BB July Recording Areas

Recording areas of Great Britain David K. Ballance and A. Judith Smith

Migrating Turnstones Arenaria interpres and a Dunlin Calidris alpina crossing an inland county boundary Alan Harris

It has recently become apparent that there are The main problems are in the London area, some confusions and anomalies in the way that around the borders of Yorkshire, and in North national journals and organisations are and South Wales. Others arise from the use of reporting records received from County the titles of Metropolitan Counties, Scottish Recorders or taken from published sources. Regions and Districts, and other (often Examples of the problem can be seen in a recent ephemeral) creations, of which some actively Ibis paper on the British List (Dudley et al. survive in ornithology (e.g. Avon, Greater Man- 2006). We have, therefore, attempted to produce chester), while others have never been used for a definitive list of Recording Areas which will be recording or have not been universally accepted acceptable to national and local authorities and (e.g. Tyne & Wear, North and South Humber- which can be generally recognised. It is our side, Strathclyde). intention to describe current practice, not to The system of Watsonian Vice-counties, suggest corrections or improvements, except in invented in 1852 for botanists and still widely some details of presentation. used outside ornithology, is of importance in The list incorporates all Recording Areas and Wales (where it closely but not absolutely corre- relates them to old and new County, Regional sponds with the pre-1974 county boundaries), and Unitary Authority boundaries, and (except and also in Surrey, Suffolk and Yorkshire. In the in Scotland) to Watsonian Vice-counties. It is last two it gains support because county reports important that any code of practice should have been produced by sections of general derive from County and Local Recorders them- natural history societies. Vice-counties have the selves, and not be imposed upon them. In our great drawback that their boundaries are not view, a lesson can be learnt here from the recent marked on Ordnance Survey maps where they attempt to establish vernacular names that differ from those currently determined by Gov- would be internationally acceptable; these have ernment. Although in general they approximate been only partly adopted, and some have to the pre-1974 borders, familiar to older already been abandoned. Local patriotism is observers, there were many minor changes always stronger than bureaucrats assume, and between 1852 and 1974, especially in the 1890s, we have to recognise that some areas may for following the introduction of County Councils, years continue to be claimed by both new and and in the early twentieth century, when cities original ‘owners’, whatever centralisers may such as Sheffield, Bristol and Manchester were propose. expanding into neighbouring counties. The

© British Birds 101 • July 2008 • 1–17 1 Recording areas of Great Britain ornithological interest of an area can affect from ferry routes, islands or lighthouses. From decisions on who is entitled to record it: the the Humber to the English Channel, the situa- most famously disputed site is the south side of tion is more complicated, largely because of off- Breydon Water, which until 1889 was clearly in shore sandbanks, many of which used to be Suffolk, and whose recorders still retain it. In marked by manned lightvessels. Following Wales, some claims have recently been made to automation, some of these have been replaced small areas where the shift of a border had by floats or buoys, though a few survive and passed unnoticed for more than a century. may be visible from the coast in good condi- Vice-counties have had no real effect on tions, even if they are now visited only by Scottish recording. Here, most local reports did service vessels. The writers of local avifaunas for not start until after 1974 and it was natural to coastal counties from Lincolnshire to Kent have look back to the system of Faunal Areas master- often thought that they should mention records minded by Harvie-Brown before 1914. These from such sites, which once included important were determined by geographical features, espe- rarities, but they have sometimes hesitated to cially river basins, and their influence can be accept them for a county list. It can be hard to seen in the naming of central Scottish recording find the exact position of marine sites, since areas; part of the Clyde/Upper Forth border is a land-based cartographers generally include as rare example of such a boundary not coinciding little sea as they can get away with; we suggest with any past or current political line. The con- referring to the annual Admiralty List of Lights trolling influence has been that of the Scottish and Fog Signals (UK Hydrographic Office). Oil Ornithologists’ Club (SOC), founded in 1936, and gas platforms proliferate, especially in the which produces an excellent map to define areas North Sea; some that are permanently manned (www.the-soc.org.uk). are regularly reported on by the North Sea Bird Occasions will arise when reference has to be Club, which also covers records from service made to pre-1974 records which were originally vessels. A few estuarine forts and other struc- for counties that once had other names or tures may attract breeding gulls (Laridae) and boundaries than those of today. It is suggested must therefore be assigned to Recording Areas. that the standard form for this might be (for Estuaries can raise local difficulties, such as example): ‘Chew Valley Lake (Avon; then [or those in the Tamar Complex (Devon and Corn- ‘formerly’] Somerset)’. Or (perhaps in a more wall). Boundaries are seldom mapped beyond strictly historical context): ‘Chew Valley Lake the mouths of rivers, and some are unclear (Somerset; now Avon)’. further upstream: the Lancashire & North There are some problems in marine Merseyside/Cheshire & Wirral border along the recording. Obviously, birds visible with a tele- Mersey is marked as ‘undetermined’. In the list scope from the coast of a county can be safely below, the boundary should be assumed to be claimed, at least up to the mid-line of a strait or the midway line unless otherwise specified. estuary that marks the border with a neighbour. In the English Channel and the Irish Sea, the In England, Wales and the Isle of Man, there is national boundaries are also normally assumed no general policy on the inclusion within to be the midway line, but it is not clear county or area frontiers of offshore records whether such counties as the Isle of Wight, beyond these limits. Many such records used to Devon or Lancashire & North Merseyside come from manned lighthouses and lightves- would actually claim records as far out as this, sels; the former, because they are built on rocks, or how the Isle of Man fits into the system. The can always be assigned to a Recording Area, but Isles of Scilly Bird Group has recently defined the latter may present problems. They remain of its own pelagic limits in the form of a rectangle some historical importance, especially for around the islands. Many sightings from ferries records published by the British Association must go unrecorded, for want of knowing who (1879–89, etc.) and by Eagle Clarke (1912). The would deal with them, but they can be sent to SOC map defines the allocation of remote the Editor of Sea Swallow, the journal of the islands, including all lighthouses, and the divi- Royal Naval Birdwatching Society. Beyond the sion of seas crossed by regular ferries; it also limit of any possible county attributions, establishes an offshore limit of three nautical records within British waters should be assigned miles (5.5 km) for those stretches of north and to the appropriate Sea Area. east Scotland where there are no complications Reservoirs have often been created from

2 © British Birds 101 • July 2008 • 1–17 Recording areas of Great Britain rivers that form county boundaries. Sometimes the use of Vice-counties; for example, there the boundary has been diverted so as to place were about 35 such adjustments to Worcester- the water wholly within one county, but more shire between 1895 and 1995, many of which often no change has been made, leaving an have been long forgotten by its inhabitants. invisible submarine frontier, as in King George’s The name in bold type is the Recording Reservoir (Greater London/Essex). Local Area. This is then defined in relation to current arrangements have sometimes been made for or past administrative boundaries; all Unitary the recording of such sites. Authorities (UA) now functioning are men- Institutions such as the BTO are naturally tioned, though hardly any of the wholly new eager to be given map references, which can be ones have ornithological recognition. Some plotted on a computerised database, yet they explanatory comment may be added, including must still be able to classify all entries by an a definition of any Areas of Double Recording agreed system of Recording Areas. Very few (ADR): that is, areas of any importance which local observers use map references when sub- are at present claimed by more than one county mitting records, except perhaps for exact loca- or area and regularly included in their reports. tions of breeding birds. The question of whether there is any exchange In order to compile a definitive list, we have of records has not been touched on. We suggest consulted all current County Recorders and that when records from these are published in those national organisations that are most national literature, both areas might be given, closely concerned with local recording. We the original county being placed first. Thus: received many replies, and corrections to a first ‘Breydon Wall (Suffolk/Norfolk); Chingford draft. There are probably still confusions, and (Essex/Greater London)’. we should appreciate any suggestions, improve- ‘Problem Areas’ are places along the borders ments or corrections. where records may be hard to assign definitely to either side. Their mention does not neces- List of recording areas sarily imply contentious claims; there are often The order is that of the Vice-counties (VC), local arrangements to assign, or duplicate, except for Scotland. There is no intention of records. These may also concern river bound- emphasising their importance or of suggesting aries, which are far too common to mention their general adoption, but they provide a con- individually. For coastal counties, there may be venient pattern and points of historical refer- some detailed comment, including Sea Areas ence. In the Vice-county system, counties could (SA) and lightvessels (LV). be subdivided or merged; detachments (of The entry finishes with the titles of the main which there were still many in 1852) were annual reports covering the whole Area, included with the surrounding county. including the organisations responsible for their Very small differences between old and new production and the dates of commencement in borders are usually given only where an area is something like the present form. Current local of some importance. The many minor adjust- reports are then listed; further details of these ments and exchanges of parishes (especially in can be found in Ballance (2004, 2006). The the West Midland Bird Club area and in many reports by ringing groups are included Gloucestershire) are another argument against only if they regularly print a full species list.

