Barolo Shearwater

Procellariidae

Sep 2

Puffinus baroli (Bonaparte, 1857) (3, 0)

STATUS

North Atlantic. Monotypic.

OVERVIEW

Formerly known as the Dusky Shearwater, Little Dusky Shearwater and Little Shearwater, with much confusion in Victorian times as to its identity.

RECORDS

1). 1858 Norfolk Near Earsham, male, dead, about 10th April, now at Castle Museum, Norwich (Acc. No. NWHCM: 38.944).

(H. Stevenson, Zoologist 1858: 6096-97; H. Stevenson, Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society 3: 467-469; Saunders, 1889; H. F. Witherby, British Birds 9: 203; Witherby, 1920-24; Hollom, 1960; Seago, 1977; BOURC (2005), Ibis 147: 246-250; Dye, Fiszer & Allard, 2009).

History H. Stevenson of Norwich (1858) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. XVI. pp. 6096-97, dated 29th April, 1858, says: 'A county that can claim the first British specimen of Steller's Western Duck, and more recently the only specimen of the Capped Petrel ever obtained in this kingdom, besides many other rarities, may be fairly considered without further additions a 'rich ornithological district'.

I have the pleasure, however, of recording a not less interesting capture than either of those above mentioned, in the fact of a Dusky Petrel, the true Puffinus obscurus, of Gould, having been picked up dead in this county. About the 10th of this month a strange bird was found dead by the gamekeeper, on the estate of Captain Meade, at Earsham, near Bungay.

It was at once sent to a bird-preserver in this city to be stuffed, in whose possession I first saw it, but, unfortunately, not until it had been skinned and set up. Its smaller size at once distinguished this bird from the Manx Shearwater (Puffinus anglorum), and its exact resemblance to the figure or the Dusky Petrel in Mr. Yarrell's last Supplement, added to the length and other measurements, perfectly agreeing with the description there given of this rare species, no doubt could well exist as to its identity. I might also state that the bird-stuffer having copied exactly the attitude of the bird as delineated in Yarrell, the resemblance, even at first sight, was more strongly marked. This specimen proved to be a male, but in very poor condition. It had evidently not been shot, but a wound on one side of the head, as though it had been hit, or had flown violently against something, was probably the cause of its being found dead.

Except on the side of the head, as stated, the feathers were perfectly clean and unruffled, but the inner web of one foot was partially nibbled away, as though a mouse or some other vermin had been at it, luckily without doing further injury. It is particularly interesting, through this second appearance on our coasts, to establish the claim of this petrel to a place in our British list, especially since the first specimen had, no stronger right to be so called, than the fact of its having flown on board a sloop near the Island of Valentia, off the south-west coast of Ireland. The following description of the plumage, in instance, will be found to differ but little from that given by Mr. Yarrell, except this bird is perhaps more in a state of change. Top and sides of the head, neck above, upper tail-coverts, upper surface of the tail-feathers and of the wings dull sooty-black: the feathers of the back, including the scapulars, dark shining greenish black, each feather bordered by a very minute darker edging: the chin, throat, sides of the head below the eyes and including a narrowed rim over each eye pure white; as also the breast, belly and the under wing and tail-feathers: on the sides of the neck and passing downwards in front of the pinions, light greyish bars shading off into the white of the breast. Not having seen the bird in the flesh, I cannot speak as to the true colour of the beak and feet, the former is now dull black and the latter as to the webs yellowish brown.'

Henry Stevenson (1879-84) in the Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society, Vol. III. pp. 468-469, read 28th November, 1882, after stating much the same as The Zoologist above, adds: '...Fortunately I noted these injuries at the time, which have enabled me to identify the specimen again, beyond any doubt, though lost sight of for the last thirteen years. Having been brought to the bird-stuffer by Captain Meade, and returned to him, when mounted and cased, I naturally inferred that the Petrel belonged to him; and hearing some time after that he had left England, and all his effects at Earsham had been sold off, I presumed that this rarity was lost to us altogether. In the absence of the bird itself, I was unable to support my previous conviction as to the species; whilst subsequent accounts of extremely small Manx Shearwaters being occasionally met with, made me question my own judgement in the first instance; more especially as my acquaintance with that class of marine birds was somewhat limited at that time.

