Updates to BOU List

The British Ornithologists' Union Records Committee (BOURC) has recently published its 36th report, in the journal Ibis. BUBO Listing has now updated its BOU baselist to reflect the changes in the 36th report. The relevant changes are as follows:

Caspian Gull and American Herring Gull - now both treated as full species (as recommended by the taxonomic subcommitee). These were already on the BUBO BOU list but as pending species, so are now no longer pending.

Magnificent Frigatebird - added to category A on the basis of the 2005 Shropshire record. This was already on the BUBO BOU list but as a pending species, so is now no longer pending.

Olive-tree Warbler - added to category A on the basis of the 2006 Shetland record. This was already on the BUBO BOU list but as a pending species, so is now no longer pending.

Taxonomic sequences of the 'shanks' (Tringa, Actitis, Xenus) and the gulls have been altered.

Allen's Gallinule, (American) Purple Gallinule, Grey-tailed Tattler, Slender-billed Gull, Bonaparte's Gull, Black-headed Gull, Little Gull, Sabine's Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Varied Thrush, Willow Tit - changes to scientific names.

Note also that BUBO Listing's 'Official British & Irish' authority is based in part on the BOU list, and thus this baselist has also been updated in an equivalent manner.

Of interest, six species remain as pending BOU species on BUBO Listing, but await a decision from the BOURC: Lesser Canada Goose, Pacific Diver, Great Blue Heron, Glaucous-winged Gull, Elegant Tern and Asian Brown Flycatcher. Additionally, Yellow-nosed Albatross, Masked Booby and White-rumped Swift were all reported in 2007, but have not been added to BUBO yet, because they were recorded by no or few birders and no BUBO listers have requested to add these to their British lists yet.

You can view the full species lists as used by BUBO Listing as part of the BUBO Listing FAQ.