Albatross sp.
Diomedea/Thalassarche sp. (1, 0)
Photo © Joe Pender
STATUS
Oceanic.
OVERVIEW
In a review of all seabirds by W. R. P. Bourne (Ibis 109: 141-167) the BOU (1971) under 'Introduction' p. xiv, adopted his recommendations for this species with just the 1949 record being admitted as an Albatross sp.
RECORD
1). 1949 Fair Isle Sheep Rock, immature, seen, 14th May.
(G. Waterston, Scottish Naturalist 62: 23-24; P. E. Davis, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin 5 (1): 5; W. R. P. Bourne, Ibis 109: 147; BOU, 1971; Thom, 1986; Dymond, 1991; I. J. Andrews & K. A. Naylor, Scottish Birds 23: 64).
History George Waterston (1950) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. LXII. p. 23, say: 'Occurrence - What is believed to be a Black-browed Albatross was seen on 14th May 1949 by George Waterston, G. Hughes Onslow and W. P. Vicary circling about in the vicinity of the Sheep Craig. Later in the morning it was seen again, actually over the land at the south of the isle, by the same party and James A. Stout. Two islanders, James Wilson and Alexander Stout, reported having seen it off the NW cliffs in the afternoon, and George T. Arthur saw it in the evening off Malcolm's Head. According to The Handbook (4: 83) this would appear to be the first albatross recorded for Scotland, and the first in Britain since an exhausted bird was picked up near Linton, Cambridgeshire, on 9th July 1897.
Field characters - Attention was immediately attracted by the noticeably large size of the bird compared with the herring and great black-backed gulls which were mobbing it. When first seen it was soaring off the south face of the Sheep Craig and glided over towards the party in a slanting attitude, the wings held in the shape of a bow, with the wing-tips lower than the belly of the bird. The breast and underparts were pure white, and the head was slightly greyish in colour. The upper parts of the wings and mantle were black. The rump and upper tail-coverts were white, and the lower part of the tail to the tip black. The undersides of the wings were white with a black margin all around, and black wing-tips. The fine, strong bill was very noticeable, but it was not bright yellow as depicted in The Handbook plate, but horn-coloured, a fact which, in combination with the greyish head, suggests immaturity. The legs appeared to be pinkish horn-colour. The long slim wings were a striking feature, as was the soaring and circling flight on motionless wings. It was not heard to call.
It was continually attended by gulls, and according to A.S., who saw it in the afternoon, it was ruthlessly mobbed by the Ravens nesting at West Lother.' [It seems wisest to prefix this identification with a question mark.
There is no doubt whatever that the bird was an albatross; but the smaller species of Diomedea known as 'mollymauks' are closely similar to one another, and there is no conclusive evidence in the observers' description that this bird was D. melanophris.
In the North Atlantic area this species has been recorded most often, but the Yellow-nosed albatross D. chlororhynchos is recorded from Quebec and Maine, and the Grey-headed Albatross D. chrysostoma from Norway. Any of these three might be fairly contained in the above description, and while the 'horn-coloured' bill (bright yellow in mature melanophris, mostly black with yellow stripe along the culmen and some yellow at base and tip in the others) may not seem dark enough, the 'slightly greyish' head fits chlororhynchos and chrysostoma as well as with immature melanophris; the darker border on both edges of the underside of the wings appears to exclude cauta and bulleri. - Eds.]
W. R. P. Bourne (1967) in The Ibis, Vol. CIX. pp. 141-167, says: 'Albatross sp. (an immature, so Grey-headed Albatross hard to rule out (date incorrect).'
Admitted nationally as albatross sp. (Baxter & Rintoul 1953; BOU 1971; Sharrock & Sharrock 1976; Thom 1986).
Dymond (1991: 3) in The Birds of Fair Isle, says: 'Black-browed Albatross....Although the observers identified it as a Black-browed Albatross, some authorities subsequently demoted the record to 'albatross sp.'
In the writer's opinion, however, the original description leaves no doubt that the observers were correct and that the bird was probably a sub-adult individual.'
Comment This bird was counted up to 1996 in British Birds 89: 485 statistics, but not again in volume 91. However, between 1994 and 1998 this record was removed off the British list by British Birds (see Vols. 87: 509 and 91: 459).
NOT PROVEN
0). 1870 Derbyshire Near Clay Cross, shot, 2nd November.
("H.S." Field 26th Nov., 1870: 459; J. H. Gurney, Field 3rd Dec., 1870: 498; C. West, Field 3rd Dec., 1870: 498).
[Eds., Field 17th Dec., 1870: 530; Eds., Zoologist 1871: 2527; J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1871: 2563-64].
History "H.S." (1870) in The Field of 26th Nov., Vol. XXXVI. p. 459, and in an Editorial (1871) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. VI. p. 2527, quoting from The Field, of 26th November, 1870, he says: 'It is stated in a local paper that an Albatross, measuring nine feet from tip to tip of its wings, and weighing fifty-six pounds, was shot near Chesterfield on the 2nd instant. Can any of your readers say whether it was really what is represented? I have no recollection of a bird of this species being shot in this country previously.'
