Notes White Black Kite On 21st August 1988, a clear day with moderate westerly winds, a good raptor passage at Gibraltar included about 4,000 Black Kites Milvus mig• rans. At 16.30 hours, a flock of Black Kites that had not been seen overhead was spotted heading southwestwards to the south of the Signal Station observation point at the summit of the Rock, having presumably crossed the ridge behind the observers. The flock of 15 included a white bird, apparently also a Black Kite, although, as the raptors were distant and moving away towards the Strait of Gibraltar, a firm identification was not possible. At about 17.30 hours, three Black Kites approached the north end of the Rock over the sea from the east; one of these was white. The group crossed the crest about 300 m north of the observers and continued southwest, gaining height steadily until they disappeared from sight over the Strait. Groups of Black Ki$es were aborting the sea crossing throughout the day, possibly owing to wind conditions over the Strait, and turning back to try again; it is very likely, therefore, that the 'second' white individual was the same as that seen an hour earlier.
continued...
501 502 Notes On the second occasion, the kite was observed for a total of about 15 minutes, and at fairly close range for about five minutes. It was completely white: its underparts appeared greyish at first when shaded by the body, but showed white on catching the sun; its legs also were pale, appearing pale grey in the shade of the body and not yellow as on normal Black Kites. The all-white appearance suggested an albino, but the eye colour could not be distinguished. I know of no other records of a pure white Black Kite. I should like to thank Jeffrey Saez, who was first to spot this aberrant Black Kite on both occasions. J. E. CORTES 8/8 Buena Vista Road, Gibraltar
We do not normally publish notes on aberrant plumage when there is no likelihood of confusion over identification, but this instance is of special interest. Ens
Sparrowhawk seizing slow-worm At about 11.30 GMT on 4th September 1988, near Bicknoller, Taunton, Somerset, I saw a female Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus rise from the verge of a road carrying in its talons a slim, writhing reptile about 30 cm long. In good light and at a distance of about 8 m, I was able to identify the reptile as a slow-worm Anguis fragilis.Th e Sparrowhawk flew off speedily with the slow-worm, but unfortunately, as it was soon out of sight, I do not know whether it subsequently ate the reptile. BWP vol. 2 states that the food of the Sparrowhawk is almost entirely birds and that lizards (of which the slow-worm is one) are 'killed but not eaten'; Ian Newton (1986, The Sparrowhawk) also stresses the importance of small birds in the diet, but does not mention slow-worms as possible prey. A. P. RADFORD Crossways Cottage, West Bagborough, Taunton, Somerset TA4 3EG
Least Sandpiper feeding by hovering G. Bundy (Brit. Birds 77: 156) and T. Nightingale (Brit. Birds 79: 136) recorded Little Stints Calidris minuta feeding in flight and hovering. On 9th February 1986, at Portscatho, Cornwall, Iain Prophet, Ernie Davis and I watched a Least Sandpiper C. minutilla. Twice during the morning, the wader moved from the beach area to other parts of the small bay, and on the second occasion ED relocated it on an area of elevated concrete walling. A small drainage pipe was positioned above the wall, and oozing from it were a green alga-like substance and a small amount of water, which was running down the wall. This was obviously providing a source of food for a number of small unidentified insects, and it was on these that the sandpiper was feeding. It fed by hovering into the wind (a strong northwesterly), just above the water and algae, with legs dangling, while seemingly snapping at the insects with its bill; it would also hover while picking at the algae, in a manner, as Mr Bundy pointed out, 'reminiscent of storm-petrels (Hydrobatidae)'. So far as I am aware, this hovering behaviour was noted only on this first day of the Least Sandpiper's ten-week stay in southwest Notes 503 England (see Brit. Birds 80: 536), and then only for about two minutes; after the first morning, the wader moved to a cliff-top puddle, where it remained for most of its sojourn. MARK A. GOLLEY 1 Willow Tree Close, Okehampton, Devon EX20 1NL
Unusual upperwing pattern of Little Gull During April 1988, at Seaforth Nature Reserve, Merseyside, the usual large build-up of Little Gulls LOTUS minutus occurred, with up to 500 at times. On a number of occasions, a first-winter individual was present which showed an all-dark upperwing instead of the usual 'W pattern' of dark and grey; the remainder of its plumage was normal, with grey mantle, white tail with black band, and standard head pattern (plates 280 & 281). P. J. Grant (1986, Gulls: a guide to identification, 2nd edition, page 122) described this plumage as a 'rare variant', but did not state exactly how rare it is. A similar individual was seen at Cley, Norfolk, in May 1981 (Brit. Birds 75:
