Black-winged Pratincole
Glareola nordmanni Fischer von Waldheim, 1842 (4, 1)
Photo © Rob Stonehouse
STATUS
Palearctic. Monotypic.
OVERVIEW
All records as per BOU (1971) except the Sussex record of 1955 which has been deemed a Pratincole sp.
During a review of historical records of pratincoles (Brit. Birds 117: 152-167) a new first record for Britain was discovered in the Castle Museum, Norwich.
A black underwing colour is diagnostic for this species.
RECORDS
1) 1868 Norfolk Feltwell, shot, early June, now at Castle Museum, Norwich (Acc. No. NWHCM: 1949.171.4).
(H. Stevenson, Zoologist 1869: 1492; Seago, 1977; BOURC (2024), Ibis 166: 351; C. J. McInerny et al., British Birds 117: 152-167, plates 114 & 115).
History H. Stevenson of Norwich (1869) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. III. p. 1492, dated January, 1869, says: 'June [1868]. A specimen of this very rare visitant, in Mr. Newcome's collection, was shot at Feltwell during the first week of June. The sex was unfortunately not noticed by the birdstuffer.'
2). 1899 Angus & Dundee Mill Burn, Rocksands, Montrose, Angus, immature, shot, 4th November, now at Montrose Museum (ADMUS NH 1977.106).
(J. A. Harvie-Brown, Annals of Scottish Natural History 1900: 51; Harvie-Brown, 1906; H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 2: 149; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007; C. J. McInerny et al., British Birds 117: 152-167, plate 116; C. J. McInerny & R. Y. McGowan, Scottish Birds 44: 222-225, plate 169).
History J. A. Harvie-Brown (1900) in the Annals of Scottish Natural History, Vol. IX. p. 51, says: 'I received for identification a young Pratincole (Glareola pratincola), a bird of the year, which had been shot on the Mill Burn, Rocksands, Montrose, by Mr. Stormond, Henry Street, on the 4th of November 1899. It is a rare visitor to Britain, and has only been recorded for Scotland on one occasion, namely at Unst, Shetland, in August 1812.'
Harvie-Brown (1906: 293) quotes the above but now adds: '... by Mr. Stormond, of Ferry Street, Montrose, on the 4th of November 1899. It was stuffed by Mr. D. Towers, identified by Mr. Milne, and sent to me; and I recorded it in Annals Scot. Nat. Hist., January 1900, p. 51. It was first announced to me by Mr. Milne (in litt. 19th December 1899).'
Admitted by H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst (1908) in British Birds, Vol. II. p. 149, under 'On the More Important Additions to our Knowledge of British Birds since 1899'.
3). 1909 Yorkshire Reedholme, near Danby Wiske, shot, 17th August, now at Dorman Museum, Middlesbrough, photo.
(R. Fortune, Naturalist 35: 372, photo; R. Fortune, Zoologist 1909: 399; T. H. Nelson, Field 13th Nov., 1909: 882; H. F. Witherby, British Birds 3: 266-268, photo; Witherby, 1920-24).
History Riley Fortune (1909) in the new series of The Naturalist, Vol. XXXV. p. 372, says: 'Early in August I hear that a Collared Pratincole had been shot in the North Riding.
The species is of sufficiently rare occurrence to make the event worth investigating. I found that it had been shot in mistake for a Golden Plover, by Mr. W. S. Charlton, of Northallerton, at Reedholme, near Danby Wiske, on August 17th. Mr. Charlton was after duck at the time, and was waiting beside some water in the shelter of a bank, when a flock of a Green Plover flew over.
The Pratincole was flying with them, and was the only one of its kind. Mr. Charlton was kind enough to allow me the bird for photographing, and it was sent on to Mr. Lee, of Thirsk, who stuffed it. Upon arrival I saw that it was not the common Pratincole, and it proved to be a specimen of Nordmann's or Black-winged Pratincole, Glareola melanoptera, and the first to be recognised as a Yorkshire specimen. It differs distinctly from Glareola pratincola, in the secondaries not being tipped with white, and in having the under wing coverts and axillaries jet black instead of chestnut.
The specimen resembles the figure of the bird of the year in Dresser's Birds of Europe, with the exception of having the dark bridle like marking round the throat, though this is not nearly so conspicuous as in the adult plumage of G. pratincola.'
R. Fortune of Harrogate (1909) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. XIII. p. 399, says: 'A specimen of Nordmann's Pratincole (Glareola melanoptera) was shot at Reedholme, near Danby Wiske, on August 17th. It was flying with a flock of Green Plover at the time.'