England Local Report: Caradon Wildlife 1. Cornwall VCs 1, 2; SA Plymouth, Lundy. Present county, 2. Isles of Scilly but since 1969 excluding Isles of Scilly. VC 1; SA Sole, Fastnet and Plymouth. Problem areas: Tamar Estuary: that below the Offshore and pelagic areas: Scilly lies in NE Tamar and Saltash Bridges is generally consid- corner of SA Sole; SA Fastnet begins immedi- ered as Cornwall, but above these is an ADR ately to NW and SA Plymouth immediately to (with Devon). Tamar Lakes are generally con- east, boundary being 06°15’W line of longitude. sidered as Devon, though the west banks are in Pelagic area has recently been extended as Cornwall. follows: 50°15’N to 49°35’N, 05°50’W to Report: Birds in Cornwall (Cornwall Bird- 06°50’W. watching & Preservation Society); 1931–. Report: Isles of Scilly Bird & Natural History

Fig. 1. Recording areas of Great Britain.

4 © British Birds 101 • July 2008 • 1–17 Recording areas of Great Britain

Review (Isles of Scilly Bird Group); 1969–. Problem Areas: Axe Estuary (with Somerset). Report: Avon Bird Report (Avon Ornithological 3. Devon Group); 1974–. VCs 3 (South Devon) and 4 (North Devon). Local Reports: North Somerset Levels, Bath, Present county, including Lundy (3a) and the Steep Holm. Eddystone (3b, for which see above under Cornwall), and incorporating UAs of Plymouth 6. Wiltshire and Torbay. VCs 7 (North Wiltshire) and 8 (South Wilt- Offshore and pelagic areas: those on south coast shire). Present county, incorporating UA of are in SA Portland east of Start Point and in SA Swindon. For note on changes, see Gloucester- Plymouth west of there; north-coast waters are shire. in SA Lundy, and records from Bideford Bay, Problem Areas: Cotswold Water Park West out to Lundy, are assumed to be for Devon; few (with Gloucestershire). come from centre of Bristol Channel, but Report: Hobby (Wiltshire Ornithological Devon waters are deemed to extend to mid-line Society); in present form from 1974–. between north coast and Glamorgan. Local Report: Bath (small part). Problem Areas: Tamar Valley (see Cornwall). Report: Devon Bird Report (Devon Bird 7. Dorset Watching & Preservation Society); 1929–. VC 9, with SW corner of 11 (South Hamp- Local Reports: Lundy, Dartmoor, Axe Estuary & shire). Post-1974 county, incorporating UAs of Seaton, Exmoor (part). Bournemouth and Poole. Offshore and pelagic areas: in SA Wight from 4. Somerset Christchurch west to St Aldhelm’s Head; further VC 5 (South Somerset) and part of 6 (North west, in SA Portland. Somerset). Post-1974 county, excluding UAs of Problem Areas: for older records only, former North Somerset (with Steep Holm) and Bath & Hampshire areas. NE Somerset, for which see Avon. Report: Dorset Bird Report (Dorset Bird Club); Offshore and pelagic areas: Somerset waters are in present form from 1977–. deemed to extend to mid-line of Bristol Local Reports: Christchurch Harbour, Portland Channel. Bird Observatory. Problem Areas: Axe Estuary (with Avon). Report: Somerset Birds (Somerset Ornitholog- 8. Hampshire ical Society); 1912–; in present form from Most of VC 11 (South Hampshire) and all of 12 1924–. (North Hampshire). Post-1974 county, thus Local Reports: Exmoor (part), Burnham-on- excluding Christchurch and Bournemouth Sea. areas (now with Dorset) and incorporating UAs of Southampton and Portsmouth. 5. Avon Offshore and pelagic areas: east and west of Isle Parts of VCs 6 (North Somerset) and 34 (South of Wight, all in SA Wight; boundary with Isle of Gloucestershire). 1974-95 county, consisting of Wight runs along mid-line of Solent/Spithead; UAs of North Somerset (including Steep Holm of three forts in Spithead, Spitsand and Horse (5a)), Bath & NE Somerset, Bristol, and South Sand belong to Hampshire, No Man’s Land to Gloucestershire. Isle of Wight. Offshore areas: strictly, boundary of the City Problem Areas: see under Dorset. and County of Bristol projects into Bristol Report: The Hampshire Bird Report (Hampshire Channel so as to enclose shipping channel for Ornithological Society); 1958–. Avonmouth/Portbury, and extends to Steep Isle of Wight separately recorded since 1977. Holm on south and to SE point of Flat Holm Local Reports: Southampton, Lakeside Country on north; in practice, birds visible from Steep Park, Moor Green Lakes (part). Holm are included in Avon, as are those seen moving from Flat Holm (in Glamorgan) 9. Isle of Wight towards Steep Holm. Further up-Channel, VC 10. Present county. Separately recorded Denny Island is in Gwent, and Avon/Gwent since 1977; the three earlier avifaunas included border follows mid-line of Severn. it with Hampshire.

Offshore and pelagic areas: to south, all in SA Wight; for Solent/Spithead, see above under Hampshire. Report: The Isle of Wight Bird Report (Isle of Wight Natural History & Archaeological Society and Isle of Wight Ornithological Group); 1953–. Local Report: Newtown NNR.

10/11. Sussex West Sussex, VC 13 and a frag- ment of 17 (Surrey) and East Sussex (VC 14). Generally recorded as one unit (Sussex) and always within same report. The two political divisions, introduced in 1865, have sometimes been treated separately, but that is not current practice; they do not exactly correspond with the VCs. Present counties, incorporating UA of Brighton Fig. 2. The London Recording Area. A: part of Hertfordshire; B: part of Middlesex (Potters Bar, etc.) & Hove. West Sussex includes transferred to Hertfordshire, 1965; C: part of Hertfordshire (Barnet area) Gatwick Airport, mostly from transferred to Greater London, 1965; D: former county of Middlesex, Surrey and an Area of Double now Greater London; E: part of Buckinghamshire; F: part of Berkshire; Recording. G: district of Spelthorne, formerly Middlesex, now Surrey but generally recorded by London; H: part of Surrey VC, now Greater London; I: part Offshore and pelagic areas: of Surrey; J: Inner London; K: part of Kent; L: parts of Kent transferred from Kentish border to Beachy to London in 1889 & 1965; M: ‘Metropolitan Essex’; N: part of Essex; Head in SA Dover; further west, O: various adjustments between Hertfordshire and Essex, 1965. in SA Wight (including Green- wich LV). in Essex, but the Maunsell Fort is clearly in Report: Sussex Bird Report (Sussex Ornitholog- Kent. ical Society); 1948–. Report: The Kent Bird Report (Kent Ornitholog- Local Reports: Shoreham, Pagham Harbour ical Society); 1952–. LNR, Hastings & East Sussex. Local Reports: Dungeness Bird Observatory, Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory (about to be 12. Kent revived), Boughton Park & Wierton Hill Farm. VC 15 (East Kent) and most of 16 (West Kent). Post-1965 county, excluding areas taken into 13. Surrey London in 1889 and into Greater London in VC 17, thus incorporating the Greater London 1965 (see London); incorporating UA of Boroughs of Richmond-upon-Thames, Medway. The parts of present county within 20- Kingston-upon-Thames, Wandsworth, Merton, mile circle of Greater London are an Area of Sutton, Lambeth, Croydon and Southwark, Double Recording from the Thames at North- which are collectively an Area of Double fleet SW to Sevenoaks and Westerham. Recording with Greater London, as are Walton- Offshore and pelagic areas: from mouth of on-Thames Reservoirs and some or all of the Thames to North Foreland, in SA Thames; west Surrey Boroughs of Elmbridge, Epsom & Ewell, from there in SA Dover. For practical purposes, Reigate & Banstead and Tandridge, where these boundary extends in the Straits of Dover to the fall within 20-mile London circle (see below). national boundary in mid Channel, including Part of site of Gatwick Airport transferred to sandbanks and Varne and East Goodwin LVs; West Sussex in 1974, but remains Area of the Kentish Knock LV* may be better included Double Recording. Spelthorne, ceded by Mid-