280 & 281. First-winter Little Gull Lams minutus with all-dark upperwing, Merseyside, April 1988 (Steve Young) 282. First-winter Little Gull Lams minutus with normal 'W pattern' on upperwing, Merseyside, April 1984 (Steve Young) 504 Notes 88), commehting on which P.J. Grant stated that at that time (1982) he knew of only two other records (no details given). This plumage is also mentioned in Harris, Tucker & Vinicombe (1989, The Macmillan Field Guide to Bird Identification), with an illustration based on a Little Gull in Somerset in February 1987. Whether this plumage is a rare aberration or just an extreme 'end-of-the-range' stage is open to discussion. The amount of black on the upperwing of first-year Little Gulls varies individually: most illustrations show the first four or five primaries black, but some individuals have all primaries black, with black on the secondaries (plate 282), while others have only three or four primaries black. STEVE YOUNG 6 Portelet Road, Liverpool L13 6SE, Merseyside
P. G. Lansdown has commented that this plumage variation is also shown by juveniles, and would be continued, somewhat faded, into first-summer plumage. EDS
First-winter Little Tern showing features of juvenile plumage Much of the post-juvenile moult of Little Tern Sterna albifrons is complete by early November, though moult of the flight feathers and tail starts between late September and early December (BWP vol. 4). On 21st December 1988, I found five Little Terns at Castro Marim, Portugal. Four were in winter- type plumage, with a dark bill, a dark eye-patch to the nape and a dark carpal bar of varying intensity. The fifth was structurally similar and did not appear short-winged, but in flight it showed several juvenile features: a noticeable zigzag pattern across the wings was present, formed by a dark carpal bar/outer primaries contrasting with pale inner primaries (which appeared short) and almost white greater coverts and secondaries; at close range, faint subterminal 'V marks were visible on the mantle, with a suggestion of buff tips to the central tail feathers. Wintering non-adult Sandwich Terns S. sandvkensis in Portugal exhibit a bewildering variety of juvenile/first-winter plumages. A similar variation probably exists among Little Terns, though it is less often recorded. C. C. MOORE v/v Monte Mar r/c, Monte Sta. Luzia, 2775 Parede, Portugal
Although this plumage is little recorded (there appear to be few documented winter records of Little Tern in Western Europe), it is presumably common in West Africa in winter. It also provides further evidence of the complexity of tern plumages in the winter quarters. EDS
Cliff Swallow in Cleveland On the morning of 23rd October 1988, C. Sharp and I were birdwatching at South Gare, Cleveland. The wind was light southeasterly and the day was overcast and misty. During the previous few days, there had been reports of several Richard's Pipits Anthus novaeseelandiae and Pallas's Warblers Phylbscopus proregulus along the east coast of England, and we were hoping to find migrants of an eastern origin. After extensive searching, few birds were found, and at about 08.30 GMT we parted company for about 15 minutes for CS to retrieve his car, which was parked several hundred metres away near the lifeboat station. Notes 505 As he approached his car, he had brief views of a hirundine which he thought had a pale rump, but the bird quickly disappeared and was dismissed as a probable aberrant juvenile Swallow Hirundo rustica. I was talking to M. A. Blick when CS drove up and told us of his observation. It was a relatively late date for a Swallow in Cleveland, so we all returned to the lifeboat station. After a short wait, the bird reappeared, flying along the Gare about 10 m above the ground. Although plumage colour was difficult to see, it was very soon apparent that we were not looking at one of the common hirundines, but at a thick-set bird with a square-ended tail and broader wings than Swallow. We watched the bird over our heads for a while. The underparts appeared whitish, but with a completely dark underwing, and I considered Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris. It did look to be the right size and shape. The flight consisted of long periods of gliding, interspersed with a few quick wing-beats, and also seemed right, but this bird had a dark throat. It banked, and a broad orange-buff patch on the rump became visible, and I suddenly realised what we were watching. I told CS and MAB that I thought that it was a Cliff Swallow H. pyrrhonota, a bird with which I was familiar from the Isles of Scilly in 1983, and also from birdwatching trips to Florida and Canada. After their initial feeling of disbelief, we watched the bird for a few more minutes, when MAB left to inform other birdwatchers in the area. D. J. Britton and about a dozen others soon arrived and watched the bird until 09.45 hours, when it was seen to fly north over the River Tees. At one point, it was joined by a Swallow, when the differences in structure became even more apparent. Although the bird was watched for over an hour, it was nearly always more than 50 m away, and in poor light conditions. The following description was taken: SIZE AND STRUCTURE Similar in size to uniformly dark. Large orange-buff rump Swallow, but with much more stocky body patch. Tail dark. and broader wings, especially at base. Wings UNDERPARTS White, with orange extending seemed to have a