I specially mention this, because it will explain why I did not bring the fact of the Dusky Petrel having occurred in Norfolk under the notice of either the late Mr. Gould, when publishing his Birds of Great Britain, or of Mr. Dresser for his Birds of Europe, neither of which authors have included this species in the above-named publications.

The re-discovery of the Norfolk specimen was quite accidental. Early in the present year, Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., and myself, being separately engaged in working out a complete list of the Birds of Norfolk, and comparing notes on the subject, the right of this species to rank with other local rarities was questioned, and, 'drawing a bow at a venture', Mr. Gurney put himself in communication with Mr. Hartcup, of Bungay, who proved to be the trustee for the family of the late Sir W. W. Dalling, Bart., and the Earsham Estate.

From him it was soon elicited that a good many birds killed on the estate were preserved at the Hall, and amongst these, most fortunately, was found the Dusky Petrel of 1858. The thanks of this Society, and of naturalists generally, are due to Mr. Hartcup for the opportunities he has afforded for a thorough inspection (with permission to photograph it) of this unique specimen; and, having, myself, first obtained the confirmatory opinions of Professor Newton and Mr. Osbert Salvin, it was exhibited by the latter at a meeting of the Zoological Society on the 16th of May, 1882.

The following are my notes of the plumage of this bird as taken directly after it had been mounted: - Top and sides of the head, neck above, upper tail-coverts, upper surface of the tail feathers and of the wings, dull sooty black; the feathers of the back, including the scapulars, dark shining, greenish, black; the feathers of the wing-coverts faintly margined with white; the chin, throat, sides of the head, below the eyes, and including a narrow rim over each eye, pure white, as also the breast, belly, and under wing and tail coverts. On the sides of the neck, and passing downwards in front of the pinions, light greyish bars shading off into the white of the breast. The injury to the head and feet I have already alluded to; but as I did not see the bird in the flesh, I cannot speak as to the true colour of the bill and feet. The former, when I saw it, was dull black; and the latter, as to the webs, yellowish brown.

The following are the measurements of the Earsham specimen, as compared with those of an example in the Norwich Museum; and as compared, also, with two average-sized specimens of the Manx Shearwater, in my own collection, from the Norfolk coast.'

Riviere (1930) adds: 'It is still amongst the collection of birds belonging to Mrs. Meade at Earsham Hall.'

H. F. Witherby (1916) in British Birds, Vol. IX. p. 203, says: 'The one obtained in Ireland on May 6, 1853, and the one found dead near Bungay, Suffolk, in April, 1858, should be re-examined, but both appear to have been P. a. godmani, since Howard Saunders examined them and in his description of the species (Manual, 2nd ed., p. 744) he states that the under tail-coverts are pure white, the white extending over the lower part of the lores, the outer portion of the inner webs of the primaries white all distinguishing characters of P. a. godmani.'

Admitted nationally (Hollom 1960).

In a review of the species it was found to be still acceptable as the first for Britain (BOURC (2005), Ibis 147: 246-250).

Dr. A. G. Irwin (pers. comms.) says: 'The back of the case (which I am not sure is contemporary) has a pencilled note reading "Copied from old label on glass. Dusky Shearwater. The only specimen of this species ever shot in England at Earsham April 15th 1856. Preserved by J. Sayer, Norwich. Cleaned by T. E. Gunn, March, 1886 [in Gunn's hand]". There is also a note in pen reading 'Published accounts give the date as April 10, 1858 and state that the bird was found dead (not shot). E.A.E. [in Ellis's hand].'

Comment It has since been presented to the Castle Museum, Norwich.

2). 1912 Greater London Welling, Kent, adult male, found exhausted, 20th August.

(R. Lyddeker, Country Life 18th Jan., 1913 (33): 107; N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 6: 314-315; Witherby, 1920-24; Harrison, 1953; Hollom, 1960).