T. H. Nelson (1909) in The Field of 13th Nov., Vol. CXIV. p. 882, says: 'Readers of the Birds of Yorkshire may be glad to note an addition to the county avi-fauna in the occurrence of an example of the Black-winged Pratincole (Glareola melanoptera), which was shot by Mr. Wm. Charlton, at Danby Wiske, near Northallerton, on Aug. 17 last, and is in the possession of Mr. C. A. Emerson, of Drighton [sic] Manor.'
H. F. Witherby (1910) in British Birds, Vol. III. pp. 266-268, says: 'In September, 1909, Mr. J. M. Charlton informed me that a Pratincole had been shot on August 17th, 1909, by Mr. W. S. Charlton near Danby Wiske, near Northallerton, in the North Riding of Yorkshire. The bird was feeding among a flock of Lapwings. Mr. Charlton kindly had the bird examined at my request, and informed me that the under-wing was black.
Hoping to see the specimen myself and to make quite certain of its identity, I have delayed publication of the occurrence. Meanwhile, however, the bird has been examined by Dr. Steward and Mr. Riley Fortune, who identified it as the Black-winged Pratincole (Glareola melanoptera), and the latter has published the following particulars of it in The Naturalist (1909, p. 372). "It differs distinctly from Glareola pratincola in the secondaries not being tipped with white, and in having the under wing-coverts and axillaries jet black instead of chestnut. The specimen resembles the figure of the bird of the year in Dresser's Birds of Europe, with the exception of having the dark bridle-like marking round the throat, though this is not nearly so conspicuous as in the adult plumage of G. pratincola". There seems no doubt therefore that this bird is an example of Glareola melanoptera, a species nearly allied to the Collared Pratincole and with a more eastern range.
It will be remembered that three of these birds were shot in Kent in May and June. 1903, and these being the first occurrences in the British Isles the species was included by the late Howard Saunders in his paper on 'Additions to the list of British Birds since 1899' (cf. Vol. I. p. 15). We are much indebted to Mr. Charlton for the photograph which is reproduced in the accompanying figure.'
Comment The skin is now at the Dorman Museum, Middlesbrough. The earlier 1903 records have been found to be involved in the "Hastings Rarities" fraud promoting this as the second for Britain.
4). 1927 Fair Isle Burkle, female, seen, 18th May, obtained, 19th May, now at National Museums of Scotland (NMSZ 1927.75).
(J. H. Stenhouse, Scottish Naturalist 47: 111; Eds., British Birds 21: 161; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Thom, 1986; Dymond, 1991; Pennington et al., 2004).
History J. H. Stenhouse (1927) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. XLVII. p. 111, says: 'A female example of the Black-winged Pratincole (Glareola nordmanni) was observed at Fair Isle on 18th May and secured by a boy who brought it to me on the following day. The bird was in very poor condition; its stomach and gullet were crammed with flies of the genus Fucellia (a seaweed breeder), many of which (at least over 100) were still alive, though the bird had been dead for about twenty-four hours. It had evidently been blown across the North Sea by the easterly winds of the 15th and 16th May and become hopelessly lost.
This is the first recorded occurrence of this Pratincole in Scotland; in England it has been met with seven times in Sussex and Kent, and once near Northallerton in Yorkshire.'
In an Editorial (1927) in British Birds, Vol. XXI. p. 161, they say: 'Surgeon Rear-Admiral J. H. Stenhouse states (Scot. Nat. 1927, p. 111) that a female example of Glareola nordmanni was observed in Fair Isle on May 18th, 1927, and on the following day was secured by a boy. The bird was in very poor condition and its stomach and gullet were crammed with flies (many still alive) of the genus Fucellia. This is the first record of the bird for Scotland and the ninth for Great Britain.'
Pennington et al. (2004) state that it was killed by Stewart Eunson at Burkle and skinned by Jerome Wilson who sexed it as a female, who then gave it to John Stenhouse.
Comment Seven of the previous records were involved in the "Hastings Rarities" fraud, making this the second for Great Britain.
1950-57 RECORD
5). 1957 Somerset Steart, 15th June.
(J. Reynolds, British Birds 51: 119-120; G. H. E. Young, Report on Somerset Birds 1957: 23; Somerset Ornithological Society, 1988; D. I. M. Wallace, C. Bradshaw & M. J. Rogers, British Birds 99: 463; Ballance, 2006; P. A. Fraser and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 100: 710).
History John Reynolds (1951) in British Birds, Vol. LI. pp. 119-120, says: 'On 15th June 1957, at Steart, Bridgwater Bay, Somerset, I was searching for young Lapwings (Vanellus vanellus) when I glanced up at the adult, and was surprised to see near it an entirely unfamiliar bird which at first sight I took to be a very small species of skua that was unknown to me.
