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.

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.

The following have also been considered

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 113: 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:

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
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Email: bourc.sec@bou.org.uk