2000 News and Decisions
from the Records Committee (BOURC)
22 December 2000
Changes to the British List
The following changes have been made to the British List and take
effect when published in Ibis, which is expected to be in January
2002.
Add to Category A
Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus
Rosehearty, near Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, 11-24 September 1999 and, the
same bird, Seal Sands area, Teesside, 29 September - 30 October 1999, some
220 miles to the south. Sight record and photographed (Birding World
12: 364-370 and 12: 385). This bird, a juvenile, was identified as being
the same bird from two missing tertials on the right wing. It was not seen
after 30 October and was considered to have probably died. Three
populations are recognised, largely separated by range, but there is some
overlap and intergrades occur. Juveniles are particularly difficult to
separate racially, and after consulting Dennis Paulson in the USA (author
of Shorebirds of the Pacific Northwest (1993)) and researching
other relevant literature, the Committee decided that on current knowledge
it was not possible to ascribe this individual to any particular race.
This is the first British record; there are four accepted previous Western
Palearctic records including a juvenile (of indeterminate race) at
Tacumshin, Co. Wexford, Ireland, from 30 September to 2 October 1985.
Black Tern Chlidonias niger surinamensis
Weston-super-Mare, Avon, 3-11 October 1999. Sight record and
photographed (Birding World 12: 416-418). This is the first British
record of the American race C. n. surinamensis. The file is
being passed to the Committee's Taxonomic Sub-committee to consider its
taxonomic status, which will necessitate consultation with the American
Ornithologists’ Union.
Nightingale Luscinia megarynchos hafizi
Fair Isle, Shetland, 30 October 1971, found dead and specimen now in
the National Museums of Scotland in Edinburgh. Originally accepted as
showing the characters of the central Asian race L. m. hafizi, the
bird was later considered to belong to the africana-hafizi group
but with characters closest to hafizi (British Birds 65: 341
and 73: 519). Two more recent claims of hafizi submitted to BBRC
necessitated a re-examination of the Fair Isle specimen. Further
information has become available on the separation of birds in the africana/hafizi
group which enabled the Committee to confirm that the Fair Isle bird can
in fact be determined as belonging to the race hafizi and it thus
becomes the first British record of this eastern race.
For further information please contact:
Tony Marr, Chairman, BOURC Tel 01 263 741 313 Email bourc.chair@bou.org.uk
Tim Melling, Secretary, BOURC Tel 01 484 861 148 Email
bourc.sec@bou.org.uk
Steve Dudley, BOU Administrator Tel 01 733 390 932 Email
steve.dudley@bou.org.uk
18 August 2000
Changes to the British List
The following changes have been made to the British List and take
effect when published in Ibis, which is expected to be in January
2001
Add to Category A
Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus
Isles of Scilly, 7-11 October 1999, sight record. This bird, a
juvenile, was seen to arrive from the sea on 7th in fine weather with a
southerly airflow, and was seen regularly at various points around the
islands during its stay, particularly on Great Ganilly. It departed as
dramatically as it had arrived, when it was watched spiralling up high and
flying out to sea in a southerly direction on 11th, the first suitable
‘window’ of fine weather after its arrival. The species is currently
not known to be held in captivity in Britain, although the possibility of
unregistered birds can never be discounted. In this case, the timing and
location, and the age and behaviour of the bird, left the Committee in no
doubt that the bird was a genuine wild vagrant.
Taxonomic Changes
Since AERC and BOURC meetings in 1999, their respective Taxonomic
Advisory Committee (TAC) and Taxonomic Sub-Committee (TSC) have been
working closely together to produce advice on avian taxonomy in Europe.
Decisions relating to the British List
The following decisions were made by the BOURC following
recommendations from the AERC TAC and the BOURC’s own TSC.
