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British Ornithologists’ Union
Records Committee: 31st Report (October 2004)

This report covers the period October 2003 to September 2004 and is the fifteenth to follow publication of the most recent Checklist of Birds of Britain and Ireland (6th edition, March 1992). The 30th Report appeared in Ibis 146: 192-195. The Checklist is available from the BOU office and specialist bookshops, price £2 (UK) and £3 (overseas) (prices inc. p&p).

Checklist of Birds of Britain
During the year, progress continued to be made on a seventh edition of the BOU’s Checklist of Birds of Britain.

The BOU website: www.bou.org.uk
The BOU website includes a continually updated version of 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 taxonomy
Since publication of our last report, the BOURC Taxonomic Sub-committee (TSC) has published its latest recommendations relating to the British List (Sangster et al. 2004 Taxonomic recommendations for British birds: second report, Ibis 146: 153-157). These came into immediate effect with the publication of that paper and will not be repeated here.

Changes to BOURC operating guidelines and policy
Assessing natural occurrence of potential additions to the British List
During the course of its work, the Committee is constantly reviewing its operating guidelines and policies. One of the main tasks of BOURC is to assess the likelihood of a species occurring naturally in Britain. This is done by looking at, amongst other things, the location of the individual, time of appearance, weather patterns leading up to its appearance, supporting cast of species, age and condition of the individual, migratory patterns and vagrancy potential of the species. The record is then assessed against the status of the species in captivity and the escape likelihood. Ship assistance is not necessarily a bar to inclusion on the British List, provided the bird was not confined, sheltered or provisioned during its journey. If the bird is found dead on board, we need to consider whether it may have died in British waters. Finally, we need to consider if the species might be capable of reaching Britain without ship assistance. BOURC’s policy on ship assistance was never meant to allow non-migratory species, or port to port transportees to be admitted to the British List.

The Committee recently amended the wording of its policy on ship assistance to reflect better the committee's views, as follows:

That the species might be expected to arrive in Britain naturally and without ship assistance given favourable circumstances (i.e. the species is migratory and its migratory route matches that of other species believed to occur naturally).

The wording of Category E has been reworded (see below) explicitly to cover records of birds arriving here as a result of ‘human-assistance’.

Category definitions
Category definitions were reviewed following a joint BOU/Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) conference in 1995. The published review (British Birds 91: 2-11, Ibis 141: 175–180) outlined the newly adopted category definitions. The Committee recently reviewed several aspects of the categories again. The current definitions are reproduced below with italicised comments indicating the changes that have been made to the wording or the implementation.

A Species that have been recorded in an apparently natural state at least once since 1 January 1950.
No change.

B Species that were recorded in an apparently natural state at least once between 1 January 1800 and 31 December 1949, but have not been recorded subsequently.
Definition changed to include a start date and dual categorisation with Category D now recognised.

C Species that although introduced now derive from the resulting self-sustaining populations.
(This wording was introduced in the Committee’s 29th report (Ibis 145: 178-183). Simplification of the wording without changing the meaning; also minor changes to the wording of the sub-categories below.

C1 Naturalised introduced species – species that have occurred only as a result of introduction, e.g. Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus

C2 Naturalised established species - species with established populations resulting from introduction by Man, but which also occur in an apparently natural state, e.g. Canada Goose Branta canadensis

C3 Naturalised re-established species - species with populations successfully re-established by Man in areas of former occurrence, e.g. Red Kite Milvus milvus

C4 Naturalised feral species - domesticated species with populations established in the wild, e.g. Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon Columba livia..

C5 Vagrant naturalised species - species from established naturalised populations abroad, e.g. possibly some Ruddy Shelducks Tadorna ferruginea occurring in Britain. There are currently no species in category C5.

D Species that would otherwise appear in Category A except that there is reasonable doubt that they have ever occurred in a natural state. Species on Category D only do not form any part of the species totals and form no part of the British List.
(This wording was introduced in the Committee’s 29th report (Ibis 145: 178-183).) This category was previously defined as ‘species that would otherwise appear in Categories A or B . . .’ but has been reworded to allow for dual categorisation with Category B.

E Species that have been recorded as introductions, human-assisted transportees or escapees from captivity, and whose breeding populations (if any) are thought not to be self sustaining. Species in Category E that have bred in Britain are designated as E*. Category E species form no part of the British List (unless already listed within Categories A, B or C).
The words ‘human-assisted’ now qualify ‘transportees’ to clarify that ship-assisted vagrants may qualify for Category A provided that they are not fed, watered or receive any other direct human intervention during their journey.

