Surfbirds News

Despite the removal of a number of species in 2006 (Brit. Birds 99: 52 & 100: 18-19), the number of records received continues to grow and we assessed the frequency of several of the more common rarities at the AGM.

White-billed Diver Gavia adamsii met the statistical criteria for removal from the list (more than 150 records in the last ten years, with 10 or more in at least eight of those years) for the period to the end of 2008 and will therefore be dropped from the list of species considered from 1st January 2009.

White-billed Diver, Cornwall, March 2007 © Lee Fuller, from the surfbirds galleries

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis met the more than 150 criteria, but fell short of the 10 or more per annum threshold. Nonetheless, given that the influx which began in autumn 2007 appears to be being sustained, and that the species is relatively easy to identify, it was determined that it would also be dropped from the list of species considered from 1st January 2009.

Parrot Crossbill Loxia pytyopsittacus was also considered. Although reports of this species to the Committee have been nowhere near the frequency to be considered for review, the widely publicised Scottish breeding population (see Brit. Birds 95: 4-11; Ibis 144: 393-410) appears well established. Ron Summers has provided the Committee with summary data for Parrot Crossbills trapped during his study and we are grateful for this information, which allowed us to confirm the identification of these individuals. We will therefore not be seeking records of this species from 1st January 2009 onwards, but will also not assess retrospective records as a consequence of the established breeding population. We would like to take this opportunity to remind local committees that BBRC is willing to assist with the assessment of any previous BBRC species, if necessary. Any requests should be directed towards the Secretary.

Species and subspecies reviews

The Druridge Bay Slender-billed Curlew Numenius tenuirostris review also continues. With regard to the curlew, we have gathered all the material from previous recirculations, which established that the Committee have not formally reviewed some of the video evidence collected at the time. We are in the process of gathering this material, but would be grateful if any observers with video evidence of the bird are willing to submit this for review (please contact the Chairman).

We are also still considering records of Canada Geese (to determine the first records of wild Greater Branta canadensis and Lesser Canada Goose B.hutchinsii for Britain and then to determine if each species should be considered as national rarities). We have decided that records of Snow Goose Anser caerulescens will not be considered (contra Brit.Birds 99:623). Vagrants do appear to reach Britain on a reasonably regular basis, but introduced or escaped birds continue to cloud the issue; also, for this species, the volume of records exceeds that which is deemed appropriate for its consideration as a rarity.

Still on the theme of wildfowl, note that the Devon Falcated Duck Anas falcata has been re-aged as a first-winter (contra Brit.Birds 100: 751); reasons for this correction will be published in British Birds in due course.

The review of records of ‘Siberian Chiffchaff’ Phylloscopus collybita tristis during 2008 has established that this taxon (or at least birds that can be assigned to tristis/‘fulvescens’) occurs too frequently to be considered a BBRC rarity. BBRC is extremely grateful to those observers and recorders who cooperated with this review and submitted documentation to support their observations in 2008 (and some previous years). The subcommittee who have assessed claims are still keen to receive further documentation for birds in 2008 even if observers believe the birds involved are closer to ‘fulvescens’ or ‘eastern abietinus’ types. Please send details to Alan Dean (tristis@btinternet.com) who is undertaking secretarial duties for the subcommittee, by the end of June 2009 if possible, although outstanding reports of birds that were trapped (and for which full biometrics and photographs are available) or sound-recorded would still be welcome after that. It is intended that the results will be written up in due course and these additional reports will enhance the quality of that paper.