler ( Phylloscopus superciliosus) in the bottom of a thick hedge near the
sea-bank at North Cotes, Lincolnshire. The bird was a male and very fat. There was no
migration in progress at the time as a heavy westerly gale was blowing, but there was a light
east wind on the night of the 1st. This is the fourth Lincolnshire example of this little warbler. I
obtained it for the first time on October 7th, 1892, and from that time I saw no more of the
species for sixteen years, when I found one dead on the coast on October 19th, 1908, and shot a
third on October 12th of the following year, all four examples having been killed within a mile
of the same spot.’ (Brit. Birds 4: 209, December 1910)
Mystery photographs
319. First-summer or adult summer Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla , near end of moult to
winter plumage, Peru, August 1979 (Ed Mackrilt)
108
From its general proportions, last month’s mystery wader (plate
289, repeated here as plate 319) is clearly one of the small
sandpipers Calidris. It looks like a stint, but, as there is nothing to give an
accurate clue to size, it would be wise consciously to eliminate the other
larger possibilities on some more tangible features. It is not too difficult.
White-rumped C. fuscicollis and Baird’s Sandpipers C. bairdii. Dunlin C.
alpina and Sanderling C. alba can all be ruled out, the first two at least by the
fact that the primary tips do not extend beyond the tail, and the last two at
least by the bill shape, which is proportionately too short and fine-tipped.
In any case, the pale legs are obvious, further eliminating those four and
leading straight to the three species of pale-legged stint: Temminck's Stint
C. temminckii, Long-toed Stint C. subminuta or Least Sandpiper C. minutilla.
The feather patterns, especially the streaked breast, scaly upperparts
and rather well-marked supercilium, safely put Temminck’s out of consid-
eration: in all plumages, that species is much plainer in these areas.
So we are left with that potentially tricky pair. Long-toed Stint and Least
Sandpiper. Reference to the recent stint identification paper {Brit. Birds 77:
293-315) would be the obvious next step. There, these two are treated
together as ‘Group Two’ on page 305. and the introduction to that group
confirms that we are on the right track: our mystery bird shows the right
combination of pale legs, fine-tipped bill, short projection of a single
primary tip beyond the longest tertial, and rather long toes.
As always with any difficult pair of stints, careful appraisal of the full
range of available features is recommended before reaching a decision.
Taking the consistently most useful distinguishing features (those which
are italicised in the paper’s detailed descriptions), the description of Least’s
general proportions (short-necked, short-legged and hunched) fits our bird,
as does its same-length middle toe, tarsus and bill (all fortunately well
shown in the photograph). The hind toe (clearly visible on the right foot).
657
\Bnt. Birds 78: 657-659, December 1985]
658
Mystery photographs
320-323. Mystery photographs 109. Identify the species. Answer next month
too, looks ‘normal length for a stint’, fitting Least, as does the all-blaek bill
(not showing any pale-based lower mandible as on Long-toed).
Before we start on the plumage features, what age is the bird? The best
clue is in those two black-centred, old, worn-to-a-point, summer lower
scapulars; they are mixed in with fresh, dusky-centred and pale-fringed
Mystery photographs
659
winter plumage feathers, and the bird is in active moult (the two inner
tertials are missing, and the uneven arrangement of the scapulars and
innerwing-coverts suggests that some of those have also been dropped). So
this individual must be a first-summer or adult summer near the end of its
moult to winter head and body plumage, a plumage state likely to be
encountered from the end of July to the beginning of October. The
scapulars and innerwing-coverts have diffuse dark centres and pale fringes,
which is the correct winter pattern for a Least (Long-toed has distinctive
blackish feather-centres, with broad, clear-cut pale fringes), and the head
pattern fits Least perfectly: dull (not whitish) supercilia which join finely
across forehead, well-marked dark line across lores, dark patch on rear
ear-coverts, separated from eye by an obvious but faint paler area, and faint
split-supercilium effect.
The answer to last month's puzzle is therefore clear: a classic winter
Least on all the visible features of bill colour, structure and plumage. Ed
Mackrill, who photographed it in Peru in August 1979, did amazingly well
to catch the bird in such a helpful and instructive pose. P. J. Grant
Notes
Racial identification of Cattle Egret On 29th June 1980, I went to see a
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis which I was informed had been discovered in a
field not far away from Slimbridge, Gloucestershire. Its jizz struck me
660
Notes
Fig. 1. Cattle Egrets Bubulcus ibis: left, coromandus in Gloucestershire in June 1980; right.
nominate race {Laurel A. Tucker)
immediately as being odd, as it had other observers. Compared with Cattle
Egrets I had seen in winter in the Camargue, its bill was proportionately
long and fine, its neck long and slim, and its legs rather long. Those in the
Camargue had a very' distinctive and characteristic appearance which this
bird could not quite achieve; in fact, it seemed structurally intermediate
between Little Egret Egretta garzetta and the nominate race of Cattle Egret.
It was in summer plumage and had more extensive and richer bull than
nominate Cattle Egret. With the exception of white in a narrow' bar above
the bill, around the eye and on the chin, the whole head and part of the neck
was a bright orangey-bull. The elongated plumes on the lower mantle were
a dark golden-brown. The eye was bright yellow; and the bill was pinkish-
flesh, blackish towards the tip. These differences (see fig. 1) indicated that
the egret was of the Asiatic race B. ibis coromandus and, therefore, almost
certainly an escape. Later, much closer views revealed that not only was it
ringed, but it had all or most of its claws missing. According to the
Gloucestershire Bird Report for 1980, the bird was present from 26th June to
3rd September, and again briefly in mid November.
Hancock (1984) stated that, in winter plumage, the Asiatic race of Cattle
Egret is indistinguishable in the field from the nominate race. BWP also
states of coromandus in winter plumage ‘racial identification hardly possible’.
Fig. 1 illustrates not only the extent of buff on the Slimbridge Cattle Egret,
but the distinctive difference in shape and structure between it and
nominate ibis. Photographs also seem to bear out structural differences
between the two races. It may be advisable, therefore, not to take any
Notes
661
winter -plumaged Cattle Egret at lace value, but to check its jizz and
structure in order to try to determine its race (and thus origin).
Laurel A. Tucker
3 Belgrave Road, Clifton, Bristol BS82AA
REFERENCE
Hancock, J. 1984. field identification of West Palearctic white herons and egrets. Brit. Birds
77:451-457.
1 . P. Inskipp has commented as follows: 'Judging from photographs, the two subspecies
could be separated in the field in non-breeding plumage — with precious experience, and
assuming that the bird does not spend all its time in a hunched posture when the thinner neck
ol coromandus would be difficult to determine. BWP also mentions that coromandus has more of
the tibia bare. 1 his is illustrated in the sketch, but is not mentioned in the text'. Eds
Yellow orbital ring of Semipalmated Plover A minor but seemingh
valid distinction between Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus and
Ringed Plover C. hiaticula in adult summer plumage is the thin, bright
lemon-yellow orbital ring of Semipalmated Plover. I have consistently
noted this feature in spring when viewing Semipalmated Plovers in good
light at ranges of up to 30 m with binoculars, and find it reminiscent of
Little Ringed Plover C. dubius (although not so prominent). The rather
more dainty, slimmer build and apparently thinner legs of Semipalmated
Plover, relative to Ringed Plover, serve to enhance this comparison with
Little Ringed Plover, as noted by Paul Dukes (Brit. Birds 73: 438). The
orbital ring of Ringed Plover is more obscure, and dark orange in colour,
thereby decreasing its prominence.
A direct photographic comparison of these features can be seen in the
Audubon Society Master Guide to Birding (1983, vol. 1, page 325) and is even
more vividly portrayed in the photographs of the two species in R. H.
Armstrong’s A Guide to the Birds of Alaska ( 1980, pages 107-108). I he yellow
orbital ring is still apparent at least into August, but is not present in winter
plumage. The distinctive calls remain, however, the easiest way of dis-
tinguishing these two similar species at any season. Terence A. Walsh
300 Meadow Lane, Midland, Michigan 48640. USA
Plastic hazards to birds Over the last six years, on Walnev Island.
Cumbria, I have seen at least half-a-dozen instances of birds trapped by the
plastic used to bind beer cans together in fours or sixes. My first encounter
involved an Eider Somateria mollissima with its bill thrust through the central
aperture and looking as if it was sporting a pair of plastic spectacles; the
constriction was such that it was obviously unable to feed. Additionally, I
found a tideline corpse of an Oystereateher Haematopus ostralegus with its left
leg through one hole and its head through the diagonally opposite hole; its
death was probably due to its inability to feed. The latest example invoked
a Herring Gull Lams argentatus ostensibly displaying a head-dress of a
662
Notes
324. Dead Herring Gull Larus argentalus with plastic six-can holder attached to head and bill,
Cumbria, March 1984 (Tim Dean)
six-can holder, part of which was firmly entwined around the head and the
other part providing a quite unwelcome bit between its mandibles (plate
324). In all these examples, death was probably due to the constricting
effect of the plastic. Other examples have involved birds trailing these
infernal pieces of detritus around their legs. Tim Dean
Coastguard Cottages, South Walney Nature Reserve, Walney Island , Barrow-in-
Furness, Cumbria
Little Terns harassing tired Cuckoo, which landed on sea On 4th
August 1983, at Minsmere, Suffolk, I saw a juvenile Cuckoo Cuculus canorus
flying low over the sea away from the shore and being mobbed by four or
five Little Terns Sterna albifrons from their breeding colony on the shore.
Perhaps because of their persistence, it eventually dropped onto the sea,
which was very calm. The terns dispersed, and after about one minute the
Cuckoo took off easily and flew strongly over the water for about 30-40m,
before dropping onto the sea again. This sequence was repeated about ten
times, not always because of the attentions of the Little Terns. The farthest
point it reached from land was about 150m, and each flight covered
between 30m and 50m; periods on the water varied between one and two
minutes, during which it floated with head up and wings open on the
surface. Eventually, the Cuckoo managed to reach the shore close to the
tern colony, where it was mobbed fiercely. 1 picked up the Cuckoo, carried
it from the colony, and released it into the RSPB reserve, where it flew off
strongly. Rodney Ingram
17 West Street , Ecton , Northampton
Notes
663
Otter predation on Black Guillemots During visits to many of Shetland’s
ollshore islands in summer 1982, it became clear that otters Lutra lutra were
an important predator on Black Guillemots Cepphus giylle. Many accounts
of the otter s diet include birds, although in small numbers compared with
the fish component (Erlinge 1967; Jenkins & Harper 1980); the species
taken are usually those commonly associated with freshwater study areas.
In Shetland, otters are the only mammalian ground predator on most
smaller islands, and frequent similar boulder areas to many breeding Black
Guillemots (one occupied nest was within 15cm of an old otter corpse
trapped under the boulders). Ol 18 nest failures at which otter predation
(see evidence below) or scavenging had occurred, seven resulted from
direct predation of incubating adults, eight from predation on nestlings,
while at three remains only ol adults were found. In one study area, six
adults and two nestlings had been taken from a total of eight different nests,
representing a 10.5% failure rate of occupied nests. Although all the
nestlings showed signs of having been eaten by otters, the possibility that
they had initially been killed by large gulls Larus or Great Skuas Stercorarius
skua cannot be ruled out. A complete Black Guillemot foot was found in one
otter spraint, and remains of Puffins Fratercula arctica and Storm Petrels
Hydrobates pelagicus were also recorded at several places frequented by
otters.
Adult Black Guillemots taken on the nest had usually been decapitated,
and in a series of adjacent nests in one colony the uneaten bodies were found
still on the eggs. Nestling remains were normally found less than 2m from
the nest entrance, decapitated, neatly skinned, and with the sternum
crushed. In all cases, relatively few feathers had been ingested and many
skins and carcases smelled strongly of otter, some having been urinated
upon. Weldon (1881) described an otter catching a Cormorant Phalacro-
corax carbo on the water and then decapitating it once ashore, and Stephens
(1957) found that two pigeons Columba presented to captive otters were
decapitated, with feathers strewn about, but none of the flesh eaten. These
accounts of otters handling avian prey are similar to findings in Shetland,
but the reasons for leaving a carcase uneaten are unclear, although food-
storing may be involved.
Olsson (1974) in Sweden and Folkestad (1982) in Norway found that
many Black Guillemots and other seabirds were killed by minks Mustela
vison , particularly in boulder areas where minks make their lairs. Although
otters are probably less numerous than minks, their predation could
influence nesting dispersion or regulate the size or formation of accessible
seabird colonies in such areas as Shetland.
This work on Black Guillemots was funded by the Shetland Oil Terminal
Environmental Advisory Group. PJ Ewins
Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology, Department of Zoology,
South Parks Road, Oxford 0X1 3PS
REFERENCES
Erlinge. S. 1967. Fixxl habits of the Fish-Otter Lutra lutra (L.) in south Swedish habitats.
Viltrevy 4: 371-443.
664 Notes
Folkestad, A. O. 1982. The effect of Mink predation on some seabird species. Villrapport 21:
42-49.
Jenkins, D.. & Harper, R. J. 1980. Ecology of Otters in Northern Scotland II: Analyses of
Otter Lutra lutra, and Mink Mustela vison, faeces from Deeside, North-East Scotland in
1977-78 J. Amm. Ecol. 49: 737-754.
Olsson, V. 1974. [Razorbill Alca torda and Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle on the Swedish east
coast 1954-73. Changes in a population.] VSr Fdgelvarld 33: 3-14.
Stephens, M. N. 1957. The Natural History of the Otter. London.
\\ eldon, E. F. 1881 . Food of the Otter. Field 50: 545.
Collared Doves nesting inside buildings During the summer of 1983, a
pair of Collared Doves Streptopelia decaocto started to build a nest about 7 m
up on the roof girder inside an open-sided farm building in Cambridge-
shire. Before completion, a pair of feral Rock Doves Columba livia ousted the
Collared Doves and used the nest themselves, successfully rearing two
young. The Collared Doves then built inside a nearby barn, gaining
entrance through a door which was left open. This nest was about 8m inside
from the door, again 7 m from the floor, and situated where the strip lighting
(not much used during the summer months) and a small, 5-cm wide girder
met; this junction provided a secure base for the nest, which was con-
structed of straw collected from a nearby dairy unit. A single young was
fledged. Most literature mentions Collared Doves as nesting rarely on
buildings, but in this instance they nested well inside a building.
M. R. Fletcher and J. S. Smith
Glendale, 56 Frog Grove Lane, Wood Street, Guildford, Surrey GU33HA
19 Bradgate, Cuffley, Hertfordshire EN64RYV
BWP states that Collared Doves in India occasionally nest on rafters in cattle sheds or
outhouses; and in Iraq under garage roofs, but not frequently. Derek Goodwin has commented
that this is the ‘sort of place one would expect them to nest’, and has also drawn attention to a
letter by L. P. Alder [Brit. Birds 56: 1 14) in which Mr Alder stated that, during 1942-44, when
stationed at Jodhpur, India, he frequently found nests of the Collared Dove in the engines of
numerous aircraft parked among the scattered acacias in the desert; the doves reared many
broods in the aircraft, which were often undisturbed for many months, but also nested in the
acacia trees. Eds
Barn Owl attacking and killing adult Woodpigeon Some years ago,
near Welburn, North Yorkshire, I was walking towards the edge of a field
with some small trees and bushes when a Barn Owl Tyto alba suddenly
appeared, talons outstretched, then disappeared into a small tree. A
Woodpigeon Columba palumbus then fell to the ground with the owl on top. I
watched in amazement as the owl started to pluck the now dead pigeon; it
continued plucking for two or three minutes before it flew off, either having
seen me (there was no immediate place to hide) or because something else
had disturbed it. I went to see the pigeon, which was still very warm when I
touched it. It was an adult, and there was a clear patch just to the left of its
breastbone where the owl had started to pluck it. I hid close by and waited
for over an hour to see if the owl would return, but unfortunately it did not. I
left the Woodpigeon as it was, but the following morning it had gone.
