Records Committee (BOURC)
28th Report (October 2001)
The reports of the Records Committee contain additions, corrections and
modifications to the list of birds of Britain and the Isle of Man maintained
by the Committee on behalf of the BOU. Also included is information relating
to Northern Ireland, although the Northern Ireland List is maintained by the
Northern Ireland Birdwatchers’ Association (NIBA). Information from the
Republic of Ireland is no longer included in BOU Records Committee reports.
Readers are referred to the Irish Bird Reports published annually in Irish
Birds for information relating to that country.
Our current report covers the period October 2000 to September 2001
inclusive, and is the twelfth to follow publication of the most recent Checklist
of Birds of Britain and Ireland (6th edition, March 1992). The 27th
Report appeared in Ibis 143: 171-175. The last Checklist is
available from the BOU office and specialist bookshops, price £2 (UK) and
£3 (overseas) (prices inc. p&p).
The British List
No new edition of the BOU’s pocket-list The British
List was published in the year under review. Copies of the 3rd edition
(August 2000) can still be obtained from the BOU office on receipt of a
stamped addressed envelope.
Checklist of Birds of Britain
Work commenced during the year on preparation of a new
edition of the BOU’s Checklist, to update the Sixth edition,
published in 1992.
The BOU website: www.bou.org.uk
The BOU website includes the British List, press releases
and lists of recent decisions, together with a note of files currently in
circulation. The website is for information purposes only and is not an
official document or part of the permanent record. Announcements of changes
to the British List do not come into effect until published in Ibis.
Changes to the British List
The following changes have been made to the British List:
Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus (Gmelin)
Add to Category A. Juvenile, Rosehearty, near Fraserburgh,
Aberdeenshire, 11-24 September 1999 and, the same bird, Seal Sands,
Teesside, 29 September-30 October 1999, some 220 miles to the south. Sight
record and photographed (Birding World 12: 364-370 and 12:
385). The bird was identified as being the same individual from two missing
tertials on the right wing.
Three races are recognised, largely separated by range,
which breed across North America from southern Alaska to Quebec and
Labrador. There is some overlap between races 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. A long distance migrant, the species
winters from central USA to Brazil and southern Peru. There are four
accepted previous Western Palearctic records including one in Ireland in
1985.
Black Tern Chlidonias niger
Add subspecies surinamensis (Gmelin) to Category
A. Weston-super-Mare, Avon, 3-11 October 1999. Sight record and photographed
(Birding World 12: 416-418).
This race breeds widely across North America and winters
in Central America and northern South America. One was recorded in Ireland
from 3-7 September 1999, and there are three specimens from Iceland, in
1956, 1957 and 1970.
Oriental Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis
Add subspecies meena (Sykes) to Category A.
Juvenile moulting to first winter, Spurn, Humberside, 8 November 1975; sight
record, photographed (Rare and Scarce Birds in Yorkshire, Wilson
& Black 1996).
This is the western race, which breeds in the southern
part of west Siberia, south to Turkestan, Iran, Afghanistan, Kashmir and the
Himalayas east to west Nepal, and winters mainly in India. Previous British
records, where assigned to race, have been of the nominate race.
Common Nightingale Luscinia megarynchos
Add subspecies hafizi (Severtzov) to Category A.
Found dead, Fair Isle, Shetland, 30 October 1971. Specimen now in the
National Museums of Scotland in Edinburgh.
Originally accepted as showing the characters of this
race, 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 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. This thus becomes the
first British record of this eastern race, which breeds in Central Asia and
winters in Kenya, Uganda and northern Tanzania.
The following have also been considered
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros
A review of all records of the eastern group of races ochruros/phoenicuroides/semirufus
was unable to eliminate the possibility of Common Redstart P.
phoenicurus x Black Redstart hybrids. This group is therefore removed
from the British List.
Mute Swan Cygnus olor
A review of the status of the species in Britain has
confirmed its position in Category A as well as C. This confirms the comment
made in the Records Committee’s Sixth Report (Ibis :
420-423) in 1971 that: ‘Mute Swan Cygnus olor (Gmelin) is in
Category A because wild immigrants occur and because most of the breeding
population is derived from semi-domesticated descendants of wild stock
rather than artificially introduced’.
American Kestrel Falco sparverius
Specimen records from Yorkshire in 1882 and
Leicestershire from ‘about 1899’, both prior to the accepted first
record, have been considered but rejected as there were doubts about their
origin.
Little Swift Apus affinis
A record from Cornwall in 1866, which pre-dated the first
accepted British record, has been considered but rejected as unproven.
Files under consideration
Bulwer’s Petrel Bulweria bulwerii
Review of all records of this species.
Cape Gannet Morus capensis
Bass Rock, Lothian, May 1831 (Ibis 122:
567). Review following receipt of new information.
American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus
A specimen from Saffron Walden Museum, shot in 1826, and
previously overlooked. If accepted this will be the second British record.
Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus
Review of records from southwest England to consider
their origin and eligibility for inclusion in Category C5.
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber
Review of migration and movements to assess likelihood of
natural vagrancy from both eastern and western populations.
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea
Review of the first Category B record, and of the records
from the apparent invasion in 1994 to consider the species’ eligibility
for inclusion in Category A.
Wood Duck Aix sponsa
Review of records from southwest England to consider
eligibility for transfer from Category E* to A or D.
Canvasback Aythya valisineria
Cliffe, Kent, December 1996. This record, predating the
accepted 1997 Norfolk individual (Ibis 141: 175-180), was
withdrawn by the observers but has been subsequently resubmitted.
Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus
Oban Trumisgarry Loch, North Uist, Outer Hebrides, 23-31
October 2000.
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus
Drift, Cornwall, 25 October to 28 November 1999, and
other reports. Liaison is taking place with the Northern Ireland
Birdwatchers’ Association Records Committee (NIBARC) and with the Republic
of Ireland’s Irish Rare Birds Committee (IRBC) to establish whether the
earlier 1999 records of birds of this species seen in Northern Ireland and
in the Republic of Ireland relate to the same bird(s), and to ensure that if
that is the case, that the records are treated in the same way in each
country involved. This follows guidelines established by the Association of
European Rarities Committees (AERC).
Steppe Buzzard Buteo buteo vulpinus
Wiltshire,1864. Consideration of the first record of this
race.
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus fuscus
This race is on the British List from recoveries of birds
found in Britain which were ringed in Scandinavia. Correspondence is in
train with the ringing authorities in Finland and Sweden to confirm these.
Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura
Carinish, North Uist, Outer Hebrides, 13-15 November
1999.
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops superciliosus
St. Agnes, Isles of Scilly, 22 June 1951. Race to be
determined (vide Bull. BOC 92: 57-59 (1972)).
Red-headed Bunting Emberiza bruniceps
Review of all records of this species.
Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula
Reconsideration of a record from Baltasound, Unst,
Shetland, 26 September 1890, in the light of new information. This record
predates the first British record in 1958.
‘The Tadcaster Rarities’
The review continues of three records referred to in Br.
Birds 92: 523 which are potentially the first British records of
Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis undulata, Ross’s Gull Rhodostethia
rosea and Orphean Warbler Sylvia hortensis. All three records
were associated with the same taxidermist (Mr Graham of York) and the review
has had to be widened to consider some other records from the same source.
‘Post Irish Firsts’
This is the working title given to a batch of 14 records
of species which were originally included in the British and Irish List from
first records in the Republic of Ireland. Since the separation of Irish
records in 1998 (see Records Committee 25th Report (Ibis 141:
175-180)), there is a need to review the species to determine which is the
first British record for each. This task is now proceeding.
List totals
With the addition of Short-billed Dowitcher to Category
A, the British List is increased to 556. This 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 15 species in Category D (and more in Category E) do
not form part of the British List.
Category Number
- A — 534
- B — 13
- C — 9
- Total — 556
One additional species is currently included in Category
A of the Isle of Man List, and a further three in Category A of the Northern
Ireland List (one of these is also in Category D of the British List).
Changes to the Manx List
There are no changes to the list of birds for the Isle of
Man.
Changes to the Northern Ireland List
There are no changes to the list of birds for Northern
Ireland.
Association of European
Rarities Committees
The Chairman is attending the 6th Conference of the
Association of European Rarities Committees (AERC), which is being held in
Poland from 26-30 September 2001. An account of the proceedings as they
affect the BOURC and the British List will appear in the next Report.
Taxonomic Sub-committee
Work has proceeded during the year on the species under
consideration for taxonomic changes. A summary of progress for these was
issued as a Press Release in October as follows:-
The BOURC’s Taxonomic Sub-committee (TSC) has been
obtaining and reviewing a considerable volume of new information on the
species currently under review, with progress made on many issues which
should facilitate future decisions. For some taxa, essential data are
lacking, or have not yet been published. In some cases, we anticipate
publication in the near future of relevant information. The following is a
progress report.
Species definitions
The Taxonomic Advisory Committee (TAC) of the
Association of European Rarities Committees (AERC) and the BOURC’s TSC
have been jointly developing general principles and species criteria on
which taxonomic recommendations are to be made. The questions of species
concepts and ground rules to define and delimit species have been
addressed in detail, and draft guidelines have been prepared. These are
being trialled on a variety of taxa, and are being refined in the light of
that experience. They are an essential prerequisite to making
recommendations.
Taxa under review
The following paragraphs summarise the current
situation for taxa which have received the most attention.
Tundra (Bewick’s/Whistling) Swan – Cygnus
columbianus columbianus/bewickii
These two taxa differ in the amount of yellow on the
bill, but whether this warrants specific status needs further study.
Bean Goose - Anser fabalis/serrirostris
A Bean Goose Complex Task Force is currently
working in Europe, which includes genetic studies within its remit. Its
conclusions are awaited.
