Dorset Bird Report 2014 Published November 2016 © 2016 Dorset Bird Club 2014 Dorset Bird Report 1 2014Report.indd 1 14/11/2016 17:51 Taylor Andrews Ltd CHARTERED CERTIFIED ACCOUNTANTS Worried about Self-Assessment? Need help with your Tax Returns or Accounts? With over 30 years’ experience of Accounts and Tax for small businesses and individuals, why not let us ease your worries? We will deal with HM Revenue & Customs on your behalf and ensure that all forms are completed correctly and on time, thus avoiding fines and penalties. We will also advise you how to keep your tax bill as low as possible. For a free initial consultation, please call Mark Andrews on 01202 398923 email: [email protected] 2 Dorset Bird Report 2014 2014Report.indd 2 14/11/2016 17:51 DORSET BIRD REPORT 2014 CONTENTS . 5 . Report Production Team .. Notes for Contributors 6-7 . A Brief Review and Highlights of the Year 8-9 . 15 The Dorset List 10-14 NotesSystematic to Systematic List for List2014 . 16-146 . Escapes 147-148 . 151 Pending and Requested Records 149-150 . Not Proven Records . Dorset Bird Ringing – Summary for 2014 152-153 . Dorset Bird Ringing – Selected Recoveries in 2014 154-163 . Dorset Bird Ringing – County Totals up to end of 2014 164-169 . Short-toed Eagle - A new species for Dorset - Paul Morton 170 . Northern Harrier - A new species for Dorset - Peter Moore 171-172 . Little Bustard - Finders account - Mike Morse 172-174 . Purbeck Breeding Seabird Survey - Sophie Lake, Footprint Ecology 174-188 . County Map 189-191 . Gazetteer 192-196 . List of Contributors 197-201 Photographic Credits Inside Back Cover 2014 Dorset Bird Report 3 2014Report.indd 3 14/11/2016 17:51 We offer Tailor-made birding & wildlife tours Specialists in out-of-print Themed birding and wildlife walks NATURAL HISTORY BOOKS Local guides for groups Books bought & sold Illustrated wildlife talks UK & overseas wildlife tours and guides Log on to our website for a full stock list or contact us for a copy Check out our website or contact us of our latest catalogue for further details www.callunabooks.co.uk www.dorsetbirdingandwildlife.co.uk [email protected] [email protected] Neil Gartshore, Moor Edge, 2 Bere Road, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 4DD 01929 552560 4 Dorset Bird Report 2014 2014Report.indd 4 14/11/2016 17:51 DORSET BIRD REPORT 2014 PRODUCTION TEAM Editor: Species Accounts: Marcus Lawson Mute Swan to Mallard Marcus Lawson Pintail to Ruddy Duck Robin Trundle Galliformes to Spoonbill Marcus Lawson Raptors to Coot Geoff Upton Waders Daragh Croxson Skuas to Terns Ian Stanley Auks to Woodpeckers Clive Cottrell Larks to Wheatears Nevil Fowler Thrushes to Sylvia Warblers Shaun Robson Phylloscs to Starlings Geoff Upton Sparrows to Buntings John Lockwood Escapes Marcus Lawson Ringing Information: Map: Kevin Sayer Gazetteer: Nick Hull Nick Hull CURRENT COMMITTEE OF THE DORSET BIRD CLUB Trustees: George Green, John Lockwood, Jol Mitchell, Robin Trundle General Manager: Marcus Lawson [email protected] Secretary: Allan Reese Treasurer: Trevor Buck Conservation Officer: Jol Mitchell Membership Secretary: Diana Dyer [email protected] Guided Walks: Richard Charman [email protected] County Recorder: Marcus Lawson [email protected] Dorset Records Panel : Dave Chown, Kevin Lane, Mike Morse, Ian Stanley, Dave Taylor. 2014 Dorset Bird Report 5 2014Report.indd 5 14/11/2016 17:51 NOTES FOR CONTRIBUTORS Dorset Bird Report The is an annual publication by the Dorset Bird Club of records and papers on all aspects of Dorset ornithology. All contributions, from both residents and visitors to the county, in the form of records, papers, drawings and photographs are welcomed. All contributors are acknowledged in the report. These notes should assist you if you wish to WHATcontribute RECORDS to the report. DO WE WANT? Due to the volume of records received it is not possible to list every one in the report. All records are valuable and the report is an edited summary highlighting the occurrence and status of each species for that year. The DBC database, managed through the Dorset Environmental Records Centre, is an archive of all the records where they are accessible by groups or individuals for future reference. Please refer to the Dorset Bird List here http://www.dorsetbirds.org.uk/#/dorset-bird- list/4545548008 which lists the type of records requested for each species. This list can also be found in this report on pages 10-14. Species requiring a full written description are marked with either (*) for national rarities, or (D) for birds which are rare or scarce in the county. Descriptions of national rarities will be forwarded to the British Birds Rarities Committee (BBRC), whilst records of locally rare or scarce birds will be assessed by the Dorset Records Panel (DRP). The DRP reserves the right to request further information in