Collared Pratincole
Glareola pratincola (Linnaeus, 1766) (5, 2)
Photo © Bryan Thomas
STATUS
Southern Palearctic and Afro-tropical. Polytypic.
OVERVIEW
Formerly known as the Austrian Pratincole. There is much confusion over the first for Britain, with various sites and years claimed, which has now been resolved.
Even Witherby et al. (1940-52) included both Lancashire and Cumbria, but locally Macpherson couldn't find anything about this latter record.
Harting (1901: 412-413) says: 'One, Boldness, Cumberland, 1807: Graves, Brit. Orn., 1812, Vol. II. not paged. Recorded also as obtained near Ormskirk, Lancashire, 1807: Bullock, Trans. Linn. Soc., 1815, Vol. XI. p. 177; Graves, op. cit. According to Montagu, Bullock obtained this bird on May 18, 1804; Graves, who figured it, gives the date Oct. 1809; while Bullock himself, who ought to know best, states that it was killed in 1807. Hardy (1941) did give the correct location but with the wrong year.'
RECORDS
1). 1805 Lancashire & North Merseyside North Meols, shot, April, now at World Museum, National Museums Liverpool (Acc. No. D3193a).
(G. Montagu, Transactions of the Linnean Society 9: 198-199; W. Bullock, Transactions of the Linnean Society 11: 177; Graves, 1811-21; Montagu, 1813; Graves, 1813; Atkinson, 1820; Latham, 1824; Selby, 1833; Jenyns, 1835; Yarrell, 1845; Macgillivray, 1852; Morris, 1856; Newman, 1866; Harting, 1872, 1880; Yarrell, 1871-85; Saunders, 1892; Harting, 1901; Clubb, 1914; Hardy, 1941; Oakes, 1953; BOURC (2022), Ibis 164: 363-368; C. J. McInerny et al., British Birds 117: 152-167, plates 104-107).
History George Montagu (1807) in the Transactions of the Linnean Society, Vol. IX. p. 197, read on 5th May, 1807, says: 'Austrian Pratincole. A bird of this species has been shot, at or near Liverpool in Lancashire, and is now in the museum of Lord Stanley. Having been informed that a publication will soon make its appearance wherein not only the particulars relative to the capture of this bird will appear, but also a very excellent figure, I shall forbear to anticipate the author's intention.'
William Bullock (1812) in the Transactions of the Linnean Society, Vol. XI. p. 177, read 17th November 1812, says: 'The first instance of this bird having been killed in Britain occurs in 1807, when one was shot in the neighbourhood of Ormskirk in Lancashire: it was preserved by Mr. J. Sherlock of that place, from whom I purchased it a few days afterwards....The one killed near Ormskirk is in the possession of Right Hon. Lord Stanley, and it and the present one [1812 Unst] are the only Pratincoles killed in Britain, I believe, that are yet known. Those gentleman who have added them to their collections have only foreign specimens.'
Montagu (1813) says: 'A bird of this species, very much resembling the Coromandel variety, described by Latham, was shot near Liverpool, on the 18th May 1804, as we have been assured by Mr. Bullock, to whom the bird was brought before it was cold, which specimen is now in the collection of Lord Stanley. It was shot in the act of taking beetles on wing, the remains of which were found in its stomach. Was thought to be a male.
Lord Stanley favoured us with an excellent drawing of this bird, from which we took a description. But having been since favoured with a specimen from Mr. Vaughan, that exactly corresponds with the bird in question, some of the deficiencies incidental to drawings have been supplied, and a more perfect description taken from this specimen....The Coromandel variety has been identified at Senegal....Since the above was written, we have been favoured with the examination of the only specimen ever taken in England, from Lord Stanley, and found it to exactly correspond with that from which our description is taken.'
Graves (1813 (2): unpaged) says: 'This rare visitor is in length ten inches and a half; in breadth twenty-one and a half; and weighs near three ounces. Bill curved; irides light red; tail much forked; legs bare above the knees; toes long.
The Pratincole may be considered as one of the most rare birds that occasionally resort to this country; the specimen from which our figure was taken, was shot near Ormskirk, in Lancashire, in October 1809; and we have received accounts of three others that have been shot at various times and places; one in September 1811, near Truro, in Cornwall; another in the vicinity of Boldness, in Cumberland (1807); and the third on the Eude-Waters, on the estate of the Duke of Norfolk, in Surrey.'
Atkinson (1820: 54) says: 'A bird of this species was shot near Liverpool, May 18th, 1804.'