Consideration of species for elevation to Category C
Having responsibility for the British List, the BOURC is required to review those non-native species that may establish self-sustaining populations and be eligible for elevation to Category C.

During the year, a more formal system for carrying out this function was agreed with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC). BOURC will review available data relating to Category E* species (i.e. those species that have escaped or been released and are now breeding in the wild) to determine whether a species can be considered ‘self-sustaining’. Any species deemed to have a self-sustainable population in Britain will be subject to an ‘alert’ to JNCC, who will then review the available information and assess, with other bodies, any conservation concerns that may arise. On completion of the ‘conservation concern’ review, those species deemed to pose no conservation threat to other flora and fauna will be admitted to Category C.

A review of the status of species that may have the potential for elevation to Category C has already begun.

As a corollary to this work, BOURC, together with the Rare Breeding Birds Panel (RBBP), issued a joint press release appealing for observers to submit records of non-native species to county recorders.

‘Post-Irish Firsts’ (pre-1950)
Following the separation of the British and Irish Lists (Ibis 141: 175-180) it became necessary, for species that had been recorded in Ireland prior to being recorded in Britain, to establish acceptable first British records for these species. Post-1950 records were detailed in our 29th Report (Ibis 145: 178-183) and the Committee continued with this process during the current year by considering pre-1950 records. Six of these first records have now been confirmed (see below) but the Committee is still considering which record of Two-barred Crossbill Loxia leucoptera may be acceptable as the first for Britain.

Changes to the British List
The following changes have been made to the British List:

Little Shearwater Puffinis assimilis
One, Earsham, Norfolk, 10 April 1858, specimen preserved in Castle Museum, Norwich (Zoologist 16: 6096-7). This becomes the first British record following the review of ‘post-Irish firsts (pre-1950)’.

White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla
Add to Category C; this species now has dual categorisation of AC.
This follows the establishment of an introduced and now self-sustaining population (Bainbridge et al. 2003. Re-introduction of White-tailed Eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) to Scotland. In Thompson et al. (eds). 2003. Birds of Prey in a Changing Environment. The Stationery Office. Edinburgh).

Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga
One, Hawk’s Wood, Cornwall, 4 December 1860, collected but specimen not extant (Zoologist 19: 7311). This becomes the first British record following the review of ‘post-Irish firsts (pre-1950)’.

Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni
One, Buckland, near Dover, Kent, May 1877. Found injured, later died, specimen now in Dover Museum (Zoologist 35: 298). This becomes the first British record following rejection of one near York, November 1867, as one of the Tadcaster Rarities’ (Ibis 145: 182).

Allen’s Gallinule Porphyrula alleni
Add to Category A. One, Portland, Dorset, 10 February 2002. Found moribund, photographed, specimen donated to the Natural History Museum (Birding World 15: 58-59). The species was previously included in Category B on the basis of one off Hopton, Norfolk, January 1902.

Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis undulata
Macqueen’s Bustard C. macqueenii
Following the recommendations of the BOURC TSC (Ibis 144: 707-710) to elevate Macqueen’s Bustard C. macqueenii to specific status, the Committee assessed all five British records of Houbara Bustard C. undulata and accepted all as C. macqueenii. Four of these records were pre-1950 (the first being in 1847, Ibis 146: 192-195), but one, Suffolk, November/December 1962, allows Macqueen’s Bustard to be added to Category A of the British List. Houbara Bustard, is removed from the British List.

Bonaparte’s Gull Larus philadelphia
One, Loch Lomond, Dunbartonshire, April 1850, collected but specimen not extant (Zoologist 9: 3117-3118). This becomes the first British record following the review of ‘post-Irish firsts (pre-1950)’.

Audouin’s Gull Larus audouinii Payraudeau
Add to Category A. Second-summer, Dungeness, Kent, 5-7 May 2003, sight record, photographed and video-recorded (Birding World 18: 199-202.)
Monotypic. Breeds in the Mediterranean basin, wintering there and south along the coast of north-west Africa as far as Senegal.

Ross’s Gull Rhodostethia rosea
First-winter, between Out Skerries and Whalsay, Shetland, 28 April 1936.
Captured exhausted at sea, later died, photograph of mounted specimen extant but specimen now destroyed (Brit.Birds 35: 276). This becomes the first British record following rejection of one, Yorkshire 1846 or 1847, which was one of the ‘Tadcaster Rarities’ (Ibis 145: 178-183).

White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus
One, Horsey Mere, Norfolk, 17 May 1853, collected but specimen not extant (Zoologist 11: 3911). This becomes the first British record following the review of ‘post-Irish firsts (pre-1950)’.

Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius
One, Clintburn, near Bellingham, Northumberland, 5 August 1870, specimen in Hancock Museum, Newcastle-upon-Tyne (Zoologist 28: 2344).. This becomes the first British record following the review of ‘post-Irish firsts (pre-1950)’..

Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus
One, Lawrenny, Stackpole Court, Pembrokeshire, autumn 1832, specimen in Natural History Museum (Proc. Zool. Soc.. Lond. 1: 26). This becomes the first British record following the review of ‘post-Irish firsts (pre-1950).

Little Swift Apus affinis
One, Skewjack, Cornwall, 16 May 1981. Sight record, photographed (Brit.Birds 75: 512). This becomes the first British record following the rejection of one in Denbighshire in 1973 (Ibis 145: 178-183).

Black Lark Melanocorypha yeltoniensis (J. R. Forster)
Add to Category A. Male, Spurn Point, Yorkshire, 27 April 1984, sight record, only positively identified and submitted for verification 15 years after its occurrence.
Monotypic. Breeds on the steppes of southern Russia and Kazakhstan; dispersive and perhaps nomadic outside breeding season (Brit. Birds 97: 558-625). This species was previously on the British list but was deleted as one of the Hastings Rarities (Brit. Birds 55: 299-384, Ibis 105: 289-291).

Western Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais opaca
Records of birds on the Isles of Scilly, 3- 4 October 1961 and 30 September – 2 October 1962, that had been submitted as the only British records of this taxon, newly elevated to specific status (Ibis 144: 707-710), were reviewed by the Committee but found to be insufficiently substantiated. This species is therefore removed from the British List.

Sykes’s Warbler Hippolais rama
One, Fair Isle, Shetland, 29 – 31 August 1959, trapped (Brit. Birds 53: 409-431).
Following the recommendation of the TSC (Ibis 144: 707-710), BOURC has accepted the elevation to species status of H. rama (formerly considered a race of Booted Warbler H. caligata). The taxon was established on the British List on the basis of a record from Shetland in 1993 (Ibis 142: 177-179). All British records of Booted Warblers were reviewed by the British Birds Rarities Committee (BBRC) and subsequently by BOURC to establish if any others were identifiable as Sykes’ Warbler. Several were indeed found to be referable to H. rama and the record detailed above now becomes the first for Britain.

Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach Linnaeus
Add to Category A. One, first-winter, Howmore, South Uist, Western Isles, 3 – 4 November 2000. Sight record, photographed (Birding World 13: 454-457).
Polytypic; five races recognised. The Committee felt that the race involved was probably erythronotus which is migratory in the northern part of its range in Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan but could not entirely rule out caniceps although the latter’s range in the Indian peninsula made its occurrence most unlikely.

Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator
Add subspecies badius Hartlaub to Category A. Adult male, Portland, Dorset, 10 May 1986. Sight record (Brit.Birds 80: 563).
Breeds only on the Mediterranean islands of Corsica, Sardinia and the Balearics.

British List Totals
With the addition of Audouin’s Gull, Black Lark and Long-tailed Shrike to Category A, the deletion of Western Olivaceous Warbler from Category A, and the transfer of Allen’s Gallinule and Macqueen’s Bustard from Category B to Category A , the British List now stands at 567 species. 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). However, the Committee is currently actively considering whether any records from this species group may be assigned to an individual species.

Species in Categories D and E do not form part of the British List.

Category Total
A 546
B 12
C 9
Total 567

The following have also been considered:

Cape Gannet Morus capensis
The record of one taken on the Bass Rock, May 1831 has been thoroughly reviewed by the Committee and rejected on a majority decision.

Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus
The Committee has considered whether the nominate race of Lesser Black-backed Gull L. f. fuscus, colloquially known as Baltic Gull, should be retained on the British List. On the basis of a Finnish bird ringed as a chick in July 1978 and recovered in Suffolk in October 1981, it was decided that it should but the Committee wish to draw the attention of observers to the extreme rarity of this taxon in Britain.

Files under consideration
Bulwer’s Petrel Bulweria bulwerii
BOURC are still considering the records from North Yorkshire in 1837 and 1908 but agreed with BBRC that the record off Walney, Cumbria in 1990 must be considered unproven.

Little Tern Sterna albifrons
Investigations are continuing into the identity of the bird seen in East Sussex, 1983-1990, and believed to be of the race antillarum. The context of the recording noted in the 30th Report (Ibis 146: 192-195) is being investigated while the TSC is still considering the status of the taxon.

Red-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus ruficollis
The only British record, Northumberland, 5 October 1856, is still under review.

Rock Bunting Emberiza cia
Following a review of the records of this species by BBRC, the Committee is considering which of these may constitute an acceptable first for Britain.