History R. Lyddeker (1913) in Country Life, 18th Jan., Vol. XXXIII. p. 107, says: '...Thanks to the courtesy of the late Mr. Rowland Ward, by whom it was set up, and to a member of whose staff it belongs, I have now the pleasure of adding a fifth specimen to the list. This bird, which has been identified by Mr. Ogilvie-Grant as an adult male, was picked up in an exhausted state at Welling, Kent, on August 20th, 1912....'

N. F. Ticehurst (1913) in British Birds, Vol. VI. pp. 314-315, says: 'In Country Life for January 18th last, Mr. R. Lydekker [sic] published the record of a Little Dusky Shearwater that had been picked up in an exhausted condition at Welling in Kent on August 20th, 1912. He stated that it was the property of a member of the staff at Rowland Ward Ltd. The accompanying photograph of the specimen gave a false impression of the bird in several particulars, probably owing to the position in which it was photographed with respect to the light. I therefore applied to Mr. Ogilvie-Grant who had seen the bird, and he kindly corroborated its identification as an adult male of the Madeiran form of the species (Puffinus obscurus godmani) to which form all the British specimens at present obtained belong, the present one being the seventh (not the fifth, as stated in Country Life) and the second for Kent.'

Accepted locally for Kent (Harrison 1953) and nationally (Hollom 1960).

Comment Although Welling is historically in Kent, but also now in the Greater London area, this record is not mentioned by Taylor, Davenport & Flegg (1984, 2nd ed.) in their Birds of Kent.

3). 1929 Norfolk Blakeney, female, picked up dead, 11th May, now at Castle Museum, Norwich.

(B. B. Riviere, British Birds 23: 41, 286; Riviere, 1930; Pinchen, 1935; Hollom, 1960; Seago, 1977; Stoddart & Joyner, 2005).

History B. B. Riviere (1929) in British Birds, Vol. XXIII. p. 41, says: 'On May 11th , 1929, a specimen of the Madeiran Little Shearwater (Puffinus assimilis baroli) was picked up dead on the beach at Blakeney Point by R. Pinchen, the watcher. It was in perfect condition and proved on dissection to be a female.

The measurements, which were taken while still in the flesh by Mr. F. E. Gunn, to whom it was sent for preservation, were as follows: wing, 175 mm.; bill, 24 mm.; tarsus 35 mm. The only other Norfolk specimen, which is in the possession of Mrs. Meade at Earsham Hall, was picked up on the Earsham estate on April 10th, 1858. This bird is generally referred to in the text books as found 'near Bungay, Suffolk', but Earsham is on the Norfolk side of the river Waveney.'

Riviere (1930) says: 'On 11th May 1929, this example, which is in the Norwich Museum, was picked up on the beach by Mr. R. Pinchen, the Blakeney watcher. It proved on dissection to be a female.'

B. B. Riviere (1930) in British Birds, Vol. XXIII. p. 286, under '1929 Norfolk Bird Report', says: 'On May 11th a specimen of this rare Shearwater, the second for Norfolk, was picked up dead at high-water mark on Blakeney Point by R. Pinchen, the watcher (antea, p. 41). This bird, which proved on dissection to be a female, is now in the Norwich Museum.'

Pinchen (1935) says: 'One day I was escorting two ladies round the neighbourhood and pointing out items of interest when, on a very small tide, I discerned some feathers of a bird sticking up out of the water. I always examined such things so picked up the bird and took it home. I thoroughly cleaned it and discovered that it was a very rare specimen, the Little Dusky Shearwater, in a state of good preservation.'

Admitted nationally (Hollom 1960). Stoddart & Joyner (2005: 91) examined it recently and found it to be still in a good condition.

NOT PROVEN

0). 1851 Norfolk Mouth of the Ouse, King's Lynn, caught alive, 26th July.

(T. Southwell, Morris and Bree's Naturalist 1: 189).

[Harting, 1872; Not in BOU, 1971].