Latham (1824 (9): 362) says: 'Mr. Bullock mentions, that one was shot in the year 1805, about three miles from Liverpool, and that both caterpillars and beetles were found in the stomach (Linn. Trans., IX, p. 198. Now in the collection of Lord Stanley).'
Selby (1833 (2): 213) says: 'The Collared Pratincole was first added to the British Fauna by Mr Bullock, proprietor of the late London Museum, who, in May 1807, received a specimen that was shot near Ormskirk in Lancashire, and which is now in the celebrated collection of Lord Stanley.'
Jenyns (1835: 216) says: 'The first recorded British-killed specimen was shot near Liverpool on the 18th of May, 1804, and is now in the collection of Lord Derby.'
Yarrell (1845 (2): 443, 2nd ed.) says: 'Mr. Bullock, of the London Museum, in the eleventh volume of the Transactions of the Linnean Society, thus records the first captures of this species in this country. "The first instance of this bird having been killed in Britain in 1807, when one was shot in the neighbourhood of Ormskirk in Lancashire; it was preserved by Mr. J. Sherlock, of that place, from whom I purchased it a few days afterwards....This specimen is in the collection of the Earl of Derby".'
Macgillivray (1852 (4): 51) says: 'Montagu states that an individual was shot near Liverpool, on the 18th of May, 1804. It was killed in the act of taking beetles on wing, the remains of which were found in its stomach. This specimen, which was seen when newly shot, by Mr. Bullock, was sent to Lord Stanley's collection. In 1812, Mr. Bullock had the good fortune to procure another in Unst, the most northern of the Shetland Islands.'
Morris (1856 (5): 12) says: 'One was killed near Liverpool, on the 18th of May, 1804.'
Newman (1866: 257) in Montagu's British Birds, says: 'A bird of this species, very much resembling the Coromandel variety, described by Latham, was shot near Liverpool, on the 18th May 1804, as we have been assured by Mr. Bullock, to whom the bird was brought before it was cold, which specimen is now in the collection of Lord Stanley. It was shot in the act of taking beetles on wing, the remains of which were found in its stomach. Was thought to be a male. Lord Stanley favoured us with an excellent drawing of this bird, from which we took a description.'
Harting (1872) lists both Cumbria and Lancashire records for 1807.
Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 231-232, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'Graves gives a coloured illustration, for which he says he is indebted to Mr. J. Bullock, of the London Museum, of a specimen which was shot near Ormskirk, in Lancashire: in October, 1809, according to Graves, but respecting this and another example, Bullock himself writes as follows (Tran. Linn. Soc. XI. p. 177): - "The first instance of this bird having been killed in Britain occurred in 1807, when one was shot in the neighbourhood of Ormskirk, in Lancashire: it was preserved by Mr. J. Sherlock, of that place, from whom I purchased it a few days afterwards".'
Further, in a footnote, he adds: 'Montagu, apparently alluding to the same specimen, states that it was shot on 18th May, 1804!'
Howard Saunders (1892: 208, 2nd ed.) in the revised edition of Mitchell's Birds of Lancashire, says: 'This specimen passed into the collection of the then Earl of Derby, and is still in the Derby Museum at Liverpool.'
Saunders (1899: 531, 2nd ed.) says: 'Its occurrence was first noticed in 1807, when examples were obtained almost simultaneously at Ormskirk in Lancashire and Bowness in Cumberland.'
Harting (1901: 412-413) says: 'One, Boldness, Cumberland, 1807: Graves Brit. Orn., 1812, Vol. II. unpaged. Recorded also as obtained near Ormskirk, Lancashire, 1807: Bullock, Trans. Linn. Soc., 1815, Vol. XI. p. 177; Graves, op. cit.
According to Montagu, Bullock obtained this bird on May 18, 1804; Graves, who figured it, gives the date Oct. 1809; while Bullock himself, who ought to know best, states that it was killed in 1807.'
Clubb (1914: 57) says: 'Case 227. The bird in the case is the first recorded British specimen, and was taken at North Meols, Lancashire, in 1803.'
Hardy (1941) says: 'This was shot at North Meols, near Southport, spring 1803. It is in the Liverpool Museum. He then quotes the 1807 Ormskirk record as well from Bullock.'
Comment Hardy's book was stated to have many errors in it!
2). 1840 Norfolk Blakeney, obtained, May, now at Castle Museum, Norwich (Acc No. NWHCM: 1949.171.3).
(Yarrell, 1845; Newman, 1866; Seago, 1977; C. J. McInerny et al., British Birds 117: 152-167, plates 108-110).
