Report on rare birds in Great Britain in 1969 (with i960 and 1968 additions) F. R. Smith and the Rarities Committee Plates 49-j 1 This is the twelfth annual report of the Rarities Committee. The steady increase in the number of records submitted, which had per­ sisted throughout the five years from 1964 to 1968 inclusive, ended abruptly in 1969 with a fall of 20 % from the high total of 510 (of about 113 species) during 1968 to 400 (of about 103 species) in 1969, bringing the situation back almost to that in 1966 (360 records). This decrease was entirely due to the marked reduction in the number of rarities, of American as well as eastern or southern origin, that occurred during the autumn migration, when the number recorded was 30% less than in 1968. The drop would have been even more apparent if about 60 Richard's Pipits Anthus novaeseelandiae had not appeared; although only about half the total of individuals in each of the years 1967 and 1968, the number of this species recorded in 1969 was considerably higher than it had ever been before 1967. The acceptance rate was also down, about 79 % as against 83 % in 1968, but still very much more than the lowest rate of 68% in 1963. Of the 103 species involved, about 86 were species of which less than ten are recorded each year. The use of the 'Unusual Record' form (Brit. Birds, 58: 228-229), which is obtainable free from the address on page 293, is now almost standard practice. Appendix 1 on pages 292-293 lists the 74 rejections for 1969, while one additional accepted record for i960 and three for 1968 are given at the end of the main systematic list. Reference was made in the 1968 report (Brit. Birds, 62: 457) to the steps to be taken to bring the committee to the normal number often, and to the retirement of one member each year in order of seniority of service. This resulted in the retirement of Professor M. F. M. Meiklejohn who had served as a member since the committee was con­ stituted; we cannot record this without expressing our great appreciation for the highly valued service which he has so good-humouredly given during these ten years. The committee now consists of P. A. D. Hollom (Chairman), F. R. Smith (Hon. Secretary), D. G. Bell, A. R. M. Blake, Peter Davis, R. H. Dennis, G. A. Pyman, R. A. Richardson, Dr J. T. R. Sharrock and R. WagstafFe. The two new members, R, A. Richardson and Dr J. T. R. Sharrock, were appointed with the support of an overwhelming majority of the county and regional organisations and bird observatories. In addition, M. D. England has been co-opted on 267 268 Rare birds in Great Britain 1969 to the committee with special responsibilities in connection with avicultural matters. It has also been agreed that the retirement of one member each year will not take place if the number has been reduced by natural wastage, or if the longest-standing member has served for less than five years in succession. The comments on the individual species in this report have been prepared by A. R. M. Blake (divers to gulls) and D. G. Bell (terns to buntings) and have again taken into consideration the Irish rarity records in order to complete the picture. It must again be emphasised that the acceptance or rejection of Irish records is the responsibility of the Irish Bird Report (and the Northern Ireland Bird Records Committee). All these Irish records have been taken from the Irish Bird Report for 1969 (obtainable from David Scott, Granite Cottage, Ulverton Road, Dalkey, Co. Dublin, at five shillings), and we are grateful to its editor, Major R. F. Ruttledge, for agreeing to this. The Irish records are given at the beginning of the species comment after the summary (in brackets) of the world breeding range. Photographs of some of the 1969 rarities are reproduced on plates 49-51. Observers are again urged to forward suitable black-and-white prints to be considered for publication. A list of the species considered by the Committee was last published with the 1965 report {Brit. Birds, 59: 304-305), but revised reprints are obtainable from the address on page 293. It should be noted that records of Arctic Redpolls Acanthi's hormmanni are now considered only if the bird or birds concerned have been examined in the hand. The principles and procedure followed in considering records were explained in the 1958 report {Brit. Birds, 53: 155-156), and the syste­ matic list is set out in the same way as in the report for 1968 {Brit. Birds, 62: 460-489). The following points, some of which were out­ lined more fully in the 1958 report {Brit. Birds, 53: 156-158), should be borne in mind, as they show the basis on which this information has been