Through binoculars I saw a forked tail with white base, dark uniform olive-brown upper-parts and light, rather creamy, under-parts. The under-surfaces of the wings appeared uniformly dark, but I could not make certain of this as the bird flew away into the sun, in a leisurely rather tern-like fashion. In size it had appeared slightly smaller than the Lapwing, but more streamlined. About two hours later, while driving through the common that runs to the shore at Steart, I spotted the bird again and obtained good views, with the sun behind me, as it stood on the grass about thirty yards from the car.
The bird was clearly a Pratincole (Glareola sp.) - the sandy brown head, distinctly lighter than the back (which was a dark olive-brown), the creamy black-bordered throat-patch, buffish under-parts and white belly could all be clearly seen. The legs were short, and the short slightly decurved bill had a red base.
After ten minutes it started flying - apparently hawking for insects - and on several occasions I had good views of the under-surfaces of the wings which were entirely black with no trace of rufous. Several times it flew near flying Redshanks (Tringa totanus) and it appeared to be approximately the same size. It eventually flew right away in the general direction of Burnham. I concluded that the bird could only be a Black-winged Pratincole (G. nordmanni).'
Accepted locally by Ballance (2006: 155) who records it as a Black-winged Pratincole.
Comment Published in error as a Pratincole sp., but it is a Black-winged Pratincole (e-mail Colin Bradshaw, then Chairperson of BBRC).
NOT PROVEN
0). 1903 Kent Jury's Gap, Romney Marsh, adult male, obtained, 30th May.
(N. F. Ticehurst, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 13: 78; "Hy. S." Field 11th Jul., 1903: 87; N. F. Ticehurst, Zoologist 1903: 421; H. Saunders, British Birds 1: 15; Ticehurst, 1909; Harrison, 1953).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History Anon. (1903) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XIII. p. 78, says: 'Dr. N. F. Ticehurst exhibited specimens of some Pratincoles recently shot in England. The first was a male Collared Pratincole (Glareola pratincola), which had been shot by Mr. Southerden at Jury Gap in Romney Marsh, on the 30th May, 1903. This specimen was seen in the flesh by Dr. Ticehurst, and it was probably the first authentic record of the species in Kent (cf. Latham, Gen. Hist. ix, p. 361).
The second was a specimen of the Black-winged Pratincole (Glareola melanoptera), which was the first recorded from the British Islands. This bird was also a male, and had been shot near the same place as the other Pratincole by F. Mills, a relation of the above-named Mr. Southerden. Both these specimens were now in the possession of Mr. Fleetwood Ashburnham, of Broomham Park, Sussex, who had kindly allowed them to be exhibited.'
"Hy. S." (1903) in The Field of 11th Jul., Vol. CII. p. 87, says: 'The first recorded specimen of this species (Glareola melanoptera), was exhibited by Dr. N. F. Ticehurst at the last meeting of the British Ornithologists' Club. The bird, a male, was shot by Mr. F. Mills, near Jury Gap, in Romney Marsh. This species replaces the Collared Pratincole (G. pratincola) in Southern Russia and east of the Black Sea, though both occur in Asia. The under wing-coverts and axillaries are black and the secondaries are without white tips. Dr. Ticehurst also showed a male Collared Pratincole, shot by Mr. Southerden, in Romney Marsh, on May 30, probably the only authentic record for Kent. Both the specimens belong to Mr. Fleetwood Ashburnham, of Broomham Park, Guestling, who kindly lent them for exhibition.'
N. F. Ticehurst (1903) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. VII. p. 421, says: 'June 1st. A male Black-winged Pratincole (Glareola melanoptera) shot by Mr. F. Mills near Dungeness Point. This is the first occurrence of this species in the British Isles, and is recorded by me in the B.O.C. Bulletin, XCIX.
This Pratincole is now in the possession of Mr. Fleetwood Ashburnham, at Broomham Park.'
Howard Saunders (1907) in British Birds, Vol. I. p. 15, under 'Additions to the List of British Birds since 1899', says: 'With several individuals of our occasional visitor G. pratincola, some examples of the Eastern form seem to have joined company. One of these, shot in Romney Marsh, on May 30th, 1903, was exhibited by Dr. N. F. Ticehurst.'