History T. Southwell of [King's] Lynn (1851) in Morris and Bree's edition of The Naturalist, Vol. I. p. 189, dated 2nd August, 1851, says: 'I obtained a live specimen of this rare bird on the 26th of July, of a boy who caught it in the mouth of the River Ouse, near Lynn: on dissection it proved to be a male. The account he gave me was that, as he was returning to Lynn in a fishing-boat, he saw the bird sleeping on the water, and struck it with his oar; this was on the afternoon of the 25th. It lived with me until the morning of the 31st., when I found it dead, most probably from injuries received from the oar of the boy who captured it, as it was very lively, and ate readily of small fish, live shrimps, etc....While I kept it I never once saw it attempt to fly, and it walked very little indeed; I noticed no desire to hide itself. It slept all day with its head turned back, and bill buried in its feathers, but became more lively after sunset. I never heard of one of these birds being captured in this neighbourhood before.

The colour of the plumage of this bird was the same as that of the dark-coloured bird described by Yarrell, (Vol. III. page 629). The length was seventeen inches; wing, from anterior bend, twelve inches; bill, one and three-quarters; tubular portion, five-eighths of an inch; tarsus, two inches; middle toe, including claw, two inches and a half. This specimen is now in the Lynn Museum.'

However, Harting (1872: 176) says: 'This is the young of P. major. J. H. Gurney MS.'

Comment Misidentified. Not acceptable.

0). 1852 Devon Plymouth Sound, two, caught alive, 11th December.

(J. Gatcombe, Morris and Bree's Naturalist 3: 84; J. Banker, Morris and Bree's Naturalist 3: 204).

[Harting, 1872; Not in Hollom, 1960; Not in BOU, 1971].

History John Gatcombe of Stonehouse (1853) in Morris and Bree's edition of The Naturalist, Vol. III. p. 84, under 'Rare Birds near Plymouth', dated 8th December 1852, says: 'The Greater or Cinereous Shearwater (Puffinus cinereus), was brought in from the Sound, captured in a similar manner [picked up in an exhausted state] and kept alive for nearly a fortnight. It remained sleepy and dull during the day, but became very restless towards the night.'

J. Banker of Stonehouse (1853) in The Naturalist, Vol. III. p. 204, in Morris and Bree's edition, dated 23rd April 1853, says: 'December 11th. Cinereous Shearwater (Puffinus cinereus), a pair of these birds, male and female, were captured in the sound in an exhausted state, by a couple of Trawl boys, of whom I purchased them alive the same evening.'

Harting (1872: 176-177) says: 'I have seen two or three specimens of Shearwater taken on different parts of the English coast, intermediate in size between P. major and anglorum; and I have little doubt that a careful examination of these would result in the establishment of a fourth species of Puffinus in the British list. Not having had the opportunity of examining the specimens above noticed, I consider their species for the present undetermined, with the exception of the first on the list [1853 Kerry], but refer to the records of their capture, for convenience, under the head of the species to which they have been thought to belong.'

Hollom (1960) did not admit this record in his published list.

Comment Misidentified. Not acceptable.

0). 1869 Devon Near Berry Head, shot, February.

(A. De Hügel, Zoologist 1869: 1720).

[BOU, 1971].

History A. De Hügel of Torquay (1869) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. IV. p. 1720, dated 17th April, 1869, says: 'Cinereous Shearwater. One of these fine birds was shot near Berry Head, in February. The bird swam up to the boat so daringly that it had to be driven off some yards, in order that in shooting the bird it might not be blown to pieces.'

Comment At this point in time taxonomy was unclear, and later authors re-identified it as the young of the Great Shearwater P. gravis (major). Misidentified. Not acceptable.

0). 1869 Hampshire Portsmouth Harbour, two, male and female, obtained, November, now at Natural History Museum, London (Acc. Nos. NHMUK 2021.7.2 (male) & NHMUK 2021.7.3 (female)).

(A. L. Bond, British Birds 117: 456-458).

[A. L. Bond, British Birds 117: 456-458].

History These two specimens were bought by a David Ducket, landlord of the ‘Plough Inn’ (presumably the ‘Plough’ in Old Portsmouth) from a sailor who stated that he had caught them in Portsmouth Harbour in November 1869. Some time later they then passed through the hands of the foremost Surrey taxidermist William Stafford whose collection then formed part of the Charterhouse School collection from 1890.

