 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Home | About Us | Membership | Online Store | Conferences | The British List | Checklists | Ibis |
|||||||||||||||||||||
BOU Records Committee (BOURC)30th Report (October 2003)This report covers the period October 2002 to September 2003 and is the fourteenth to follow publication of the most recent Checklist of Birds of Britain and Ireland (6th edition, March 1992). The 29th Report appeared in Ibis 145: 178-183. The Checklist (6th edition) is available from the BOU Office and specialist bookshops, price £2 (UK) and £3 (overseas) (prices inc.p&p). Checklist of the Birds of BritainWork on a seventh edition of the BOU’s Checklist of Birds of Britain continued during the year. The BOU website: www.bou.org.ukThe BOU website includes the British List, press releases and lists of recent decisions and files 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 in taxonomyThe Taxonomic Sub-committee of the BOURC has continued to work on issues relevant to the British List and their second report appears elsewhere in this issue (Ibis 146: 153-157). Changes to the British ListThe following changes have been made to the British List: NOTE: the taxonomic changes that appear in the report of the Taxonomic Sub-committee (Ibis 146: 153-157) are not repeated here. Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus This species was added to Category A in our 29th Report (Ibis 145: 178-183). Note that breeding has been suspected on La Gomera, Canary Islands in recent years (Martin, A. & Lopez, J.A. 2001. Aves del Archipielago Canario). Ascension Frigatebird Fregata aquila Linnaeus Add to Category A. Immature female, Tiree, Argyll & Bute, 9 July 1953. Found exhausted, later died. Originally considered to be a Magnificent Frigatebird F. magnificens (Ibis 98: 154-157) but subsequently re-identified as F. aquila (Brit. Birds 96: 58-73, 454). Monotypic. Breeds only at Ascension Island, tropical Atlantic Ocean: non-breeding range unclear. Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens Removed from British List as a result of the re-identification of the 1953 Tiree bird as Ascension Frigatebird F. aquila (see above). However, newly added to the Manx List (see below). Snowy Egret Egretta thula Added to Category A in the 29th Report (Ibis 145: 178-183). Note as race not determined. Common Buzzard Buteo buteo Remove subspecies vulpinus (colloquially known as Steppe Buzzard) from the British List. The only claimed record of this race, from Wiltshire, September 1864 (Ibis 1923: 430-431) was reviewed by the Committee and found to be unacceptable (Brit. Birds 96: 247-249). Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus Remove subspecies anatum from the British List. The two British records of this North American subspecies (Leicestershire 1891 and Lincolnshire 1910) were reviewed and both were considered no longer to be acceptable. A paper detailing this decision is in preparation. Macqueen’s Bustard Chlamydotis macqueenii Following the separation of C. macqueenii from C. undulata (Ibis 144: 707-710) the Committee has reviewed all the British records and confirmed one collected, Kirton-in-Lindsay, Lincolnshire, 7 October1847 as the first British record. This individual is one of the so-called ‘Tadcaster Rarities’ (Ibis 145: 182) but the Committee found no reason to doubt its authenticity. Slender-billed Curlew Numenius tenuirostris Added to Category A in the 29th Report (Ibis 145: 178-183). Note as monotypic. Herring Gull Larus argentatus Add subspecies cachinnans Pallas to Category A. Two adults, Mucking, Essex, 4 September 1995. Sight record. Breeds from Black sea to Caspian Sea and in east Kazakhstan; winters south to south-west Asia, Middle East and north-east Africa. The identification criteria for this taxon, colloquially known as Caspian Gull, are now well established and cachinnans is now considered a regular visitor to southern Britain. The above record was the first for which all the relevant and necessary criteria were reported. The taxon is currently retained as a subspecies of L. argentatus but investigation of the taxonomy of the ‘large white-headed gull’ complex is currently under way. Ross’s Gull Rhodostethia rosea Near Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, February 1847. This record is one of the ‘Tadcaster Rarities’ (Ibis 145: 178-183) and has been reviewed as the first for Britain and found to be unacceptable. The Committee is now considering subsequent records of this species to determine which constitutes the first British record. Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura Added to Category A in the 29th Report (Ibis 145: 178-183). Note as race undetermined. Blyth’s Pipit Anthus godlewskii Immature, Fair Isle, Shetland, 13-23 October 1988 (Birding World 1: 395-397). This is the first record which qualifies the species for Category A (i.e. post-1950). The first British record was a specimen from Brighton, East Sussex on 23 October 1882 (Ibis 122: 564-568). Grey Catbird Dumetella carolinensis In the 29th Report (Ibis 145: 178-183), the English name was spelt incorrectly and it should be called Grey Catbird (Brit. Birds 85: 276). In addition, treat as monotypic. Siberian Blue Robin Luscinia cyane Added to Category A in the 29th Report (Ibis 145: 178-183). Note as race undetermined. Orphean Warbler Sylvia hortensis Female, near Wetherby, North Yorkshire, 6 July 1848. This record is one of the ‘Tadcaster Rarities’ (Ibis 145: 178-183) and has been reviewed as the first for Britain and found to be unacceptable. The Committee is now considering subsequent records of this species to determine which constitutes the first British record. British List Totals With the addition of Ascension Frigatebird to Category A and the deletion of Magnificent Frigatebird from Category A, the British list remains at 565 species. The taxonomic decisions announced elsewhere in this issue (Ibis 146: xxx-xxx) make no changes to the list totals. The totals do not include ‘soft-plumaged’ petrels Pterodroma mollis/P. madeira/P. feae as the birds were not identified to species level (Ibis 134: 380). Identification of ‘soft-plumaged’ petrels to species level is currently under review. Species in Category D (and Category E) do not form part of the British List. Category Total A 542 B 14 C 9 Total 565 The following have also been considered:White-faced Storm-petrel Pelagodroma marina The previously-accepted (and only) record from Colonsay, Argyll & Bute, 1 January 1897, was reviewed and found to be acceptable. The record is retained in Category B. American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus A record of a specimen collected at Wenden, Essex, 1826, and now in Saffron Walden Museum (add accession number if available), was assessed on request and found to be acceptable. This constitutes the second British record. Files under considerationBulwer’s Petrel Bulweria bulwerii The Committee has completed its review of this species and is liaising with BBRC over its decision. Cape Gannet Morus capensis The 1831 record from Bass Rock, Lothian is still under review. Allen’s Gallinule Porphyrula alleni The record of one found moribund at Portland, Dorset, February 2002, is under consideration. If accepted the species would be added to Category A. It is currently in Category B. Macqueen’s Bustard Chlamydotis macqueenii Four British records (three pre-1950 and one post-1950) of Houbara Bustard sensu lato are being reviewed as a result of the elevation of C. macqueenii to specific status. The only other record of this species, from Lincolnshire in 1847, has already been confirmed as the first British record (see above). Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus Investigations are continuing in an attempt to confirm the identification of birds ringed in Sweden and Finland and subsequently recovered in Britain, supposedly of the nominate race, colloquially known as Baltic Gull. Little Tern Sterna albifrons In an attempt to establish the identity of the bird seen in East Sussex, 1983-1990, and claimed to belong to the race antillarum, a recording of the voice of the West African race guineae has been obtained (Ibis 139: 197-201, 141: 175-180). In addition, the Taxonomic Sub-committee is investigating the status of S. a. antillarum. Red-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus ruficollis The only British record, from Northumberland, 5 October 1856, is under review in order to check its validity and to establish whether the subspecies is C.r.desertorum or C.r.ruficollis. Western Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais opaca Two records from St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, October 1961 and September-October 1962, are under consideration as the first British records of this species. Sykes’s Warbler Hippolais rama Following the treatment of H. rama as a separate species from Booted Warbler H .caligata (Ibis 144: 707-710), BBRC has reviewed the records of this species pair to establish which are identifiable. The BOURC is now considering which of the records is acceptable as the first British record of H. rama. Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach A record from South Uist, Western Isles, November 2000, is currently under consideration. Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator A record of the Balearic Island race badius at Portland, Dorset, May 1986, is currently under consideration as an addition to the British List. Rock Bunting Emberiza cia BBRC has recently reviewed the post-1950 records of this species and the BOURC will now consider which record can stand as the first in Category A. At the same time, it is intended to review the two pre-1950 records (West Sussex, 1902, and Kent, 1905). Red-headed Bunting Emberiza bruniceps The Committee is awaiting completion of the BBRC review of recent records of this species. ‘Post-Irish Firsts’ – pre-1950Following the separation of the British and Irish Lists (Ibis 141: 175-180), BOURC has assessed twelve firsts for Britain where the previous first record had occurred in Ireland. All of these were post-1950 records that came to the Committee having already been assessed by BBRC. Ten were accepted and two (Royal Tern Sterna maxima and Little Swift Apus affinis) are still under consideration (Ibis 145: 178-183; Brit. Birds 96: 402-405). There are