Ticehurst (1909: 412) says: 'The specimen of the Collared Pratincole obtained in Romney Marsh on May 30th, 1903, appears to have been accompanied in its passage to this country by three of the present species, which had previously never been recorded from the British Isles. They were all shot at intervals of a few weeks, two in Kent and one just over the border in Sussex. The first was shot on the same day as the previously mentioned bird [Collared Pratincole] by Mr. F. Mills, a relation of the Southerdens, between the latter's house and Dungeness. It was received two days later by Mr. Bristow, who kindly allowed me to examine it and afterwards exhibit it with the Collared Pratincole at the British Ornithologists' Club....It was an adult male.'
Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.
0). 1903 Kent Romney Marsh, adult male, shot, 17th June.
(R. Bowdler Sharpe, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 13: 77-78; R. Bowdler Sharpe, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 14: 17; H. Saunders, British Birds 1: 15; Ticehurst, 1909; Harrison, 1953).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History R. Bowdler Sharpe, Editor (1903) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XIII. pp. 77-78, at the 98th Meeting of the Club held on 17th June 1903 at the Restaurant Frascati, London, says: 'Dr. N. F. Ticehurst exhibited specimens of some Pratincoles recently shot in England....The second was a specimen of the Black-winged Pratincole (Glareola melanoptera), which was the first recorded from the British Islands. This bird was also a male, and had been shot near the same place as the other Pratincole by F. Mills, a relation of the above-named Mr. Southerden.
This specimen is now in the possession of Mr. Fleetwood Ashburnham, of Broomham Park, Sussex, who had kindly allowed it to be exhibited.'
R. Bowdler Sharpe, Editor (1903) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XIV. p. 17, at the 99th Meeting of the Club held on 21st October 1903 at the Restaurant Frascati, London, says: '...Another example, an adult male, was shot on Romney Marsh on the 17th of June by a man named Jones, and was now in the collection of Mr. Fleetwood Ashburnham at Broomham Park, Hastings.'
Howard Saunders (1907) in British Birds, Vol. I. p. 15, under 'Additions to the List of British Birds since 1899', says: '...another shot at same place [Romney Marsh] on 17th June...were shown at the B.O.C. by Mr. Boyd Alexander (Bull., XIII. p. 78; XIV. p. 17).'
Ticehurst (1909: 412-413) says: 'The specimen of the Collared Pratincole obtained in Romney Marsh on May 30th, 1903, appears to have been accompanied in its passage to this country by three of the present species, which had previously never been recorded from the British Isles. They were all shot at intervals of a few weeks, two in Kent and one just over the border in Sussex....The second was shot by a man named Jones in Romney Marsh on June 17th, and was sent by him to Mr. Fleetwood Ashburnham, in whose collection it now is. Both of these birds were adult males.'
Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.
0). 1903 Sussex Rye Harbour, female, shot, 18th July.
(R. Bowdler Sharpe, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 14: 17; W. R. Butterfield, Zoologist 1903: 392; B. Alexander, Field 21st Nov., 1903: 883; N. F. Ticehurst, Zoologist 1903: 421; Arnold, 1907; H. Saunders, British Birds 1: 15; Ticehurst, 1909; Walpole-Bond, 1938).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History R. Bowdler Sharpe, Editor (1903) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XIV. p. 17, at the 99th Meeting of the Club held on 21st October 1903 at the Restaurant Frascati, London, says: 'Lieut. Boyd Alexander exhibited an adult female specimen of Glareola melanoptera obtained in Rye Harbour on the 18th of June, 1903. The bird was shot by a man named Ransom, and was brought to Mr. Bristow at St. Leonards, where it was seen in the flesh by Mr. Ruskin Butterfield. Another example, an adult male, was shot on Romney Marsh on the 17th of June by a man named Jones, and was now in the collection of Mr. Fleetwood Ashburnham at Broomham Park, Hastings. The last-named specimen was additional to the one recorded in the Bulletin (Vol. XIII. p. 78).'
W. Ruskin Butterfield of St Leonards-on-Sea (1903) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. VII. p. 392, says: 'On July 18th last a Black-winged Pratincole (Glareola melanoptera, Nordmann) was shot near Rye, and, having been sent to St Leonards for preservation, was brought in the flesh for my inspection. It was carefully sexed, and proved to be a female. This forms the second recorded occurrence of G. melanoptera in Britain (cf. Dr. N. F. Ticehurst, Bull. B.O. Club, XIII. p.78, June 30th, 1903. The bird recorded by Dr. Ticehurst was a male, and somewhat brighter than the present specimen). For obvious reasons I am precluded from giving fuller particulars - a circumstance I much deplore, as the occurrence of the species so far westward is very noteworthy. G. melanoptera differs from G. pratincola chiefly in having the under wing-coverts and axillaries black instead of chestnut.'