6 © British Birds 101 • July 2008 • 1–17 Recording areas of Great Britain dlesex to Surrey in 1965, is still recorded only by Double Recording with Greater London. For London. For some minor adjustments in VC, changes on Essex border in 1992, see Essex. and Spelthorne boundaries, see Wheatley Report: The Hertfordshire Bird Report; in (2007). present form, 1968–. Report: Surrey Bird Report (Surrey Bird Club); Local Reports: Hilfield Park Reservoir, Rye 1953–. Meads (triennial), Tyttenhanger Gravel Pits, Local Reports: Surbiton, Beddington Farm, King’s Meads, East Hyde (part). Wimbledon Common & Putney Heath, Croydon. 16. Greater London 14. Essex VC 21 (Middlesex); parts of 16 (West Kent), 17 VCs 18 (South Essex) and 19 (North Essex); (Surrey), 18 (South Essex), 20 (Hertfordshire) small parts of 15 (Hertfordshire). Pre-1965 and 24 (Buckinghamshire). Recording area is county, thus incorporating Greater London circle of 20 miles from St Paul’s: for most pur- Boroughs of Waltham Forest, Redbridge, poses, now converted to polygon of grid- Barking & Dagenham, Newham and Havering, squares of slightly larger area. The only parts which are collectively an Area of Double now recorded solely in LBR are: former county Recording, and UAs of Southend and Thurrock. of Middlesex, including small additions made Other parts of West Essex, in Epping Forest and from Hertfordshire to Greater London in 1965 as far out as Tilbury Docks, Brentwood, Chip- and the western district of Spelthorne, in Surrey ping Ongar and south side of Harlow New since 1965 but not recorded by that county; and Town, are also double-recorded within 20-mile the London (post-1889 and post-1965) corner London circle. All areas within this circle are of West Kent. Additions to Greater London in known ornithologically as ‘Metropolitan Essex’. 1965 within Surrey (south of Thames) and Changes along Herts. border in 1992, from Essex are Areas of Double Recording with those Bishops Stortford area south to Waltham Abbey, counties; as are parts of Surrey, Kent, Essex, now accepted by both counties. The endpaper Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and (present- map in Wood (2007) is unreliable in the SW day) Berkshire that fall outside Greater London corner, where it includes a small part of Hert- but inside 20-mile recording circle; for details fordshire. see those counties. For a definition of ‘Metro- Offshore and pelagic areas: all in SA Thames; politan Essex’ see under that county. In refer- Glegg (1929), who published an excellent map ring to surrounding counties, London NHS has of the Thames Estuary and its approaches, generally used VC boundaries rather than later included records from following LVs or Light- ones. Apart from Spelthorne, records within the floats from four to 27 miles off Essex coast: LNHS area, but outside Greater London, are Long Sand*, Galloper*, Kentish Knock*, Swin normally assigned in national literature only to Middle*, Mouse*, Tongue* and Nore* (though their current county; for example, most of the this last surely belongs to Kent!); he might rea- Rainham Marshes Reserve is in Essex, not sonably have claimed the Sunk LV, by the Greater London (though it all lies within the Thames pilot station. LNHS circle). Fig. 2 has been adapted from Problem Areas: in theory, Suffolk border along Hewlett et al. (2002). R. Stour, which now follows low-water mark on Problem Area: Wraysbury Reservoir was in Suffolk side, not mid-line of river, but any prob- Buckinghamshire from its opening in 1971 to lems easily resolved with Suffolk. 1974; it was then shared between Berkshire and Report: The Essex Bird Report (Essex Bird- Greater London (though administratively in watching Society); 1949–. Surrey, being in Spelthorne District) until 1991, No current Local Reports. when it was placed wholly in Spelthorne. Report: London Bird Report (London Natural 15. Hertfordshire History Society); in present form, 1936–. VC 20, apart from adjustments with 21 (Mid- Local Report: Welsh Harp (others are in dlesex) in 1965 and 18 (North Essex) in 1992. double-recorded areas). Post-1965 county. Parts of South and SW Hert- fordshire (from Rye Meads along south side of 17. Berkshire Ware and Hertford to Hatfield, St Albans, King’s Much of VC 22; part of 24 (Buckinghamshire) Langley and Rickmansworth) are Areas of and very small area of 21 (Middlesex). Post-

1974 county, thus excluding NW part then lost Other Problem Areas: see under Essex for Stour to Oxfordshire, but including parts of South Estuary. Buckinghamshire around Slough; in 1995 Report: Suffolk Birds (Suffolk Naturalists’ further slight eastward extension SW of the Society & Suffolk Ornithologists’ Group). M25/M4 junction (around Colnbrook) brought 1950–. county into 20-mile Greater London circuit. Local Report: Trimley Marshes (biennial). Problem Area: for Wraysbury Reservoir, see Greater London. 21. Norfolk Except for ceremonial purposes, now subdi- VCs 27 (East Norfolk), 28 (West Norfolk) and vided into six UAs: Bracknell Forest, Reading, small parts of 25 (East Suffolk) and 26 (West Slough, West Berkshire, Windsor & Maiden- Suffolk). Post-1974 county. head, and Wokingham. Problem Areas: Ouse Washes (with Cam- Report: The Birds of Berkshire (Berkshire bridgeshire), where border was moved south in Ornithological Club); in present form, 1974–. 1895. For overlaps with Suffolk, see above. Local Reports: Newbury District (perhaps in Records for Wisbech Sewage Farm, active till abeyance), Theale Area, Moor Green Lakes the 1980s, were always entered jointly for (part). Norfolk and Lincolnshire. Offshore and pelagic areas: offshore waters all 18. Oxfordshire in SA Thames, except in The Wash, which is in VC 23 and parts of 22 (Berkshire). Post-1974 SA Humber; however, along north coast, true county, thus including area gained from NW pelagic records would be in Humber, the 53 Berkshire. degree line of latitude being within a few miles Report: Birds of Oxfordshire (Oxford Ornitho- of coast. The Wash (with many sandbanks) is logical Society); 1922–. deemed to be divided between Norfolk and Lin- Local Reports: Banbury (also covers parts of colnshire by a line NE from Nene Mouth. Northamptonshire and Warwickshire), North Records from the Smith’s Knoll*, Outer Cotswold (part). Dowsing*, Dudgeon* and Lynn Well* LVs have been mentioned, though not necessarily 19. Buckinghamshire accepted; a 1914 record from the first of these Most of VC 24. Post-1974 county, thus was reckoned to be too far out to sea (19 miles) excluding Slough area, then lost to Berkshire and Outer Dowsing and Dudgeon belong to (with a further corner around Colnbrook in Lincolnshire rather than Norfolk (Taylor et al. 1995), and incorporating UA of Milton Keynes. 1999). A corner of the SE, from area of Denham south Report: Norfolk Bird & Mammal Report to M4, is Area of Double Recording with (Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists’ Society); in Greater London. present form, 1953–. Problem Area: for Wraysbury Reservoir, see Local Reports: Nar Valley, Holme. Greater London. Report: Buckinghamshire Bird Report (Bucking- 22. Cambridgeshire hamshire Bird Club); in present form, 1980–. VCs 29 (Cambridgeshire/Isle of Ely), 31 (Hunt- ingdonshire) and part of 32 (Northampton- 20. Suffolk shire). Post-1974 county, including VCs 25 (East Suffolk) and 26 (West Suffolk). Huntingdonshire and the Soke of Peterbor- Both VCs. Lothingland area, in extreme NE, was ough. The last nominally became independent transferred to Norfolk, partly in 1889 and more from Northamptonshire in 1888, but for some extensively in 1974, thus losing (from 1889) the purposes was regarded as part of that county south shore of Breydon Water. This remains an and remained within its VC. In 1965, it was Area of Double Recording with Norfolk, as joined with Huntingdonshire and the RD of does the SW edge of Thetford (including head- Thorney in Cambridgeshire in a single county, quarters of BTO!), ceded to Norfolk in 1894. which continued to 1974, when all were joined Offshore and pelagic areas: all in SA Thames; with Cambridgeshire. Before 1974, the Soke was records from the Shipwash* and Outer recorded by Northamptonshire. From then to Gabbard* LVs have been accepted, the former 1998 inclusive, annual report recorded birds being eight miles offshore, the latter 20. from ‘Old Cambridgeshire’ separately from