Anthony Nuttell
55 Railway Street, Grimsby, South Humberside DN32 7BN
Notes
665
Thrfat-mg behaviour by Barn Owl In view of the statement in Bunn et
at. (1982) that there are few, if any, genuine records of Barn Owls Ty to alba
attacking man, the following seems worth recording. On 14th September
1983, I called at a farm in mid Devon. Across a couple of fields was an
isolated and rather derelict barn where I found plenty of evidence of recent
occupation by Barn Owls (pellets, droppings, moulted feathers). At the
farm, I was told that the owls had bred there and that the farmer’s wife had
had an unusual experience with them. On or very near 25th August that
year, she was walking along the track which passes the barn when she heard
noises from within; she looked inside a lean-to shed attached to the barn
and two Barn Owls flew out. One flew to the corrugated roof, where it
flopped up and down making a banging noise, and the other swooped
around nearby. To avoid disturbing any young which might have been
there, she did not enter the barn. A third owl, presumably a fledgling, was
heard calling from a tree about 100m away across the field. The owl which
had been on the roof flew up to the ridge and perched there, while the other
flew out over the field, turned and came straight at her with legs dropped
and talons extended, passing just over her head; as she moved away, it
repeated this and in all carried out about 12 ‘runs’ in this threatening
manner. She described the experience as both exciting and frightening, and
something which she will never forget. It seems certain that the owls had at
least one young, newly fledged, nearby and possibly others still in the nest
in the barn; the owl’s behaviour was probably in response to human
intrusion at a moment when the adults were under considerable tension,
trying to look after separated young. Graham Madge
Firway End , George Hill , Crediton , Devon
REFERENCE
Bunn, D. S., \\ arburton, A. B., & \\ ilson, R. D. S. 1982. The Bam Owl. C’alton.
Derek Goodw in has expressed the view that: 'This w as probably an ex-tame bird or one that
had been “rescued” and released.' Eds
Kingfisher capturing dragonfly on perch At 06.45 gmt on 6th August
1982, in the Cambridge University Botanic Garden, I was watching a
Kingfisher Alcedo atthis perched on a park bench close to a lake. A large
dragonfly, probably a male brown hawker Aeshna grandis , landed on the
opposite end of the bench. About a minute later, the Kingfisher began to
shuffle clumsily along the back of the bench towards the dragonfly; when
about 1 m from the insect, it suddenly darted forward and seized the
dragonfly with its bill while in mid flight. On returning to its perch, it began
to beat the dragonfly, which was about twice as long as its bill, against the
bench. Unfortunately, the Kingfisher was disturbed by a member of the
public and it flew off with its prey; I do not know whether or not it ate the
dragonfly. Although recently emerged dragonflies are known to be
vulnerable to predation from a variety of bird species (Corbet et al., 1960,
Dragonflies ), and Kingfishers are known to take dragonfly larvae
underwater ( BWP ), I am not aware of any records of Kingfishers capturing
666
Notes
adult dragonflies in this way. Such behaviour may, however, be frequent
during the early hours of the morning, when the low air temperature makes
dragonflies more sluggish than later in the day. David Harper
Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology , Department of Zoology,
South Parks Road, Oxford OKI 3 PS
Bathing behaviour of Kingfishers One would probably expect
Kingfishers Alcedo atthis to bathe exclusively by plunge-diving. At 04.20 gmt
on 8th August 1982, in the Cambridge University Botanic Garden,
however, I observed a Kingfisher bathing in about 2cm of water in a
fountain. Its bathing behaviour resembled that of a small passerine such as
a House Sparrow Passer domesticus, water being sprayed over its body with
its wings. After about five minutes, the Kingfisher flew up in to a nearby
pine Pinus to preen, before returning to bathe again. There was no lack of
water deep enough for diving, since there is a large lake within 100m of the
fountain. A convalescent Kingfisher which I cared for in 1983 also
frequently bathed in shallow water in the same way, even when it was
capturing all its food by diving into a large tank. David Harper
Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology , Department of Zoology,
South Parks Road, Oxford 0X1 3PS
Dr K. E. L. Simmons has commented as follows: ‘ This is what I call “stand-in” bathing; it is
described in A Dictionary of Birds (1985) under “Comfort behaviour”. ’Eds
Great Spotted Woodpeckers fighting in flight On the afternoon of 9th
April 1981, in Belfairs Nature Reserve, Essex, I heard a Great Spotted
Woodpecker Dendrocopos major calling. I stopped on the path and eventually
became aware of three woodpeckers in the immediate vicinity. Two of these
began to chase each other in an agitated manner, but after a short while
they landed on trees nearby. They then flew at each other and began
fighting in mid-air, about 1.5m up and vertical and parallel to each other;
they clawed at each other and flapped their wings vigorously, but rapidly
crashed to the ground, where they immediately separated and flew off in
different directions. Both were males, and the third woodpecker was
presumably a female. Although I have observed Great Spotted Wood-
peckers on numerous occasions, I have never before seen them fight in this
manner. David W. G. Ladbrook
93 Olive Avenue, Leigh on Sea, Essex SS93PX
Birds found dead at sewage-farm sludge beds During several years’
birdwatching at Ashford Sewage-farm, Kent, I have found a number of
bird and mammal species dead in sludge pits or drying beds. Mammals
found dead (or still alive) include rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus, common rats
Rattus norvegicus and voles of the genus Clethrionomys, many having run in
through clumsiness. The most common bird species found dead is the
Starling Sturnus vulgaris, mostly young individuals, but over the years the
following ‘unexpected’ species have also been discovered: Black-necked
Grebe Podiceps nigricollis. Red-legged Partridge Alecloris rufa, Little Owl
Notes
667
Athene noctua, Green \\ oodpecker Picus vindis, W rvneck Jynx torquilla, House
Martin Delichon urbica, Goldcrest Regulus regulus, Blackbird Turdus merula.
Song I hrush T. philomelos, Blue I it Parus caeruleus, and Treecreeper Certhia
familians. I hese include some unlikely species to be found in a sludge bed.
1 1 is possible that they flew over, mistook the beds for water and stopped off
to feed or drink, or were after the abundant insects in the area.
Trevor Perkins
141 Canterbury Road, Kennington, Ashford , Kent
Swallows mobbing Pectoral Sandpiper 1 he Cheshire Bird Report for 1974
included a note entitled "Swallow [Hirundo rustica] chasing Pectoral
Sandpiper [ Calidns melanotos]' . On 8th September 1982, at Termoncarragh
Lake, Co. Mayo, I saw two Swallows mob a juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper
three times within less than five minutes, each time for a short period until
the sandpiper was forced to fly from the Swallows’ feeding area. 1 have not
noticed other waders suffering similar aggression.
Andrew H. J. Harrop
16 Yeo Close, Efford , Plymouth PL36ER
Juvenile Blackbird ‘frolicking’, ‘playing’ with leaf, and copulating
with inanimate objects With reference to earlier notes on Blackbirds
Turdus merula ‘playing’ and so on (Brit. Birds 73: 355; 75: 34-35; 76: 536), my
wife and I observed comparable behaviour from an independent juvenile of
this species that visited our garden in east Leicester on 30th and 31st
August 1984.
On the evening of the first day and the morning of the next, it persistently
engaged in ‘frolicking’, a form of in vacuo fleeing behaviour typical of many
young passerines and described by the late Dr Margaret Morse Nice in
1943 (Trans. Linn. Soc. N.Y. 6: 51) as ‘sudden, rapid runs or flights with
sharp turns’. Our bird fluttered and twisted (‘hooked’) erratically thus just
over the surface of the lawn and in and out among the border plants and a
row of three small fir trees. On 31st. it also chased a male Dunnock Prunella
modularis, a female House Sparrow Passer domes t inis, and another juvenile
and an adult female Blackbird in a similar manner, inducing the last two to
respond briefly with similar antics. Soon after, it started digging in the
border and twice copulated with clumps of earth there, holding on with its
bill and squatting down over them to make cloacal contact; it also copu-
lated similarly once with a big leaf, but only after "playing with it: seizing,
raising, and running with it.
Later the same day, an independent juvenile Song Thrush T. philomelos
also performed brief frolicking actions in another border shortly after a spell
of sunning, but, although we frequently monitor the birds from the house,
these are our only records of such behaviour in this garden since we came
here in 1981. K. E. L. Simmons
66 Romway Road. Leicester LE55SB
Eric Simms has also drawn our attention to an earlier paper of his (Bril. Birds 58: 33-43). in
which he described how a male Blackbird displayed to and attempted to copulate with a black
lump of coal. Eds
Letters
Ptarmigan on Arran BWP (vol. 2) states incorrectly that the Ptarmigan
Lagopus mutus has been extinct on the Isle of Arran, Strathclyde, since the
1 9th century. I n fact, the species has been present since 1 972, when six were
seen by John Orr on Am Binneinon 31st March. It has been observed every
year since, up to the present (April 1985). The first breeding record after
1972 was in 1976, when a female with three young was seen by Bruce
Anderson on Caisteal Abhail on 24th July.
For further information see Scottish Bird Reports (1972-83); The Arran
Naturalist ( 1978-79); The Birds oj Arran — Annual Bird Reports ( 1980-84); Clyde
Area Bird Report ( 1978-80); and A Regional Checklist of Clyde Birds ( 1981 ).
Margaret H. Dunn
Tigh-an-Droma , Kingscross, Isle of Arran KA27SRG
Roding flight of Woodcock I was surprised to find BWP following the
conventional description of the roding flight action of Woodcock Scolopax
rusticola as having ‘slow, deliberate strokes of wings’ (vol. 3, page 451). 'To
my eye, it appears that, superimposed upon the basic rather slow action,
there is a rapid, trembling flicker of the outer wing at least. The action is
thus remarkably quick, rather than slow and deliberate in an exact sense,
and far from the usual ‘owl-like’ interpretation. R. A. Hume
15 Cedar Gardens, Sandy, Bedjordshire SGI 9 IKY
British status of northern Lesser Black-backed Gulls P. ]. Grant
( 1982, Gulls: a guide to identification ) and BWP are in agreement that adults of
the northern races intermedius and fuscus of the Lesser Black-backed Gull
Larus fuscus are separable by consideration of their upperparts colour.
Taking the jet black in the wing-tip as a reference, the upperparts colour of
intermedius — almost as black as on the Great Black-backed Gull L. marinus —
shows a slight but definite contrast with the wing-tip: this is well illustrated
in plate 205 in Grant’s book. The upperparts colour of fuscus — ‘as black as
or blacker than L. marinus' — hardly contrasts with the wing-tip.
In the ten months January to October 1982, I carefully looked at all
resting flocks of dark-backed Lesser Black-backs on the shingle areas of the
RSPB Dungeness Reserve, Kent. Of the few thousand such birds encoun-
tered, all except one was intermedius , and there can be no doubt that
(although ‘ intermedius ’ is not yet a ‘household word’) this is the most
abundant subspecies in southeast England outside the period June to early
July, when it is completely absent.
The exceptional individual had a back of an intense sooty black, different
in ‘finish’ but hardly in colour from that of the wing-tip. It occurred in
September and is, in fact, the only individual referable to fuscus that I have
668
Letters
669
knowingly encountered. The question arises as to just how scarce Juscus is;
as Grant points out, there are good reasons for not expecting many to occur
in Britain. It would surely be of interest if observers, having familiarised
themselves with the commonly occurring intermedius, looked critically for
fuscus and submitted records to county recorders in the normal way, so that
a picture might begin to emerge. In this connection, it must be pointed out
that the painting captioned ‘intermedins’ in BWP (vol. 3, plate 82) is ofa bird
with such a pale back that it is certainly not representative of that race.
I must express my gratitude to Dr J. V. van Viet for first explaining
intermedius to me when we were confronted by an isolated individual in early
July 1977 in Southwest Ireland; and toother Dutch gull enthusiasts and to
P- J- Grant for subsequent discussions. L.J. Davenport
68 First Avenue, Gillingham , Kent ME72LG
The Buckinghamshire skua Having seen the skua Stercorarius at Willen
Lake, Buckinghamshire, in November 1982 (Brit. Birds 76: 10 L plate 42), I
must comment on Lars Jonsson’s identification in his paper on ‘Identifi-
cation of juvenile skuas’ (Brit. Birds 77: 443) of the Buckinghamshire bird as
an Arctic S. parasiticus rather than a Pomarine Skua S. pomarinus. This
identification, from a single black-and-white print taken from a colour
transparency, clearly shows the problems which we all encounter each
month in trying to solve the ‘Mystery photographs’.
Jonsson stated that the lighting conditions make judgement of the
somewhat Pomarine-like bill and forehead unreliable. If this is the case,
then the lighting conditions must also affect the judgement of bill size and
the angle of the gonys, features which he used to identify the bird as an
Arctic.
If one accepts that all of these features are unsafe, and approach the
identification of the Buckinghamshire skua using Lars Jonsson's plate, only
three features fit identification as an Arctic Skua: buff tips to the primaries,
buff lines on the edges of the outer webs of the greater coverts, and buff tips
to the tertials. On studying the skin collection at the British Museum (Nat.
Hist.), Tring, however, these three features proved to be inconclusive for
skua identification, since a few specimens of Pomarine Skua showed buff
tips to their primaries, and bufflines on the outer webs of the greater coverts
comparable with the Buckinghamshire skua. The tertial markings were an
unsafe feature because both species were so variable.
These facts make the identification of the Buckinghamshire skua un-
reliable from the published photograph. Fortunately, however, the bird
was present for three days, and its habit of drowning Black-headed Gulls
Larus ridibundus, taking them to some floating weeds by the shore-line and
then feeding leisurely, allowed for perfect viewing conditions. The bird was
identified as a Pomarine Skua because of its large size and bulky
appearance, with broad base to the wings, deep keel, large contrasting bill
and rounded central tail feathers. On studying notes and many photo-
graphs (e.g. plates 325-328) of the Buckinghamshire bird, it showed all of
the features attributed to Pomarine Skua by Lars Jonsson, but it also had
buff tips to the primaries, buff edges to the outer webs of the greater coverts
670
Letters
328. Juvenile Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomannus . Buckinghamshire, November 1982
(S. G. D. Cook)
and buff tips to the tertials. As stated above, these are not safe identification
features for Arctic Skua; indeed, the Buckinghamshire skua clearly proves
this. JeffBi.incow
48 Bush Hill, Northampton
The author sent additional photographs of the Buckinghamshire skua to Larsjonsson, who
agrees with its reidentification as Pomarine Skua. Eds
Incompatibility of Marsh and Willow Tits Like most birders, we
encourage large numbers of tits Pams to feed on peanuts in our garden
during the winter. The peak number of individuals of all species at any one
time in recent winters has been 58. Both Marsh P. palustris and Willow Tits
P. montanus are regular visitors, maxima having been three Marsh and two
Willow. I have, however, never seen the two species together in the garden,
where many individuals are now colour-ringed, facilitating identification.
Has anyone seen these species together? None of my friends has. Do they
avoid each other, and what are the implications if they do?
S.J. R. Rumsey
Woodcote, Peter James Lane , Fairlight, East Sussex TN354AH
672
Letters
Requests for reprints It is clear from the correspondence {Brit. Birds 77:
216; 78: 153-154) that, like other controversies, the point of view taken on
requests for reprints depends a lot on an individual’s circumstances. While
I sympathise with those who are inundated with requests, P. J. Grant is a
lucky man indeed not to have needed to make one himself.