Common Teal Anas crecca to be treated as two species
- Eurasian Teal A. crecca
- Green-winged Teal A. carolinensis
Common Redpoll Carduelis flammea to be treated as two
species
- Lesser Redpoll C. cabaret (monotypic)
- Common Redpoll C. flammea (includes Mealy Redpoll C.
f. flammea, Greater Redpoll C. f. rostrata and Icelandic
Redpoll C. f. islandica)
These will add two additional species to the British List.
Mediterranean Shearwater Puffinus yelkouan to be
treated as two species
- Balearic Shearwater P. mauretanicus
- Yelkouan Shearwater P. yelkouan
This change is part of the TAC recommendation below, one element of
which (the separation of Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus from the
other taxa) has already been implemented in Britain. This results in a
change both to the English and scientific names of the taxon on the
British List. There is as yet no record of Yelkouan Shearwater in
Great Britain.
These changes will take effect from their date of publication in Ibis,
which is expected to be in January 2001.
Other recommendations from the AERC’s TAC
These are either not relevant to the British List or do not change the
British List as they have been accepted already by the BOURC.
Soft-plumaged Petrel Pterodroma mollis to be treated as
three species:
- Soft-plumaged Petrel P. mollis
- Fea’s Petrel P. feae
- Zino’s Petrel P. madeira
Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus to be treated as three
species:
- Manx Shearwater P. puffinus
- Balearic Shearwater P. mauretanicus
- Yelkouan Shearwater P. yelkouan
Imperial Eagle Aquila helica to be treated as two
species:
- Imperial Eagle A. heliaca
- Spanish Imperial Eagle A. adalberti
Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax to be treated as two species:
- Tawny Eagle A. rapax
- Steppe Eagle A. nipalensis
Lesser Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica to be treated as
two species:
- American Golden Plover P. dominica
- Pacific Golden Plover P. fulva
Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta to be treated as three
species:
- Rock Pipit A. petrosus
- Water Pipit A. spinoletta
- Buff-bellied Pipit A. rubescens
Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus to be
treated as two species:
- Yellow-browed Warbler P. inornatus
- Hume’s Leaf Warbler P. humei
Bonelli’s Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli
- Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler P. orientalis
- Western Bonelli’s Warbler P. bonelli
Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita to be treated as four
species:
- Common Chiffchaff P. collybita
- Iberian Chiffchaff P. brehmii
- Canary Island Chiffchaff P. canariensis
- Mountain Chiffchaff P. sindianus
Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor to be treated as two
species:
- Great Grey Shrike L. excubitor
- Southern Grey Shrike L. meridionalis
Citril Finch Serinus citrinella to be treated as two
species:
- Citril Finch S. citrinella
- Corsican Finch S. corsicana
The basis of taxonomic recommendations
The TAC and TSC have been developing general principles on which these
and future recommendations are being made. Further details of the general
principles and reasons for the taxonomic recommendations will be published
in due course.
The TAC and TSC are considering the remaining species listed on the
AERC’s website (http://aerc.mypage.org) for priority consideration.
These species are Bewick’s Swan Cygnus columbianus,
Bean Goose Anser fabalis, Brent Goose Branta
bernicla, Great White Egret Egretta alba (generic
affinities), Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago, Herring
Gull Larus argentatus, Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava,
Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba, Grey-cheeked Thrush Catharus
minimus and Carrion Crow Corvus corone. Further
recommendations are expected to follow in about six months time.
Notes:
- The AERC’s TAC consists of Dr Andreas Helbig (Germany), Dr Alan
Knox (Scotland), Prof David Parkin (England) and George Sangster
(Netherlands)
- The BOURC’s TSC includes the above plus Dr Martin Collinson
(Scotland) and Dr Tony Prater (Wales)
For further information relating to the BOURC decisions please
contact
For further information relating to the AERC decisions please
contact
For further information about the AERC please contact
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20 January 2000
Changes to the British List
The following changes have been made to the British List and take
effect when published in Ibis. The most recent BOU Records
Committee’s Report (No. 26) appears in Ibis 142: 177-179 (January
2000).