8 © British Birds 101 • July 2008 • 1–17 Recording areas of Great Britain those from Huntingdon & Peterborough. Peter- Local Report: Malvern Hills (part). borough became separate UA in 1997, but has remained in Cambridgeshire Recording Area. 27. Worcestershire Problem Areas: Ouse Washes (see Norfolk). Most of VC 37. Post-1974 county, thus Report: Cambridgeshire Bird Report (Cam- excluding areas in NE transferred to Warwick- bridgeshire Bird Club); 1927–. Up to 1980s, shire in 1911 and to West Midlands in 1974. For there was sometimes coverage of a wider area, other notes on boundary changes see Glouces- extending to The Wash and Breckland. tershire and Herefordshire. Local Reports: Paxton Pits, Peterborough. Problem Areas: Malvern Hills (ridge forms part of Herefordshire border). 23. Bedfordshire Report: The Birds of Staffordshire, Warwickshire, VC 30. Present county, incorporating UA of Worcestershire and the West Midlands ; 1934–. Luton. Local Reports: Upton Warren, Grimley Gravel Report: The Bedfordshire Bird Report in Trans. Pit, Malvern Hills (part) and North Cotswold Bedfordshire Natural History Society; 1947–. (part). Local Reports: Priory Country Park, East Hyde (part). 28. Warwickshire Most of VC 38. Post-1974 county, thus 24. Northamptonshire excluding areas in NW (some gained from Most of VC 32. Post-1974 county, thus now Worcestershire) which were then transferred to excluding the Soke of Peterborough (see West Midlands. For other notes on boundary Cambs.), which was recorded with Northamp- changes, see under Gloucestershire. tonshire before 1974. Report: see Worcestershire. Problem Areas: Stanford Reservoir shared with Local Reports: Brandon Marsh and Banbury Leicestershire. (part). Report: Northants Birds (Northamptonshire Bird Club); 1969– (temporarily in abeyance). 29. West Midlands Local Report: Banbury (see Oxfordshire). Parts of VCs 37, 38 and 39 (Staffordshire). 1974–95 county, now dissolved for most pur- 25. Gloucestershire poses into its seven UAs: Coventry, Solihull and VCs 33 (North Gloucestershire) and part of 34 Birmingham (mainly VC 38); Walsall, Sandwell, (South Gloucestershire). Post-1974 county, thus Wolverhampton and Dudley (mainly VC 39). excluding Bristol and South Gloucestershire Report: see Worcestershire. (see Avon). Many minor alterations along Local Reports: Smestow Valley & Dunstall Park, borders with Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Sandwell Valley, Marsh Lane. Wiltshire in 1930s, though few in important areas. 30. Staffordshire Problem Areas: Cotswold Water Park West Most of VC 39. Post-1974 county, thus (with Wiltshire). excluding areas in SW then transferred to West Report: Gloucestershire Bird Report (Gloucester- Midlands, and incorporating UA of Stoke-on- shire Ornithological Co-ordinating Com- Trent. mittee); 1963–. Problem Area: important site of Chasewater Local Reports: Slimbridge (temporarily in was from 1974 to 1995 partly in West Midlands, abeyance), North Cotswold (part), Cheltenham. but is now again wholly in Staffordshire. [For VC 35, see below under Wales.] Report: see Worcestershire. Local Reports: Belvide (apparently in 26. Herefordshire abeyance), Tittesworth Reservoir. VC 36. Present county; merged with Worcester- shire from 1974 to 1998, but with no effect on 31. Shropshire recording. Problem Areas: Malvern Hills (ridge VC 40. Present county, incorporating UA of forms part of Worcestershire border). Telford & Wrekin. Report: The Birds of Herefordshire (Hereford- Report: The Shropshire Bird Report (Shropshire shire Ornithological Club), briefly titled The Ornithological Society); in this form, 1955–. Yellowhammer from 2001 to 2003; 1951–. Local Reports: Upper Clun, Upper Onny.

32. Lincolnshire Erewash Valley, King’s Mill Reservoir, Nether- VCs 53 (South Lincolnshire) and 54 (North field; part of Doncaster (Yorkshire). Lincolnshire). Present county, incorporating UAs of North Lincolnshire and NE Lin- 35. Derbyshire colnshire. Most of VC 57 and a small part of 58 Problem Areas: for the former Wisbech Sewage (Cheshire). Farm, see Norfolk. Present county, incorporating UA of Derby and Offshore and pelagic areas: all in SA Humber; excluding some losses to Yorkshire in 1934 and for The Wash boundary, see Norfolk; boundary 1968. See below for notes on local exchanges with Yorkshire is mid-line of Humber Estuary; with Cheshire. records from Inner* and Outer Dowsing* LVs Report: The Derbyshire Bird Report (Derbyshire sometimes included (as should also be those Ornithological Society); in this form, 1955–. from Dudgeon* LV, occasionally given to Local Reports: Ogston Reservoir, Carsington Norfolk). Reservoir, Carr Vale, Pleasley Pit; part of Report: Lincolnshire Bird Report (Lincolnshire Sheffield (from Yorkshire). Bird Club); 1947-96; this is in abeyance, but the Club now publishes Lincolnshire Rare & Scarce 36. Cheshire & Wirral Birds, of which the first issue, in 2007, covers Most of VC 58 and small parts of 35 (Der- 1997–99–. byshire) and 59 (South Lancashire). Post-1974 Local Reports: Gibraltar Point, Scunthorpe & county, incorporating the UAs of Wirral NW Lincolnshire; part of Doncaster and small (including Hilbre Island (36a)), Halton and part of Thorne Moors (both from Yorks.). Warrington. Many small adjustments along Lancashire/Greater Manchester and Derbyshire 33. Leicestershire & Rutland borders from 1932 to 1974. VC 55. Present counties, incorporating UA of Offshore and pelagic areas: all in SA Irish Sea; Leicester. Rutland was attached to Leicestershire boundary between Cheshire & Wirral and from 1974 to 1995. Both counties covered by North Merseyside stated by O.S. to be ‘not one Recorder. clearly determined’ from Hale down to Problem Areas: Eye Brook Reservoir is shared Bootle/New Brighton, but deemed to be mid- between the two counties, and Stanford Reser- line of Mersey. On Dee border with Flintshire, voir with Northamptonshire. Important that situation was complicated by digging of the double title is used for all records; this covers New Cut up to Chester in 18th century, so that the problem of Eye Brook Reservoir and border does not follow mid-line, but includes in ensures that the many records from Rutland Flint reclaimed land (Shotton Pools etc.) on Water are assigned to the correct part. (This north bank; up to 1960s this was recorded by seems simpler than styling Rutland an Area of Cheshire, and it is included in the avifaunas of Double Recording, though it has a history of Coward (1900) and Bell (1962), but not in more individual reporting dating back to before 1907 recent work. All records should be classed as and a fervent local patriotism. It might be best ‘Cheshire & Wirral’. to specify, as a subheading, the county to which Report: Cheshire and Wirral Bird Report a record refers, unless this is obvious from the (Cheshire & Wirral Ornithological Society); in place-name.) this form, 1964–, but previously recorded with Report: The Leicestershire and Rutland Bird Lancashire. Report (Leicestershire & Rutland Ornithological Local Reports: Hilbre, Alderley Park & Radnor Society); 1941–. Covers both counties. Mere, Woolston Eyes, Nantwich, SE Cheshire; Local Reports: Rutland; Loughborough (Leices- Leigh (part, from Greater Manchester). tershire). 37. Lancashire & North Merseyside 34. Nottinghamshire Part of VC 59 (South Lancashire); all 60 (Mid VC 56. Present county, incorporating UA of Lancashire); and parts of 64 (Mid-west York- Nottingham City. shire). Present county of Lancashire and UAs of Report: The Birds of Nottinghamshire (Notting- Sefton, Liverpool, Knowsley, St Helens, Black- hamshire Birdwatchers); 1943–. burn-with-Darwen and Blackpool. For note on Local Reports: Attenborough (triennial), exchanges with Cheshire, see above. Furness

