Records
Hooded Merganser added to the British List
17 June 2008
After being banished from the British List in 1999, Hooded Merganser has now been reinstated to category A by the British Ornithologists' Union. The record in question was of an immature or female at Oban Trumisgarry on North Uist in the Outer Hebrides, in October/November 2000. The BOURC's announcement accepts that this decision was not straightforward. It was acknowledged that there are large numbers in captivity and known escapes have occurred, and the BOURC states that it remains of the opinion that the majority of birds in Britain and Ireland are derived from a captive origin. Conversely, numbers of the species in the Nearctic are increasing, and there have been several recent records from the Azores, implying that transatlantic vagrancy is certainly a possibility. Weather conditions in autumn 2000 also appeared conducive to natural vagrancy, and the bird arrived at the same time as a number of other Nearctic ducks.
.jpg "Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)")
%20female.jpg "Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)")
BUBO Listing has now added Hooded Merganser to the BOU authority list. However, the next question is which individuals should British birders feel able to tick? Obviously, anyone who saw this bird on North Uist will be happy, but there are a number of other recent records which might also be reasonably considered as wild birds. In particular, the BOURC news announcement makes mention of the birds at Newbiggin, Northumberland, in March 2002 and at Haroldswick, Shetland, in April/May 2006. These two individuals have been published by the British Birds Rarities Committee previously as acceptable category D records, and so it would seem reasonable to allow listers to include these birds also.
Some birders may wish to count other individuals. For example, up to four birds were at large in the 1996/97 winter. The way BUBO Listing operates, British birders can add any Hooded Merganser to their list if they wish to do so. Some will wish to wait for the BBRC to pass judgement on a record before counting it. Others may feel that any bird that doesn't display obvious signs of captive origin is acceptable. It's up to you. Remember, however, that your record will be open to scrutiny to any other birders, so make sure you feel you can argue its case!
Citril Finch on Fair Isle
07 June 2008
Fair Isle has come up with the goods once again, with yet another addition to the British List. A male Citril Finch was found on the island on 6th June, and was still present on at least the following day.
Although Citril Finches breed as close to Britain as eastern France, the species is relatively sedentary. However, there have been a few longer movements, including one in Finland between May and July 1995 (although this species is currently on category D of the Finnish list). The species is kept in captivity, although not especially commonly.
Citril Finch was actually on the British List in the past, but was removed when a bird taken in Great Yarmouth in 1904 was re-identified in the 1990s as actually being a Cape (Yellow-crowned) Canary.
For BUBO Listing purposes, Citril Finch has been added, as a provisional species, to the four authorities covering British listing, pending official acceptance. Obviously, if the record is later considered not acceptable by any authority then it will be removed from those lists.
White-crowned Sparrow
06 January 2008
The year 2008 got off to an exciting start in the UK with the announcement on 6th Jan that an adult White-crowned Sparrow was present in a garden in Cley, north Norfolk. The bird had been present a few days before the news was released, allowing time to organise viewing opportunities, albeit somewhat limited given the nature of the site. Hopefully, the bird will remain some time and allow more prolonged views than could reasonably be obtained on this first day.
.jpg "White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)")
White-crowned Sparrow is an extreme rarity in Britain, this bird being only the fourth record. The first two were both seen in May 1977, on Fair Isle and at Hornsea Mere, with the third being by Seaforth docks in Merseyside in October 1995 (and thus inevitably tainted by the likelihood of ship-assistance). In Ireland, one was present at Dursey Sound, Cork, in May 2003. The Norfolk bird is thus the first winter record of the species in Britain and Ireland. However, it is not unheard of for other Nearctic sparrows (notably White-throated Sparrow and Dark-eyed Junco) to occur at this time of year.
The 6th edition of the Clements World Checklist lists five subspecies of White-crowned Sparrow. On a preliminary examination of photos taken at Cley, the appearance is not inconsistent with that of the nominate race (the most likely genuine vagrant, breeding east to Newfoundland), with a pinkish bill, grey breast and black supraloral area. However, Byers, Olsson & Curson (Buntings & Sparrows - 1995) state that the race oriantha is not always distinguishable from the nominate; oriantha breeds in W North America, mostly in the E Rockies.
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