order to assess records, if necessary. This may include records of species not usually requiring a full written description if they are, for example, reported from an unusual ANDlocation WHERE or unseasonal FROM? time of year. Unsubstantiated records will not be published. Records are welcomed from all parts of the county. There is a natural bias towards coastal sites and nature reserves as they are excellent places to see birds. Many of these sites produce their own reports, which are incorporated into the Dorset Bird Report, but please don’t assume that your records will be forwarded to us automatically by other organisations. Records away from these sites are often thin on the ground, so “local patch” records and casual recording from less well-watched areas are very important – this includes such sites as your own garden! These enable us to gain as full a picture as possible of what is happening to Dorset’s birds. Many national surveys are carried out annually in the county as part of the wider picture of the UK’s bird life. A copy of any Dorset results would be greatly appreciated HOWso the SHOULDinformation I SEND can beMY added RECORDS to our IN? database. recorder@dorsetbirds .org .uk Casual records and descriptions of rare and scarce birds can be e-mailed to the DBC at the following address: This is also the correct address to send any local patch bird reports to, as well as any completed DBC spreadsheets. 6 Dorset Bird Report 2014 2014Report.indd 6 14/11/2016 17:51 WHEN SHOULD I SUBMIT MY RECORDS? If possible, individual records should be sent to the County Recorder periodically throughout the year to enable them to be logged on to the database over a period of time. This will help to ensure that there will not be a backlog of data inputting to be done all at once which can hold up production of the annual bird report. Please, at the latest, send records in by the end of January the following year. Late records will be accepted, but it may not be possible to include them in the report for that year. Records of birds requiring a full written description should be submitted as soon after the sighting as possible.recorder@dorsetbirds Rarity description .org forms .uk can be found here http://www.dorsetbirds. org.uk/#/dorset-bird-list/4545548008 and once completed should be sent to the county WHOrecorder SHOULD at I SUBMIT MY RECORDS TO? BirdTrack, The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) recording system, allows the individual to input records directly online which the County Recorder can then access. This is the preferred way in which we would like to receive your records. BirdTrack This from the BTO website: BirdTrack “ is an exciting tool that looks at migration movements and distributions of birds throughout Britain and Ireland. provides facilities for observers to store and manage their own personal records as well as using these to support species conservation at local, regional, national and international scales.” More details on Birdtrack can be found here: Whenhttp://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/birdtrack/about/introducing-birdtrack-home registering please ensure to check the box which allows the forwarding of recordshttp://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/birdtrack/taking-part/how-register to the County Recorder . All other records should be submitted directly to the County Recorder . Please note that ALL records REQUIRING A FULL WRITTEN DESCRIPTION at EITHER county OR national LEVEL SHOULD BE SENT directly to THE COUNTY Recorder USING THE forms AVAILABLE HERE: http://www .dorsetbirds .org .uk/#/dorset-bird-list/4545548008 Records of rare and scarce birds in Dorset will only be entered onto the official Dorset totals after acceptance by either BBRC or DRP . Excel An spreadsheet is available for listing your sightings and is transferable directly into the database, thereby saving a lot of time. If anyone wishes to receive a copy (instructions will be given on its use), please contact the County Recorder. 2014 Dorset Bird Report 7 2014Report.indd 7 14/11/2016 17:51 A BRIEF REVIEW AND HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR Marcus Lawson 276 species recorded for the year is above the mean for the previous 9 years, although several more species could be added once descriptions have been received and accepted thereafter.2005 The table below shows2008 the annual totals2010 for the2011 past 102012 years. 2014 258 258 2006 2007 2009 2013 270 268 278 261 278 274 269 276 The 2013 total moves up to 269 with the acceptance of a Cory’s Shearwater on 23rd December. 1stBelow Northern are the Harrierrarity highlights (10 or fewer previous records) for the year in the county: 1st Short-toed Eagle Citrine Wagtail - Portland 21st April (see p171-172). Little Bustard - Morden Bog 31st May to 1st June (see p170).