Some of us are amateur ornithologists for whom the opportunities to visit
specialist libraries, let alone establishments containing all the literature we
would require, are few and expensive. I personally have found it essential to
request reprints, often from journals previously unknown to me; and the
majority of these reprints come from professionals whose sponsoring bodies
obviously pay the postage. My requests have occasionally led to more
fruitful correspondence, and, as I have gained from such exchanges, I do
not object to providing a reasonable number of reprints myself. Reprints
sent at the cheapest rate of postage are not unduly expensive.
The banning of requests would be a drastic step, raising difficulties for
amateur researchers remote from academic ‘civilisation’. Perhaps an
answer would be to indicate in some way the author’s preparedness or
ability to provide reprints. Norman Elkins
18 Scotstarvit View, Cupar, Fife KY154DX
I receive requests for my own reports, and have myself written for reprints
of papers on topics that specially interest me. Not only is this sometimes the
speediest method of gaining information, but it also means you have your
own copy. Better still, authors often send related papers the existence of
which one may have been unaware. In a few cases, fruitful correspondence
results.
Ornithological ‘serials’, as librarians call them, increased from one in
1853 to 136 by 1963 {The Status of Ornithological Literature 1964, P. H.
Baldwin and D. E. Oehlerts, Biological Abstracts Inc.), and must now be
about 200. To help keep pace, the easy and willing exchange of reprints is
vital. I am, therefore, sorry that Pete Marsh {Brit. Birds 77: 216) should feel
as he does, and appalled that our editors often ‘ignore’ requests from North
American universities for British Birds reprints {Brit. Birds 77: 216). Neither
reaction tones with the spirit of scientific kinship. Jeffery Boswall
Birdswell, Wraxall, Bristol BS19 1JZ
Despite these (and similar letters from several other distinguished and prolific authors), we
stand by our previous editorial comment (Brit. Birds 77: 216). Of course we respond to genuine
requests — with letters of explanation — from fellow ornithologists; but impersonal, preprinted
cards requesting ‘something for nothing’ from unknown names at large academic organisa-
tions in rich countries do not entice us to provide free copies at our own expense. We do,
however, perhaps have a jaundiced view, since we receive so many such requests, and seldom a
‘Thank you’ when we have responded generously. Each author will take a personal stance.
This correspondence is now closed. Eds
‘Identification: it’s a beginning’ Dr Sharrock must be short of copy. If he
is, it could be a decade before he decides to write ‘This correspondence is
now closed’, for, if I am not mistaken, his thought-provoking ‘Points of
view’ on ‘Identification: it’s a beginning’ {Brit. Birds 77: 570) will produce a
torrent of mail and cause a twitter amongst twitchers and the non-twitcher-
Letters 673
happy-enough-to-see-s-lesser-American-whatnot-found-by-someone-else. His
short note follows 56 pages on rarities in Great Britain including nine
excellent photographs in full colour, answering his own question on
whether it is our fault that too many are obsessed by identification. ‘Our'
must refer to the contributors to and editors of BB. I have long thought that
BB is really designed for twitchers, and that Bird Study is meant for ‘serious’
birders who would pretend not to notice an Asiatic or transatlantic ‘mega-
tick’ if it fell in their lunch-box.
Most of us are vain enough to enjoy seeing our names in print — except
perhaps in the News of the World. For many birders, the sole way of achieving
this minor aura of immortality is not to spend thousands of hours studying
the breeding biology of a single species, but to catch a glimpse of something
exotic in the shrubbery. I am not against twitching in moderation, but,
taken to excess (Fair Isle to Scilly and back in a weekend, or was it 24
hours?), it is as intellectually arid as collecting train-numbers. I enjoy
seeing a new bird as much as do most birders, and boy! am I glad I did not
‘dip out’ on the Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis in Scilly in May 1984.
but I am equally pleased that the bird pushed off before my peaceful
holiday could be invaded by a Scillonian-iuU of eager-beavers. What I regret
is that an equal amount of energy is not expended with similar enthusiasm
on the common birds of one’s own patch. I get a gut feeling that some
birdwatchers refuse to take part in survey work because it lacks excite-
ment’. In reality, survey work can be immense fun, as all dedicated
participants attest to a man.
Between 1964 and 1978, I spent a good deal of my spare time putting
together two volumes on the ornithology of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly .
There was no shortage of data on the county’s enviable list of oddities. 4 he
difficulties concerned the common species, highlighted by the Toney Canyon
disaster (1967) when it proved almost totally impossible to assess its impact
on breeding-bird populations because of inadequate information. I hings
have changed for the better with the publication of such monumental wor ks
as The Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland (1976) and the eagerly
awaited similar volume on wintering birds. It was a pleasuie to me to ha\(
taken part in survevs for both these works, which are essential to pro\ ide
basic information on which to build further knowledge.
Organising such a survey is no easy task, and I suspect that few counties
are so well organised that, once the B TO or some other body announces a
survey, an army of field- workers can give full 10-km square coverage at the
drop of a hat. I have not had the time to organise a county survey for ten
years, but, when I took charge of Cornwall in 1975 for the Rookery Census,
it was hard going finding enough birdwatchers to cover the county once the
small hard-core of survey -addicts had been enlisted. With the rising cost of
postage, I do not envy successors who have to write scores of tailor-made
letters to squeeze information out of potential contributors.
Not many of us can find sufficient time to take part in such commendable
schemes as the Common Birds Census; perhaps some new scheme can be
devised by the boffins allowing a greater number of people with less time in
the field to contribute.
674
Letters
Birdwatching in Britain has long since passed the stage when identifica-
tion was the principal object of the exercise. It is high time we all spent less
time on ‘What?’ and more on ‘When?, Where? and How many?’. ‘Why?’, I
suspect, is a different matter, perhaps best left to the professional biologists,
though I am prepared to be convinced otherwise. R. D. Penhallurick
County Museum, Truro, Cornwall
This correspondence is now closed. Eds
Foreign expeditions The report on ‘Expeditions’ {Brit. Birds 78: 323-327)
was encouraging and showed that, instead of travelling merely for enjoy-
ment, some recently planned expeditions have a potentially valuable
purpose. T here is a great need for ornithologists going abroad to help to fill
the yawning gaps in our knowledge of the status of endangered species, of
which there are now many hundreds. 1 1 is impossible for organisations such
as the ICBP and the World Wildlife Fund to plan for the protection of
rarities unless basic information about their distribution and status is
available. The Red Data Books of Endangered Species show that in Africa,
Asia and South America there are scores of species about which no
information whatever has been obtained for up to 50 years. Even a single
definite sighting would be valuable, providing that the exact map reference
and habitat were accurately recorded. May I make a special plea to the
organisers of expeditions to spend a day at the British Museum (Natural
History) examining the skins of endangered species listed in the Red Books
as likely to occur in the localities to be visited and to make an effort to locate
and report on at least one of them? T hose wondering where to take the next
expedition will find plenty of enticing possibilities in the Red Books. For
example, the forests of the Dahomey Gap and the escarpment of western
Angola are in great need of exploration and contain many ultra-rare
species. The same applies to the Sokoke Forest area of coastal Kenya and
the southern coastal plains of Somalia, where the nine or ten local species of
larks would satisfy even the most ardent birder. Finally, please make sure
that copies of all ornithological expedition reports are sent to the ICBP at
219c Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 ODE. Guy Mountfort
Hurst Oak, Sandy Lane, Lyndhurst, Hampshire S04 7DN
Diary dates
This list covers January to December 1986
3rd-5th January bto ringing and
migration conference. Hayes Conference
Centre, Swanwick, Derbyshire. Details from
the Ringing Office, BTO, Beech Grove,
Tring, Hertfordshire HP23 r>NR; tel.: Tring
(044282) 3461.
2 1st January British ornithologists' club.
Dr Richard Chandler on ‘Bird photography
and waders’. Central London. Non-members
should write (enclosing SAE) at least 21 days
before to Hon. Secretary, R. E. F. Peal, 2
Chestnut Lane, Sevenoaks, Kent TNI 3 3AR.
675
Diary dates
25th and 26th January yoc garden
birdwatch. 9.00- 10.00 a. m.
26th-29th January third international
pheasant symposium. Chiang Mai, Northern
I hailand. Details from Keith Howman,
\\ orld Pheasant Association, Ashmere, Felix
Lane, Shepperton, Middlesex.
31st January Closing date for entries for
‘Bird Photograph of the Year’.
31st January Closing date for ‘Best recent
black-and-white bird-photographs’.
14th- 16th February bto populations
conference. Swanwick. ‘Waders.’ Details
from Rob Fuller, BTO.
14th March Closing date lor entries for ‘Bird
Illustrator of the Year’.
18th March- 13th May yoc migration
phone-in. Telephone Sandy (0767) 80551.
Tuesdays only, 5.30 p.m.-7.00 p.m. Records
from adults welcomed.
21st March Scottish ornithologists’ club
jubilee reception. Kelvingrove Museum &
Art Gallery, Glasgow. Details from SOC, 21
Regent Terrace, Edinburgh EH7 5BT.
26th-30th March first mediterranean
seabird symposium. Alghero (Sardinia).
‘Population studies and conservation of the
Med iterranean marine avifauna.’ Organised
by the Mediterranean Marine Bird Associa-
tion. Details from Mr Xaver Monbailliu, 20
rue St Martin, 75004 Paris, France.
2nd April boc. Provisionally: Professor
J. W. Terborgh on ‘The decline in North
American migrant birds’. Central London.
Write to Hon. Sec.
5th April joint bto/soc Scottish bird-
watchers' conference University of
Aberdeen. Details from SOC.
11th- 13th April RSPB MEMBERS' WEEKEND.
University of York. Details from Mrs
Marcella Hume, RSPB.
12th April bto one-day conference.
Gamston, Retford, Nottinghamshire. Details
from I ed Cowley, Lincoln Cottage, Main
Street, Clayworth. Retford; tel.: Retford
(0777) 817799.
26th April bou agm. The Wildfowl Trust.
Martin Mere, Burscough, Ormskirk. Lanca-
shire. Details from BOL , c/o Zoological
Society of London. Regent's Park. London
NVV 1 4RY.
3rd-5th May yoc national sponsored
birdwatch.
29th May WILDFOWL trust agm.
22nd-29th June 1 9th international
ORNITHOLOGICAL CONGRESS. Ottawa.
Canada. Information from Dr Henri Ouellet.
Secretary General, XIX Congressus Inter-
nationalis Ornithologicus, National
Museum of Natural Sciences, Ottawa,
Ontaria, Canada kiao.mh.
18th-30th September SOCIETY OF WILDLIFE
artists’ annual exhibition (including
display of winning entries in ‘Bird Illustrator
of the \ ear' and ‘The Richard Richardson
Award’ competitions). The Mall Galleries.
The Mall, London SWl. Open 10-5 Mon.-
Fri., 10-1 Sat. Admission £1.00 (free to
SWLA members).
31st October-2nd November soc annual
conference agm. Marine Hotel. North
Berwick. Details from SOC.
5th-7th December bto annual conference
& agm. Swanwick. Details from Tim Davis.
BTO.
5th-7th or 12th-14th December NATIONAL
EXHIBITION OF CAGE AND AVIARY BIRDS.
National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham.
Details from Brian Byles, Editor. ‘Cage and
Aviary Birds', Surrey House. 1 Throwley
Way, Surrey SMI 4QQ.
Sheila D. Cobban , Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ
Announcements
Binding your ‘BB’s We should like to remind readers that standard
book-binding of the year's issues into a single volume is available as usual,
from P. G. Chapman & Co. Ltd (£1 1.50 per volume): please use the binding
forms on the back cover of the index.
676
Announcements
Sponsored by
°Ah
Bird Photograph of the Year This annual com-
petition will again be run by British Birds and sponsored
by Matthew Gloag & Son Ltd, proprietors of ‘The
Famous Grouse’ whisky. The full rules (similar to
those last year, Brit. Birds 78: 56-57) will be published
next month. The closing date is 3 1st January 1986.
Best recent black-and-white bird-photographs The closing date for
submission of prints for the twenty-sixth annual selection is 31st January
1986. The full rules (similar to those last year, Brit. Birds 78: 57) will be
published next month.
Request
Please help A distribution/despatch error has resulted in a severe shortage of October 1985
issues. If you are able to return an unwanted copy to us, we will gladly refund your postage.
Thank you.
News and comment
Mike Everett and Robin Prytherch
Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of ‘British Birds’
If you’re a naturalist Some birders, of
course, are single-mindecf fanatics, interested
in almost nothing else (sometimes not even
their wives and families, their jobs or their
own safety), but many birdwatchers have an
interest in many other aspects of natural
history. If you are in the latter category, you
will greatly welcome the production by the
newly formed Natural History Book Service
Ltd of its newspaper-like catalogue of books
and recordings on reptiles and amphibians,
butterflies and moths, insects and other
invertebrates, marine and freshwater life,
flowering plants, non-flowering plants, trees,
conservation, and just about everything in
the natural world from algae and apes to
woodlice and wolves. Produced in associa-
tion with the Fauna and Flora Preservation
Society, this ‘20-page, very browsable cata-
logue can be obtained free of charge from the
NHBS, 62 Tritton Road, London SF.21 8DE.
(To correct a frequent misunderstanding,
the NHBS does distribute books ordered
through British BirdShop by British Birds
subscribers, as part of a contract between
British Birds Ltd and NHBS Ltd. But the
NHBS is not a British Birds subsidiary!)
Interested in atlases? Two leaflets giving
basic information are available free of charge
from the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology.
Biological Records Centre: a national data bank is a
six-page leaflet describing the work and
objectives of the BRC. The eight-page book-
let, Current Atlases of the Flora & Fauna of the
British Isles 1985 , compiled by Paul T. Hard-
ing, provides a reference list to the 49 atlases
published so far (not just birds, but bumble-
677
News and comment
bees, hoverflies, sedges, lreshwater fishes,
and many others). Birdwatchers could help
in the mapping of many groups of animals
and plants. If you are interested, write for
your free copies from: Publication Sales,
Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Monks
Wood Experimental Station, Abbots Ripton,
Huntingdon PE17 2LS.
Vermont gets there first July 1985 saw the
publication of the first ‘atlas’ in the USA,
‘The Atlas of Breeding Birds of Vermont’ by
Sarah B. Laughlin and Douglas P. Kibbe.
British readers will find the format very
familiar, since it closely resembles that of our
own tome, even if the ‘atlas priority block’
recording system looks and sounds peculiar.
The book covers 1 79 species and is the result
of five years’ fieldwork by over 200 observers.
A review will be appearing in BB in due
course.
‘Essex Birds’ Birdwatchers who live in
Essex are very well served by what must be
the most sophisticated and high quality
county bulletin: well designed, well edited
and as readable as any of the best high-circu-
lation national magazines. At only 50p a
copy, it must be worth birders in other
counties buying one to see what can be done.
Cheque or postal order for 50p (payable to
the Essex Bird Watching & Preservation
Society) to the Editor, Roy Billen. 1 1 1
Ingrave Road, Brentwood, Essex exit:! 2.v\
Birds in Northumbria The 1984 edition of
this county bird report is now available, price
£3.00 including p&p, from Mrs M. Cadwal-
lender, 32 Hanners Gardens, Seaton
Delaval, Northumberland NE25 0DW.
Publications: a plea We try to publicise as
many publications such as the two men-
tioned abov e as we possibly can — but if you
want us to give you a plug please tell us (a)
what your journal costs, including postage,
and (b) where it is obtainable. Some we have
received contained no information on either.