10 © British Birds 101 • July 2008 • 1–17 Recording areas of Great Britain

(now in Cumbria) not recorded since 1973. 1940–1997; no longer annual, but full report Offshore and pelagic areas: all in SA Irish Sea; planned for 2005. Also Rare & Scarce Birds in platforms in Morecambe Bay are covered by Yorkshire (Y.N.U.); 1998/99–. Covers post-1974 North Sea Bird Report but now also by Lan- area, plus Yorkshire part of Cleveland. cashire. The five Recording Areas are the VCs, less their All records should be classed under double title. various 1974 excisions, but they include expan- Report: The Lancashire Bird Report: the Birds of sions of Yorkshire into Derbyshire, south of Lancashire & North Merseyside (Lancashire & Sheffield (1934 and 1968), and into Lancashire Cheshire Fauna Society); in this form, 1950–, west of Todmorden (1889). but previously recorded with Cheshire back to Local Reports: 1915. VC 61 (SE): Spurn, Filey, Flamborough, Hull Local Reports: Lancaster & District, Chorley & Valley (formerly Tophill Low/East Yorkshire), District, Rossendale, Heysham Harbour, Fylde, Pulfin Bog, Saltmarshe Delph, North Cave Wet- East Lancashire, Stocks Reservoir; Leigh (part, lands. from Greater Manchester). VC 62 (NE, other than Yorkshire parts of Cleve- land): York (including parts of VCs 61 & 64), 38. Greater Manchester Scarborough & District, North Yorkshire Part of VC 59, and small parts of 58 (Cheshire) Forests, Ryedale, Central Science Labs (Sand and 63 (South-west Yorkshire). Metropolitan Hutton), New Earswick & West Huntington, County of Greater Manchester (1974-1986), Fylingdales Moor. now UAs of Wigan, Bolton, Salford, Bury, VC 63 (South & SW, apart from section trans- Rochdale, Oldham (including part of pre-1974 ferred to Greater Manchester/Oldham in 1974, Yorkshire), Tameside, Stockport, Manchester but including expansions of Sheffield into Der- and Trafford See comment on boundaries byshire in 1934 and 1968): Bradford (two), under Cheshire above. Doncaster, Huddersfield, Barnsley, Potteric Report: Birds in Greater Manchester (Greater Carr, Sheffield, Rotherham (now on-line only), Manchester Bird Recording Group); 1976–; for- Cononley, Carlton Marsh, Thorpe Marsh, Old merly Manchester Bird Report (1959-75), which Moor & Broomhill Ings, Thorne Moors, Wors- covered a 15-mile radius from Manchester brough Valley, Wintersett, Halifax, Hatfield Tow n Hall. Moors (in abeyance), Southfield Reservoirs & Local Reports: Leigh, Elton (in abeyance), Went Ings, Beal Carrs, Sprotbrough Flash & Rochdale, Hollingworth Lake, Audenshaw Don Gorge; part of East Lancashire (from Lan- Reservoirs, Shell Pool, Oldham, Piethorne cashire & N. Merseyside). Valley, Chorlton Water Park. VC 64 (Mid-west, apart from section transferred to Lancashire in 1974, but including area 39. Yorkshire west of Todmorden, transferred from Lan- VCs 61 to 65, of which only first remains entire cashire in 1889): Wharfedale, Harrogate, Leeds, within post-1974 borders. Present counties of Eccup Reservoir, Staveley, New Swillington Ings, North Yorkshire and East Riding of Yorkshire Malham Tarn, Rodley NR, Fairburn Ings; part (incorporating UA of Kingston-upon-Hull), of East Lancashire and small part of Lancaster and UAs of York, Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, & District (both from Lancashire & N. Mersey- Leeds, Wakefield, Barnsley, Sheffield, side). Rotherham, Doncaster, Redcar & Cleveland and VC 65 (NW, apart from sections transferred to Middlesbrough. Last two (with part of Cumbria and Durham in 1974): High Batts NR. Stockton-on-Tees) form SE part of 1974-95 county of Cleveland, the whole of which forms Areas of a number of West Yorkshire reports two Areas of Double Recording with VCs 62 spill over (at least nominally on their maps) and 66 (NE Yorkshire and Co. Durham); it has into Derbyshire, Greater Manchester and Lan- its own Recorder and Report (see 40. below). cashire. The ornithological world outside York- Offshore and pelagic areas: off East Riding, in shire has tended to reject its claim to Cleveland SA Humber; further north, in SA Tyne; for (and to keeping or repossessing other lost Humber boundary, see Lincolnshire. areas!) and to adopt the four 1974-1995 divi- Reports: Yorkshire Bird Report (Yorkshire Natu- sions, which are still the Lord Lieutenancies: ralists’ Union, Ornithological Section); East Yorkshire (i.e. ‘North Humberside’, now