J. H. Gurney of Mardon, Totnes (1870) in The Field of 3rd Dec., Vol. XXXVI. p. 498, says: 'The supposed occurrence of an Albatross near Chesterfield, alluded to by a correspondent in the last number of The Field, is certainly an improbable event, especially as the bird is said to have weighed 56 lb.
Mr. Gould in his Handbook to the Birds of Australia, Vol. II. p. 429, speaking of the largest Albatross (Diomedea exulans), says: "...after killing numerous examples of both sexes and of all ages, I found the average weight to be 17 lb".'
C. West of Tupton (1870) in The Field of 3rd Dec., Vol. XXVI. p. 498, and with the same story in an Editorial (1871) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. VII. p. 2527, dated 29th November 1870, quoting from The Field of the 3rd December 1870, he says: 'I have this morning received a letter from the gentleman who shot the Albatross in Derbyshire, and with whom I am acquainted. I send it to you for publication. - Henry Smith; H. Heaton, 1st December 1870. Dear Sir,- I received your letter yesterday respecting the Albatross, and I beg to inform you I shot this monstrous bird near Claycross Station, and had several shots before I could capture it, having nothing but No. 4 shot to shoot with. I have had it exhibited at Grassmore, likewise at Chesterfield. We measured the bird after capture, and from tip to tip of his wings near nine feet, and three feet six inches in length, and its bill six inches long, and its weight upwards of fifty pounds.
This bird is now open for inspection at the 'Sportsman Inn', Grassmore, kept by Mr. J. Platts, and will be this week out. C. West, Tupton, November 29, 1870.'
[Mr. Gurney has very properly objected to the first of these records as improbable; the second, however, cannot be rejected on the single score of improbability. - E. Newman.]
In an Editorial (1870) in The Field of 17th Dec., Vol. XXXVI. p. 530, from the Editor of the Derbyshire Times, dated 15th December, he says: 'The Field of Dec. 3 contained a letter written by Mr. Charles West, of Tupton, near Clay Cross, in which that person has the assurance to repeat the mendacious statement he has already made as to an Albatross being shot by him a short time back.
The simple facts of the case are, that the bird in question was never shot by Mr. West until long after its death at the hands of some other imitator of the 'Ancient Mariner'. The bird was brought to Clay Cross, as I am informed, by a guard in the employ of the Midland Railway, who had picked it up after it had been ejected from some museum on account of its bad condition. It had no feet, and had been badly stuffed, while its weight was certainly not over 10 lb., instead of 50 lb., as West represented. West in some way obtained the bird, and I believe did fire a shot or two at it as some sort of excuse for the assertion he made that he had shot it. He then told his marvellous tale, and imposed on a gentleman of great respectability living near, who communicated with the local reporters, and hence deceived myself and our contemporaries.
The hoax was at once detected on the bird being produced. Having seen it, I can without doubt assert that it has not been living for at least ten years, and your readers can judge how much truth there is in the tale told by West, and repeated by him in the letter published by you. I may add that West is an operative brick maker.'
J. H. Gurney, jun. (1871) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. VI. pp. 2563-64, dated 3rd March 1871, quoting from The Field of 17th December 1870, adds: 'I copy the following from The Field of the 17th of December, which I shall be much obliged if you will reprint, as it proves my father to have been quite right: - "The simple facts of the case are that the bird in question (i.e. Albatross) was never shot by Mr. West until long after its death at the hands of some other imitator of the 'Ancient Mariner'. The bird was brought to Clay Cross, as I am informed, by a guard in the employ of the Midland Railway, who had picked it up after it had been ejected from some museum on account of its bad condition. It had no feet, and had been badly stuffed, while its weight was certainly not over 10 lbs., instead of 50 lbs., as West represented". The above letter is signed by the Editor of the Derbyshire Times.
According to the Analyst (Vol. VI. pp. 160, 161) an albatross was once shot on the Trent at Stockwith. For some very judicious remarks on the rights of this species to be included in the European list, see Schlegel's Revue Critique, Part ii, p. 111.'
[Referring to my note (s.s. 2527) where I have said, "the statement cannot be rejected on the single score of improbability", I intend to convey the idea that there is a graver reason for rejecting it. Mr. West declares, "I shot this monstrous bird near Clay Cross Station, and had several shots before I could capture it, having nothing but No. 4 shot to shoot with....Its weight was upwards of fifty pounds". This I rejected, and still reject, not as 'improbable', but as obviously untrue. His statement may be mildly called a 'hoax', but I think our language supplies a more explicit form. - E. Newman.]
0). 1894 At sea Sea area Fair Isle, 32 km NW of Orkney, immature, 18th July.
(J. A. Harvie-Brown, Annals of Scottish Natural History 1895: 57; W. R. P. Bourne, Ibis 109: 147; Booth, Cuthbert & Reynolds, 1984).