Money for David Hunt Memorial Fund
So far, 154 copies of the late David Hunt's
Confessions of a Scilly Birdman have been
purchased through British BirdShop. Since
Croom Helm I.td. the publishers of the book,
are donating 50p to the Dav id Hunt Mem-
orial Fund for every copy of the book sold
through British BirdShop, the Fund will, so
far, benefit to the tune of £77.00. II you have
not yet ordered your copy, turn to page xiii.
SWAN seeks your support The Society lor
W ildlife Art for the Nation, the brainchild of
Dr David Trapnell, was established and
recognised as a charity in 1982. Its main aim
is to establish a gallery — as prestigious and
respected as, for instance, the National
Portrait Gallery — for the permanent exhibi-
tion ol the best of wildlife art (paintings and
sculptures, of course, but also photographs,
and works in all media) from all historical
periods and all nations of the world. Once
established, travelling exhibitions will be
arranged, and SWAN’s other role w ill be in
education, with courses and other training
schemes.
SWAN’s inaugural exhibition was opened
by HRH Princess Alexandra on 4th October,
and 1 73 pieces by 99 artists from 14 countries
were on view at The Guildhall Art Gallery in
London during 4th- 1 2th October. It cer-
tainly whetted this visitor's appetite for a
National Gallery of Wildlife Art.
After spending 18 months unsuccessfully
seeking a suitable site in central London.
SWAN has now found a possible home for
the new National Gallerv of Wildlife Art:
Ashton Court, set in 330 ha of parkland on
the edge of the City of Bristol. It is owned by
the City, and a decision regarding its use has
been promised ‘towards the end of the year'.
SWAN aims to raise several million
pounds within the next year or so. \\ ould this
sum be better spent buying a wood or a
marsh as a new wildlife reserve (as suggested
bv one conservationist)? I think not. The
public’s appreciation of wildlife would be
greatlv enhanced by a National Gallery of
Wildlife Art, and there will no doubt be
useful links between it (and its visitors) and
the various conservation bodies. SWAN
needs and deserves the support of bird-
watchers. If you would like to receive
details — and perhaps wish to become a
member (it's only £10 a year) — please write
to The Secretary . SWAN. 192 Ebury Street.
London sw IWSI'P (Contributed byJTRS )
678
News and comment
Artists’ winning bonus As a result of their
winning the titles of, respectively, ‘Bird
Illustrator of the Year’ and ‘The Richard
Richardson Award’ in 1984, Bruce Pearson
and Keith Colcombe were invited to provide
a display at Stevenage Leisure Centre during
September 1985. This joint exhibition,
dreamed up by ex LBC Radio (now Invicta
Radio) reporter Magnus Carter, was given a
good send-off, with a reception organised by
the Stevenage Arts and Crafts Officer, Jackie
Dyason. Within easy reach of the BB
editorial office, the RSPB headquarters in
Sandy and the BTO headquarters in Tring,
the Stevenage Leisure Centre would be an
ideal place for further such occasions in the
future. W’e hope that the success of this year’s
show results in repeats being organised.
329. Keith Colcombe and Bruce Pearson at
their joint exhibition, Hertfordshire, Sep-
tember 1985: see ‘Artists’ winning bonus’
(Raymond Touiler )
Congratulations Debbie! Debbie Cart-
wright, who has carried out the paste-up of
British Birds each month since the journal
went independent, was married on 2nd
November to her business partner Nigel Felts
(the other half of their company. Ewe Tree
Designs).
Winning artist in ‘Bird Life’ This year’s
winner of ‘Bird Illustrator of the Y ear' and
‘The Richard Richardson Award’, Ian
Lewington, provided the colour paintings to
accompany a three-page feature on the
identification of buntings in the feature
‘Know your birds’ in the Y’OC magazine,
Bird Lije (September/October 1985: pages
29-31). One of Ian Lewington’s four winning
drawings was of a pair of Reed Buntings (see
this year’s frontispiece). This is one more
welcome example of the close links and co-
operation between the YOC and BB.
Scandinavian twitchers get organised
There has been a great upsurge of twitching
in Scandinavia during the 1980s. Inevitably,
conflicts between birders and landowners,
birds or ringing stations have occurred. The
conflicts have been rare, compared with the
many successful, non-problematic twitches,
but they do receive great attention, especially
from non-twitchers. Besides following the
code for twitchers published in British Birds
(75: 301-303), organisations for twitchers
have started in Sweden (‘Club 300’ in 1984)
and in Finland (‘Bongari Liitto’ in March
1985).
The Finnish organisation contains 100
members and aims to control the spreading
of news of rarities, to increase the knowledge
of field identification, and to supervise its
members’ behaviour at twitch sites. In con-
trast to the Swedish ‘Club 300’ (which limits
membership to birders with 300 or more on
their national lists), anyone can join the
Finnish ‘Bongari Liitto’. As a member, it is
compulsory to report news on all newly dis-
covered rarities (defined as species with less
than 100 national records). If the bird is
found in a sensitive area (e.g. private
property, somewhere with a rare breeding
species nearby, and so on), a working team in
the club judges whether or not the news
should be released. This team has the right to
send a non-twitcher to the area to make an
assessment at the site. Of course, land-
owners’ as well as local birders’ opinions are
always taken into account.
W ith increasing pressure on birds, on land
and on people from birders, we can only hope
that these organisations grow strong enough
to prevent degenerate varieties of twitching.
( Contributed by Erik Hirschfeld )
Will Britain follow suit? YVe have often
wondered whether British twitchers will ever
form clubs, leagues, or whatever, or whether
News and comment
679
the present loose association with its
grapevine, its growing folklore and oral
traditions, its ‘organised chaos’ and its highly
moveable feasts will be all we shall ever see.
Do we want to follow the Fenno-Scandian
example, or that of the American Birding
Association? What do you think? Let us have
your views and we will attempt to analyse
them and report back.
Arctic underwear:' If we ever rose to
offering a prize for the ‘misprint of the
month’, the Oban Times (26th July 1985)
would take some beating. In advertising the
ill-fated public meeting over Duich Moss at
Bowmore on Islay it made mention of the
‘Greenland Y-fronted Goose Study’. Our
thanks to A. A. \\ right of Tobermory, Isle of
Mull, for bringing this gem to our attention!
Recent
reports
Keith Allsopp and Ian Dawson
These are largely unchecked reports, not authenticated records
The dates in this report refer to September
unless otherwise stated.
Westerly to northwesterly winds, strong at
times, brought cool unsettled weather for the
first week. From 7th, an increase in pressure
to the south mewed the track of the Atlantic
depressions farther north and, with the winds
now bringing air in from the south, tem-
peratures were near or above average. After
18th, the centre of pressure mtrved to the east
over Europe, and southerly to southeasterly
winds became more frequent towards the end
of the month.
Wading birds
The strong westerlies early in the month
brought a good selection of Nearctic birds,
especially to Ireland, where Tacumshin (Co.
Wexford) was the star locality, with six
species being recorded. I p to six Buff-
breasted Sandpipers Tryngites subruficollis
were found there, others being reported from
Dawlish (Devon), with three on 5th,
Davidstow (Cornwall) during lst-6th (plate
331), Dale (Dyfed), with two on 7th. two
more in the Isles ofScilly and, in the east,
singles at Wisbech Sewage-farm (Cam-
bridgeshire) on 8th, Cromer (Norfolk) on
14th, and Spurn (Humberside) on 15th.
There were just two records of Semipal-
mated Sandpipers Calidns pusilla : one
during the first week, at Akeragh (Co.
Kerry), and the other in the third, at
Tacumshin, where there were also two
Baird’s Sandpipers C. bairdii. The latter
species was also present at Ballycotton (Co.
Cork) from 6th to 10th (plates 339 & 340)
and at Frodsham (Cheshire) from 7th (plates
337 & 338). A Long-billed Dowitcher Lim-
nodromus scolopaceus was another find at
Tacumshin, on 3rd, with others seen at
Peterstone (Gwent) on 14th. Hayle (Corn-
wall), and Heybridge (Essex) on 29th.
Records of Wilson’s Phalaropes Phalaropus
tricolor were also not confined to the west,
with not only one from Tacumshin and two
from Dublin, but also others from Tees-side.
680
Recent reports
first seen in August, Cresswell Ponds
(Northumberland) on 1st, Holy Island
(Northumberland) on 5th, and Slimbridge
(Gloucestershire) and Upton Warren (Here-
ford & Worcester) both on 14th. The other
Tacumshin species was Pectoral Sandpiper
Calidris mdanotos , two of the 18 reported being
there, with others east to Norfolk (plate 330),
and as many as four each at Ballycotton and
Minsmere (Suffolk). Further autumn sight-
ings included White-rumped Sandpipers
C./uscicollis at Blacktoft (Humberside) at the
end of August and at Severn Beach (Avon)
on 13th, Lesser Golden Plovers Pluvialis
dominica at Fair Isle, Akeragh on 16th and
Ballycotton on 25th, a Spotted Sandpiper
Actitis macularia at Lea Marston (Warwick-
shire), and a Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa
ftavipes near Tralee (Co. Kerry) on 15th.
Rarities from easterly origins were sparse:
the Little Whimbrel Numenius minutus
remained at Cley (Norfolk) into September,
a Great Snipe Gallinago media was again
reported from Fair Isle on 7th, and a Broad-
billed Sandpiper Lirnicola Jalcinellus was
present at Broad Lough (Go. Wicklow) from
8th to 11th. The most noticeable wader
movement was an influx of juvenile Curlew
Sandpipers Calidris jerruginea (plate 332),
with many flocks over 20 and an inland
maximum of 1 70 at Wisbech Sewage-farm on
22nd. The movement of Dotterels Charadrius
morinellus reported late in August continued,
with one at Blakeney Point (Norfolk) (plate
333), ten at Rottingdean (Kent) and eight at
Beachy Head (East Sussex) on 1st, and fur-
ther reports late in the month from Abberton
(Essetx), with three on 22nd, Sandwich Bay
(Kent), with two on 23rd, and singles at
Newton Longville (Buckinghamshire) and
Porthgwarra (Cornwall) on 24th and 25th.
Grey Phalaropes Phalaropus Julicarius were
seen in small numbers on seawatches, with a
maximum of 12 at Portrush (Co. Antrim) on
15th; and Red-necked Phalaropes P.
lobatus were found inland at Willen Lake
(Buckinghamshire) on 8th and at Elmley
(Kent) on 28th and 29th. A late migrating
Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus was a first
for Walney (Cumbria) on 28th. Spotted
Crakes Porgana porgana were widely reported,
with eight records received, which for such a
secretive bird must indicate quite an influx.
M ore obvious were a Purple Heron Ardea
purpurea at Salthouse (Norfolk) on 8th, a
Little Egret Egrella gargetta at Titchfield
(Hampshire) and a Black Stork Ciconia nigra
at Carlisle (Cumbria) from 2nd until taken
into care on 22nd.
Seabirds
The strong westerlies at the beginning of the
month brought many seabirds inshore, with
fewer on a subsequent blow on 14th and 15th.
Leach’s Petrels Oceanodroma leucorhoa were
susceptible on both occasions: about 100
were in Fishguard Harbour (Dyfed) on 3rd
and 90 were estimated off the Calf of Man on
15th. Apart from one Cory’s Shearwater
Calonectris diomedea on 16th at Walney, the
larger shearwaters were seen early in the
month: one Cory’s and two Great Shear-
waters Puffinus gravis at St Ives and three
Cory’s and two Greats at Pendeen (Corn-
wall) on 3rd. There were also three
Great Shearwaters oil Malin Head (Co.
Donegal) on 1st, during a seawatch with an
estimated 3,000 Sooty Shearwaters P.
griseus passing, which must have made an
impressive sight; there were also 180 Sooties
at Pendeen on 3rd. Little Shearwaters P.
assimilis were claimed at Bridges of Ross (Co.
Clare) on 31st August, Strumble Head
(Dyfed) on 3rd and off the Isle of Man on
14th. ‘Blue phase’ Fulmars Fulmarus glacialis
330. Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos ,
Norfolk, September 1 985 [Steve Young )
were also recorded during these watches,
with two at Malin Head, three at Corsewall
Point (Dumfries & Galloway) and one at
Portrush, all on 1st, and one at sea, west of
the Isles of Scilly, on 4th. Most sightings of
Sabine's Gulls Larus sabini occurred on the
West Coast watches, 13 being the most, at St
Ives on 3rd, but a few were seen on the East
Coast on the following days; one at Bally-
cotton provided superb views (plates 334-
336). Some 25 Long-tailed Skuas
Stercorarius longicaudus were seen, again
mainly on seawatches, but one was reported
inland at Tring (Hertfordshire) from 1st to
4th, with Pomarine Skuas pomarinus in
similar numbers and localities. Ring-billed
Gulls Lams delawarensis were not reported
from England, but ‘a few present’ was the
assessment for Ireland. The return of winter-
Recent reports
681
331. BufT-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subrufico/lis. ( lorn wall. September 1985 (Graham Sutton)
ing Glaucous Gulls L. hyperboreus was noted
from Cley and Cumbria, with others seen on
passage. Interesting records were of 15
Roseate Terns Sterna dougallii at Tynemouth
(Tyne & Wear) on 1st followed by ten at St
Mary’s Island (Tyne & Wear) on 8th. and of
Forster’s Terns S.forsteri at Clogher Head
(Co. Louth) for the whole of the month and at
Hayle on ‘20th.
Small migrants
Very few passerine migrants were. found at
most observatories, with no significant falls,
but vagrant species were reported in increas-
ing numbers as the weather became quieter
and more easterly. A Lanceolated Warbler
Locuslella lanceolata and a ‘Siberian’
Stonechat Saxicola lorquata on Fair Isle were
found during the first week, as were
Richard’s Pipits Anthus noraeseelandiae on the
Isles of Scilly and at Walney on 3rd. and a
Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor at Bally-
cotton on 6th. A few Tawny Pipits Anthus
campestris were found on the South Coast,
Melodious Warblers Hippolais polyglotta at
Portland (Dorset) and Hengistbury Head
(Dorset) on 9th and at Walney on 1 1 th. three
Aquatic Warblers Acrocephalus paludicola at
Slapton (Devon), again earlv in the month,
and a Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator on
332. Curlew Sandpiper Ca/idris Jerruginea, Humberside, September 1985 (John Hewitt )
682
Recent reports
Jersey on 10th. In the north, a Greenish
Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides stayed on the
Isle of May (Fife) from 8th to 10th, and a
Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica and a Little
Bunting E. pusilla appeared on Fair Isle on
1 1th. Two more Little Buntings were found
in Orkney, on 24th and 29th, and a Yellow-
breasted Bunting E. aureola on Cape Clear
Island (Co. Cork) on 11th was followed by
others on Fair Isle and North Ronaldsav
(Orkney) on 22nd. There were a few widely
scattered records of Ortolan Buntings E.
hortulana, Icterine Warblers Hippotais icterina
and Barred Warblers Sylvia nisoria, all
around mid month. Seven Scarlet Rose-
finches Carpodacus erythrinus were found in
Orkney and one at Portland (Dorset) on
15th, where an Isabelline Shrike Lanius
isabellinus was reported on the same day.
From 22nd, the change to a more south-
easterly origin for the air reaching Britain
and Ireland brought quite a large influx of
Yellow-browed Warblers Phylloscopus
momatus ; 25 were estimated in Orkney from
23rd, 15 in northeast England and several
down the East Coast to Suffolk. Subse-
quently, singles were found at Walney on
26th, on Great Saltee (Co. Wexford) on 28th
and in Jersey (Channel Islands) also on 28th.