© British Birds 101 • July 2008 • 1–17 11 Recording areas of Great Britain again substantially the East Riding, but Problem Areas: Derwent Reservoir (with including York and Hull UAs); Durham). South Yorkshire (Barnsley, Doncaster, Sheffield Report: Birds in Northumbria (Northumberland and Rotherham); & Tyneside Bird Club). 1970–. West Yorkshire (Wakefield, Leeds, Bradford, Local Report: Farne Islands. Calderdale and Kirklees); North Yorkshire (today’s county, including 43. Cumbria Selby District). VCs 69 (Westmorland & Lancashire Furness) & 70 (Cumberland), with part of 65 (NW York- There is much to be said for continuing this shire). Post-1974 county. division, as VC boundaries cannot be found on Offshore and pelagic areas: all in SA Irish Sea. O.S. maps. Neither the Editors of the Yorkshire Report: Birds and Wildlife in Cumbria (Cumbria Bird Report nor Mather (1986) have in the past Naturalists’ Union); 1972–. made great use of the VC system in published Local Reports: Walney Bird Observatory, records, but the issues of 1997 and 2005 do so. Bassenthwaite Lake; small part of Lancaster & For rare and scarce breeders, ‘Yorkshire’ may be District (Lancashire & N. Merseyside). more desirable (cf. Highland below). Wales 40. Cleveland In addition to individual County Reports, Parts of VCs 62 and 66. Recording Area since covered by the annual Welsh Bird Report (Welsh 1974, consisting of two Areas of Double Ornithological Society); 1998–. The terms Recording. (see also Durham and Yorkshire), in Powys, Clwyd, Gwynedd and Dyfed, created by both of which, validation of rarity records lies the amalgamations of 1974, should not now be with Cleveland. used; records from these should be assigned to Report: Cleveland Bird Report (Teesmouth Bird the appropriate VCs, as given below. In general, Club); 1974–. Welsh Recording Areas are the VCs,but some adjustments have been made. The index 41. Durham numbers in the Area sections correspond to VC 66 and part of 65 (NW Yorkshire). Present those on the map; they indicate sites with prob- county, incorporating UAs of Stockton-on-Tees lems, mainly where the accepted boundaries (in part) and Hartlepool (the NW parts of the differ from the Watsonian ones. former county of Cleveland, for which see above), and of Darlington, and UAs of W1 Gwent Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland VC 35 (Monmouthshire), less small parts along (from 1974 to 1995 south half of county of Glamorgan border; and a small area of 42 (Bre- Tyne & Wear, which has had no ornithological conshire). Pre-1974 county of Monmouthshire, recognition, though it remains a Lord Lieu- known as Gwent from 1974 to 1995, and now tenancy). divided into UAs of Monmouthshire, Newport, Offshore and pelagic areas: all in SA Tyne. Torfaen, Blaenau-Gwent and east part of Caer- Problem Areas: Derwent Reservoir (with philly. Includes Denny Island and the former Northumberland). Breconshire areas of Trefil, Brynmawr and Report: Birds in Durham (Durham County Bird Llanelly (8). The Glamorgan boundary is now Club); 1970–. accepted to be the Rhymney River (because the Local Report: Cleveland (as above). creation of Caerphilly UA, spanning the old border, would otherwise cause confusion), but 42. Northumberland near its mouth the area of Rumney and St VCs 67 (South Northumberland) and 68 Mellons (10), transferred to Glamorgan in (North Northumberland [Cheviotland]). 1974, remains in that county (in UA Cardiff). Present county, incorporating UAs of New- Offshore areas: see Avon. castle-upon-Tyne and North Tyneside (north Report: Gwent Bird Report (Gwent Ornitholog- part of county of Tyne & Wear, as above) and ical Society); 1965–. including Coquet Island (42a), the Farne Islands (42b) and Holy Island (42c). W2 Glamorgan Offshore and pelagic areas: all in SA Tyne. VC 41; small parts of 42 (Breconshire) and 35

12 © British Birds 101 • July 2008 • 1–17 Recording areas of Great Britain

(Monmouthshire). Divided into two Recording within Gwynedd; substantially the historic Areas (9a and 9b), but, nationally speaking, all county. The NE section (part of Dee Valley and records are simply for Glamorgan. West Berwyns) then ceded to Clwyd (and now East Glamorgan (9a) incorporating UAs of in Denbighshire), still included in Recording Bridgend, Rhondda/Cynon/Taff, Vale of Glam- Area. The Nantmor section of the parish of organ, west part of Caerphilly, Cardiff, and Beddgelert (1) was ceded to Caernarfon in Merthyr Tydfil (including Vaynor and Penderyn 1895, a change locally contested at the time but from VC 42 (Brecon) (7)). Includes Flat Holm accepted in three recent avifaunas (Hope Jones (W2a). For agreed border with Gwent, see 1974; Hope Jones & Dare 1976; Barnes 1997). above. For the Double Recording Area of The Offshore and pelagic areas: see Somerset and Migneint (11), ceded by Denbighshire in 1974, Devon. see that county. Report: Eastern Glamorgan Bird Report (Glam- organ Bird Club); 1962–. Known as The Glam- W7 Caernarfonshire organ Bird Report to 1985, then as The Mid and Most of VC 49 (Caernarvonshire) and a small South Glamorgan Bird Report from 1986 to area of 48 (Merionethshire). 1974 District of 1995. Arfon, in Gwynedd; substantially the historic Local Report: Kenfig NNR. county, but excluding the salient of Maenan (2) Gower (9b), incorporating UAs of City & east of the Afon Conwy, deemed to be now in County of Swansea and Neath Port Talbot. Denbighshire (VC 50). UA of Conwy, created Report: Gower Birds (Gower Ornithological from parts of Denbigh, Caernarfon and Meiri- Society): 1966–. onnydd, has no ornithological recognition. The Ormes, Llandudno and Rhos Point (4) remain W3 Breconshire in Caernarfon. Includes St Tudwal’s Islands Most of VC 42; sometimes known as Brec- (W7a) and Bardsey (Ynys Enlli) (W7b). The knockshire. Pre-1974 county (which is now part Conwy RSPB Reserve was apparently in Den- of Powys), apart from areas ceded in 1974: bighshire VC in 1852, when the county Vaynor and Penderyn (7) to Glamorgan, and boundary was shown by Watson to be at the Trefil area, Brynmawr and Llanelly (8) to Telford’s bridge, but by 1879, the first ed. of the Gwent. six-inch Ordnance Survey map moved it south Report: Breconshire Birds (Brecknock Wildlife to the position it still occupied in 1974, though Trust); 1962–. it was marked ‘undefined’. The old border still appeared on the map in Forrest (1907), though W4 Radnorshire he in fact assigned all ‘Conway Estuary’ records VC 43. Pre-1974 county (which is now part of to Caernarfonshire. It has now been agreed to Powys). treat the Reserve as an Area of Double No Report since 1987. Recording with Denbighshire (3). For changes in the large parish of Beddgelert, see Meirion- W5 Montgomeryshire nydd. VC 44 and part of 50 (Denbigh). Pre-1974 Local Report: Bardsey Bird Observatory. county, which is now part of Powys and includes part of the Berwyn Mountains, for- W8 Anglesey merly in Denbighshire; this is also now in VC 52. Post-1995 county of Isle of Anglesey Powys and considered an Area of Double (from 1974 to 1995 part of Gwynedd), Recording with Denbighshire (6). including Puffin Island (Ynys Seiriol) (W8a) No Report since 1998/1999. and The Skerries (Ynysoedd y Moelrhoniad) (W8b). The following three VCs are all reported in: The All offshore and pelagic areas for these in SA Cambrian Bird Report (Cambrian Ornitholog- Irish Sea, mid-line of which is deemed the ical Society); 1953/54–. border with Ireland.

W6 Meirionnydd The following two VCs were reported on in the Most of VC 48 (Merionethshire), and a small Clwyd Bird Report (Clwyd Bird Recording part of VC 50 (Denbighshire). 1974 District, Group); title now changed (for 2004/05/06

© British Birds 101 • July 2008 • 1–17 13 Recording areas of Great Britain issue) to North-east Wales Bird Report; 1974–. absorbed into Pembrokeshire, but remain in The boundaries between them, in their post- their original Recording Area. 1995 revision, differ from the traditional ones Report: Pembrokeshire Bird Report (WT for of the VCs used in the Report. South & West Wales); 1981–. Local Report: The Island Naturalist (for Skomer W9 Denbighshire and Skokholm) has now ceased, records being Most of VC 50, including the two former included in county report. detachments of Flintshire (5) and a small part of VC 49 (Caernarfon). Pre-1974 county, W13 Ceredigion including as Areas of Double Recording the VC 46 (Cardiganshire). Present county (part of area of the Berwyns described under Mont- Dyfed, 1974–1995). For recent administrative gomeryshire (6), the RSPB Conwy Reserve changes, see Pembrokeshire. described under Caernarfonshire (3) and The Offshore and pelagic areas: all in SA Irish Sea; Migneint (11), the SW ‘tongue’ of Den- see Pembrokeshire for further comment. bighshire, which was ceded to Gwynedd in Report: Ceredigion Bird Report/Adroddiad Adar 1974. Excludes the part of Meirionnydd around Ceredigion (WT for South & West Wales) Corwen which was ceded to Clwyd in 1974 and 1982/83–. which remains administratively part of the new Denbighshire, and also Rhos Point (in VC 49) Isle of Man (4). Incorporates UA of Wrexham. The Afon VC 71, but now recorded as a separate unit Conwy is now deemed to be the Caernarfon from the UK. By special agreement, still border; for Maenan (2) in VC 49 but east of the included in British Birds Rarities Committee river, see Caernarfonshire. and Rare Breeding Birds Panel Reports. Present area, including the Calf of Man (Ma). W10 Flintshire Offshore & pelagic areas: all within SA Irish Sea; VC 51. Pre-1974 county, without the two the marine boundaries (at least with Lancashire detachments. Of these, the larger (Maelor & N. Merseyside, Cumbria, North Wales areas Saesneg) (5) was sometimes recorded by Shrop- and Dumfries & Galloway) have not been fully shire (Rutter, Gribble & Pemberton, 1964). defined, but are now under urgent considera- Problem Area: Dee Estuary, for which see tion. Cheshire & Wirral. Report: in Peregrine (Manx Ornithological Offshore and pelagic areas for both these in SA Society); 1944–. Irish Sea. Local Report: Calf of Man Bird Observatory.