seven further species with earlier Irish records where the first British record is pre-1950 and the BOURC is currently assessing these. The species concerned are Little Shearwater Puffinus assimilis, Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga, Bonaparte’s Gull Larus philadelphia, White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus, Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius, Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus and Two-barred Crossbill Loxia leucoptera. Changes to the Manx ListThe following changes to the Manx List have been notified to the BOURC by the Manx Ornithological Society: Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens Mathews Add to Category A. Immature, found exhausted, Scarlett Point, Castletown, Isle of Man, 22 December 1998, cared for until October 1999 when died; corpse destroyed. Monotypic. Found on both the Pacific and Atlantic coats of the Americas from Baja California to Ecuador and from Florida to southern Brazil; also relict population on Cape Verde Islands. Great Egret Ardea alba Add to Category A. One, Langness, 18-26 June 2000. Sight record, photographed. King Eider Somateria spectabilis Add to Category A. Male, probably second summer, Rue Point, 24 May to 2 June 2002. Sight record. Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata Add to Category A. Adult male, the Lhen, 14 November 2001. Sight record. Wilson’s Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor Add to Category A. Adult female, Point of Ayre, 20 September 1999. Sight record. Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis Add to Category A. Adult, Ballanayre Strand, 8 January 2000. Sight record. Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus Add to Category A. One, Gansey, 30 September 1988. Found dead, specimen in Manx Museum. Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni Add to Category A. One, South Harbour, Calf of Man, 10 May 2002. Sight record. Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti Add to Category A. Female, Niarbyl, 5-17 January 2002. Sight record, photographed. Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita The British List (BOU, Tring, 2000) accidentally omitted Chiffchaff from the list of species recorded in the Isle of Man. It is both a breeding species and a migrant there. White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis Add to Category A. One, Lhergydhoo, 28 May 2000. Sight record, photographed. Northern Irish ListDuring the course of the year it was agreed that changes to the Northern Irish List would no longer appear as part of this report. Reviews of historical records by County Recorders and local records committeesBBRC maintains the official totals of rare birds that have occurred in Britain. When County Recorders and their records committees review and accept previously unaccepted historical records, or reject previously accepted ones, it would be helpful if they would inform BBRC so that the database of records and the national totals can be adjusted. Publications by members of the BOU Records Committee relating to the British List since the previous report (Ibis 145: 178-183)Bradshaw, C. 2003. A ‘post-Irish’ review of ‘firsts’ for Britain. Brit. Birds 96: 402-405. Harrop, A.H.J. & Collinson, M. 2003. The 1864 Wiltshire ‘Steppe Buzzard’. Brit. Birds 96: 247-249. McGowan, R.Y. 2003. The Ascension Frigatebird from Tiree, 1953. Birding Scotland 6: 103-106. McGowan, R.Y., Clugston, D.L. & Forrester, R.W. 2003. Scotland’s endemic subspecies. Scot. Birds 24: 18-35. Meek, E.R. 2003. Comments on ‘Ascension Frigatebird on Tiree – new to the Western Palearctic’. Brit. Birds: 96: 73. Walbridge, G., Small, B. & McGowan, R.Y. 2003. Ascension Frigatebird on Tiree – new to the Western Palearctic. Brit. Birds 96: 58-73. Zonfrillo, B., McGowan, R.Y. & Palma, R.L. 2003. Feather lice from Ascension and Magnificent Frigatebirds. Brit. Birds 96: 454. AcknowledgementsA considerable number of people assisted the Committee in its work during the course of the year and the BOURC wishes to acknowledge their invaluable help. In particular we would like to thank Ian Dawson, Steve Dudley, Mike Gee, Nick Green, Dave Holman, Alan Knox, Eric Morton, Ricardo Palma, Phil Palmer, Mike Rogers, Phil Round, Didier Vangeluwe and Ian Wallace and apologise to any others whom we have omitted to mention by name. Committee MembershipDuring the course of the year Paul Harvey retired (on rotation) from the Committee and his place has been taken by Grahame Walbridge. Paul made an invaluable contribution to the work of the BOURC with his detailed knowledge of identification, especially of birds in the hand. We thank him for his efforts and welcome Grahame, fresh from a long period as a member of BBRC. The following served on the BOURC during the period covered by this report (with expected year of retirement):
British Ornithologists’ Union Records Committee, The Natural History Museum, Akeman Street, Tring, Hertfordshire HP23 6AP UK. • Email: bourc.sec@bou.org.uk CITATION
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The BOU is a Registered Charity in the UK, no. 249877
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