Arctic Warblers P. borealis were found on
South Ronaldsay (Orkney) on 24th, and in
the Southwest, on Lundy (Devon) on 30th;
and a Bonelli’s Warbler P. bonelli at Sennen
(Cornwall) on 23rd. Three Pechora Pipits
Anthus gustavi were present on Fair Isle
between 22nd and 28th, four further records
of Richard’s Pipits came from North
Ronaldsay, Porthgwarra (Cornwall), Hen-
gistbury Flead and Blakeney (Norfolk), and
more Tawny Pipits. Short-toed Larks
Calandrella brachydactyla were seen in the Isles
of Scilly, and there was one at Porthgwarra
on 24th. Lapland Buntings Calcarius
lapponicus began appearing in the south, and
an immature Red-headed Bunting
Emberiza bruniceps , considered very likely to
have been a genuine vagrant, was found on
Fair Isle. Reports of Red-breasted Fly-
catchers Ficedula parva were widely scattered
and included three at Walney on 26th;
Wrynecks Jynx torquilla showed a similar
pattern. Other notable finds were a Bee-
eater Merops apiasler in the Isles of Scilly from
23rd, a Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo
daurica on the Wirral (Merseyside) on 28th,
Bluethroats Luscinia svecica on Tyneside on
23rd and North Ronaldsay on 26th, and a
Serin Serinus serinus at Sandwich Bay on 2 1st.
333. Dotterel Charadnus morinellus, Norfolk, September 1985 ( Steve Young )
Recent reports
683
A Chestnut-sided Warbler Dendroica
pensylvamca — potentially a new species for
Britain and Ireland — was reported from
Fetlar (Shetland) on 19th, and a Northern
Parula Parula americana caused great
excitement at Hengistbury Head on 30th.
Interesting movements of commoner birds
included 20,000 House Martins Delichon
urbica at Sandwich Bay on 14th and notice-
able flocks of Siskins Carduelis spinus on the
coast and inland. A record reported too late
for inclusion last month was ofa Pallid Swift
Apus pallidus at Pennington Flash (Greater
Manchester) on 16th August.
Birds of prey
A Honey Buzzard Pemis apivorus was a new
species for Walney on 1st, a Red-footed
Falcon Falco vespertinus was reported at
Henham (Suffolk) on 1st, and a Saker F.
cherrug from North Ronaldsay.
334-336. Juvenile Sabine’s Gull Lams sabini,
Co. Cork, September 1985 ( Richard T. Mills)
Latest news
I he most spectacular and widely noted event
ol the first half of November was the occur-
rence of large numbers of Pomarine Skuas
along the British east coast from Shetland in
the north to at least Norfolk in the south, and
smaller numbers elsewhere, including some
inland (e.g. three at Grafham Water, Cam-
bridgeshire). The eventual total may run into
thousands, for daily totals of 100-200 appear
to have been recorded at many localities.
Among rarities, long-stayers included the
West Sussex Sora Porzana Carolina and
Sociable Plover Chettusia gregaria , and the
Suffolk Long-billed Dowitcher and Nut-
cracker Nucifraga caryocatactes.
684
Recent reports
337 & 338. Baird’s Sandpiper Calidris bairdii
(and with Dunlin C. alpina), Cheshire,
September 1985 ( Steve Young)
339 & 340. Baird’s Sandpiper Calidris
bairdii , Co. Cork, September 1985 ( Richard T.
Mills )
Short reviews
Oxford Illustrated Encyclopedia. The
Natural World. Edited by Dr Malcolm
Coe. (OUP, 1985. £15.95) It would be
unreasonable to expect a work of this magni-
tude to be entirely error free. In quite a lot of
dipping (which is how one does use an
encyclopedia in practice), I have, however,
managed to find none. This does suggest that
Dr Malcolm Coe and his team, and the
designers and proof readers of Rainbird
Publishing Group and Oxford University
Press, have done a very thorough job. That is
more than half the requirement for a good
encyclopedia: accuracy must be assumed.
The second major requirement is suitability
of content. My dipping to find selected
headings was almost always successful and it
was rare for me to consider that a particular
entry was markedly too long (or too short) for
its relative importance. Compared with some
other natural history encyclopedias, this one
is perhaps slightly under illustrated, but the
photographs and drawings are very appro-
priate in each case, and a number were new
to me and particularly interesting for that
reason. For its accuracy and good balance,
this must be a very good choice for anyone
who wants a sound general natural history
encyclopedia. Die Teichralle. By Helmut
Engler. (Die Neue Brehm-Bucherei 536. A.
Ziemsen Verlag, 1983. DM 26.40). 1 his
scholarly monograph on the Moorhen
Gallinula chloropus couples original data with
information gleaned from an exhaustive
literature search. Well-illustrated, well-
referenced and well worth a look, especially
lor the breeding biology and behaviour
sections. The 228-page text of this paperback
is unremittingly German. [K. Taylor]
The Starling. By C. J. Feare. (Shire Publi-
cations, 1985. £1.25) This and The Puffin by
Jim Flegg (see below) are attractively pro-
duced 24-page booklets in a new series trom
this well-known publisher of short guides to a
wide variety of country and craft subjects.
Both make excellent use of good quality
colour photographs and the texts are as
accurate and comprehensive, within their
length, as one would expect from these two
experts in their respective fields. Good value
introductions for the non-specialist. [MAO]
The Puffin. By Jim Flegg. (Shire Public a-
tions, 1985. £1.25) See review of The Starling
by C. J. Feare (above). Birds in the Town.
By Peter Gill. (Dinosaur Publications,
1985. Paperback, £ 1 .25) This little (24-page)
booklet is very well thought out. with good
text and delightful illustrations, suitable for
the five- to ten-year-old. There is lots of
behaviour depicted, as well as pure portraits.
One criticism only: the two pages with
pictures of Kingfisher, Pied Wagtail and
Mute Swan both show the Mute Swan as
being distinctly smaller than either of the
other two; and. indeed, the Pied Wagtail
seems to be marginally larger than the
fisherman at the same range. Eagles,
Hawks and Falcons of Australia. By
David Hollands. (Natural Historv Book
Service, 1 985. £25.00) 1 1 would be all too easy
to dismiss this attractive new volume from
Down Under as just another coffee-table
book. It is nothing of the sort: David
Hollands has contrived to give us two dozen
nicely written and very evocative accounts of
the Australian raptors he has sought out and
studied and — quite brilliantly — photo-
graphed. The plates are superb. There are
many nest portraits, but there are also many
away from the nest, including some useful
flight shots. It is hard to select the best, but a
personal selection would include the
incredible white-phase Grey Goshawk
Accipiter noraehollandiae , a line of Letter-
winged Kites Elanus scriplus on fence-posts,
and a Peregrine Falco peregrinus almost
catching a Galah Eolophus roseicapillus. Highly
recommended! [Mike Everett] Portrait of
a Country Artist: C. F. Tunnicliffe RA.
By Ian Niall. (Gollancz. 1985. Paperback
£6.95) High-quality paperback version of the
book described bv Robert Gillmor (Brit. Birds
73: 604) as ‘A must for all who enjoy birds
and bird art. and excellent value too!', now
even cheaper than it was when first published
in 1980. British Bird Names (English.
Esperanto, Latin, Fran^ais, Deutsch).
Compiled by Edward Ockey. (World
Language Books. 1985. 50p) Ringokolombo
(Woodpigeon). Junkokanbirdo (Sedge
Warbler) and about 270 other common
species rendered in Esperanto, their clumsy
artificiality convincingly demonstrating all
that is wrong with that pseudo-language. If
you want French and German names, the
'Peterson' field guide is far more complete
than this 16-page duplicated pamphlet.
[MAO] Die Bachstelze. By Helmut
Olschlegel. (Die Neue Brehm-Biicherei
571. A. Ziemsen Verlag. 1985. Paperback
685
686
Short reviews
DM22.80) This and Die Amsel by Bnrkhard
Stephan (see below) are two more in this
excellent series. Die Bachstelze is on the Pied
W agtail Motacilla alba and, as usual, provides
a very full account of the biology of the
species, with many photographs, though
apparently based on limited personal
research. [SC] Quadriga Poster Charts:
birds of prey. (Quadriga, 1985. £3.50) The
publishers of this poster measuring 70 X 100
cm are doing neither birds of prey nor the
public any service. The design is non-
existent and the standard of artwork
appalling. What a pity some publishers seem
reluctant to use recognised bird artists or to
turn to experts for advice. [Peter Holden]
Bats. By Phil Richardson. Illustrated by
Guy Troughton. (Whittet Books, 1985.
£4.95) A delightful little book, clearly
designed to popularise the study of bats. A
rather weird mixture of scientific fact and
lighthearted humour, accurate drawings and
amusing cartoons. But, somehow, it works,
to produce a balanced introduction to these
mammals for the non-bat-expert. Guy
Troughton’s drawings greatly add to the
book’s appeal. Die Amsel. By Burkhard
Stephan. (Die Neue Brehm-Biicherei 95. A.
Ziemsen Verlag, 1985. Paperback DM28.00)
See review of Die Bachstelze by Helmut
Olschlegel (above). This one covers the
Blackbird Turdus merula , but has some
curious gaps in the bibliography, with no
reference to Dr D. W. Snow’s famous book.
[SC] Out of the Wild. By Mike Tomkies.
(Jonathan Cape, 1985. £10.95) Episodes
from his Scottish encounters with wildlife by
this ex-journalist who now lives in a remote
cottage in a Highland glen, accessible only by
boat. The animals all have names — Cedric
the fox, Wallie the owl, Liane the wildcat,
and so on — but the author knows his
countryside and its inhabitants and writes
interestingly. Island: diary of a year on
Easdale. By Vicky and Garth Waite.
(Century, 1985. £10.95) For my taste, this is
too close visually to a certain Edwardian
lady’s country diary. It is the account of their
first year on a tiny island near Oban, by a
newly married, and newly retired, couple
delighting in all aspects of the natural world
around them. The masses of coloured
drawings are rather woolly and twee.
[Robert Gillmor]
Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham , Bedford MK44 3NJ
Reviews
Bird Behaviour. By Robert Burton. Granada, London, 1985. 224 pages;
over 500 colour plates. £10.95.
The casual purchaser may be put off, and could certainly be misled, by the title of this book if
expecting it to contain essays on aspects of bird behaviour — courtship display, territorial
defence, and so on — as it is normally but narrowly defined. Instead, Robert Burton has chosen
(quite properly) to cover as many aspects as possible of bird behaviour, which, loosely defined,
means pretty well everything that birds do, routinely or otherwise, as they go about their daily
and yearly lives. As it starts with breathing and Hying, and then progresses, it could
effectively be simply called Bird Biology.
Thus, the ten constituent chapters cover ‘The living bird’ (including adaptation and
physiology); ‘Flight’ (including moult); ‘Senses and intelligence’; ‘Finding food’ (including
more adaptation and optimal foraging); ‘Diet and way of life’ (including co-evolution with
plants); ‘Communication’ (including sexual selection); ‘Social Fife’; ‘Courtship and mating’;
‘Rearing the young’; and ‘Migration’. All in all, this is an impressive scenario.
The publisher’s bluFb comments on the quantity of colour illustration, which, at several
photos per page, is undeniably true. Sheer quantity has its drawbacks though, necessitating
small size for many of them; there are also occasional examples of poor quality, so one must
confess (unusually) to wondering if there are not too many. The ‘many scientists’ on whom the
Reviews
687
book depends may have cause for complaint that, while photographers are scrupulously
acknowledged, nowhere is there any reference to published written work. Additionally, this is
an unhelpful aspect for those wishing to read on more deeply.
1 hat said, this book is a good and useful text, well presented and easily digested. Covering
the whole of bird biology in just over 200 pages inevitably implies selective or superficial
treatment and a prevalence of sweeping statements, but the examples are generally both well
chosen and interestingly linked together into a coherent theme. Well worthwhile at the
Pr'ce- JimFlegg
A First Book of Birds. By Peter Holden and J. T. R. Sharrock,
illustrated by Norman Arlott. Macmillan Children’s Books, London &
Basingstoke, 1984. 35 pages; 58 colour illustrations. Hardback £3.50;
paperback £1.25.
1 he British can often be accused of having a very Victorian attitude to children — ‘Little boys
and girls should be seen and not heard’ — and they are rarely welcomed in restaurants or other
public places. I hank goodness nature conservation societies do not have the same attitude, as
children are the next generation, in whose custody we are going to leave what remains of our
precious wildlife.
Both the RSPB’s Young Ornithologists’ Club and the RSNC’s WATCH groups provide a
variety ol lively projects and publications for young people, to which this book is a most useful
addition. It comes jointly from the pens ol YOC National Organiser, Peter Holden, and the
Managing Editor of British Birds , Tim Sharrock.
1 he book is written for the five- to nine-year-old just starting out on birdwatching. Covering
only 68 of our most common birds, it is not going to overwhelm any child, and my own
four-year-old could name 28 of them. Two more and he will be eligible to claim his special
‘Birdwatcher’s Badge’ from the YOC.
The birds are arranged by families, with very clear, attractive, colour illustrations b\
Norman Arlott. The short, succinct text on each species has been carefully written with
children in mind, to help identification and the understanding of the way the birds live. It is
always difficult to decide whether to arrange such a book by habitat or by families. I feel that
the younger children could respond better to a habitat order, perhaps starting with the birds
seen in the garden; an unfamiliar bird, such as the Cormorant on the first page, might deter
some children. The format chosen will, however, lead the older age group naturally on to the
use of adult field guides, and the illustrations do very cleverly hint at each bird’s habitat.
I hope that this well-produced book — which at £ 1 .25 for the paperback is excellent value —
will encourage many children to take up birdwatching, and lead them on to an interest in
conservation of our countryside. Linda Bennett
Confessions of a Scilly Birdman. By David Hunt. Groom Helm,
London, 1985. 174 pages; 17 black-and-white plates; 61 line-drawings.
£8.95.
David Hunt’s autobiography is written in a readable, lively style that maintains one s interest
and provides a detailed account ofhis life from his earliest memories right up to his tragic death
earlier this year. Many of the characters and scenes are illustrated by Bryan Bland's excellent
caricatures and bird portraits as well as David's own photographs. Having spent a lot of time
in both Norfolk and the Isles of Scilly, I could readih picture many of the events w hich took
place in those areas. This may have added to my enjoyment ol the book, especially as so many
of the characters in it are, of course, still part of the birding scene today. David's school-days in
Norfolk seemed particularly real to me, with his accounts ofbicycle trips from Holt toGlev and
car excursions farther afield in search of birds being particularly atmospheric. His description
of events in Scilly also fascinated me and filled in a lot ofbackground to the Scilly scene both of
the past and of today.
When I started visiting Scilly in the early 1970s. I heard many tales about David and his
unusual life-style. The book confirms some of these stories, though it puts many of them into
better perspective and perhaps explains why, even in those days. David always seemed a little
abrasive on first meeting. Since getting to know him properly in more recent years. I always
688
Reviews
found him to be both friendly and helpful, though I was still occasionally taken-aback by the
blunt way in which he sometimes treated new faces, especially if they stepped out of line or said
something stupid. I hope that reading this book will help people who did not know him well to
come to understand a little better the complex person that he was, and perhaps appreciate
more the changes that he had to deal with over a 20-year period from the days when a handful
of birdwatchers used to stay on St Agnes each September to nowadays, when thousands of
birders go to St Mary’s each October. David coped remarkably well with the problems that
arose, especially in recent times, and I hope that his achievements in establishing good
relations between visiting birders and island residents will last for many years to come.
Certainly, without his presence, autumn on Scilly will never be quite the same again. We are
indeed fortunate that part of his autobiography chronicles the scene from the mid 1960s to the
mid 1980s and the important part that he played in it. Any birdwatcher who visited Scilly
during David’s residency will undoubtedly enjoy reading his book. David Fisher
A Sound Guide to the British Hawks and Falcons; Breeding Waders;
Thrushes; Warblers; Tits; Finches. Set of six cassettes, recorded,
compiled and produced by Victor C. Lewis. Lyonshall, 1984, 1985.