History Yarrell (1845 (2): 444, 2nd ed.) says: 'In May 1840, a Pratincole was shot upon the shore of the harbour of Blakeney in Norfolk, by Henry Overton, a fowler, and passed into the possession of Mr. John Sparham, by whom it was presented to Henry Rogers, Esq., solicitor, at Thetford.'
Stevenson (1870 (2): 66) adds: 'Some few years later, on Mr. Rogers leaving England, this Pratincole passed into the hands of the late Mrs. Flower, of Feltwell, and is now in Mr. Newcome's collection at Feltwell Hall.'
3). 1840 Sussex East Kingston, near Lewes, shot, 31st August, now at Booth Museum of Natural History, Brighton (Acc. No. BC204064).
(N. B. Kinnear, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 48: 90-91; Walpole-Bond, 1938; des Forges & Harber, 1963; Shrubb, 1979; James, 1996; C. J. McInerny et al., British Birds 117: 152-167, plate 111).
History Not in Harting (1871) or Hartert et al. (1912) who both listed the species, or any other early literature.
N. B. Kinnear, Editor (1926) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XLVIII. pp. 90-91, at the 318th Meeting of the Club held on 11th April 1928 at Pagani's Restaurant, London, says: 'Mr. A. F. Griffith exhibited a Collared Pratincole (Glareola pratincola) in its original rough case in which it was mounted by W. C. Unwin, the Lewes bird-stuffer. It was shot August 31st, 1840, at Kingston, just outside Lewes. More recently it came into the hands of Whitcombe, of the Bear Inn, Lewes, from whose widow it was bought in 1902 by the Misses Julia and Florence Davis, who have now given it to the Booth Museum.'
Accepted locally (Walpole-Bond 1938 (3): 117; James 1996).
4). 1857 Hampshire Hurst Beach, Barton on Sea, adult male, shot, May, now at Hampshire Cultural Trust, Chilcomb House, Winchester. (Acc. No. HMCMS: Bi1983.2.3).
(Kelsall & Munn, 1905; Clark & Eyre, 1993; Clark, 2022; C. J. McInerny et al., British Birds 117: 152-167, plate 112).
History Kelsall & Munn (1905: 283) say: 'The specimen in the Hart collection was killed by Lieutenant Henn, at Barton, in the Parish of Milton, near Christchurch, in 1857.'
Clark & Eyre (1993: 199-200) assign this record to Pratincole sp. and say it was '...shot at Hurst Beach in May 1857.'
The Hampshire Cultural Trust web site has a photo of the cased specimen clearly showing the underwing and also the details of its capture. Clark (2022) states it is now housed at Winchester.
Comment These records have to refer to the same individual, the places being 4 miles apart.
5). 1858 Surrey Portsmouth Road, Wisley, shot, undated, now at Haslemere Educational Museum, Surrey (Acc. No. ZB-6-241).
(Nicholson, 1926; Wheatley, 2007; C. J. McInerny et al., British Birds 117: 152-167, plate 113).
History Wheatley (2007) states that one shot on the Portsmouth Road at Wisley in 1858 (Nicholson 1926), is mounted in a case at the Haslemere Educational Museum.'
1950-57 RECORDS
6). 1954 Cornwall Between Lamorna and Mousehole, picked up dead, 16th April, now at Natural History Museum, London (BM No. S.1954.25.1).
(Penhallurick, 1978).
History Penhallurick (1978: 432) says: 'On 16 April a dead bird was found on the cliff-top between Lamorna and Mousehole; its skeleton was presented to the British Museum (Natural History) by Major Macgregor (BM No. S.1954.25.1).'
Comment It would appear that Penhallurick unearthed this record from the BMNH as it did not appear in the local Bird Reports of 1954 or 1955 or journals of the day.
7). 1956 Devon Braunton, 15th to 18th May.
(T. G. Coward, British Birds 50: 120; S. G. Madge, Devon Bird-Watching and Preservation Society Report 1956: 28; Moore, 1969; Tyler, 2010).
History T. G. Coward (1957) in British Birds, Vol. L. p. 120, says: 'On 15th May 1956, Mr. and Mrs. I. W. Cameron and Mrs, F. Cameron saw an unusual bird flying over the Great Field at Braunton, North Devon. Mr. Cameron's field-notes accurately described the bird's characteristics as those of a Pratincole (Glareola pratincola). On the morning of 18th May Mrs. I. W. Cameron and I again saw the bird in exactly the same place and were able to observe it in good light, at times to within 15-20 yards, for about half an hour. The bird was about the size of a Golden Plover (Charadrius apricarius), with olive-brown upper-parts and light buffish underparts. The distinct black stripe bordering the pale throat could be clearly seen. There was a small red patch at the base of the dark bill. In flight the long, forked black tail with a white base and the long pointed wings were obvious. In flight, also, the under wings were seen to be chestnut. Whilst under observation it alighted only on the bare soil of a potato field and ran between the empty furrows. When approached too closely it got up and flew in a distinctly tern-like manner to another part of the field. Although a careful watch was kept for several subsequent days on the Great Field, the bird was not seen again.'
