ID and Articles

In 2010 there was one new species White-throated Sparrow which made it 433. But now the BOURC have come along and added two more:- Siberian Stonechat & Hudsonian Whimbrel.

In their latest press release the following splits have been recommended:

Hudsonian Whimbrel Numenius hudsonicus , seen in September 2008

Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maurus, approximately 16 records, first 1978

The Stonechat will need a bit more research to allocate all the Scilly sightings but the recommendation of BOURC is that both the old sub sp maurus & stejnegeri are included in the new species S. maurus. However the species is polytypic and itself will have comprise subspecies maurus, variegatus, armenicus, indicus, stejnegeri and przewalskii.

Others of you may be interested that 4 members of the Hippolais have been assigned a new genus Iduna. They are Booted & Eastern Olivaceous (both on Scilly list) and Thick-billed & Syke’s (to be found this October).

It is a full an interesting report and includes further taxonomic changes to, amongst others, the genus of Siberian Thrush, and the splitting of Water Rail into 2 species and potentially the allocating of the Southern Oceans’ skua (rescued here in 2001) to one of 3 new skua species.

Nigel Hudson

Secretary – British Birds Rarities Committee

These two Wagtails, a Black-headed type and a Blue-headed (possible ‘Channel Wagtail’) type are currently on the islands and causing a few ID headaches. Any thoughts? Comments gratefully accepted.

Some superb images of the very obliging and photogenic Waxwings currently at Hugh Town, St Marys. (Thanks to Joe and Martin)

An interesting Acrocephalus Warbler frequented the extensive sedge around Big Pool, St Agnes in the last week of October ’09. Thought by some to be Marsh Warbler, others weren’t convinced. The photos below are by far the best we have recieved of the bird, thanks to Barry Barnacal. What do you think? Let us know you thoughts on the ISBG Forum. (click to enlarge photos)

Below are a selection of  images kindly submitted by Jon Hall of some of the recent rare and scarce birds on Tresco. See more of Jons’ and the rest of The Bumbling Bears’ photos at http://bumbling-bears.fotopic.net/

Click HERE to see Bob Flood’s video of the Black-browed Albatross seen recently from St Mary’s on Scilly Pelagics website.

Below are photos by Chris Langsdon of a putative female Collared Flycatcher on Bryher. They were taken late afternoon on May 12 2009 and the bird was there early the next morning but was not seen again after 10:30 a.m. Click read more to view the photos and let us know what you think in the new ISBG Forum. Read more »

Hirundines in flight are often a nightmare to photograph so Joe Pender did exceptionally well to capture this Swallow on the wing today. Worthy of a winners place in a Photo of the Month competition in my opinion!

Below is a selection of images, kindly supplied by The Bumbling Bears, of the Woodchat Shrike on St Martin’s on the 24th April.