[BOU, 1971; Not in Dymond, Fraser & Gantlett, 1989].
History J. A. Harvie-Brown (1895) in the Annals of Scottish Natural History, Vol. IV. p. 57, says: 'The specimen alluded to in The Zoologist for September as having been seen near the Orkney Islands (loc. cit. p. 337), I find is referred to in my journals in the following terms: - "...July 18th. [1894] – At 6.45 p.m., from 200 to 300 yards from the weather bow, and thence to a distance of three miles at least, I watched a big bird. Gannets in several phases of plumage had been seen frequently. This bird was no Gannet.
The flight petrel- or molly-like, seldom flapping; swinging and skimming from side to side, not flying straight like a Gannet; head low, and heavy bill, seen to be thick and short – a bird in what I would judge to be its second year's plumage. The captain, who stood beside me at the time, said he had seen one today (or the same) close to the ship, and that it was no Gannet. I can say no more, but morally I felt certain it was an Albatross.
It was far larger than a Gannet, some of which we saw immediately afterwards. We were in a position N. by W.- ½ -W. and twenty miles from Orkney on our course".'
Witherby et al. (1940-52) placed this record in square brackets, saying: 'A bird supposed to have been an Albatross....'
Comment This record was not mentioned by Dymond, Fraser & Gantlett (1989). Not acceptable as Albatross species.
0). 1895 Northumberland Off Goswick, seen, 21st February.
(Bolam, 1912; W. R. P. Bourne, Ibis 109: 147; Galloway & Meek, 1978-83).
[H. F. Witherby, British Birds 26: 282; Not in Dymond, Fraser & Gantlett, 1989].
History Bolam (1912) says: 'Being down at low-water mark on the sands between Goswick and Holy Island, on 21st February 1895 - there a good mile from the nearest 'land' - I saw the bird flying past, perhaps a quarter of a mile to sea, and both its flight and size precluded the idea that it could have been anything else than an Albatross. It was pursuing a southward course, alternately rising perhaps thirty feet above the waves, and dipping down again to glide along their surface, thus enabling me to obtain a good view of both its upper and lower plumage; whilst several mature Great Black-backed Gulls which were upon the wing at the same time, and some of which it passed at no great distance, enabled a good estimate to be made of its dimensions and stretch of wing. In the distribution of colour it bore a strong resemblance to these gulls, being black on the wings and back, and white beneath, while its dipping flight and the manner in which it alternately exposed its back and breast to view, placed its generic identity beyond doubt. The weather, it may be added, had been of a very wintry description for some time previously, with frost, snow, and northerly winds.'
H. F. Witherby (1933) in British Birds, Vol. XXVI. p. 282, in a Review of G. Bolam's A Catalogue of the Birds of Northumberland, says: 'A good many rarities are admitted fully to the list on the evidence of sight records, which we think a mistake. These include such birds as Black-browed Albatross.'
Comment This record was not mentioned by Dymond, Fraser & Gantlett (1989). Not acceptable as Albatross species.
0). 1914 Northumberland Off Holy Island, seen, undated.
(Galloway & Meek, 1978-83; Kerr, 2000).
[Not in Witherby et al., 1940-52].
History Galloway & Meek (1978) and Kerr (2000) record one off Holy Island, Northumberland, in 1914 with no further details.
Comment Not published in the wider literature of the day and it is not mentioned as being under review. Lacks adequate details. Not acceptable.
0). 1921 Isles of Scilly Off Golden Ball Bar, St Mary's, 22nd May.
(Tresco Abbey Records; Penhallurick, 1969).
[Robinson, 2003].
History Penhallurick (1969: 36) says: 'An Albatross is said to have been seen off Golden Bar, Scilly on 22nd May 1921, but no further details are known (Abbey Records).'
Robinson (2003) placed the record in square brackets, but mentions the location as probably Golden Ball between the northern end of Tresco and nearby Men-a-Vaur.
Comment Without further details, the record is not acceptable.
0). 1954 Yorkshire Spurn, two, 28th September.
(R. Chislett, Naturalist 80: 71).
[R. Chislett, Naturalist 80: 71; Mather, 1986].
History R. Chislett (1955) in the new series of The Naturalist, Vol. LXXX. p. 71, recording the record in square brackets, says: 'On September 28th, 1954, at 06.50 G.M.T., two large birds flew north c. 300 yards from the Spurn narrow neck. H.G.B., J.D.C. and D.E.M.C. agreed they were not gulls or Gannets. Heads, necks and under-bodies were white; backs and upper-wings black, wings were long, tapering and curved; heads and necks longer and thicker than L. marinus. Dr. Craggs says the range was too great for the species of Albatross to be distinguished.'
Mather (1986: 66) says: 'In the Yorkshire Bird Report for 1954, Ralph Chislett placing the record in square brackets, recorded that H. G. Brownlow and J. D. Craggs saw two albatrosses at a range of 300 yards off the Narrow Neck at Spurn, which they described as having long, tapering and curved black wings with long thick necks.'