£4.50 4- 50p p&p each; any three cassettes £12.00 4- £1.00 p&p.
These six cassettes, with a playing time of 32 minutes each (except for ‘Warblers’ at 35
minutes), are presented in familiar plastic boxes with black-and-white inlay cards. Each card
gives a brief introduction, followed by details of the calls and songs presented. Six recordings
are by Pat Sellar, but the rest all by Victor C. Lewis. Coverage varies from a single call-type for
some species to nine types for the Kestrel Falco tinnunculus. There is sometimes further variation
within one example, as with the songs of some of the tits Parus. Each species is introduced by
voice on the tape, then each example labelled by voice with a number. Numbers run
consecutively throughout each side of the tapes to make any particular example easy to find
without having to hear the species’ name. It is then necessary to turn to the inlay card to find
brief but informative details of just what each example portrays (for instance, contact calls,
extreme alarm with predator near the nest, fledgling calling to parent, female soliciting for
food, and so on). The voice-labelling sounds a little old-fashioned (though 1 cannot suggest a
better alternative), and the cards are rather dull in their presentation, but it is the recordings
which really matter; the packaging will not necessarily help to sell them, though. Coverage is
generally excellent, with just a few surprise omissions (such as the typical flight-calls of
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos and Siskin Carduelis spinus). Recordings of known calls
heard in isolation, out of context in a living room instead of in a wood, or on a marsh, can either
be very evocative or embarrassingly hard to place without the usual clues available in the field.
Sometimes, from the recording, it is not always easy to assess the volume of a call. The loud,
abrupt effect of Crossbill Loxia curvirostra calls come over well, but could the Chaffinch Fringilla
coelebs calls be equally loud but just farther away? If the example were not so familiar, the
answer might be uncertain. I found a few recordings less useful than I had hoped (I liked
Garden Warbler Sylvia bonn song, and ‘chuffing’ calls, and the Willow 'Fit Parus montanus very
much, but the Blackcaps’, atricapilla and Marsh Tit P. palustris less so). Mostly, however, they
are very good, and worth frequent reference. This is a helpful, comprehensive set of recordings,
with quite a few less-well-known vocalisations to add to the more usual songs and calls: it really
is a sound guide, not just a set of attractive songs. R. A. Hume
Newman’s Birds of Southern Africa. By Kenneth Newman.
Macmillan, London, 1985. 461 pages; 209 colour plates. Paperback £8.95.
When 1 agreed to review this book, I thought that it would be an easy task: simply to praise the
first-ever comprehensive field guide to any sub-Saharan region of Africa. As I started to look
more closely at the illustrations and text, however, I discovered some errors and omissions, but
these must be considered in the context of the book as a whole. There is no doubt that it is far
better than any previous African field guide and should be used by everyone visiting Africa on
a bird watching trip. Unlike so many other guides, all the illustrations are in colour, many
species are shown in flight as well as perched, and colour-phases and races are often included.
The guide illustrates over 900 species (over 45% of the total African list) and, as many of these
Reviews
689
occur throughout sub-Saharan Africa, will be very useful in both east and west Africa as well
(lor example, it illustrates 62% of the species that I have seen in Kenya, and 67% ofthose that
I have seen in I he Gambia). The popular field guides covering those areas onlv poorh
illustrate such groups as flying raptors, which this guide tackles comprehensively, and mam
other groups are also covered in greater detail.
1 he best way to judge a field guide is, of course, to examine the illustrations and accounts of
the species you are most familiar with, so I started by looking at waders, raptors, gulls, terns
and warblers. I quickly unearthed a number of problems. 1 suspect that the plates were
painted over a lengthy period, as a variety of styles is evident, some of which are far more
successful than others, for example, the bee-eaters, kingfishers and rollers seem much too
feathery, as if drawn from skins; the Palearctic warblers seem very wooden, and are all in
skin-like positions; yet the larks are both life-like and convincing. Shape varies from group to
group, in some places seeming very accurate (some of the seabirds), but in others being
positively misleading: compare the dumpy Kestrel with the slender Lesser Kestrel. Details of
plumage are also sometimes not as accurate as they should be. For example, the flying Lesser
Kestrel is shown as having blue-grey secondaries as well as secondary coverts. I was even more
concerned by the apparent lack of awareness in regard to the separation of similar (though not
necessarily difficult) species. In regard to Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls, we are told
‘Immatures of both species inseparable, except in second year when traces of back colour
become evident’: a statement hardly likely to encourage critical gull-watching in Africa. The
flight illustration of a pratincole is meant to cover both Collared and Black-winged and yet the
‘Black-winged’ wing has a broad white trailing edge to the secondaries and no mention is made
of the lack of contrast between the upperparts and the flight feathers of that species. There are
separate illustrations of perched female Pallid and Montagu’s Harriers, though only one flight
illustration to cover both species. In the Pallid text, however, we are told ‘females indis-
tinguishable from female Montagu’s Harrier unless paler facial details are discernible',
presumably referring to Pallid’s pale collar behind the ear coverts? The illustrations fail to
show this feature adequately.
Whenever I find errors or omissions of this kind amongst the birds that 1 know well (sadK . a
frequent occurrence in most field guides), it undermines my confidence in the rest of the book.
How can I be sure that there are not similar errors in the accounts of the species that I have
never seen; indeed, it seems likely that there will be. I appreciate that it is almost impossible to
produce a field guide covering hundreds of species without some errors creeping in. but. as
these guides are aimed at helping people to identify birds with which they are not familiar, the\
surely should be as accurate as possible and should not contain misleading information. II a
second edition is planned. I do hope that care is taken to consult a selection of other
experienced birdwatchers so that these errors can be corrected.
Having said all this, 1 still recommend this guide as the best field guide to African birds
currently available. If you are going to any part of Africa, take a copy with you. It will help
enormously; but do bear in mind that it is not perfect. David Fisher
The Bird- walker: a dictionary of the voices of birds of Britain,
Europe and North Africa. By Jean C. Roche. Set of three cassettes.
L'Oiseau Musicien, Viens, 1985. £16.00 (inch postage in L K).
These cassettes are meant to be taken into the field, with a personal stereo player, so that
unidentified bird sounds can be tracked down. The birds are subdivided into North'
(principally those found in Britain) and ‘South’ (those rare, if heard at all. in Britain), and
‘Large’ and ‘Small’, so that, given knowledge of location and the size ol the bird, the listener
can then select the right cassette and listen through it or w ind on to the right group it he knows
roughly what the bird may be. On each cassette, the birds are arranged alphabetically, under
the group name (so, for example, all warblers, all tits and all gulls are together under \\ , 1 and
G, respectively, except for odd names such as Blackcap and Kittiwake). It may. therefore,
seem to fall at the first hurdle: many birds in the North occur in the South too, if not so much
vice versa. And ifyou can see what size the bird is, could you not identifv it on sight? If you can
onlv hear it, how do you know how big it might be?
fhus. the ‘bird-walker’ idea might he impractical at times. But what ol the recordings
themselves? They are terrific! Many are from the guides produced b\ TInstitut Lt.H( > (now
690
Reviews
L’Oiseau Musicien) in 1975, but many new recordings and'hearly 150 new species have been
added. Now, 406 species are covered, each clearly announced in English, usually with more
than one example per species (generally at least ‘calls and song’). With the volume adjusted so
that the announcements are not too loud, the bird calls sound perfect, very lifelike and very
clear. They are amongst the best I have heard. The series is admirably complete and, as well as
including the clear recordings necessary for identification, manages also to evoke a powerful
atmosphere on a good many tracks, so that the excitement of a Gannet colony, or a flock of
geese, or the wild song of a godwit, or the discovery of a singing rarity or a Mediterranean Sylvia
warbler, all come back complete with the sight, smell and weather associated in the mind with
the past experience. And how I would like to catch up with some of the beautiful sounds I have
not yet heard first-hand. Such excellent sound recordings have a very strong effect.
R. A. Hume
Birdwatching in Kent. By Don Taylor. Meresborough Books, Gilling-
ham, 1985. 151 pages; 13 black-and-white plates; 13 line-drawings.
Paperback, £4.50.
If you are a Kentish birdwatcher, or if you are thinking of visiting the county, this well-
produced paperback will show you at a glance (by means of delightfully simple one-line
distribution charts) when in the year you may expect to see each species in the county’s
systematic list (based on the records during 1970-83). That out-of-the-ordinary and very'
useful source of references takes up the final halfof the book. Before then, there are ten pages on
Kentish habitats, chapters on the author’s detailed study of the birds of Langley Park Farm
(an example of work on a ‘local patch’), some good ‘May Days’, and his attempt (in 1977) to
see as many species as possible in the county in a year. There is also a chapter entitled
‘Bird watching Calendar’, which makes suggestions of places to go in Kent in each month of the
year, and predicts what might be seen if you took that advice.
Thus, this is far from being another ordinary county avifauna. It is a very personal account,
which could have been written only by Don Taylor. It is a handy reference for anyone
interested in the birds of Kent, but will perhaps particularly be welcomed by newcomers to the
hobby of birdwatching, who can obtain a quite well balanced view of the variety of things
which a keen birdwatcher can do in his home county. It is far from dry', and fun to read; and the
price is admirably low. J . T. R. Sharrock
Corrections
Volume 77
Page
298 identification of stints ano peeps Table 1 . Semipalmated Sandpiper: insert c? sign
in heading to read ‘but not c? wing’.
Volume 78
Pages
158 news and comment Plate 60. Photographer was G. J. Harris (not Royston K. Coles).
22 1 the choughs of bardsey Fig. 2. Numbering the individuals from 1 at the bottom to 62
at the top, insert letters a to m as follows: 5 = a, 6 = b, 7 = c, 8 = d, 14 = e, 15 = f,
16 = g, 17 = h, 18 = j, 21 = k, 22 = 1,52 = m.
223 the choughs of bardsey Fig. 3. Numbering the individuals from 1 at the bottom to 14
at the top, insert letters a to i as follows: 6 = a, 7 = b, 8 = c, 9 = d, 10 = e, 11 = f, 12 = g,
13 = h, 14= i.
398 tertial patterns of wigeon and American wigeon Fast line of editorial comment,
final sentence should read ‘It will, however, not be easy to see’.
435 mystery photographs 105 Fines 10 & 11 to read: ‘Blyth’s Reed A. dumelorum has a
supercilium that may be strong before the eye, but is short, and weak behind the eye’.
480 marmora’s warbler: new to Britain and Ireland Line 16: ‘Norfolk’ should read
‘Suffolk’.
Christmas Whisky Puzzle
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will receive a prize of a bottle of The Famous Grouse Scotch whisky, donated
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Send your answers on a postcard to Christmas Whisky Puzzle . Fountains , Park
Lane , Blunham , Bedford MK44 3NJ.
XV
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HO LI DA Y A C COMM PDA TION
15th CENTURY COACHING INN midway
Ross/Hereford amidst gentle wooded hills, 2
fields front River Wye. A comfortable and
informal place, with proper emphasis on real food
real ales, civilised prices. Log fire, 12 ch
bedrooms, fourposter. Egon Ronay, Relais
Routier, AA & RAC**. Green Man Inn,
Fownhope, Hereford. Tel: Fownhope (043 277)
243. *AA & RAC**. (BB367)
PERTHSHIRE, Sutherland, North Wales and
other areas. Self-catering holiday accommoda-
tion. For brochure write to: Finlayson Hughes,
82 Atholl Road, Pitlochry, Perthshire. Tel: 0796
2512. (BB470)
ISLE OF MULL, Staffa Cottages. Small, com-
fortable guest house with friendly atmosphere.
On upper slopes of Tobermory Bay with views
out to the Sound of Mull and Morvern. All rooms
h&c, radiators and electric blankets. StafT'a
Cottages Guest House, Tobermory PA75 6PL.
Tel: 0688 2464. (BB356)
NORTH NORFOLK’S HERITAGE COAST.
Flint cottage in small, peaceful village. Close sea,
broads and marshland birdwatching areas.
Sleeps 6 4- cot. Full C.H., Colour T.V., Parking.
Available all year. Brochure from Sanderlings,
Pineapple House, St Martins Lane, Norwich
NR3 3AG. (BB372)
NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS National
Park. Coast and country. For the largest selection
of inspected self-catering cottages, farmhouses
etc, contact: Ingrid Flute, White Cottage,
Ravenscar, Scarborough Y013 ONE. Tel:
Scarborough (0723) 870703. (BB507)
HUNSTANTON. Small private hotel owned by
itinerant birdwatcher. Ideal centre for Norfolk
coast reserves. BB & Evening Meal (optional).
Packed Lunches. Licensed bar. Weekend spring
and autumn bargain breaks for groups and
societies. Shelbrooke Hotel, Cliff Terrace,
Hunstanton PE36 6DY. Pel: 049 53 2289.
(BB376)
NORTH NORFOLK, Holme-next-Sea. Jacobean
cottage. Sleeps 6. Storage heaters. Yards from
Norfolk Naturalists Trust, and beach. Tel: 01-359
2471. (BB477)
THE BALCARY HOTEL
Auchencairn, nr Castle Douglas
AA, RAC***. Ashley Courtenay. Family run
country house in magnificent setting on the
shores of the bay. Tel: 055 664 217. (BB316)
NORFOLK BROADS, B&B in traditional
cottage on shore of secluded broad. Packed lunch
and use of boat. Log fires. Four poster. Tel:
0493 731595. (BB487)
xvi
Dunwich/Minsmere. Modern individual
self-contained flat overlooking sea, ch, ctv,
fine views and settings.
Westleton/Minsmere. Comfortable two
bedroomed bungalow ch, ctv.
Write to:
Greyfriars, Dunwich, Suffolk 1 1’ 17 3DW
or phone VVestleton 327. (BB442)
CLEY. Attractive house in village, four bed-
rooms, large garden, garage, c.h. Available all
year. Details from Mrs E. Album, 47 Lyndale
Avenue, London NYV2. Tel: 01-431 2942. (BB58)
DERBYSHIRE/PEAK DISTRICT. Self-
catering properties. Personally inspected. Rural
Vacations Ltd, Pipworth Lane, Eckington,
Sheffield S3 1 9EY. Tel: 0246 432202. (BB360)
SOUTHWOLD (Nr Minsmere). Comfortable
Hat, sleeps 4. All year. Tel: Oxford 250033.
(BB438)
WELLS, NORFOLK B&B., (Les Routiers
recommended). H. & C., Tea and Coffee facilities
in all rooms. Anne Taylor, The Cobblers (0328
710155). (BBI11)
BED AND BREAKFAST. Mrs D. Crowdcn.
Rosevilia, Middleton, Saxmundham, Suffolk.
Tel: VVestleton 489 between 6-7 pm. (BB50)
NORTH NORFOLK COAST, fishermen's
cottages. Open all year. Oak beams. Colour TV
and open fires Oct/March, Ray Hewitt, Brig
Square Holiday Cottages, Freeman Street, Wells
next the Sea. Tel: 0328 7 1 0440. ( BB366)
NR. NTH NFK RESERVES. Guest House run
by birder for birders. Haydn House, Avenue
Road, Hunstanton. Tel: 331 15. (BB308)
CLEY. 3 Quality cottages (sleep 4, 6 and 8).
Quiet. Comfortable. Excellent value. Brochure:
(0353) 740770. (BB405)
HOTEL LAWNS— Holt— North Norfolk-
Central for bird watchers, £29 two-day bargain
breaks from October to May. Excellent food. Tel:
026 3713390. (BB422)
NORTH NORFOLK. Cosy and comfortable
cottage-style bungalow. Sleeps 6. Available for
short-term lets. Central heating in winter. Over-
looks Holme reserve and handy for Snettisham,
Titchwell and Cley. Norman Sills, Brancaster
(0485)210432. (BB413)
LAKES/DALES. Ashley Bank. High quality
food and accommodation in excellent bird-
watching/naturc study area. I p to 40 persons.