W11 Carmarthenshire Scotland VC 44. Present county (part of Dyfed, In addition to area reports, covered by an 1974–1995). annual report in Scottish Birds (Scottish Offshore and pelagic areas: all in SA Lundy. Ornithologists’ Club); 1968–. The following Report: Carmarthenshire Bird Report/Adroddiad Regional terms, current from 1974 to 1995, Adar Sir Gaerfyddin (Carmarthenshire should not now be used to define records: Ornithological Recording Committee); 1982–. Strathclyde, Central, Tayside, Grampian. The Scottish Raptor Group use the following W12 Pembrokeshire divisions (with approximate SOC equivalents in VC 45. Present county (part of Dyfed, brackets, where different): Dumfries & Gal- 1974–1995), including all islands: Caldey loway; Lothian & Borders; South Strathclyde (W12a), Skokholm (W12b), Skomer (W12c), (=Clyde, Clyde Islands and Ayrshire), Argyll, Grassholm (W12d) and Ramsey (W12e). Central (=Upper Forth), Tayside (=Perth & Offshore and pelagic areas: from the eastern Kinross and Angus & Dundee), North-east border, as far north as St David’s Head in SA (including the eastern half of Moray & Nairn), Lundy; north of this in SA Irish Sea. Dividing Highland (including the western half of Moray line with Ireland is mid-line of St George’s & Nairn, and Caithness), Uists, and Orkney Channel. Most of the former enclaves of [there are as yet no contributors from Ceredigion south of the Teifi Estuary (on either Lewis/Harris or Shetland]. For offshore and side of St Dogmaels) have recently been pelagic limits, see note under S21 at end. There

14 © British Birds 101 • July 2008 • 1–17 Recording areas of Great Britain are some annual scientific reports on breeding S6 Highland seabirds and wintering wildfowl which are not North part of VC 98 (Argyll Main); 97 (Wester- meant for public circulation (St Abb’s Head, ness with North Argyll); 104 (North Ebudes); Canna, Moray Firth etc.); these have not been 105 and 106 (Wester and Easter Ross); 107 and listed. All Scottish Recording Areas bear 108 (East and West Sutherland). Post-1974 UA, numbers, as given below: including all Inner Hebridean and inshore islands from Muck to Eilean Roan, but S1 Shetland excluding pre-1974 Nairnshire (see above) and VC 112 (Zetland), except Fair Isle. Present UA, Caithness (VC 109, but see below). Some excluding Fair Isle, which is Recording Area on internal use is still made of the Districts: its own. Lochaber (S6a), Badenoch & Strathspey (S6b), Report: Shetland Bird Report (Shetland Bird Inverness District (S6c), Skye & Lochalsh (S6d), Club); 1969–. Ross & Cromarty (S6e; most of the former county of that name, apart from its Outer S2 Fair Isle Hebridean component); and Sutherland (S6f;a Part of VC 112. Adminstratively part of Shet- slight expansion of the former county). These land. Often treated separately in avifaunas, but are not regarded as separate Recording Areas, included in Pennington et al. (2004); has its but are often useful in locating sites in such a own Recorder. wide swathe of country, though they are not Report: Fair Isle Bird Report (Fair Isle Bird used in ‘Rare & Scarce Breeding Birds’ reports. Observatory Trust); in present form, 1963–. Report: Highland Bird Report (private & SOC); 1983–. S3 Orkney Local Reports: Sutherland (in abeyance), Eigg. VC 111. Present UA. Includes Pentland Skerries (which were sometimes placed in Caithness), S7 Moray & Nairn Sule Stack (S3a) and Sule Skerry (S3b); Bourne North part of VC 95 (Moray [=Elginshire]); & David (2007) showed that this name for the part of 94 (Banffshire); and Nairnshire section former should be preferred to ‘Stack Skerry’, of 96 (Easterness with Nairnshire, now in High- which is really an oxymoron. land). Report: Orkney Bird Report (Orkney Bird Report: Birds in Moray and Nairn (private); Report Committee); 1974/75, thereafter annu- 1985–. ally–. Local Report: Stronsay. S8 North-east Scotland VCs 91 (Kincardineshire), 92 and 93 (South and S4 Outer Hebrides North Aberdeenshire), and NE part of 94 VC 110. Present UA of Western Isles. Includes: (Banffshire). Post-1995 Region, incorporating Lewis (before 1974 in Ross & Cromarty), UAs of Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City. Harris, North and South Uist, Benbecula and Report: North-east Scotland Bird Report (North- Barra (before 1974 in Inverness-shire); St Kilda east Scotland Bird Club): 1974–. (S4a), the Flannans (S4b), Sula Sgeir (S4c), Local Report: Ythan Estuary (waders & wildfowl North Rona (S4d), the Shiants (S4e); [and only). perhaps (theoretically) Rockall!]. Report: Outer Hebrides Bird Report (Western S9 Angus & Dundee Isles Natural History Society); 1979–. VC 90 Angus (Forfarshire). Present Region, For historical reasons, ‘Outer Hebrides’ should incorporating UAs of Angus and Dundee City, be preferred to ‘Western Isles’. and including the Bell Rock. Report: Angus & Dundee Bird Report (Angus & S5 Caithness Dundee Bird Club); 1970/71–. VC 109. Pre-1974 county, now administered with Highland. Includes Stroma, but not now S10 Perth & Kinross the Pentland Skerries, for which see Orkney. Kinross-shire section of VC 85 (see also Fife, No Report since 1997, but records in separate below); small part of 87 (South Perthshire); section of Highland Bird Report from 2004–. most of 88 (Mid Perthshire, except for SW part transferred to Stirling); and 89 (North [=East]

