BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION

The British Ornithologists' Union Records Committee (BOURC) has accepted a record of Canvasback Aythya valisineria from Cliffe, Kent on 7 December 1996 as the first British record following prior acceptance of the identification by the British Birds Rarities Committee (BBRC).

This record occurred six weeks prior to the only other accepted British record, a well-watched male at Welney, Norfolk (18 January until 15 March 1997). The Kent bird was also a male, probably first-winter, and it would therefore seem likely that it was the same individual as the Welney bird. The two sites are approximately 70 miles apart.

For further information please contact:

Tim Melling, Secretary, BOURC Tel 01 484 861 148 Email bourc.sec@bou.org.uk

Eric Meek, Chairman-elect, BOURC Tel 01 856 850 176 Email eric.meek@bou.org.uk

Steve Dudley, BOU Administrator Tel 01 733 390 932 Email steve.dudley@bou.org.uk

BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION
The Natural History Museum, Tring, Hertfordshire HP23 6AP, UK
Tel +44 (0) 1 442 890 080 Fax +44 (0) 20 7942 6150 Email bou@bou.org.uk

Websites www.bou.org.uk / www.ibis.ac.uk