During 2021 these two specimens were acquired from the Chartehouse School, Godalming, Surrey. The identifications proved correct but the provenance of this pair of where and when caught at an unlikely time of year and in a busy port cast further doubt on the record.

0). 1900 Sussex Near Bexhill, female, picked up exhausted, 28th December.

(R. Bowdler Sharpe, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 11: 45; H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 2: 373).

[Walpole-Bond, 1938; E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].

History R. Bowdler Sharpe, Editor (1900) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XI. p. 45, at the 76th Meeting of the Club held on 13th February 1900 at the Restaurant Frascati, London, says: 'Mr. Ernst Hartert read the following note by Mr. Ruskin Butterfield, on the occurrence of an example of Puffinus obscuros bailloni in Sussex: - "A small Shearwater was picked up in an exhausted condition on the beach near Bexhill during the hard gale from the W.S.W. on Friday, 28th December 1900.

I am informed by the Dr. H. Colborne, the Borough Meteorologist for Hastings, that the south-westerly winds set in about the 23rd of Dec. and continued, with increasing intensity, until the 28th - the windiest day of the year. The bird was kept alive for two days and afterwards passed into the hands of Mr. George Bristow, jun., of this town, when I was afforded an opportunity of seeing it in the flesh. I formed the opinion at the time that it would turn out to belong to the same form as the Shearwaters collected by Capt. Boyd Alexander in the Cape Verde Islands. and referred by him to Puffinis assimilis (The Ibis, 1898, p. 98). This opinion has been confirmed by Messrs. Ernst Hartert and Howard Saunders, who have kindly examined the specimen. It is a female by dissection.

Through the kind offices of Mr. Hartert I have been able to compare the present specimen with skins collected by Capt. Alexander, and with skins of the allied forms, and I am not surprised that Messrs. Rothschild and Hartert do not employ the name P. assimilis for this Shearwater (Nov. Zool., VI. p.196)....This is the third example of P. obscurus bailloni recorded in the British Islands, and the first for the county of Sussex".'

Admitted by H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst (1909) in British Birds, Vol. II. p. 373, under 'On the More Important Additions to our Knowledge of British Birds since 1899'.

Walpole-Bond (1938 (3): 67) says: 'It was not until some time early in the present century that the above-mentioned nice distinctions were properly understood (before then and 'Little' Shearwater found in Britain was first dubbed Dusky, and later Little Dusky, Shearwater). Then certain plumage experts - Witherby and Hartert, for instance - got to work and critically examined all the British-taken 'Little' Shearwaters they could find. Some naturally eluded them.

A bird found exhausted on the Bexhill beach (Sussex) on December 28th, 1900, did so for one (H. F. Witherby, Brit. B., IX. p. 203); and to this day no one knows whether it is a Madeiran, or Cape Verde, Little Shearwater. It is true that shortly after its capture it was overhauled by Mr. W. R. Butterfield (Bull. B.O.C., XI. p. 45) and pronounced by him to be a 'Cape Verde.' But since he dispensed with a description, his verdict has been rejected.'

Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.

0). 1905 Kent Near Lydd, male, found alive, 27th November, died 29th November.

(W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 16: 38-39; E. N. Bloomfield, Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist 1: 17-18; H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 2: 373).

[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].

History W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Editor (1905) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XVI.pp. 38-39, at the 119th Meeting of the Club held on 13th December 1905 at the Restaurant Frascati, London, says: 'On behalf of Dr. N. F. Ticehurst, Mr. C. B. Ticehurst exhibited a specimen of the Little Dusky Shearwater (Puffinus assimilis), which had been caught alive by Mr. Wallis, of Lydd, Kent. It had been captured near that town after the disastrous South-west gale of November 26th-27th, and kept alive for two days in a pool of water. On its death it had been sent to Mr. Bristow, the taxidermist, of St. Leonards, who received it on November 30th, and immediately brought it to Dr. Ticehurst. When examined by the latter it was covered with sand and sodden with sea-water. It had since been mounted and cleaned; and proved, on dissection, to be a male....This was the fourth British example...'