Changes to the Manx List
There have been no additions or modifications to the Manx List during the period under review.

Publications by members of the BOURC relating to the British List since the previous report (Ibis 146: 192-195)
Garner, M., Lewington, I. & Slack, R. 2003. Mongolian and Lesser Sand Plovers: an identification review. Birding World 16: 377-385.
Garner, M., Lewington, I. & Rosenberg, G. 2004. Stejneger’s Scoter in the Western Palearctic and North America. Birding World 17: 337-347.
Harrop, A.H.J. 2004. The soft-plumaged petrel complex. Brit. Birds 97: 6-15.
Harrop, A.H.J. 2004. The ‘North American’ Peregrine in Britain. Brit. Birds 97: 130-133.
Bradshaw, C. & Meek, E.R. 2004. Comments on ‘Canvasback in Kent: new to Britain’. Brit. Birds 97: 142.
Bradshaw, C. & Meek, E.R. 2004. Comments on ‘Red-billed Tropicbird: new to Britain’. Brit. Birds 97: 237.
Bradshaw, C. & Meek, E.R. 2004. Comments on ‘Snowy Egret in Argyll & Bute: new to Britain’. Brit. Birds 97: 275.
Bradshaw, C. & Meek, E.R. 2004. Comments on ‘American Coot in Kent: new to Britain’. Brit Birds: 97: 447.
McGowan, R.Y., Clugston, D.L. & Forrester, R.W. 2004. Identification and status of Scotland’s endemic wrens and other endemic subspecies. Birding World 17: 71-75.
Votier, S.C., Bearhop, S., Newell, R.G., Orr, K., Furness, R.W. & Kennedy, M. 2004.
The first record of Catharacta antarctica in Europe. Ibis 146: 95-102.

Acknowledgements
A considerable number of people assisted the Committee in its work during the course of the year and, with sincere apologies for any accidental omissions, the BOURC would like to extend our thanks to the following: Mark Adams, David Bolton, Ian Dawson, Steve Dudley, Errol Fuller, Baz Hughes, Nigel Jarret, Chris Keogh, Alan Knox, Cathy King, Stuart Ogilvy, Phil Palmer, Mike Pennington, Pete Rock, Mike Rogers, Brian Small, Didier Vangeluwe, Keith Vinicombe and Ian Wallace.

Committee Membership
During the year, Dr Roger Wilkinson retired (on rotation) from the Committee and his place has been taken by Dr Stephen Votier. Roger’s knowledge of birds in captivity has been essential to the Committee and we are delighted that he has agreed to remain with us in a consultative capacity.

The following served on the BOURC during the period covered by this report (expected year of retirement in parentheses):

Eric Meek (Chairman) (2006)
Tim Melling (Secretary) (2007)
Martin Collinson (2009)
Andrew Harrop (2007)
Ian Lewington (2005)
Bob McGowan (2008)
Tony Prater (2006)
Grahame Walbridge (2010)
Steve Votier (2011)
Roger Wilkinson (2004)
Colin Bradshaw (BBRC Representative)

British Ornithologists’ Union Records Committee
Department of Zoology
University of Oxford
South Parks Road
Oxford OX1 3PS, UK
Email bourc.sec@bou.org.uk
Web www.bou.org.uk

CITATION: BOURC, 2005. Ibis 147: 246-250
The British Ornithologists’ Union, founded in 1858, is one of the world’s oldest ornithological societies. The BOU’s main function is to ‘promote ornithology within the scientific and birdwatching communities’. This is achieved primarily by the BOU’s quarterly publication, Ibis, one of the world’s leading ornithological journals, which includes original research reports on the systematics, ecology, physiology, behaviour, anatomy and conservation of birds. The BOU also organises conferences, seminars, meetings and expeditions and gives a series of annual grants and awards to assist with travel and equipment associated with ornithological research projects and student sponsorship.

The British List
The British Ornithologists’ Union Records Committee (BOURC) is responsible for maintaining the official list of birds recorded in Britain – the British List. For over 100 years the BOU has maintained a list of birds that have been recorded in Britain. The BOURC periodically publishes up-to-date checklists incorporating changes the BOURC has announced in its reports published annually (in January) in the BOU’s journal, Ibis.

In 1997, the BOURC liaised with the government’s Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) to revise the categories used in the British List. The JNCC has adopted the list for decisions concerning to the status of birds in Britain in relation to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Responsibility for the British list lies with the BOURC. Northern Ireland has different legislation, and the list for Northern Ireland is maintained by the Northern Ireland Birdwatching Association (NIBA). The Isle of Man (which is not a legislative part of the UK) also maintains its own list which may be used by its own legislators.