very short arm, bulging from rump onto undertail-coverts. Under secondaries, and tips more blunt than those wing dark, with coverts contrasting slightly of Swallow. Tail short, broad and square- with paler underside of primaries and secon ended. daries. HEAD Wholly dark. Crown, cheeks and FLIGHT Typified by short burst of deep wing- throat all apparently the same colour. beats followed by long bouts of gliding on Buffish collar occasionally seen on sides of wings held rather stiffly and pointing neck (though I could not discern whether it slightly downwards. Occasionally, when fly- was complete). catching, tail fanned, when it appeared quite UPPF.RPARTS Mantle and upperwing rounded. Identification of a Cliff Swallow in Britain requires that the confusion species are eliminated: Red-rumped Swallow H. daurica, hybrid Swallow X House Martin Delichon urbica, and Cave Swallow H. fulva. The last of these is very similar to Cliff Swallow, but is very local to a small area in the southern USA and is not generally considered to be a candidate for transatlantic vagrancy, though it has been recorded well outside its normal range in North America. It does, however, have a smarter head pattern, with a more contrasting dark cap and pale throat, compared with the rather dull, uniformly coloured head of Cliff Swallow. Red-rumped 506 Notes Swallow has pale cheeks and throat, dark undertail-coverts and a deeply forked tail. Hybrid Swallows X House Martins do occur, but those which have been documented have white rumps washed pink, pale underwing- coverts and forked tails as constant characters. Prolonged views of Cliff Swallow should not suggest either House Martin or Swallow in either plumage or structure. This record has been accepted as the second for Britain and Ireland, the previous being a juvenile on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, during 10th to at least 27th October 1983 (Brit. Birds 81: 449-452). It is interesting that the Cliff Swallow appeared on the same weekend as two other North American passerines on the East Coast: a Northern Waterthrush Seiurus noveboracensis in Lincolnshire and an Indigo Bunting Passerina cyaneain Norfolk. ROB LITTLE 23 Ludham Grove, Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland TS19 OXH
Peter Lansdown (Chairman, British Birds Rarities Committee) has commented as follows: 'The pale rump of Cliff Swallow, as observed on the Cleveland individual, is a useful additional feature with which to eliminate the rather similar Cave Swallow. All of the other major characters for separating Cliff Swallow from potential confusion species in Britain and Ireland have been described as such by Rob Little. Owing to the less-than-perfect views, the actual colours of the cheeks and the upperparts and the presence or positive absence of pale edgings to the tertials were not noted by Rob Little, so ageing is not possible. The brown tone to the upperparts, described by Dave Britton in his submitted notes, suggests, however, that the bird was most likely a juvenile.' EDS
Richard's Pipits and the 'long grass' fallacy It has often been said that Richard's Pipits Anthus novaeseelandiae 'prefer long grass'. Although I have seen many Richard's Pipits in long grass, particularly on Fair Isle, Shetland, it may not necessarily be the preferred habitat. My own observations show that, when newly arrived in autumn, they prefer the vicinity of roads and similar 'open areas', behaving much in the manner of Pied Wagtails Motacilla alba. I have even seen one feeding on top of a tarred roof on Fair Isle. But for human disturbance, I believe that the species would probably prefer to frequent close-cropped grass, turf in the vicinity of roads, and so on. J. F. HOLLOWAY Castk, Stronsay, Orkney KW17 2AS
Peter Lansdown has commented that: 'Richard's Pipits in the Isles of Scilly are often in long grass, particularly in the middle of the day when being watched by numbers of observers. The early risers, however, often find them on short grass (e.g. the golf course), which they soon leave as human activity increases. Some "out of bounds" short-grass areas (e.g. the airfield, Tresco heliport) occasionally retain individuals all day.' JFH's observations and conclusions are confirmed, but, in contrast to Tawny Pipit A. campestris (and that is the main point), migrant Richard's Pipits are more often found in long grass. EDS
Grasshopper Warblers raising two and three broods in Cumbria Siddock Pond, near Workington, Cumbria, is essentially a wet habitat with a predominance of common reed Phragmites austraMs, and with many Notes 507 other species of sedge Carex and rush Juncus at the water's edge and away from standing water. The dryer areas are frequented in summer by Grasshopper Warblers Locustella naevia, two areas in particular being favoured each year. Site A is some 30 m from the water's edge on a steep- sided railway embankment, an area of rank tussocky grass, bramble Rubus and rosebay willowherb Epilobium angustifolium; site B is 100 m from water on an extensive flattish area of tussocky grass and bramble. Both are very similar in vegetation composition, although site A offers less than 70 m2 of suitable nesting habitat (making it relatively easy to watch brood-feeding adults back to the nest). In 