Add to Category A
Iberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus brehmii
Brent Reservoir, Greater London, 3 June 1972, sight record, tape
recording made of song. Expert opinion on the tape recording by Professor
Jochen Martens and a thorough description by the observers resulted in
unanimous acceptance by the Committee. This therefore becomes the first
accepted British record of the species, which was split from Chiffchaff Phylloscopus
collybita by the BOURC in January 1998, and will appear in the next
report of the BOURC in Ibis, expected to be in January 2001. A
paper describing the occurrence in more detail is in preparation for British
Birds. There are at least four subsequent records now being considered
by BBRC (Birding World 12: 193-200).
Delete from Category B
Eurasian Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus
Ashbourne, Derbyshire, 4 June 1927, sight record of two together (Ibis 120:
409-411). This is the only record for Britain. Following a review, it is
no longer considered to be acceptable. The account described two birds
flying together, which then separated and went off in different
directions. The description is consistent with a large vulture species,
but not sufficient to eliminate other species or the possibility of escape
from captivity. The species is accordingly removed from Category B of the
British List (Ibis 142: 177-179).
Remains in Category B; add to Category D; add to Category E
Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus
Kilve, Bridgwater Bay, Somerset, October 1825, immature shot and another
seen; Peldon, Essex, 28 September 1868, immature shot; Black Down, near
Beaulieu Road Station, Hampshire, 16 June 1968, adult seen; Farlington
Marshes, Hampshire, 31 October to 1 November 1969, adult seen, later
caught in Sussex; Donna Nook, Lincolnshire, 12 June 1970, adult seen. The
species is currently in Category B. Following a review of the claims
listed above, the Committee could find no good reason to doubt the two
nineteenth century specimen records from Somerset in 1825 and Essex in
1868, though it could not uphold the sight record from Somerset in 1825.
The species therefore remains in Category B on the basis of the specimen
records.
The species is and has been relatively commonly kept in captivity in
recent decades. Of the three recent records, it was felt there were enough
parallels with the record of a Monk Vulture Aegypius monachus in
Wales in 1977-1978 (Ibis 135: 220-222) to place the 1968 Hampshire
bird in Category D only, in view of the escape potential. The
circumstances of the 1969 occurrences in Hampshire and Sussex were such
that the bird was considered likely to have escaped from captivity and the
record is added to Category E. The 1970 Lincolnshire report was rejected
for lack of documentation (Ibis 142: 177-179).
Add to Category E
Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio
Sandscale Haws, Cumbria, 23-28 October 1997, sight record, photographed (Birding
World 10: 399, 462-466). Unable to be assigned to race, possibly as a
result of interbreeding in captivity. The species is widely held in
captivity and a captive origin was thought likely. The record is placed in
Category E (Ibis 142: 177-179). A paper giving more details of the
decision is in preparation.
Confirmed as not accepted
Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe
Slapton, Devon, 22 April 1987. Previously not accepted (Ibis 136:
253-255). Reconsidered following receipt of further information.
Identification was not considered proven and the record has not been
accepted A paper giving more details of the decision is in preparation.
The first British record therefore remains as the bird seen on Lundy,
Devon, on 24-25 April 1987.
The above decisions mean that the British List remains at 553 species,
with the addition of Iberian Chiffchaff to Category A and the removal of
Eurasian Griffon Vulture from Category B. The total does not include
'soft-plumaged petrel' Pterodroma mollis/P. madeira/P. feae as the
birds were not identified to species level (Ibis 134: 380). The 16
species in Category D (and more in Category E) do not form part of the
British List.
Category Number
A 531 -- B 13 -- C 9 -- Total 553
Further information from:
Tony Marr, Chairman, BOURC Tel 01 263 741 313 Email bourc.chair@bou.org.uk
Tim Melling, Secretary, BOURC Tel 01 484 861 148 Email
bourc.sec@bou.org.uk
Steve Dudley, BOU Administrator Tel 01 733 390 392 Email steve.dudley@bou.org.uk
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