05873-214. (BB433)
BARDSEA. Morecambr shore. VII electric
cottage sleeps 4. Easy reach YValney, Leighton
Moss. Tel: (0229) 53159). (BB364)
LAKE DISTRICT, between Kendal/VV inder-
mere, 17th century manor house in own grounds.
All bedrooms colour TV, tea-making facilities
and h&c. Dinner, bed, breakfast £18 per person.
Aitken, High Hundhowe, Burneside, Kendal
LA8 9AB. Tel: 0539 22707. (BB419)
ORKNEY. Our Island Hotel, ideal for ornitholo-
gists, habitat, moorland, shore, cliffs,
lochs, attracts 70 breeding species. Excellent
migration, good walking. Brochure: Taversoe
Hotel. Rousay, Orkney. Tel: 085 682 325.
(BBI91)
ISLE OF MULL. Enjoy friendly atmosphere of
small comfortable guest house run by keen
ornithologists. Lin and Pete Miller, Baliscatc.
Tobermory. Tel: 0688 2352. (BB354)
GALLOWAY. Hills, lochs, forests and sea
Speciality, birds of prey and waterfowl. High
quality houses, cottages, flats. Details send 28p
stamp to: G. M. Thomson & Co, 27 King Street,
Castle Douglas. ( BB44 1 )
WINDMILL and two cottages. 5 miles Blakeney
Sleep 8, 6 and 4, available all year. Sac: 195 East
End Road. London N2. Tel: 01-883 8137.
( BB461 )
MINSMERE 12 miles B.& B or B.B.& 1 meals.
Excellent farmhouse cooking with friendly
atmosphere. Daily or weekly rates. Phone
Ubbeston (098683) 235 for reservations. (BB428)
WARM WELCOME, B&B/ EM optional. Close
to marshes. Heritage Coastal Walks. Central for
Cley and Titchw'ell reserves. Mrs Court.
Eastdene, Northfield Lane, VVells-next-the-Sea,
Norfolk. Tel: (0328) 710381. (BB251)
FARM COTTAGES between Lindisfarne Re-
serve and The Fames. Comfortable and well
equipped. Sorry no pets. Brochure: Mr J.
NlcNish, Outchester Farm, Belford, North-
umberland. Tel: 066 83 336. ( BB45)
WIVETON. Blakeney and Clev one mile. 16th
century cottage, sheltered, beautiful. Sleeps 5-6.
Woodhouse, The Old Farmhouse. Lancing
College. West Sussex. (BB385)
TITCHWELL, Manor Hotel, overlooking
reserve. Centrally heated, licensed, informal.
Noted for food and comfort. Tel: Brancaster
(0485)210221. (BB410)
LOCH ERIBOLL. Peace, space, birds, wildlife,
comfort and good food. You’ll find all these at
Port-na-Con House, by Altnaharra. Lairg.
Sutherland. Tel: Durness 367. (BB478)
ROYAL FOREST OF DEAN, Coleford.
Lambsquay Hotel AA*H&B. All facilities.
Delicious food and wine. Peaceful surroundings.
Dogs welcome. S/c flat available — special breaks,
lei: 0594 33127 for brochure. (BB344)
XVII
Charehwood V<ey
exzlf Catering
Holiday Cabins,
family owned
and run far your
relaxing holiday.
New for 1986 luxury cabins with
English Tourist Board top grade.
• Set in coastal preservation area of
outstanding natural beauty
• Adjoining N.T. land and near several N.T.
• Easy reach Historic Plymouth
• Good walking, riding, sailing, fishing and
• Bird-watching and wildlife
• M inimum commercialisation
• Personal attention
• Reasonable charges
• Corporate members R.S.P.B.
Colour brochure from:
CHURCH WOOD ESTATE, WEMBURY.
nr. Plymouth, Devon PL9 ODZ.
Tel: (0 7 5 2 ) 86 2 3 82 (24 hours) (BB512)
COUNTRY COTTAGES between Alnwick &
Belford sleep up to 6. Fully equipped, self-
catering, available throughout the year. Well
placed for Holy Island & Fame Islands, Cheviot
Hills and many places of natural beauty. S.a.e.:
Mrs P. Foster, Coxons, Craster, South Farm,
Alnwick, Northumberland. Tel: 0665 76640.
(BB389)
NORTH SUTHERLAND, (Nr Bettyhill).
Comfortable self-catering cottage and caravan to
let. C. MacLeod, The Bungalow, Strathnaver.
Tel: 06416 210. (BB485)
BEADNELL, Northumberland. Stone cottage
with heating, fully modernised and well furnished.
Sleeps 6. Close to the sea. Kunzer, 7 The Manor
Close, Shinclifl'e, Durham. (BB493)
CLOSE TO HILBRE ISLAND Bird Sanctuary,
Wirral Way nature walk, etc. A warm welcome
awaits you at The Park Hotel, West Kirby
(licensed). Groups welcomed. Tel: 051-625 9319.
(BB451 )
MID WALES. Golf Hotel, Borth, Dyfed. Small
family hotel, licensed, good food, ideal centre for
Ynys-hir reserve, kite and chough country. Tele-
phone: (097081 ) 362. (BB471)
NR BURNHAM MARKET, roomy cottage,
sleeps 4 + 2 4- cot. Very well equipped, freezer,
bicycles, splendid views. Dr S. Birtwistle, 66
Station Road, Fulbourn, Cambridge. Tel: (0223)
880777. (BB492)
LODGE HOUSE in charming village. Sleeps 5.
Birdwatching Minsmere. Dogs welcomed. Write:
Easton Hall, Woodbridge, Suffolk. Tel: 0728
746232. (BB484)
NR. PORTHGWARRA, Cornwall. Cottage
Tea Room, Polgigga. Open all year. B&B.
Breakfasts. Meals all day. Sennen (0736) 87 637.
(BB482)
ISLE OF ISLAY, HEBRIDES. Five superbly
equipped cottages, open throughout year. Perfect
situation with views, minutes to charming village.
Short drive to R.S.P.B. reserve at Grainart.
Brochure: Mrs Sarah Roy, Lorgba Holiday-
Cottages, Port Charlotte, Isle of Islay, Argyll.
Tel: 049685/208. (BB430)
ISLE OF MULL. A small guest house and farm
in lovely countryside a mile from Dervaig village.
2 miles from coast. The best of home cooking in
the Highland tradition. Write tojenny Matthew,
Ardrioch, Dervaig, Isle of Mull, or tel: 068 84 264.
(BB483)
RYDAL. Two cottages, sleep 4 and 6, weekly-
lets. Fisher Hoggarth, 52 Kirkland, Kendal.
Tel: 0539 22592, office hours. (BB476)
LYNTON, N. Devon. David Blakemore and
Robert Scutter assure you of a warm welcome at
Woodlands Hotel. Good food and relaxation.
Licensed. Within Exmoor National Park; many
splendid walks and many species of both wood-
land and sea birds. Sorry, no children or pets.
Tel: 0598 52324. (BB475)
YORKSHIRE DALES — Coverdale. Personal
attention, comfort and good food. B&B £7.50,
EM optional. Sharpies, Well House. Horschouse,
Leyburn. Tel: Wensleydale 40612. (BB472)
GALLOWAY for coast, Lochs and Hills. Private
Hotel ideally situated for birdwatching and
holidays. Small parties welcome. Comfortable
accommodation and excellent food. Open all
year. I el: 0556 2173. Merrick Hotel, Castle
Douglas, Kirkcudbrightshire. ( BB 113)
EXMOOR for country and animal lovers.
Farmhouse accommodation, bed and breakfast
and evening meal, or self-catering cottage. Details
from: French, Brendon Barton, Lynton, Devon.
Tel: 059 87 201. (BB474)
IF YOU RENT Holiday Accommodation in a
bird watching area then you should advertise in
BRITISH BIRDS; the leading ornithological
monthly in Britain.
With over 40,000 genuine bird enthusiasts
reading BRITISH BIRDS every month, where
else would you find such a unique and specialised
readership.
The continued expansion of' the BRITISH
BIRDS holiday section shows that advertising
really works.
l ake advantage of our special reduced ojjer for
series advertisements and let BRITISH BIRDS
take care of your holiday bookings.
Phone Sandra on 062 1 815085 for details.
(BB338)
ISLE OF ISLAY. Self-contained, sell-catering
apartments, sleep 4-6. Open all year. Bird-
watching, fishing, walking, sand beaches,
tranquil surroundings. Contact Catriona Bell,
Knocklearach, Ballygrant, Islay, Argyll 0496-
84 209. (BB499).
NORTH NORFOLK. Friendly village pub, an
oystercatcher’s cry from Holme and Titchwell
reserves. Traditional hospitality, weekend bar-
gain breaks speciality; B&B, packed lunches,
dinner, Cheques Inn, Thornham 229. (BB440)
SEE PUFFINS, skuas, seals and a lot more.
Private boat takes you among otherwise
inaccessible colonies. A nature-lover’s dream.
Full board in castle, or self-catering cottages.
Send for details: Balfour Castle, Shapinsay,
Orkney. Tel: 085 671 282. (BB427)
NORTHUMBERLAND. Self-catering holiday
cottages within easy reach of Fame Islands/
Cheviots etc. Brochure on request. Northumbria
Coast and Country Cottages, Riverbank Road,
Alnmouth, Northumberland. Tel: (0665) 830783
(24 hrs). (BB498)
NEAR MINSMERE, delightful converted barn.
Sleeps 6/7. Fully equipped and linen provided.
Turner, Vine Cottage, The Street, Middleton,
Saxmundham: Tel: Westleton 208 after 6pm.
(BB254)
NORTH NORFOLK, HOLT. Cosy cottage in
quiet square. Modernised and refurnished.
Coastline, sanctuaries, walking distance. Shops,
pubs, two minutes. Birdwatching, painting or
unwinding. Sleeps 2/4. From £80 p.w. Mrs Balch.
Tel: 0442 53437. (BB398)
SOUTHWOLD. ‘Avondale’, North Parade,
overlooking sea. B&b/em, CH, dglazed, licensed.
Open all year. Ideal Minsmere, Havergate,
Walberswick. Good food, friendly atmosphere.
Tel: 0502 722538. (BB179)
ISLES OF SCILLY— Seaview Moorings, St.
Mary’s. Home cooking and personal service from
resident proprietors. Pony and Linda. Oxer-
looking harbour, close to quay and town
licensed — in-room tea and coffee making facili-
ties— pets welcome. SAP, for details or telephone
Pony or L inda Dingley on 0720 22327. (BB437)
ISLES OF SCILLY, Mincarlo Guest House. St
Mary’s. Superbly situated in own grounds
overlooking the harbour. Terms from £8.50
(plus VAT) for B&B £12.75 (plus VAT) BB &
EM. Tel: 0720 22513. (BB140)
ISLE OF ISLAY. A place for all seasons.
Kilchoman House Cottages. Purpose built high
standard double glazed cottages. Sleeps 4-6- CH
and open fires. Idyllic situ. Close beach, loch,
fishing, walking etc. Choughs reside. Golden
Eagles often seen. Dozens of other species
abound. Loch Gruinart reserve 10 mins.
Brochure. Lesley Taylor. Kilchoman House, by
Bruichladdich. Isle oflslay, Argyll. Tel: 049 685
382. ' (BB510)
YORKSHIRE DALES. Situated in the Dales
village of Kettlewell, this friendly 6 bedroom
country guest house extends a warm welcome to
those in search of comfortable accommodation,
personal service and good food. Bargain winter
weekend breaks. Also warm and cosy holiday
cottage. Mr and Mrs A. R. Butterfield, Dale
House, Kettlewell, N. Yorks. Tel: 075 676 836.
(BB501)
UNUSUAL AND INTERESTING bird and
animal life can be seen on the historic Fursdon
Estate tucked away in the unspoiled, wooded
Devon countryside. Clean, comfortable and fully
equipped self-catering accommodation. Log fires,
CH in winter, col TV. Details and brochure: Mrs
Catriona Fursdon, Fursdon House, Cadbury,
Exeter. Tel: Exeter 860860. (BB502)
NATIONAL TRUST VILLAGE on Exmoor
Self-catering holiday homes. Centrally heated,
near Porlock. Sea, moors, woods and marshes all
within walking distance. Stamp for brochure.
Sheila Wright, The Pack Horse. Allerford. Nr.
Minehead. Tel: (0643)862475. (BB509)
BIRD WA TCHING HO LI DA YS
GOOSE WEEKENDS in Galloway; Fridas
dinner to Sunday lunch in comfortable house
with superb views and good food. Led excursions
by car. Thousands of geese and ducks. £50.
Gallow'av Birds, Windywalls, Gatehouse of Fleet.
Tel: 05574 249. (BB426)
HEBRIDES. The Hotel. Isle of Coll, Argyll
PA78 6SZ. Tel: 087 93 334. AA* RAC. Open all
year, central heating. Over 100 species to be seen
including skuas, raptors, water rail etc. May we
send you our brochure? (BB317)
OVER 100 SPECIES on our 40 areas, and
Morecambe Bay’s winter visitors close by. Join a
BIRDWATCHER’S HOUSE PARTY, or block
book a group. Castle Head Field Centre,
Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria (04484 4300).
(BB118)
SKOKHOLM AND SKOMER ISLANDS.
Pembrokeshire, Dyfed. Full board accom-
modation: bird watching/photograph v courses.
Send s.a.e. to Dept BB. \N W INC, 7 Market
Street, Haverfordwest. (BB1 161
XIX
THE ULTIMATE MOROCCAN
EXPERIENCE FOR THE
BIRDWATCHER— Spring ’86
Originated by Bryan Bland and
Hobo Travel.
See the birds and experience
Morocco
For full details please contact:
Hobo Travel, Town Street,
Swanton Morley, Norfolk NR20 4PB
Tel: 036283 629
(BB412)
MIGRATE TO FAIR ISLE this year! Midway
between Orkney and Shetland this beautiful
rugged island offers a relaxing wildlife holiday
for all the family. Enjoy comfortable full board
accommodation and explore the island’s mag-
nificent cliff scenery, fine seabird colonies,
migrant birds, flora, knitwear and fascinating
island life. For details/bookings write (sae): Liz
Riddif'ord (C), Fair Isle Bird Observatory, Fair
Isle, Shetland, or tel: 035 12 258. (BB486)
GALLOWAY BIRDS
Four days by minibus from the luxurious four-star
Cally Palace Hotel to the best bird-watching in S.VV.
Scotland — Caerlaverock and Loch Ken for geese and
ducks; the Solway shore for waders; Hen Harrier
roosts; raptors; owls and perhaps Golden Eagle.
Evening films and talks. Nov 17-21: Feb 16-20. £150
all inclusive. Brochure/reservations David Hawker,
Windywalls, Gatehouse of Fleet, Castle Douglas.
Tel: 05574 249.
(BB425)
BIRDS OF ARRAN, a Beagle Wildlife holiday.
A week amongst the birds and natural history of
one of Scotland’s most beautiful islands. Small
groups in a quiet hotel setting. Land Rover
transport. For brochure. Tel: 0642 225333.
(BB460)
FALKLAND ISLANDS
Falkland Islands specialised wildlife. Get
close to nesting black-browed albatrosses, 5
species of penguin, other rare birds. Cdr
Angus Erskine leading small group 23 Jan ’86
on 2 wk trip. £2,995. Many other wildlife
expeditions to Arctic July/Aug ’86 from £950
cither staying at lodges, in boats, or camping.