E. N. Bloomfield (1906) in the Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist, Vol. I. pp. 17-18, says: 'I am indebted to Messrs. N. F. Ticehurst and W. Ruskin Butterfield for the following notices of rare birds which have occurred in our own and in neighbouring districts. In neighbouring districts of Kent and Sussex - P. assimilis, Gould, Little Dusky Shearwater, captured alive after the gale of November 26th, 1905.'

Admitted by H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst (1909) in British Birds, Vol. II. p. 373, under 'On the More Important Additions to our Knowledge of British Birds since 1899'.

Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.

0). 1911 Sussex St Leonards-on-Sea, female, washed ashore, 27th October.

(H. W. Ford-Lindsay, British Birds 5: 253; W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 32: 289; E. N. Bloomfield, Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist 2: 3; Walpole-Bond, 1938).

[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].

History H. W. Ford-Lindsay (1912) in British Birds, Vol. V. p. 253, says: 'On October 27th, 1911, a Little Dusky Shearwater was picked up on the beach near St. Leonards-on-Sea. Upon dissection it proved to be a female. This makes the fifth example for the British Isles. As in previous cases, the bird was washed ashore after strong south-westerly gales, which during October were of unusual severity.'

[Mr. J. B. Nichols, in whose collection is the above-mentioned bird, has kindly allowed me to examine it, as well as another specimen (male) picked up at Pevensey Sluice on November 15th, 1911. I have also been able to compare these two with the male caught near Lydd on November 27th, 1905 (cf. Vol. II. p. 373), which is also in Mr. Nichols's possession.

They are all of the Madeiran race, which was separated by Messrs. Rothschild and Hartert from the east African form under the name of Puffinus obscurus atlanticus (Bull. B.O.C., XXVIL. p. 43, 1911). But Dr. J. A. Allen, in reviewing Dr. Godman's Monograph of the Petrels, in the Auk (1908, p. 339), perceiving from the literature that the Madeiran bird was distinct, had already proposed for it the name Puffinus godmani, and this name, of course, has priority over atlanticus.

The east African form is P. obscurus bailloni, and differs from P. o. godmani by the lores being dark instead of white, and by the patch on each side of the breast being larger and darker brown, not so grey as in P. o. godmani. The name assimilis is restricted to the Australian race. - H.F.W.]

W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Editor (1913) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XXXII. p. 289, on the unexpected occurrences for 1911, says: 'Female, found dead, St. Leonards-on-Sea (Sussex), October 27th.'

Accepted locally (Walpole-Bond 1938 (3): 68).

Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.

0). 1911 Sussex Pevensey Sluice, male, picked up dead, 15th November.

(H. F. Witherby, British Birds 5: 253; W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 32: 289; E. N. Bloomfield, Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist 2: 3; Walpole-Bond, 1938).

[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].

History H. F. Witherby (1912) in British Birds, Vol. V. p. 253, in an editorial reply on the previous record, says: 'Mr. J. B. Nichols, in whose collection is the above-mentioned bird, has kindly allowed me to examine it, as well as another specimen (male) picked up at Pevensey Sluice on November 15th, 1911. I have also been able to compare these two with the male caught near Lydd on November 27th, 1905 (cf. Vol. II. p. 373), which is also in Mr. Nichols's possession. They are all of the Madeiran race, which was separated by Messrs. Rothschild and Hartert from the east African form under the name of Puffinus obscurus atlanticus (Bull. B.O.C., XXVIL. p. 43, 1911).'

W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Editor (1913) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XXXII. p. 289, on the unexpected occurrences for 1911, says: 'Male, Pevensey (Sussex), November 15th.'

Accepted locally (Walpole-Bond 1938 (3): 68).

Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.

0). 1913 Sussex Jury's Gap, female, shot, 27th December, now at Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery (Acc. No. 1962Z1.356).

(J. B. Nichols, British Birds 9: 212; W. Ruskin Butterfield, Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist 2: 200; Walpole-Bond, 1938; Watson, 2010).