Species recorded from the Republic of Ireland do not form any part of the British List.

Categories used in the British List

A Species that have been recorded in an apparently natural state at least once since 1 January 1950.

B Species that were recorded in an apparently natural state at least once between 1 January 1800 and 31 December 1949, but have not been recorded subsequently.

C Species that although introduced now derive from the resulting self-sustaining populations.

C1 Naturalised introduced species – species that have occurred only as a result of introduction, e.g. Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus

C2 Naturalised established species - species with established populations resulting from introduction by Man, but which also occur in an apparently natural state, e.g. Canada Goose Branta canadensis

C3 Naturalised re-established species - species with populations successfully re-established by Man in areas of former occurrence, e.g. Red Kite Milvus milvus

C4 Naturalised feral species - domesticated species with populations established in the wild, e.g. Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon Columba livia..

C5 Vagrant naturalised species - species from established naturalised populations abroad, e.g. possibly some Ruddy Shelducks Tadorna ferruginea occurring in Britain. There are currently no species in category C5.

D Species that would otherwise appear in Category A except that there is reasonable doubt that they have ever occurred in a natural state. Species on Category D only do not form any part of the species totals and form no part of the British List.

E Species that have been recorded as introductions, human-assisted transportees or escapees from captivity, and whose breeding populations (if any) are thought not to be self sustaining. Species in Category E that have bred in Britain are designated as E*. Category E species form no part of the British List (unless already listed within Categories A, B or C).
The role of the BOURC
Records of birds new to Britain are passed to the BOURC by the British Birds Rarities Committee (BBRC) after that committee has examined them. The BOURC Secretary prepares a file summarising the record. The file also contains original descriptions and supporting documentation, including BBRC comments, correspondence from independent specialists, an analysis of the captive status of the species and its escape likelihood and extracts from books and journals referring to migration and vagrancy patterns. Records are circulated by post and require unanimous agreement on identification and at least a two-thirds majority on categorisation. All files are archived for future reference.

The Committee also studies taxonomic advances and initiates research into this field. Information on feral populations is monitored, and reviews are undertaken of older records. Anyone can ask for old or rejected records to be reviewed by the BOURC if they provide fresh evidence to justify re-examination.

This is time-consuming work, particularly when it involves detailed research or discussions with experts, who are often based abroad.

BOURC and BBRC – why two committees?
For records relating to new species for Britain (a ‘first’), the BOURC looks at identification, taxonomy and the origin of the bird. Detailed investigations into racial and species identification, escape likelihood and vagrancy potential are undertaken to determine the validity of the record before admission to the British List.

The BOURC alone decides which species are to be admitted to the British List and how they are to be categorised. The BOURC also considers records of all major rarities, particularly those prior to 1958 (when BBRC was founded), monitors introduced populations for possible admittance to or deletion from the list, and reviews taxonomy and nomenclature in general. For ‘first’ records, the BBRC is concerned solely with identification. However, the BBRC also assesses large numbers of subsequent records of major rarities after 1958. The workload of both Committees is substantial, and complementary.

The BOURC maintains the British List on behalf of the BOU, legislators and the international birdwatching and ornithological communities.

Publication of BOURC decisions
The BOURC publishes regular reports in Ibis, the BOU’s scientific journal. As few birders regularly see Ibis, information is press-released to the main birding magazines, who also receive pre-publication copies of the Ibis reports. The magazines use some of this information as the basis for news items or articles, but much of the BOURC’s work goes unreported. BOURC members occasionally write longer papers on species reviews and decisions for publication in the birding magazines. Decisions are notified to appropriate recorders and/or the original observers.

The BOURC Commitment
The BOURC undertakes:
To maintain the scientific accuracy and integrity of the BOU list of British birds by admitting only those species and subspecies that have been identified beyond reasonable doubt, and whose origin is considered to be in accordance with the relevant BOURC categories.

To ensure that all the evidence for identification and the circumstances surrounding the occurrence of potential new species or subspecies are examined thoroughly, fairly and objectively, calling upon external expert opinion where appropriate.

To ensure that any new evidence which is submitted, or which comes to light, that might affect the identification or categorisation of any existing record is reviewed thoroughly, fairly and objectively.

To ensure that all records are dealt with as speedily as practicable, but not so that this in any way prejudices the need for thorough and comprehensive examination of the evidence.

To attempt to answer any questions about its decisions fully and fairly, stating the reasons for these decisions.

So far as is practicable, to consult with the observers where new evidence suggests that a record might no longer be acceptable. The views of the observers will be taken into consideration in any final decision.

British Ornithologists’ Union
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