Perthshire). Before 1988, Kinross was recorded abeyance), Mull. with Fife. Report: Perth & Kinross Bird Report (private); S15 Clyde Islands 1974–. VC 100 (Clyde Isles). The ‘Clyde Islands Report’ is a separate section within Clyde Birds. S11 Fife Regarded by SOC as separate Area, with its own VC 85, excluding Kinross-shire, and a corner of Recorder. Includes Bute section of UA of Argyll 87 (South Perthshire). Nominally, excludes Isle & Bute (the Island of Bute, and Great and Little of May, which has its own Recorder (see below), Cumbrae) and the Isle of Arran. and Inchkeith and Inchcolm, which are Local Report: Arran. reported in Forth Islands Bird Report, but records for the two last now also published in S16 Clyde Fife Bird Report. VCs 76 (Renfrewshire), 77 (Lanarkshire & East Report: Fife Bird Report (Fife Bird Club); 1980–. Dunbartonshire), 99 (West Dunbartonshire), Local Reports: Forth Islands (see Lothian), Isle SW part of 86 (Stirlingshire), and extreme NW of May. tip of 87 (West or South Perthshire, now absorbed into Stirlingshire). Now includes: UAs S12 Isle of May of East and West Dunbartonshire (not identical Part of VC 85. with the old areas of the same names!); South Report: Isle of May Bird Observatory Report (Isle and North Lanarkshire [omitted in the defini- of May Bird Observatory and Field Station tion given in the 2001 Scottish BR!]; Glasgow Trust); in present form from 1985–. City; East Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire and Administratively in Fife, and was included in Inverclyde, and those parts of Stirling and that county’s Atlas (Elkins et al. 2003). Argyll & Bute that are in the Clyde Basin. The Carron Valley Reservoir is sometimes consid- S13 Upper Forth ered as an Area of Double Recording with North and east parts of VC 86 (Stirlingshire), Upper Forth, the north slope above the Reser- most of 87 (Clackmannanshire, South voir belonging to Forth, and the south to Clyde. Perthshire), SW corner of 88 (Mid Perthshire) Report: Clyde Birds (SOC Clyde); in this form, and a small area of 84 (West Lothian). The 1987–. addition of ‘Upper’ should be used to distin- guish it from the Firth. Now includes UAs of S17 Ayrshire Clackmannanshire, Falkirk (created from parts VC 75. UAs of North, East and South Ayrshire. of Stirling and West Lothian) and the parts of In the last, an area south of Ballantrae was Stirling within the Forth Basin. For a small Area ceded to Dumfries & Galloway in 1995, but is of Double Recording, see Clyde above. still recorded by Ayrshire. Also Horse Island, Report: Forth Area Bird Report (in Forth Natu- Lady Isle and Ailsa Craig (S17a). Arran and the ralist & Historian, published for Stirling Univer- Cumbraes, now in North Ayrshire, are recorded sity); 1974/75– (later issues annual). with Clyde Islands (see below). Report: Ayrshire Bird & Butterfly Report (SOC S14 Argyll Ayrshire); 1976–. Most of VC 98 (Argyll Main); 101 (Kintyre); 102 (South Ebudes) and 103 (Mid-Ebudes). S18 Lothian Post-1995 UA of Argyll & Bute, but excluding VCs 82 (East Lothian [Haddingtonshire] except the Bute section (for which see Clyde Islands) as in last), 83 (Midlothian [Edinburghshire], and the area between Loch Lomondside and except as in S19 below), and most of 84 (West Loch Long and north from Arrochar over Ben Lothian [Linlithgowshire]). Now four UAs, Vane to Maol Breac and the Lairig Arnan (for- including City of Edinburgh (created largely merly part of West Dunbartonshire), for which from Midlothian, with small area of West see Clyde. Includes lighthouses of Skerryvore Lothian). Monynut Water drainage area in East (S14a) and Dubh Artach (S14b). Lothian ceded to Borders in 1995. Report: Argyll Bird Report (Argyll Bird Club); Report: Lothian Bird Report (SOC Lothian) 1980–. 1979–. Covers all Forth Islands belonging to Local Reports: Islay, Machrihanish, Sanda (in City of Edinburgh and East Lothian.

Local Reports: Aberlady Bay, Forth Islands J. Bowley, D. Clegg, D. L. Clugston, J. P. Cullen, A. Davies, (including those in Fife). P. Daw, I. K. Dawson, G. E. Dobbs, R. M. Fray, L. Giddings, J. J. D. Greenwood, A. Hogg, M. Holling, N. Hudson, A. Mabbett, J. H. Marchant, A. McNee, C. W. Melgar, S19 Borders P.J. Reay, G. H. P.Rees, H. Roderick, H. E. Rose, I. M. Spence, VCs 78 (Peebles-shire), 79 (Selkirkshire), 80 D. W. Taylor, G. Thomas, H. Vaughan, J. J. Wheatley and J.Wilson. (Roxburghshire), 81 (Berwickshire), SE corner of 83 (Midlothian) and a small part of 82 (East References Lothian). Since 1974, all Scottish Borders Ballance, D. K. 2004. County and local bird reports in Region. Monynut Water drainage area ceded by Britain & Ireland. Brit. Birds 97: 76–91. East Lothian in 1995. — 2006. County and local bird reports on Britain & Ireland: an update. Brit. Birds 99: 492–495. Report: Borders Bird Report (SOC Borders); Barnes, J. 1997. The Birds of Caernarfonshire. Cambrian 1979–. Ornithological Society,Waunfawr. Bell,T. H. 1962. The Birds of Cheshire. Sherratt, Altrincham. Bourne,W. R. P.,& David, A. C. F. 2007. Sule Skerry and S20 Dumfries & Galloway Sule Stack (or Stack Skerry?). Brit. Birds 100: 758. VCs 72 (Dumfries-shire), 73 (Kirkcudbright- British Association. 1879–89. Reports of the Committee shire) & 74 (Wigtownshire). Post-1974 Region, Appointed by the British Association for the Purpose of Obtaining Observations on the Migration of Birds at including The Scares [=Scar Rocks]. For an Lightships and Lighthouses. 2 Vols.West, Newman, amendment, see Ayrshire. London. [Subsequent Reports in Report of the British Report: Birds in Dumfries & Galloway (private Association 1881–1904] & SOC); in this form, 1976–2001; 2002 to 2005 Clarke,W. E. 1912. Studies in Bird Migration. 2 Vols. Gurney & Jackson, Edinburgh. in one issue–. Coward,T.A. 1900. The Birds of Cheshire. Sherratt & Local Report: Mersehead (VC 72). Hughes, Manchester. Dudley, S. P.,Gee, M., Kehoe, C., Melling,T. M., & the BOU Records Committee. 2006.The British List: a checklist of S21 At Sea the birds of Britain (7th edn). Ibis 148: 526–563. The SOC Map provides for records under this Elkins, N., Reid, J. B., Brown, A.W., Robertson, D. G., & category in the Scottish sections of British Smout, A.-M. 2003. The Fife Bird Atlas.Woodlands Waters: almost all SAs Forth, Cromarty, Studios, Dunfermline. Forrest, H. E. 1907. The Vertebrate Fauna of North Wales. Hebrides and Fair Isle (which covers Orkney & Witherby, London. Shetland and should not be confused with S2!); Forrester, R.W.,Andrews, I. J., McInerny, C. J., Murray, R. D., most of SA Hebrides; the western parts of SAs McGowan, R.Y., Zonfrillo, B., Betts, M.W., Jardine, D. C., & Grundy, D. S. 2007. The Birds of Scotland. SOC, Forties and Viking; the northern parts of SAs Aberlady. Rockall and Malin; the southern part of SA Glegg,W. E. 1929. A History of the Birds of Essex.Witherby, Bailey, and ‘Waters North of Shetland’. In For- London. Hewlett, J. (ed.) 2002. The Breeding Birds of the London rester et al. (2007), the endpaper maps show Area. London Natural History Society, London. some other marine boundaries used for the Hope Jones, P.1974. Birds of Merioneth. Cambrian purposes of this book. In the North Sea Bird Ornithological Society, Penrhyndeudraeth. Report the North Sea Bird Club publishes — & Dare, P.1976. Birds of Caernarvonshire. Cambrian Ornithological Society, Llandudno Junction. records from a number of platforms and Mather, J. R. 1986. The Birds of Yorkshire. Croom Helm, vessels, at present largely in SAs Forties, Viking, London. and North of Shetland; sites from which records Pennington, M., Osborn, K., Harvey, P., Riddington, R., Okill, D., Ellis, P., & Heubeck, M. 2004. The Birds of Shetland. were received from 1979 to 2005 are shown in Christopher Helm, London. Forrester et al. (2007). Rutter, E. M., Gribble, F. C., & Pemberton,T.W. 1964. A Handlist of the Birds of Shropshire. Shropshire Acknowledgments Ornithological Society, Stafford. Taylor, M., Seago, M., Allard, P., & Dorling, D. 1999. The Birds We are extremely grateful to Nick Scarle, Senior of Norfolk. Pica Press, Robertsbridge. Cartographer, Manchester University Cartographic Unit, Wheatley, J. J. 2007. Birds of Surrey. Surrey Bird Club. who kindly re-drew the maps for us.We are also indebted Wood, S. 2007. The Birds of Essex. Christopher Helm, to a large number of County Recorders, other London. correspondents and librarians. Among those who were particularly helpful are I. J. Andrews, J. Barnes, A. Blake,

David K. Ballance, Flat Two, Dunboyne, Bratton Lane, Minehead, Somerset TA24 8SQ A. Judith Smith, 12 Edge Green Street, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan WN4 8SL