[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].

History J. B. Nichols (1916) in British Birds, Vol. IX. p. 212, says: 'A female example of Puffinus assimilis godmani was shot at Jury's Gap, Lydd, Kent, on December 27th, 1913, and was examined by Mr. H. W. Ford-Lindsay. I have omitted to record this specimen, which came into my possession some time ago.'

Accepted locally (Walpole-Bond 1938 (3): 68).

Watson (2010) in detailing the J. L. Auden collection in the Birmingham Museum lists a female specimen obtained at Jury's Gap, Kent, on 27th December 1912, that J. B. Nichols bought from Bristow on 14th January 1914 and who then sold it on to Auden.

Comment Locality is in Sussex (Sussex Bird Report 1953: 5). Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.

0). 1914 Sussex Pevensey, female, found dead, 4th December, now at Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery (Acc. No. 1962Z1.357).

(J. B. Nichols, British Birds 9: 201; W. Ruskin Butterfield, Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist 2: 200; BOU (1918), Ibis 60: 242; Walpole-Bond, 1938; Watson, 2010).

[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].

History J. B. Nichols (1916) in British Birds, Vol. IX. p. 201, says: 'A female Little Shearwater was picked up at Pevensey, Sussex, on December 4th, 1914. Another Little Shearwater (also a female on dissection) was caught at West St. Leonards, Sussex, on January 2nd, 1915, and kept alive for two days. Both birds were examined in the flesh at the time by Mr. H. W. Ford-Lindsay. Subsequently they came into my possession, and noticing that they were different to other Little Shearwaters in my collection, I sent them to Mr. Witherby for examination, and he pronounces them to be of the form inhabiting the Cape Verde Islands (Puffinus assimilis boydi).'

Admitted nationally in their First List Report as the first for Britain of the Cape Verde form (BOU (1918) Ibis 60: 242).

Accepted locally (Walpole-Bond 1938 (3): 68).

Watson (2010) in detailing the J. L. Auden collection in the Birmingham Museum lists a female specimen obtained at Pevensey, Sussex, on 4th December 1914, that J. B. Nichols bought from Bristow on 15th December 1914 and who then sold it on to Auden.

Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.

0). 1915 Sussex St Leonards-on-Sea, female, found alive, 2nd January, died 4th January.

(J. B. Nichols, British Birds 9: 201; Walpole-Bond, 1938).

[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].

Accepted locally (Walpole-Bond 1938 (3): 68).

Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.

0). 1923 Sussex Jury's Gap, two, males, picked up dead, 9th March.

(W. R. Butterfield, Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist 3: 262; Walpole-Bond, 1938).

[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].

History W. R. Butterfield (1923) in the Hastings & East Sussex Naturalist, Vol. III. p. 262, says: 'Two Little Shearwaters were picked up dead at Jury's Gap on March 9th, after the heavy gale on the previous day. One of them proved to be the Little Dusky Shearwater (Puffinus assimilis baroli), which has occurred four times previously in the district; and the other to be the Cape Verde Dusky Shearwater (Puffinus assimilis boydi). Both are males.'

Walpole-Bond (Walpole-Bond 1938 (3): 68) says: 'At Jury Gap (part of which is in Kent, part in Sussex), another was picked up dead on March 9th, 1922.' However, E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees (1962) in British Birds, Vol. LV. pp. 299-384, state the year as 1923.

Comment Locality is in Sussex (Sussex Bird Report 1953: 5). Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.

0). 1946 Northumberland Off Alnmouth, seen, 15th September.

(G. W. Temperley, Naturalist 73: 126; G. W. Temperley, Transactions of the Natural History Society of Northumberland, Durham and Newcastle-upon-Tyne Ornithological Report 1946: 126).

[G. W. Temperley, Naturalist 72: 126; Not in Hollom, 1960; Not in BOU, 1971; Galloway & Meek, 1978-83; Kerr, 2001].

