Scarce and rare birds in Wales 2005 Introduction p1 Systematic List of Accepted Records p4 Green Heron – new species for Wales p31 Chimney Swift – new species for Wales p32 Blyth’s Pipit – new species for Wales p33 Dark-throated Thrush – new species for Wales p37 Northern Bullfinch – new race for Wales p38 Front cover photo, Green Heron by Kit Day Back cover photo, 1st w Laughing Gull by DG Carrington Published in November 2006 by The Welsh Ornithological Society Charity No. 1037823 Price - £4.00 1 Introduction This is the ninth annual report of the Welsh Records Panel (WRP) covering the occurrence of rare and scarce species in Wales in 2005. Earlier reports can be found on the Welsh Ornithological Web Site (welshornithologicalsociety.org.uk) under Publications, Newsletters. The report includes many digital photos and WRP welcomes the submission of any photographic evidence but this should be accompanied by supporting evidence. This report follows the taxonomy and systematic sequence of the new BOU British List (2003) and includes all those records assessed by WRP along with those accepted by BBRC (shown in italics). In total WRP processed over 100 records, most of which were for 2005. Descriptions of scarce species were received from the County Recorders of all Welsh Counties and occasionally directly from the observers. Occasionally the Panel also receives descriptions of other species to assess from County Recorders and Editors. These are not detailed in this report. Scarce species (assessed by WRP) are defined as those occurring on average 5 times or fewer annually in Wales. As of Jan. 1st 2005 the full list of species which the Panel considers is as follows: Bean Goose, American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Surf Scoter, Cory’s Shearwater, Great Shearwater, Night Heron, Purple Heron, White Stork, Montagu’s Harrier, Rough-legged Buzzard, White-tailed Eagle, Golden Eagle, Corncrake, Spotted Crake, Crane, Stone-Curlew, Kentish Plover, Temminck’s Stint, Pectoral Sandpiper, Buff- breasted Sandpiper, Red-necked Phalarope, Short-toed Lark, Wood Lark, Shore Lark, Bee-eater, Richard’s Pipit, Tawny Pipit, Nightingale, Bluethroat, Aquatic Warbler, Marsh Warbler, Icterine Warbler, Melodious Warbler, Barred Warbler, Pallas’s Warbler, Red- breasted Flycatcher, Rose-coloured Starling, Red-backed Shrike, Woodchat Shrike, Bearded Tit, Serin, Common Redpoll, Common Rosefinch, Corn Bunting, Cirl Bunting, Ortolan Bunting and Little Bunting. Due to the number and frequency of occurrence of Great Shearwater in Pembrokeshire, WRP does not request descriptions of this species from that county if the record has been accepted by the Pembrokeshire Records Committee. Scarce races are considered on the same basis (ie. all those occurring on average 5 times or fewer annually). However, it is acknowledged that the status, and in some case the identification, of some races is very uncertain. WRP welcomes well documented submissions of races that observers consider to be scarce in Wales. Through this process we hope to establish the occurrence of these forms but submissions will probably in most cases require detailed descriptions, photographic evidence and in some cases biometrics or a specimen. 2 BBRC have requested submission of rare races and WRP will forward any claims that are considered sufficiently rare for BBRC to assess. Examples of races for which WRP would like to receive reports are Black Brant Goose – nigricans, Iceland Gull – kumlieni, “Caspian Gull” – cachinnans, Common Guillemot – hyperborean, Razorbill – torda, Little Auk – polaris, Great Spotted Woodpecker – major, Grey-headed Wagtail - thunbergi, Chiffchaff – tristis, Treecrepper – familaris, Coal Tit – ater, Jay – glandarius, Jackdaw – monedula, Redpolls – islandia / rostrata, and Bullfinch –pyrrhula. As of January 1st 2006 17 species have been added to the WRP list, due to the re- classification by BBRC. These are: Ferruginous Duck, Wilson’s Petrel, Great White Egret, Black Kite, Red-footed Falcon, American Golden Plover, White-rumped Sandpiper, White winged-Black Tern, Alpine Swift, Red-rumped Swallow, Red- throated Pipit, Subalpine Warbler, Greenish Warbler, Dusky Warbler, Radde’s Warbler, Arctic Redpoll and Rustic Bunting. Also as of January 1st 2006, Richard’s Pipit has dropped off the WRP list, as there have been 102 records over the past 10 years and it no longer fits the WRP criteria of being a scarce bird in Wales. Over the last year the data-base of Welsh Rarities has been reviewed taking into account work carried out by Keith Naylor and therefore the figures published this year may differ for some species to those published in the past. The figures following each species refer to the number of accepted individuals in Wales up to 1991, since 1991 but not including 2005 and finally the number this year. Where two records probably relate to the same bird then only one is added to the total, while if two records are only possibly of the same bird, then both are added into the totals. In some cases the figures