Notes

Hazel Grouse in the Pyrenees Since the French breeding bird atlas (Yeatman 1976), the Hazel Grouse Bonasa bonasia has been considered nonexistent in the Pyrenees (Elosegui 1985; CROAP 1987). It is true, however, that its secretive nature and habitat preference make it difficult to observe. In spite of this negative general belief, a survey was started in 1976. All information and reported sightings since the end of the last century up to the present were re-examined (Catusse 1984) and fieldwork carried out to try to discover irrefutable evidence for the presence of this species (Catusse et al. 1992). In the period 1980-92, 13 reliable reports have been gathered (table 1). Five others are in the process of being authenticated, including the reported discovery of a nest on die south side of the central Pyrenees (P. Boudarel verbally). During the springs of 1992 and 1993, attempts were made to locate the species by getting it to respond to a whistle-call, but these met with no success. The individual sightings (table 1) include definite breeding in the central Pyrenees, in the higher reaches of the Garonne valley, but elsewhere the evidence is still too slight to claim mat fhis species is colonising both the French and the Spanish sides of die Pyrenees.

Table 1. All reports of Hazel Grouse Bonasa bonasia in the Pyrenees from 1980 until September 1993 Ref. no. (see Date or Nature of map) dates Observer Locality observation 1 15th August 1981 C. Fadat (in litt.) Querigut single seen 2 winter 1980-82 G. Bongert (verbally) Camurac four seen 3 1981-83 J. P. BaraiUe (Office foret de Lege national des forets) singly twice 4 November 1983/84 J. L. Grange (in litt) Bois de Sesque (Ossau) single flushed 5 April 1984 L. Larrieu (verbally) Melles (Artigues-Ascou) pair seen 6 October 1984 P. A. Dejaifue Vallespir single seen 7 about 1985 P. Escazeau (verbally) Gouaux de Luchon single seen 8 1989 E. Menoni Luchon single seen 9 30th December 1991 T. Mothe Couledoux female seen 10 19th February 1992 T. Mothe Couledoux tail feather found 11 September 1992 G. Dieuzaide Col de Caube single flushed 12 October 1992 Y. Coumes Artigue d'Arlos single flushed 13 20th April 1993 Dr P. Sacau Labach de Melles single

271 272 Notes The origin of the Pyrenean Hazel Grouse cannot be decided for certain. Catusse et al. (1992) suggested three possibilities: 1. Reintroducdon; 2. Migration; 3. Continuing presence of a relict population. Given the present state of knowledge, the first two hypotheses both seem unlikely: no breeder is known to exist in France or Spain capable of raising a sufficiently large number for release, and the nearest known wild population is more than 300 km away. On the other hand, the third suggestion would explain the episodic observations (Catusse 1984; Catusse et al. 1992).

Fig. 1. Sites of sightings of Hazel Grouse Bonasa bonasia in the Pyrenees during 1980-93. Stars show location of observations listed in table 1: left-hand star, ref. no. 4; large star ref. nos. 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 & 13; third star, ref. nos. 1 & 2; right-hand star, ref, no. 6 (redrawn by R. J. BythmK)

Investigations and the collection of any clues (feathers, faeces, etc.) are continuing. The French departmental authorities have been alerted to ensure the legal protection of this species. A scientific programme is, however, not yet planned because of the very small numbers discovered by the present surveys. Observations from any ornithologists who have visited or may be visiting the Pyrenees would be warmly welcomed. MICHEL CATUSSE Office .National de la Ckasse, B. P. 34, F-31801 St Gaudens Cedex, France