History G. W. Temperley (1947) in The Naturalist, Vol. LXXII. p. 126, under 'Northumberland Annual Report for 1946', recording the record in square brackets, and in the Transactions of the Natural History Society of Northumberland, Durham and Newcastle-upon-Tyne Ornithological Report, p. 126, says: 'Little Shearwater. On September 15th, at 12.45 pm., I saw a bird fly off south off Alnmouth, which it seems almost certainly was not a Manx Shearwater, being relatively shorter in the wing, and it beat its wings very much more than that bird does; in fact, it flew for considerable distances without gliding, and when it did glide it was usually to bank round vertically as it changed direction. It seemed to be smaller than a Manx Shearwater, but there was nothing near it for comparison, so I cannot state this for a fact. In colour it was dark on the back, and the underparts were light. It alighted on the water twice for short periods. The weather was clear with a strongish westerly wind. (H.T.).'

Galloway & Meek (1978) say: 'In the local bird report for 1946 it is recorded that one flew north [south] off Alnmouth on 15th September 1946, with a brief description supplied.'

Comment Presumably Hollom (1960) was aware of the record, although it was not recorded by him in his list of acceptable records. On the evidence available it is unacceptable. Not admitted locally.

0). 1951 Caernarfonshire Off Aberdaron, 7th May.

(R. H. Ryall, British Birds 45: 222; Hollom, 1960; BOU, 1971; Lovegrove, Williams & Williams, 1994).

[J. Green, Welsh Bird Report 2002: 373; D. I. M. Wallace, C. Bradshaw & M. J. Rogers, British Birds 99: 463].

History R. H. Ryall (1952) in British Birds, Vol. XLV. p. 222, says: 'On May 7th, 1951, Miss W. Allum and I watched a Little Shearwater (Puffinus assimilis) at Aberdaron, Caernarvonshire. When first seen it was a few yards from the beach, swimming near Herring-Gulls (Larus argentatus) and Oystercatchers (Haematopus ostralegus) standing at the water's edge, where its small size was immediately striking. Later it was compared with a Guillemot (Uria aalge) some distance further away and I judged it to be no more than two-thirds the size, at most. The face, including the area round the eye and the ear-coverts, was seen to be whitish, giving the bird at certain angles almost a capped appearance.

On May 9th I returned and found the bird still present. This time I was able to observe it for over an hour, under better conditions, at various ranges down to 40 yards from the beach, using a x 40 telescope. The bird was not seen to fly on either occasion, but preened vigorously or rested quietly on the water and sometimes dived for long periods, coming up a considerable distance away. Whilst preening it would sometimes raise itself up and flap its wings vigorously, showing the under-side of both body and wings, and sometimes roll onto one side, showing the whole of the under-parts, and raising one foot over its back. Guillemots were present on both occasions, though at some distance, and afforded comparison for size. A Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) once settled quite near the shearwater which was distinctly shorter than the gull; in fact I judged it to be no more than a foot in length.

The following description was noted at the time: Whole of upper-parts blackish with slaty tinge to mantle and back, but wings appearing to be a very deep brown; a narrow patch on the secondaries very slightly paler; face white, tinged grey from the bill, through the lores, encircling the eye and covering the cheeks, ear-coverts and sides of neck, becoming more darkly mottled towards the shoulder; under-parts otherwise white, including axillaries and under tail-coverts, but with slight greyish wash towards edge of wings: tail black. Bill slaty-blue, rather slender, the nostrils just discernible as a thickening at the base, the heavy, hooked-over tip plainly visible legs and feet apparently all slaty-black; eye dark.

The general appearance was slender with a short neck. The wings when raised were narrow, straight - with very little curve at the carpal joint - and pointed; at rest the tips extended beyond the tail.'

Accepted nationally for Wales (Lovegrove, Williams & Williams 1994) but later found unacceptable (Welsh Bird Report 2002).

D. I. M. Wallace, C. Bradshaw & M. J. Rogers (2006) in British Birds, Vol. XCIX. p. 463, in a review of certain rarities during the period 1950-57, also found this record to be unacceptable.

AC Non-pass

Keith Naylor

Barolo Shearwater

Puffinus baroli (Bonaparte, 1857) (3, 0)

Black-capped Petrel

Black Stork