e ir sof L ri ges ire COUNTY BOUNDARY CHANGES F'OREWORI) This Checklist commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Cambridge Bird Club. It is the fnst avifauna to cover the whole of present-day Cambridgeshire (plus Peterborough Unitary Authority). Previously, The Birds of Cambridgeshire (Bircham 1989) and The Birds of Huntingdon and Peterborough (Clark 1996) used the 1965 county boundaries (see maps opposite). I would like to thank the members of the Checklist Working Party, namely Richard Allison, Steve Cooper, Alan Hitchings, Bruce Martin and Richard Patient, for their constant help and support during the preparation ofthis publication. Thanks also to CliffCarson and Jonathan Taylor for checking the Ouse and Nene Washes data respectively and to Richard Patient for assisting me with the proof-reading. Many thanks to all those who provided illustrations. The front cover by Richard Fowling is a HT'NTINGDONSHIRE striking painting in his own inimitable style. On the back cover, miniatures by Graham Easy (shown actual size) are some of the earliest work of this talented artist. We are much indebted to Hugh Ennion and the estate of Eric Ennion for permission to publish the incomparable line drawings. Thanks are also due to Robin Chittenden, Iain Leach and Alan Tate for permission to CAIT,IBRIDGESHTRE publish their excellent photographs. In addition, local photographers, Richard Allison, Stuart Elsom, Bob Frost, Da:ren Frost, David Gameq Bruce Martin, Jeremy Milne, John Parsloq Richard Patient, Richard Porter and Dick Seamons, have generously provided previously unpublished material of great value. Finally, I would'like to thank Roger Clarke and Stuart Elsom for their help in acquiring illustrations. The Soke of Peterborough became Peterborough and the IsIe of Ely independant of Northamptonshire. Iost their separate ldentlttes. John S.Clark Line drawings All line drawings are by the late Eric Ennion. We are much indebted to Oxford University Press for permission to publish the drawing of a Shelduck from Life on the Seashore by E.A.R.Ennion (1948). \ Cover illustrations \ ,t The frontcover, by Richard Fowling, depicts Red-necked Grebe, Baill-on's Crake andMoustached CA}4BRIDGESHIRE I Warbler. For each of these species the first county breeding record was also the first for the /l a British Isles. I . \ al \-l | The back cover, by Graham Easy, depicts a Squacco Heron at Chesterton Fen, Wryneck and -)l \ -t-t Hippolais warbler at Milton and Pectoral and Curlew Sandpipers at Cambridge sewage farm. All were recorded and painted in 1954. Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire Peterborough became a unitary ISBN No.O 902038 13 3 were amalgamated. authority. THE BIRDS OF CAMBRIDGESHIRE: CHECKLIST 2OOO Published by the Cambridge Bird Club in September 2000 INTRODUCTION TO SYSTEMATIC LIST THE OUSEAND NENE WASHES, BOTH INTERNATIONALLYIMPORTANT SITES A}[D APPENDICES I.[I Intemationally important sites regularly hold in excess of 20,000 waterfowl (geese and ducks) orloloormoreofthe'flyway'populationofaparticularspecies. Overafiveyearperiod(1993/ RECORDS, STATUS CATEGORIES AND DEFINITIONS 94-1997 198) peak counts of waterfowl averaged 65,792 ar Ouse Washes and 33,7 59 at Nene Record Lists: complete lists of records are provided for species with five or fewer records Washes. In this publication all counts of the commoner wintering waterfowl on the Ouse Record Totals: these axe provided for species with 100 or fewerrecords (unless stated otherwise). Washes include the section in Norfolk (see map on inside back cover). The record totals are in bold, next to the species name, with the number of individuals this representsinbracketse.C.2Q),c.18(154). AsingleobservationofanindividuaVflockcounts WISBECH SEWAGE FARM as one record. Further observations ofthe same individual/flock, even at different sites, have Formerly situated just outside Cambridgeshire on the Norfolk/Lincolnshire border. A number not been added to the total. However, determining whether a succession of sightings comprised of records refer to birds 'near Wisbech SF'which were seen just inside Cambridgeshire by the the same or different individuals/flocks has led to some rather arbitrary decisions. Probables River Nene. have been omitted including all references to pratincoles, skuas and petrels not specifically identified. THE BRrrrSH LrST - CATEGORTSATTON OF SPECIES (BOU 1998) Record Frequency: the number of years in which a species has been recorded during the Categories A, B and C (species on the British List). 1990s. Species recorded in 7-9 years are said to be 'almost annual' and species recorded in all Categories D and E (species not on the British List). 