Write Erskine Expeditions, 14 Inverleith
Place, Edinburgh.
(BB420)
SPAIN — Birding 1986
Tom Gullick lives in Spain and will show you
the rarest birds in the most beautiful and
remote areas. Expect to see 5 eagles, 3
vultures, bustards, sand grouse, white-headed
duck, galinule, eagle owl, black stork, with
many ducks, waders and passerines on
spring migration. 11,8 and 5-day tours for
3-4 persons only, by Range Rover. 8 years
and over 500 field days of experience in Spain.
Tom Gullick, c/o Mrs. M. C. Parker,
5 Tile Barn Close, Farnborough,
Hants GU15 8LS. Tel: 0252 547213.
(BB343)
WILDLIFE HOLIDAYS
HOLIDAYS &
EXPEDITIONS 1986
Organised & led by Naturalist-Geologist
Mike Jones M. Sc.
Expert guidance based on
detailed personal I
knowledge and many years I
experience of leading small I
groups. I
1986programme-
Serrania de Ronda I
Spanish Pyrenees I
Lapland birds, Iceland I
Morocco, Sahara &Ahaggar I
For 1986 brochure send I
stamp (not SAE) to I
Mike Jones, 30B Springfield Road,
Stoneygate, Leicester, LE2 3BA
Tel. 0533 700837 Quote ref. 51 1 f
(BB494)
WILDLIFE IN BULGARIA-
1986 TOURS
(£10 reduction if booked by 29 Dec. with
deposits) Nature Lovers & Geographers
— 18 May-1 June
Black Sea & Rhodope Mountains regions,
seven full day excursions Price: £395
Leader: Prof. E. J. Shellard
Ornithologists — all tours eight full day
excursions.
1. 26 April-10 May — Black Sea & Danube
regions. Price: £399.50
Leader: Mr Laurence Rose, RSPB.
2. 11-25 May — Black Sea & Rhodopes
regions. Price: £448
Leader to be appointed.
3 20 Sept.-4 Oct. — Black Sea it Danube
regions. Price: £415
Leader: Mr Graham Elliott, RSPB.
ALL FOURS: National Parks & Reserves; full
board, 2 weeks tourist hotels; charters from Gatwick.
Details from: I lie British-Bulgarian Friendship
Society, 69 Upper St., London N1 0NY (tel:
01-359 0507) or the Bulgarian Tourist Office (tel:
UI 199 6988). (BB51 \)
xx
KENYA 2-week tented Birdwatching/Wildlife
Safaris dept 1st and 15th August visiting National
Gameparks and Rift Valley Lakes. Inclusive
£985. India 3-week Rajasthan tour. Jaipur,
Udaipur, Pushkar Camel Fair, Taj Mahal.
Palace accommodation, dept 1st November
£1,450. Adventure Agency, The Square,
Ramsbury, Wiltshire. (0672 20569). (BB504)
HORNPIPE— visit remote breeding grounds,
Hebrides, Orkney in 62 ft yacht. Max 6 guests
for space and comfort. Woodstove, home cooking.
Hornpipe Cruises, Kingie, Invergarry, Inverness-
shire PH35 4HS. (BB473)
OVERSEAS
BIRDING ABROAD? Site guides and trip
reports on: Kenya, Gambia, Thailand, India,
Israel, Morocco, Canaries, Madeira, Mallorca,
South America, Europe, Asia, Africa etc. Tel:
0905 54541. (BB448)
OVERSEAS HOL ACC
BIRDING IN COSTA RICA’S TALAMANCA
RAINFOREST (300 m) AND HIGHLANDS
(2,500 m) with all the comforts of private homes.
Each location includes vast stretches of virgin
forest. Weekly rates: $450 US double. Rainforest:
Michael Snow, Apartado 73, Siquirres, Costa
Rica; Highlands: Steve Friedman, Apartado 655,
Cartago, Costa Rica. (BB455)
REQUESTS
I have recently purchased a small apartment
in Sotogrande, just east of Gibraltar in
Southern Spain. I propose to build up a
comprehensive list of birds and locations for
the south western part of Spain extending
from Goto Donana to the south coast. I am
already in correspondence with Edmund
Mackrill and Andy Patterson who are
resident in the area and would like to receive
information from any other bird watchers
who have visited this part of Spain in recent
years. I would be more than pleased to refund
any cost of copying or postage involved. All
information will be acknowledged and greatly
appreciated. Please write to: Peter Smith,
The Old Coach House, Heath Lane, Aspley
Heath, Woburn Sands, Milton Keynes
MK178TN, (BB503)
BIRD REPORT
HAMPSHIRE BIRD REPORT 1984 £2.90
incl P&P 1983 £2.40 incl P&P Some previous
years. Davies Highland House, Main Road,
Littleton Winchester S022 6PR Sales Officer
(BB506)
BIRDS OF OXFORDSHIRE, 1984. £2.20 inc.
p&p, from R. Overall, 30 Hunsdon Road. Iffiey,
Oxford OX44JE. (BB479)
LONDON BIRD REPORT 1984
Produced by the London Natural History
Society. Report £3 post paid and membership
details from Mrs H. B. Housego, 110 Mead-
vale Road, London \\5 1LR. Back numbers
available.
(BB458)
WILTSHIRE BIRD REPORT 1984, £1.75
incl. p&p from N. Pleass, 13 Westbrook Rd,
Swindon, Wilts. Back copies available. (BB490)
LINCOLNSHIRE BIRD REPORT 1984.
£2.50 (post paid) — includes Gibraltar Point
Report, descriptions, articles, photographs.
Lincolnshire Bird Club, 42 Wolsey Way, Lincoln
LN2 4QH. Also available, 1979, 80, 81. 82, 75p
each; 1983. £1. All post paid. (BB447)
BIRDS IN CORNWALL 1984. £2.85p inc.
p.&p. from Stan Christophers, 5 Newquay Road,
St Columb Major, Cornwall TR9 6RW.
(BB434)
SCOTTISH BIRD REPORT 1984. £2.50 inc
p&p) from SOC (SBR 1984), 21 Regent Terrace,
Edinburgh EH7 5BT. (BB453)
DEVON BIRD REPORT 1984. £2.50 post
paid. A. John, Brook Cottage, Sampford Spiney,
Yelverton, Devon PL20 7QX. (BB496)
BOOKS
LANCASHIRE BIRD REPORT 1983— full
systematic list, ringing report, various surveys,
photographs, available from J. \1. Butterworth,
7 Havling Road, Sale M33 1GN. £2.10 post free.
(BB508)
HENRY SOTHERAN LTD
London 's leading ornithological book stockists.
IN STOCK — Carol and Tim lnskip A Guide To
The Birds of Nepal. £25.00. Ken Simpson. Nicholas
Day: The Birds of Australia. £25.00. C. H. Fry: The
Bee Eaters. £19.60. Dictionary of Birds. £39.00
ICBP. BTO, BOL Publications and a
surprising range of smaller books & reports
Christmas Openings Sat 7th, 14th. 21st Dec. g
Superb stock available for browsing. Q
2, 3, 4 & 5 Sackville St, London W1X 2DP.
01-734 1 150. Just off Piccadilly. Mon-Fri 9.00-5.30
QUALITY BIRD BOOKS— for latest list write
to A. & H. Books, 23 Andrew Road, Tunbridge
Wells, Kent. (BB497)
‘BIRD BOOKS'. Good secondhand books
bought and sold. Free catalogue from, and offers
to Briant Books. 94 Quarry Lane, Kelsall,
Tarporlev. Cheshire CW6 0NJ. Tel: 0829 51804.
(BB392)
BOOKS ON BIRDS, Natural History, Garden-
ing and Travel bought and sold. Catalogue
available (S.A.E. please). J. T. Radford, Bram-
blings, West Walberton Lane, Walberton,
Arundel, Sussex. (BB423)
xxi
THE BIRD BOOKSHOP
SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB
Wide range of titles in stock
Free catalogue from: 21 Regent Terrace,
Edinburgh EH7 5BT. Tel: 031-556 6042
(BB239)
FINE NATURAL HISTORY BOOKS bought
and sold. R. Norman. Hart-on-the-Hill, Dalton
Piercv, Hartlepool, Cleveland. Tel: 0429 73857.
(BB303)
ORNITHOLIDAYS GUIDES in the Let’s
look at . . .’ series. Majorca, SW Spain, The
Camargue, Montenegro, Ethiopia, Eastern
Austria, South Morocco, North East Greece,
Vancouver and The Rockies, Sri Lanka, Lapland
and Arctic Norway, The Gambia, and North
West Turkey, £2.80 per copy. Ornilholidays,
1-3 Victoria Drive, Bognor Regis, Sussex P021
2PW. (BB379)
NATURAL HISTORY BOOKS. Secondhand
and new bought and sold. Catalogues: j. E.
Oliver, Malt Cottage, Croft Yard, Wells, Norfolk.
(BB306)
BIRDWATCHING GUIDE BOOKS. Essential
for holiday birding. What birds to see and where,
when to go, where to stay, etc. Richly illustrated
with maps. Mallorca by Eddie Watkinson
(second edition) £3. The Isles of Scilly by David
Hunt £3. The Gambia by Etienne Edberg £4.
Prices include post and packing from J. Sanders,
PO Box 24, Alderney, Channel Islands. (BB166)
Please order
all your
BIRD BOOKS
from
BRITISH
BIRDSHOP’
Please use the form on the
cut-out page in this issue.
The purchase of books and
recordings through
‘British BirdShop’
subsidises every subscription,
and adds extra pages
and extra photographs
to every issue of
British Birds (BB515)
BOOKS ON BIRDS. New and secondhand,
catalogue 30p stamps. Surplus books urgently
sought. BB bought and sold. Open Monday to
Saturday. Bird Books of Sevenoaks, 67 London
Rd, Sevenoaks, Kent. Tel: 0732 455899. (BB245)
PERSONAL
THE HAWK TRUST cares about all birds of
prey. Why not help us with our conservation
projects? For information, contact The Member-
ship Secretary (JB), The Hawk Trust,' FREE-
POST, Beckenham. Kent. Tel: Loughborough
215598. (BB459)
CRETE— EASTER BIRDWATCHING, hints,
sites, checklist. £2.50 inc p.&p. S. Coghlan, 25
Thorpe Lane, Huddersfield, W. Yorks HD5 8TA.
(BB417)
COURSES
BIRDWATCHING ACTIVITY WEEKS
25-30 May 1986 — 1-6 June 1986
“BIRDS OF SPEYSIDE”
A repeat of last year’s success with conducted
visits and walks, slidetalks, film and social.
Tutors: RSPB Wardens, Roy Dennis
Resident Guide: Michael Phillips
Course Fee: £48
For information, SAE please to: Tourist
Association, Boat of Garten, Inverness-shire
(BB480)
REPAIRS
WE REPAIR BINOCULARS. And cameras.
And projectors. We’ve been at it for thirty years
and we’re very, very good. Perfect? No.
Perfectionists? Yes. Burgess Lane & Co. Ltd,
Thornton Works, Thornton Avenue, London W4
1QE. 01-994 5752. (BB223)
ARE YOU a cross-eyed birdwatcher? We offer a
cleaning and re-aligning service for any make or
size of hand held binocular or telescope at a
special price of £15.50 including return postage.
Full repair service available. Charles Frank Ltd.,
Repair Division, Office 413/415, 93 Hope Street,
Glasgow G2 6LD. (BB 161 )
STAMPS
PENGUINS ON STAMPS, 10— £1. Send for
14 page bird stamp list. A. Grainger, 42 Lee Lane
East, Horsforth, Leeds. (BB469)
FOR SALE
BIRD JOURNAL BACKNUMBERS SUP-
PLIED. (BB, Bird Study, County Reports etc)
David Morgan, Whitmore, Umberleigh, Devon.
(BB418)
XXII
THE CONVENIENT WAY
TO CARE FOR YOUR BIRDS
Morning Call makes an ideal gift.
It’s a 1 lb. block of pure beef suet, with
seeds for the essential nourishment
your garden birds need. Suspend Morning
Call in its net outside a window
or from a branch. Single pack £1 .90
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xxiii
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Volume 78 Number 12 December 1985
6 1 1 Jay movements in autumn 1983 A. W. G.John and J. Roskell
633 European news
646 Product reports Barbour ‘Durham’ jacket Mike Everett
647 Savannah Sparrow: new to the Western Palearctic S.J. Rroyd
656 Seventy-five years ago . . .
657 Mystery photographs 108 Least Sandpiper P.J. Grant
Notes
659 Racial identification of Cattle Egret Laurel Tucker
661 Yellow orbital ring of Semipalmated Plover Dr Terence A. Walsh
661 Plastic hazards to birds Tim Dean
662 Little Terns harassing tired Cuckoo, vijich landed on sea Rodney Ingram
663 Otter predation on Black Guillemots P.J. Ewins
664 Collared Doves nesting inside buildings M R. Fletcher and J. S. Smith
664 Barn Owl attacking and killing adult Woodpigeon Anthony Nuttell
665 Threatening behaviour by Barn Owl Graham Madge
665 Kingfisher capturing dragonfly on perch David Harper
666 Bathing behaviour of Kingfishers David Harper
666 Great Spotted Woodpeckers fighting in flight David W. G. Ladbmok
666 Birds found dead at sewage-farm sludge beds Trevor Perkins
667 Swallows mobbing Pectoral Sandpiper Andrew H.J. Harrop
667 Juvenile Blackbird ‘frolicking’, playing’ with leaf, and copulating with
inanimate objects Dr K. E. L. Simmons
Letters
668 Ptarmigan on Arran Margaret H. Dunn
668 Roding flight of Woodcock R. A. Hume
668 British status of northern Lesser Black-backed Gulls L.J. Davenport
669 The Buckinghamshire skua JeJf Blincow
671 Incompatibility of Marsh and Willow Tits S.J. R. Rumsey
672 Requests for reprints Norman Elkins; Jeffery Boswall
672 ‘Identification: it’s a beginning' R. D. Fenhallurick
674 Foreign expeditions Guy Mount/ort
674 Diary dates Mrs Sheila D. Cobban
Announcements
675 Binding your ‘BB’s
676 Bird Photograph of the Year
676 Best recent black-and-white bird-photographs
Request
676 Please help
676 News and comment Mike Everett and Robin Prytherch
679 Recent reports Keith Allsopp and Ian Dawson
685 Short reviews Dr J. T. R. Sharrock
686
687
687
688
Reviews
Bird Behaviour by Robert Burton Dr Jim Flegg
A First Book oj Birds by Peter Holden, J. T. R. Sharrock and Norman Arlott Linda Berne;/
Confessions oj a Scitiy Birdman by David Hunt David Fisher
A Sound Guide to the British Hawks and Falcons; Breeding Waders; Thrushes; Warblers; Tits; Finches
Victor C. Lewis R. A. Hume
688 Newman *s Birds oj Southern Africa by Kenneth Newman David Fisher
689 The Bird-walker: a dictionary of the voices oj birds of Britain, Europe and North Africa by Jean C. Roche
R. A. Hume
690 Birdwatchmg in Kent by Don Tay lor Dr J. T. R. Sharrock
69(> Corrections
by
Line-drawings: 61 1 Jay (D. G. Mitchell ); 647 Savannah Sparrow (Nik Borrow); 6 79 Yellow-browed Warbler
1,1. At. Stoddurt 1; 679 Pectoral Sandpiper (Alan Harris); 682 Lapland Bunting (Dave Numey)
Front cover: Oystercatchers ( Robert Gillmor) : the original drawing of this
tnonlh’s cover design is for sale in a postal auction (see page 56 in January
issue for procedure)
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