REFERENCES CATUSSE, M. 1984. La Gelinotte des bois (Bonasa bonasia L.) existe-t-elle dans les Pyrenees? Bull. mens. ONC 84: 16. - , MOTHB, T., & MENONI, E. 1992. La gelinotte des bois Bonasa bonasia existe dans les Pyrenees. Alauda 60(3): 129-133. CENTRE REGIONAL ORNITHOIOGIQUE AQuiTAiNK-PYRfcNfcES (CROAP). 1987. Atlas Omitlmbgique fyrmees. ELOSEGUI, J. 1985. Mavana. Allay de aim nidi/kantes. Caja de Ahorros de Navarra. YKATMAN, L.J. 1976. Atlas des Oiscaux Mcheun de France. Paris. Notes 273 Leg coloration of Red-necked Stint Red-necked Stint Calidris mJkoUis is a common passage migrant through Hong Kong in spring, with peak numbers in the last four years (1990-93) of 1,000, 500, 474 and 830 {Hong Kong Bird Reports; pers. obs.). During these four years, I have noted a small number of individuals showing aberrantly coloured legs. Singles on 14th and 19th April 1990, 22nd April 1991 and 28th April 1993 showed variable and irregular clear-cut orange areas on their otherwise black legs. Estimates of the area of the leg so marked ranged from 30% to 70% and the impression was of a lack of pigmentation in those areas. In addition, also on 14th April 1990, I noted one showing wholly orange legs of exactly the same shade as those which were patchily marked. There have been reports of little Stints C. minuta with pale legs and both Long-toed Stints C. subminuta and Temminck's Stints C. temminckii with dark legs {BWP vol. 3; Brit. Birds 70: 392; 80: 242), but I can find no reference in the literature to any Red-necked Stints with aberrant leg coloration. GEOFF CAREY 1st Floor, 32A Chek Mai Ping, Sha Tin, Hong Kong

Turtle Doves feeding on corydalis seeds in southeast Wales Turtle Doves Sireptopelia turtur have a southeasterly distribution in Britain; in Wales they occur mainly in the border counties, being scarce in the west (Sharrock 1976). Their distribution has been related to that on arable land of fumitory Fumaria, the seeds of which provide 30-50% of the Turtle Dove's diet (Mutton el al. 1964). In Gwent, southeast Wales, they breed mainly in the south and east (Tyler et al. 1987). While carrying out fieldwork in 1981-85 for the Gwent breeding adas, I recorded Turtle Doves most commonly in clear-felled areas and in young restock plantations in the east of die county. In this part, tiiere is an extensive area of predominantly conifer forest on an Old Red Sandstone conglomerate ridge running to the west of the Wye Valley, from near Monmouth south towards Chepstow and west to the Wentwood Forest. In this forest block on die Trellech Ridge, Turtle Doves were often observed in clearings, feeding on the ground on seeds of climbing corydalis Corydalis claviculata. Corydalis is generally scarce in woodland in Wales, but is locally abundant on die Trellech Ridge wherever trees are felled; it is closely related to fumitory, being a member of the same family (Fumariaceae), and hence its seeds may be expected to be a favoured food for Turtle Doves. Although BWP (vol. 4) mentions seeds of Fumariaceae, I can find no other records specifically of corydalis seeds in the diet of die Turde Dove.

STEPHANIE J. TYLER RSPB Wales Office, Bryn Adetyn, The Bank, Newtown, Powys SY16 2AB

REFERENCES MURTON, R. K., WKSTWOOD, N. J., & ISAACSON, A: J. 1964. The feeding habits of the Wood Pigeon Cohimba palimibus, Stock Dove Cohonba oenas and Turtle Dove Streplopelia turiur. Ibis 106: 174-188. SHARROCK, J. T. R. 1976. The Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland. Berkhamsted. TYI.KR, S.J., LEWIS, J. M. S., VENABI.ES, A., & WALTON, J. 1987. The Gwent Atlas of Breeding Birds. Gwent Ornithological Society. 274 Notes Intended predation of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker nestlings by Great Spotted Woodpecker In June 1976, I was photographing Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers Dendrocopos minor at their nest hole 11 m above ground level towards the top of an almost totally dead willow Salix, situated on the edge of semi-open woodland on a large estate in south Staffordshire. My photographic hide was on top of a pylon about 1.5 m from die nest. During my first session in the hide, both adult Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers were feeding their young about every 30 to 40 minutes. The somewhat noisy young, being well developed, were leaning out of die nest hole to be fed. At 10.00 GMT, whilst bodi adults were away from the nest and the young