10 years are 'annual'. Category A: species recorded in an apparently natural state at least once since lst Jan 1950. Record Averages: the average number per yeax (e.g.) ofrecords during the 1990s, shown as Category B: species recorded in an apparently nahrral state before 1950 but not subsequently. av.8/vear. Category C: introduced species (originally releases or escapees) with self-supporting Category Freqaency Breeding Pairs Mnter or pssssge populations. Some species (e.g. Red Kite) are in both A and C. Very rare 1- in total I - 10 10 in total Category D: species not in Category A or B because there is reasonable doubt that they have years Rare 0-6 11+ in total 11+ in total ever occurred naturally. Scarce 7 -10 years 0-l0 peryear 0-20 per year Category E: includes potential Category C species (releases/escapees) which may occasionally Uncommon all 10 years Il-100 per year 2t-200 per year but have yet to form self-supporting populations. Fairly common all l0 years 101-1000 per year 201-2000 per year breed Common all 10 years 1001-3000 per year 2001-6000 per year SYSTEMATIC LIST (p.4 to 34) Very common all 10 years 3001-9000 per year 6001-18000 per year Abundant all 10 years 9001+ per year I 8000+ per year Nomenclature and Sequence: follows Voous's List of Recent Holarctic Species (BOU 1977, revised edition) and subsequent amendments as notified by BOU in Ibis. Subspecific Vagrant: a bird well outside its usual range. nomenclature follows BllP. Connon names in everyday use are in bold face. Alternative Imlptive visitor: periodic/irregular occuffence outside its usual range. names, as published in The British Z,'sl (BOU 1998), are in plain face (in brackets). Passage migrant: implies spring and autumn unless stated otherwise. Systematic List: comprises a total of 324 species on the British List (Categories A-C) which Migratory breeder: otherwise known as summer visitor. recorded in up to and including Dec 1999. Resident: implies breeding unless stated otherwise. were Cambridgeshire 3lst 'Feral: species breeding in the wild which were introduced, deliberately or (p.34 accidentally, by man. APPEI\DICES I-[I to 36) Appendix I: contains Category A and C species excluded from the Systematic List as they are ABBREVIATIONS probably escapes or releases from captivity. N/A indicates that record totals are not available e.g. when escapees cannot easily be distinguished Appendix II: contains Category D species fuotential CategoryA species). from wild individuals. Appendix III: contains only selected Category E species (potential Category C species). * denotes records not submitted to British Birds (aterBBRQ but accepted bythe local comnrittcc. ** denotes records rejected by British Birds (Iater BBRq but subsequently accepted by thc local committee where fresh evidence has become available. SF: sewage farm BF: sugar beet factory BP: brick pit GP: gravel pit BBRC: British Birds Rarities Committee. BOII British Omithologists' Union EarliesVlatest dates are given as (e.9.) 21.9.97; all refer to 20th century unless stated otherwise. SYSTEMATIC LIST Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus l(l) Very rare visitor: one at Grafrram Water on 3fth Oct 1988. An exceptional inland record of a Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata c.96(110) highly pelagic species, which breeds in the southern hemisphere. Scarce, almost annual passage migranVwinter visitor. Largest party 3 (Ferry Meadows Feb 1979 and Grafham WaterApr 1989). Earliest2l.9.97 and latest 23.4.89. Manx Shearwater Pufiinus puffinus c.28Q8) Rare visitor, the majority stranded during the dispersal of juveniles in Sept (many dead or Black-throated Diver Gavia arctica c.33(38) dying). Also noted Mar-May, July andAug. Scarce, almost annual passage migranVwinter visitor, chiefly to Graflram Water and other large expanses of water in the west of the county. Largest party 3 (Ferry Meadows Feb 1979). Storm Petrel (European Storm-petrel) Hydrobates pelagicus 8(8) Earliest 7.10.81 and latest 22.4.90. Very rare storm-driven visitor, with dated records in Jan, July, Nov and Dec. First noted in spring I 828 (Cambridge). Only 3 records in the 20th century (Reach Dec 1929, Steeple Morden Great Northern Diver Gavia immer c.46(48) Nov 1957 and Elsworth July 1979). Scarce, almost annual winter visitor. Summered once (Fen Drayton GP 1995), otherwise earliest 19.10.67 and latest 7.5.90.. Generally singly, but long-stayers were joined by second birds on Leach's Petrel (Leach's Storm-petrel) Oceanodroma leucorhoa 18(19) three occasions (Graftam Water Jan-Apr l97l and 1990, and Marsh [,ane GP Jan 1995). Rare visitor, the majority storm-driven, with at least 5 records during the spectaculaf,'wreck'of Oct/Nov 1952. AII dated records are within the period Sept-Dec. Two together at Graftram Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Water in Sept 1983. Fairly common resident (cunently 100-150 pairs), breeding chiefly on lakes or ponds. The Gannet (Northern Gannet) Morus bassanus c.55(74) breeding population increased in I 940s-70s as new flooded gravel pits became available. Highest count 58 (Fen Drayton GPAug 1989). Scarce, almost annual visitor, the majority storm-driven during Sept-Nov (others noted Jan- May and July). Largest party 4 (Cambidge Apr 1981). Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus Cormorant (Great Cormorant) Phalacrocorax carbo Fairly common resident (cunently c.250 pairs); some immigration in cold winters.