put together: (i) The details included for each record are (1) county; (2) locality; (3) number of birds if more than one, and age and sex if known (in the cases of spring and summer records, however, the age is normally given only where the bird con­ cerned was not in adult summer plumage); (4) if trapped or found dead; (5) date(s); and (6) observer or observers up to three in number, in alphabetical order. (ii) No record which would constitute the first for Britain and Ireland is pub­ lished by us, even if we consider it acceptable, until it has been passed by the Records Committee of the British Ornithologists' Union. (iii) In general, the report is confined to records which are regarded as certain, and 'probables' are not included. In the case of the very similar Long-billed and Short-billed Dowitchers Limnodromus scolopaceus and L. griseus, however, we are continuing to publish indeterminable records and this also applies to observations of such 'difficult' groups as frigate-birds Fregafa spp and albatrosses Diomedea spp. (iv) The sequence of species is based on the last B.O.U. Check-List of the Birds of Great Britain and Ireland (1952) with a few small changes resulting from more Rare birds in Great Britain 1969 269 recent research and the many later additions inserted where they seem most appro­ priate. The scientific nomenclature and specification, on the other hand, follow the more up-to-date work of Dr Charles Vaurie's The Birds of (be Pakarctic Fauna (1959-65) with only minor exceptions. Any sight records of subspecies (including those of birds trapped and released) are normally referred to as 'showing the characters' of the race concerned. Proofs of this report have again been sent to most of the county editors concerned in England and the regional recorders in Scotland, Wales and Ireland, as this enables the details to be double-checked. This has considerably reduced the number of discrepancies between the relevant reports of this committee and the regional publications and, with improved arrangements for the exchange of information, it is now expected that these will be reduced still further. Observers and recorders are, however, again urged to make sure that the last date on which any bird was seen is supplied. The procedure outlined in the 1967 report {Brit. Birds, 61: 331) for investigating the possibility of escapes has been continued. In addition, M. D. England is now corresponding with continental zoos in order to extend his information network on the foreign escapes that might reach this country. The arrangements with the Wildfowl Trust for exchange of information about escapes are being continued, as an up-to-date assessment of the likelihood of escape is of great assistance. The Committee are most grateful to those concerned and to the many observers and local organisations whose co-operation has made the publication of this report possible. All records should continue to be directed to F. R. Smith, 117 Hill Barton Road, Exeter, Devon EXI 3pp. Systematic list of records accepted Black-browed Albatross Diomedea melanophris Firth of Forth area: what is presumed to be the Bass Rock bird recorded in 1967 (Brit. Birds, 61: 332) and in 1968 (Brit. Birds, 62: 460) was seen six miles off St Abbs Head, Berwickshire, on 28th February (D. McLeod), at Bass Rock, East Lothian, four times from 10th April to about 3rd May (F. Marr) and off Elie Ness, Fife, on 23rd August (Dr I. T. and Mrs M. M. Draper). Orkney: Hoy, 13th August (K. and M. Janich, N. van Swelm). Yorkshire: Hornsea, 24th April (W. F. Curtis). (Southern Oceans) These might well refer to the same individual, as all were in adult plumage. Wilson's Petrel Oceanites oceankus (Southern Oceans) None in Britain, but one off Cape Clear Island, Co. Cork, on 3rd August. This was only the second British and Irish record since 1958 (the other being in 1967). Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea Kent: Dungeness, 13th April (M. A. Hollingworth, P. J. Wycherley). 270 Rare birds in Great Britain 1969 (Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean) From Cape Clear Island, Co. Cork, came records totalling 56 individuals, all but five on 23rd and 24th September. Elsewhere in Ireland records totalling 3 5 indivi­ duals ranged from 28th July to 29th September with the peak of 24 off Brandon Point, Co. Kerry, on 23 rd September correlating well with observations from Cape Clear Island. The single British record is the lowest return since 1964 when there was none. April records are unusual, this being only the tenth in that month. Purple Heron Ardea purpurea Devon: Slapton Ley, immature, 9th to 27th September (T.