suggest changes in occurrence in the last twenty years, although it should be noted that some of these changes may be due, to some extent, to the decline in the habit of observers submitting descriptions. One of the objectives of this report is to try and reverse this trend. The names that appear after individual records are of those observers who sent in descriptions (if the finder is known then his /her name is included in italics) and are included here to show recognition of the time taken to produce a description and also the observer’s commitment to the nationally recognised system of rare bird record assessment, unless the submitted specifically requests that their name is not shown. The Panel consists of five voting members, in 2005 they were: Reg Thorpe (Chairman) – Caernarfon, Phil Bristow – Glamorgan, Chris Jones - Gwent, Arfon Williams - Ceredigion and Simon Hugheston-Roberts - Caernarfon and a non-voting Secretary, Jon Green - Ceredigion. The longest serving member of the Panel retires and a new member is elected annually by the Welsh County Recorders and the Council of the Welsh Ornithological Society. WRP is always on the look out for new members, anyone who is interested should contact their County Recorder or the WRP Secretary. 3 Descriptions, photos, videos and any other relevant evidence of WRP species should be submitted as soon as possible after the sighting (WRP description forms are available from the Secretary / County Recorders and downloadable from the WOS Website), preferably via the County Recorder or alternatively direct to the WRP Secretary: Jon Green, Crud yr Awel, Bowls Road, Blaenporth, Cardigan. Ceredigion. SA43 2AR. (01239 811561). The Panel are keen to receive any descriptions or photographs of electronic form, either on disc or by e-mail: [email protected] No acceptable records of the following species were received by the Panel in 2005: Bean Goose, Great Shearwater, Rough-legged Buzzard, White-tailed Eagle, Golden Eagle, Stone-Curlew, Bee-eater, Tawny Pipit, Bluethroat, Aquatic Warbler, Marsh Warbler, Serin, Corn Bunting and Cirl Bunting. Races: Black Brant Goose – nigricans, Iceland Gull – kumlieni, “Caspian Gull” – cachinnans, Common Guillemot – hyperborean, Razorbill – torda, Little Auk – polaris, Great Spotted Woodpecker – major, Grey-headed Wagtail - thunbergi, Chiffchaff – tristis, Treecrepper – familaris, Coal Tit – ater, Jay – glandarius, Jackdaw – monedula, Redpolls – islandia / rostrata. Systematic List of Accepted Records American Wigeon ( 6, 11, 0) Anas americana Chwiwell Americana Breeds North America, winters south to Panama. Pembroke: male, Angle Bay Feb. 2nd – 18th (DJ Astins), then returned Oct. 23rd remaining until 2006 (C. Hurford, et al). It is probably the same as the bird that seen further up the Cleddau Estuary at Lawrenny & West Williamson in February 2004. Male Green-winged Teal, Skomer, November. JG Brown American Wigeon, Angle Bay, February. L. Lomax 4 Green-winged Teal ( 10, 21, 3) Anas carolinensis Corhwyaden Asgell - Werdd Breeds in North America. Pembroke: 3 different males on Skomer, one on Nov. 26th and 2 on the 28th (JG Brown). Male, probably one of the Skomer birds, at Newgale Marsh, Dec. 2nd – 12th (S. Devonald, per J. Green). Blue-winged Teal ( 4, 2 , 1) Anas discors Corhwyaden Asgell-las Breeds North America. Anglesey: female, Malltraeth Cob Pool, Apr. 12th - 24th (S. Culley, KG Croft, M. Hughes). The only other recent records were of a male at Point of Air in October 1997 and a female at Penclacwydd in March 2000. Previous to this record there have been 2 records on Anglesey, both of males, one shot at Holland Arms in 1919 and one at Cemlyn in March 1983. Blue-winged Teal, Malltraeth, April. M. Hughes Ring-necked Duck (12, 21, 0) Aythya collaris Hywaden Dorchog Breeds North America, winters south to Costa Rica. Gwent: returning male, NWR Uskmouth Feb. 3rd – 18th (K. Jones, M. John) then at Goldcliff May 31st (G. Jones). Photo. opposite, NWR, February. M. John. This male has been in the Gwent / Glamorgan / Bristol area since 2001. Usually being seen during the winter in Wales and in England in the spring. 5 Black Scoter ( 0, 2, 0) Melanitta americana Mor-hwyaden ddu Breeds northern North America, winters on the Atlantic coast, south to North Carolina. Caernarfon: off Llanfairfechan, 2004 – Apr. 1st at least, returning Oct. 4th onwards into 2006. Photo opposite by S. Young. This bird has spent the last seven winters in the same area. The only other Welsh record was off Newgale, Pembrokeshire, December 1991 – February 1992. Surf Scoter ( 22, 18, 2) Melanitta perspicillata Mor-hwyaden yr Ewyn Breeds northern North America, winters on the Atlantic coast, south to North Carolina. 2005 Pembroke: off Newgale, a male & female on Nov. 26th, with the female also there on the 27th (DJ Astins). 2003 Carm./ Pemb. 2 males, Amroth / Telpyn Point Dec. 23rd (NP Fairney). A male was seen annually from the latter site 1997 – 2000. Black-browed Albatross ( 1, 0, 1) Thalassarche melanophris Albatros Aelddu Breeds on islands in S.