1987, male Grasshopper Warblers were singing at both sites on 27th and 28th April; regular observations started in early May, but, despite two warblers being seen at each site, we saw no evidence of courtship or nest- building. On 6th June, however, those at site A were carrying food into rank grass: after careful watching-back several times, a visit revealed a nest within 10 m of the male's regular song post; it contained six chicks aged approximately eleven days (these left the nest two days later). On 7th, a search of site B revealed a pair of Grasshopper Warblers feeding at least three recently fledged young. Although observations were maintained at both sites for second clutches, nothing was noted until 7th July, when the adults at site B were seen carrying food into an area of grass about 20 m from where the young had been seen in June; again, after careful observation of the adults emerging with faecal sacs, a nest was quickly found containing chicks, which jumped out immediately. Later that day, at site A, adults were seen carrying food into the rank grass where the first nest had been located; investigation revealed six seven-day-old chicks in a nest only 5 m away from the first, both nests being within 10 m of the male's song post; the chicks had fledged by 14th July. As Grasshopper Warblers are believed to be at best double-brooded in Britain, no further specific observations were made. On 21st August, however, while watching a pair of White throats Sylvia communis near site B, NW saw an adult Grasshopper Warbler carrying a large caterpillar into long grass very close to where the previous nest had been found; he quickly located a nest with five seven-day-old chicks, which were still present on 27th but had left by 28th. Only one male Grasshopper Warbler was seen or heard at each site. The male at site A seemed to sing from only one perch, a small dog rose Rosa canina above the nest sites. That at site B was more mobile and sang from several perches, including a wire-mesh fence and bramble twigs; although the first nest at B was not found, the fledged young were within 20 m of the two subsequent nests, which were only 10 m apart. The Grasshopper Warbler is considered generally single-brooded in Britain, though often rearing two broods in southern England (e.g. The Handbook; Simms, 1985, British Warblers). An enquiry to the British Trust for Ornithology revealed no previous confirmation of triple brooding by the species within the Nest Record Scheme. It seems highly likely, therefore, that this is the first recorded example of Grasshopper Warblers raising 508 Notes three broods in Britain (although this is not unusual on the Continent), and it seems remarkable that it should have occurred in northern England, where the species has been thought always to be single- brooded. J. CALLION, N. WHITE and D. HOLLOWAY 2 Scawfield, High Harrington, Workington, Cumbria CAM 4LZ
David Glue's analysis of Nest Record Cards (Brit. Birds 83: 131-145) indicated 'that it is theoretically possible for three broods to be reared [by Grasshopper Warblers] uider favourable conditions [in Britain].' EDS
Magpie eating mussel On 11th December 1984, at Ainsdale Dunes, Merseyside, I observed a Magpie Pica pica scrabbling in the sand. It kept Notes 509
283-286. Magpie Pica pica locating mussel Mytilus edulis buried in sand, removing it, opening it and eating it, Merseyside, December 1984 (Steve Young)
stopping and looking intently downwards, then digging and pushing sand away with its bill (plates 283 & 284). After about five minutes, it succeeded in extracting a mussel Mytilus edulis (plate 285). The Magpie hopped slightly farther away and, placing the mussel on the sand, proceeded to prise the shell open and eat the contents (plate 286). Magpies are regular on this shore, but this was the only time I observed this behaviour. STEVE YOUNG 6 Portelet Road, Liverpool L13 6SE
The mussel had presumably been buried previously by the Magpie which retrieved it. EDS 510 Notes
Blackcap performing song flight On 26th May 1988, near Cotton End, Bedfordshire, I heard a Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla singing from near the top of a hawthorn Crataegus hedge, at a height of approximately 3 m. Three times I saw the warbler perform a song flight, similar to that of Whitethroat S. communis. The Blackcap rose from its perch to a height of 4 m above the hedge, and descended slowly with quivering wings and raised tail to the same song post, singing throughout. Between each of the three flights the warbler sang from within the hedge. On previous and subsequent visits to the same area, the Blackcap sang normally. The Handbook mentions Blackcaps singing 'sometimes in flight', but Simms (1985, British Warblers) did not refer to song flights as part of the species' territorial display. <• MARK BOYD 107 High Road, Cotton End, Bedford MK45 3AX
Dr Euan Dunn has informed us that a pretty thorough search of the literature for the forthcoming volume 6 of BWP (covering warblers) revealed no similar instances of Blackcap performing a song flight. In addition, and of equal interest, one record only was found of upward song flight by Lesser Whitethroat S. curruca. Evidently, this behaviour is extremely rare for both species. EDS