Boyd Alexander (1903) in The Field of 21st Nov., Vol. CII. p. 883, records much of the same. N. F. Ticehurst (1903) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. VII. p. 421, says: 'July 19th. A female Black-winged Pratincole (Glareola melanoptera), in rather worn plumage, shot near Rye (cf. Zool., antea, p. 392).'
Arnold (1907: 94) says: 'More certainty attaches to the identification of another queer bird which Streeten and I saw there on June 21st, 1903. When first observed, it was flying over the higher shingle, where some of the Ringed Plovers are to be found, and but for its peculiar flight, which was like a Nightjar's, it might perhaps have passed for one of these. The flight once noticed, we listened eagerly for the note. The bird soon uttered it, and there was no resemblance to that of a Plover. After watching it for some time, we decided that it must be a Pratincole, and further investigation on June 28th confirmed us in this surmise. The idea afterwards received unexpected support from The Zoologist, wherein it was announced that a Pratincole had been shot at Rye on July 17th. As our bird was not seen again on the Crumbles, so far as I know, after the 28th, it is not unreasonable to suppose that in an ill-fated moment it had been inspired to move on to Rye. Quem deus vult perdere prius dementat.'
Howard Saunders (1907) in British Birds, Vol. I. p. 15, under 'Additions to the List of British Birds since 1899', says: '...and one from Rye Harbour on 18th June, were shown at the B.O.C. by Mr. Boyd Alexander (Bull., XIII. p. 78; XIV. p. 17).'
Ticehurst (1909: 412) says: 'The specimen of the Collared Pratincole obtained in Romney Marsh on May 30th, 1903, appears to have been accompanied in its passage to this country by three of the present species, which had previously never been recorded from the British Isles. They were all shot at intervals of a few weeks, two in Kent and one just over the border in Sussex....The third, an adult female, now in Mr. Boyd Alexander's collection, was shot at Rye Harbour on July 18th.'
Accepted locally (Walpole-Bond 1938 (3): 119).
Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.
0). 1903 Kent No locality, two, seen, late September.
(G. D. Beresford, Field 19th Dec., 1903: 1004).
[BOU, 1971].
History G. D. Beresford (1903) in The Field of 19th Dec., Vol. CII. p. 1004, says: 'Having seen in The Field of Nov. 21 that Pratincoles have been noticed in the south of England this autumn, I think it may interest some of your readers to learn that two of these birds were seen in this neighbourhood about the end of September. I was away from home at the time, but on my return I was told by my butler, who is the son of a gamekeeper, and has some knowledge of ornithology, that he has lately observed a pair of birds which were quite unfamiliar to him. He described them to me as flying very swiftly from west to east uttering a short, sharp cry, they flew low and not above 20 yards distant from him, so that he was able to obtain a thoroughly good view of their plumage. When the sketch of the Pratincoles appeared in your paper he pointed it out to me, and said he at once recognised the birds he had seen by the drawing and letterpress description of the Black-winged species.'
Comment Not seen by a competent authority. No identification details for this sight record of a difficult species. Not acceptable.
0). 1913 Sussex Near Rye, four: male, shot, 30th April; male and female, shot, 1st May; female, shot, 3rd May, male now at Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery (Acc. No. 1962Z10.71).
(H. W. Ford-Lindsay, British Birds 7: 23; W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 34: 183; E. N. Bloomfield, Hastings & East Sussex Naturalist 2: 99; Walpole-Bond, 1938; Watson, 2010).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History H. W. Ford-Lindsay (1913) in British Birds, Vol. VII. p. 23, says: 'Towards the end of April, 1913, a party of four Black-winged Pratincoles (Glareola nordmanni) was observed near Rye, Sussex. All of them were eventually obtained by the same man. One shot on April 30th proved to be a male, two on May 1st were male and female, and the last shot on May 3rd was a female. I saw all the birds in the flesh as shot, and they were in splendid condition. The last bird was not recovered until the next day; being obtained late in the evening, it could not be found as the light was bad, but on searching early next morning it was located, floating in a dyke.'
W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Editor (1914) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XXXIV. p. 183, on the unexpected occurrences for 1913, says: 'Male shot, Rye (Sussex), April 30th, a pair on May 1st, and a female on the 3rd.'
Walpole-Bond (1938 (3): 119) says: '...Shortly afterwards Mr. J. B. Nichols bought the lot, but on his death three passed into the Booth Museum, Brighton.'
Watson (2010) in detailing the J. L. Auden collection in the Birmingham Museum lists a male specimen was obtained at Rye, Sussex, on 1st May 1913, adding that J. B. Nichols bought it from Bristow during May 1913.
Comment Hastings rarities. Not acceptable.