76. Female Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor with food for young at nest hole in willow Salix, Staffordshire, June 1976 (S. C. Brown) Notes 275 were quiet, a male Great Spotted Woodpecker D. major landed on the tree about 1.5 m above the nest and the noise made by his claws caused the young to commence their food calls. Immediately, the Great Spotted Woodpecker worked his way down to the hole and proceeded to open it up, presumably in order to take the nestlings. I made a single exposure (plate 77) and then called out to frighten the Great Spotted Woodpecker away, to prevent him taking die brood. He did not return during the remaining four hours that I was in the hide, and the young fledged two or three days later. S. CHARLES BROWN Riverside, Victoria Street, Toxall, Burton on Trent DE13 8NG

77. Male Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major in the process of enlarging nest hole of Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers D. minor shown in plate 76, June 1976 (S. C. Brown) 276 Notes Chiffchaff chasing small bat At about 14.00 GMT oo 11th April 1990, at West Bagborough, Taunton, Somerset, I saw a small bat, probably a pipistrclle Pipistrellus pipistrellus, flying and circling at a height of about 20 m and in good light between oak trees Quercus bordering a road. The bat may possibly have been ill to behave in this way in the early afternoon, although its flight was strong and, viewed through binoculars, it looked normal. After about two minutes, a Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita, which I assumed to be a male which had been singing in the area for the previous few days, dashed out and chased the bat at a distance of 0.3-1 m. It followed the twisting bat closely for about 30 seconds, and then flew off, but about 45 seconds later it returned and resumed chasing. After a further 30 seconds, the bat left the oak trees and flew across the road, still closely pursued by the warbler; unfortunately, I lost sight of the pair as they went behind a high wall. A. P. RADFORD Crossways Cottage, West Bagborough, Taunton, Somerset TA4 3EG

Red-billed Choughs fostering young Since 1982, on the Calf of Man, Isle of Man, a pair of Red-billed Choughs Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax has bred in a purpose-built ncstbox placed in the top window of a grass silo. In 1990, they successfully fledged three young on 5th June. These young were colour- ringed, using individual combinations, and were seen for a further six weeks or so feeding with their parents in the adjacent fields. About three weeks after they had fledged, a fourth, unringed, youngster appeared and was seen begging from the adults; at no time was it seen to be refused food or shown any indifference. At this stage, the adults would often split up, taking two young each. The 'intruder' spent 70% of its time with the family group over a period of two to three weeks, after which the young became more independent and began foraging for themselves in other parts of the island. It was seen both to join and to leave the group on several occasions. It is not known whether the intruder came from another pair of choughs on die Calf or had wandered from die Isle of Man. ARON SAPSFORD 3 Main Road, Upper Foxdak, Isk of Man

House Sparrow learning to exploit food of caged Goldfinch by extracting tray In the winter of 1984, in Vitoiia, noruiem Spain, I had a caged Goldfinch Cardkelis carduelis outdoors where many House Sparrows Passer dornesticus regularly came to feed on seeds I left for them. At least one male sparrow soon learned how to extract the lower tray of the cage, pulling it with its bill, so that seeds for the Goldfinch remaining at the bottom of the cage became available. JOSE MARIA FERNANDEZ GARCIA Institute Alaves de la Naturakzfl, Apartado de Correos 2.092, 01001 Vitoria, Alava, Spain

Derek Goodwin has commented that it is especially 'remarkable that the sparrow learned to pull the tray. This would seem to show insight, at least an ability to associate the seed with the substrate it was on and to realise (how?) that the latter could be removed as a whole. But then P. dornesticus seems to be a very brainy bird.' EDS