Brent Goose – Branta bernicla
bernicla/hrota/nigricans
The taxonomy of this complex is intriguing and still
only partly resolved. A careful reassessment of published papers is being
used to judge these taxa against the agreed species criteria.
Common and Velvet Scoter – Melanitta nigra/M.
fusca
These taxa are being actively addressed, with a review
in preparation.
Common/Wilson’s Snipe – G.g.gallinago/delicata
The two taxa differ in auditory signals (i.e. drumming
sounds), but uncertainty still surrounds the degree to which they are
diagnosably different in plumage. The status of these taxa is being
actively investigated.
‘Yellow-legged’ Gull – Larus argentatus
michahellis/ L. a. cachinnans
This lively issue has not yet been resolved. Data
concerning the breeding behaviour of michahellis and argenteus in
Western Europe are well documented, but much of the published literature
regarding the situation in Eastern Europe is anecdotal. Publication of an
important peer-reviewed paper in the next few months is anticipated and is
keenly awaited.
Yellow and White Wagtails – Motacilla spp.
The situation is complicated by the large number of
subspecies under review. There is evidence that some of the subspecies
relevant to the British List may fulfil some species criteria. At least
two independent research groups are close to publishing genetic analyses
of the relationships between various taxa within Motacilla. No
decision is possible before these results are accepted for publication.
Red-breasted/Red-throated Flycatcher – Ficedula
p. parva/ F. p.albicilla
The paper by Cederroth et al (Birding World 12,
460-468) presented evidence that these taxa deserve separate specific
status. Further molecular data (in press) should clarify the situation.
Carrion/Hooded Crow – Corvus corone
corone/cornix
These taxa are being actively addressed, with a review
in preparation.
Notes
1. The AERC’s TAC consists of Dr Andreas
Helbig, Dr Alan Knox, Professor David Parkin and George Sangster.
2. The BOURC’s TSC includes the above plus Dr
Tony Prater (Chairman) and Dr Martin Collinson (Secretary).
Publications from members of BOU Records Committee
relating to the British List since the last report (Ibis 143:
171-175).
- Bradshaw, C. & Marr, B.A.E. 1999.
Comments on ‘Lesser Sand Plover in West Sussex: new to Britain and Ireland’by Jack Hunt. Br. Birds 93: 435-441.
- Bradshaw, C. & Marr, B.A.E. 2000. Comments on ‘Cedar
Waxwing in Shetland: new to the Western Palearctic’ by Clive R. McKay. Br.
Birds 93: 580-587.
- Bradshaw, C. and Marr, B.A.E. 2001. Comments on
‘‘Two-barred Greenish Warbler’ on Scilly: new to Britain and Ireland’
by Colin Bradshaw. Br. Birds 94: 284-288.
- Knox, Alan, Melling, Tim and Wilkinson, Roger. 2000.
‘The Purple Swamp-hen in Cumbria in 1997’. Br. Birds 93:
442-445.
- Knox, Alan G. 2001. ‘The Bufflehead in Britain –
A review’. Br. Birds 94: 61-73.
- Knox, Alan G., Helbig, Andreas J., Parkin, David T., and
Sangster, George. 2001. ‘The taxonomic status of Lesser Redpoll’. Br.
Birds 94: 260-267.
- Sangster, George, Collinson, Martin, Helbig, Andreas J.,
Knox, Alan G., Parkin, David T., and Prater, Tony. 2001. ‘The
taxonomic status of Green-winged Teal Anas carolinensis’. Br.
Birds 94: 218-226.
Acknowledgements
The Committee could not operate successfully without the
considerable help it receives from many people. We particularly wish to
thank Gwen Bonham, Ian Dawson, Steve Dudley, Mike Gee, Nick Green, Tim
Inskipp, Keith Naylor, Phil Palmer, Dennis Paulson, Richard Porter, Peter
Robinson and Mike Rogers for all their help, and apologise to any others we
have omitted to mention by name.
Committee membership
Since publication of the last Report, Alan Knox has left
the Committee, and his place has been taken by Bob McGowan. Alan Knox had
been a member of the Committee for 17 years, including a period as Chairman,
and the Committee is grateful to him for his professional, painstaking and
meticulous approach to his work for them over this long period. The
following served on the Committee during the period covered by this report
(with expected year of retirement):
- Tony Marr (Chairman) (2002)
- Tim Melling (Secretary) (2007)
- Paul Harvey (2004)
- Roger Wilkinson (2005)
- Ian Lewington (2006)
- Dr Tony Prater (2007)
- Eric Meek (2008)
- Dr Bob McGowan (2009)
- Andrew Harrop (2010)
- Prof Colin Bradshaw (BBRC Chairman) ex officio
British Ornithologists’ Union Records Committee, The Natural History Museum, Akeman Street,Tring, Hertfordshire HP23 6AP UK.
• Email: bourc.sec@bou.org.uk
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