Accepted locally (Moore 1969; Tyler 2010).
NOT PROVEN
0). 1807 Cumbria Bowness-on-Solway, Cumberland, shot, undated.
(Graves, 1813; Harting, 1872; Macpherson & Duckworth, 1886; Macpherson, 1892; Saunders, 1899; Hutcheson, 1986).
[Harting, 1901; BOURC (2022), Ibis 164: 363-368; C. J. McInerny et al., British Birds 117: 152-167].
History Harting (1872: 133) lists both the Cumbria and Lancashire records for 1807.
Macpherson & Duckworth (1886: 130), say: 'An example was shot near Bowness on the Solway, in 1807 {Graves, Brit. Orn., Vol. II, near the end).'
Macpherson (1892: 347-348) says: 'One of the first specimens of this Pratincole ever obtained in the British Islands was shot in the year 1807 in the neighbourhood of the Solway at Bowness, as recorded by Graves in the second volume of his British Ornithology. T. C. Heysham was then a lad of sixteen, and Dr. Heysham had not long passed the prime of his life. They might either of them have taken cognisance of the capture, but whether they did so is unknown.' Further, in a footnote he adds: 'I have failed to find any reference to this noteworthy event in the Carlisle Journal for the year indicated.'
Saunders (1899: 531, 2nd ed.) says: 'Its occurrence was first noticed in 1807, when examples were obtained almost simultaneously at Ormskirk in Lancashire and Bowness in Cumberland.'
According to Montagu, Bullock obtained this bird on May 18, 1804; Graves, who figured it, gives the date Oct. 1809; while Bullock himself, who ought to know best, states that it was killed in 1807.'
Comment For a first or second occurrence for Great Britain it is not known to have been seen by any competent ornithologist. There appears to be only Graves who acknowledges this Cumbrian record, possibly in mistake for the 1807 Lancashire Ormskirk record which he also records, and has been perpetuated down through various authors.
Harting (1901) states it as a duplicate.
0). 1810 Norfolk Great Yarmouth, pair, shot, November, now at Chelmsford Museum (Acc. Nos CHMER D12003 and CHMER D12004).
(Southwell, 1890; Riviere, 1930).
[Riviere, 1930; Ticehurst, 1932; Wood, 2007; BOURC (2009), Ibis 151: 227; Dye, Fiszer & Allard, 2009; C. J. McInerny et al., British Birds 117: 152-167].
History Southwell, Editor (1890 (3): 408-409) in Stevenson's Birds of Norfolk, under 'Appendix' says: 'Professor Newton has very kindly forwarded me a series of letters with reference to a pair of these birds said to have been killed in Norfolk, in 1810, now in the collection of Mr. Thomas Boynton of Ulrome Grange, Lowthorpe, Hull.
It appears that Mr. Boynton purchased these birds of Dr. W. W. Boulton, of Beverley, who stated that he was informed they were "shot off the breakwater, near Yarmouth, November, 1810, by Mr. Hunt, Schoolmaster, Yarmouth", but Dr. Boulton has "quite forgotten the name of the old man from whom he purchased them".
Whether these are the pair of Pratincoles referred to by Mr. Stevenson (Vol. II. p. 64) as killed in May, 1827, on Breydon wall, and which he, with the assistance of Captain Longe, was unsuccessful in tracing, it is now impossible to say. Hunt, in his 'List of Norfolk Birds', so often before referred to, says these birds were killed in the "autumn" of 1827, but the entry in the Hooker MS. is very precise, and settles the date beyond question. It states in an entry dated "May 21st, 1827", that they were "shot on the marsh near Breydon, Yarmouth, to-day, are now in possession of Mr. Harvey;" the Pagets say they were killed on "Breydon wall", which may well be the "breakwater near Yarmouth", and we only have to supply the forgotten name of Harvey to Dr. Boulton's account of the purchase, and to suppose the date "1810" (in support of which there is no contemporary evidence) to have been a slip of the memory, to identify these birds with the pair killed on Breydon in 1827.
Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., has seen these birds, and is of opinion that their appearance is indicative of their having been set up from skins. Supposing, however, that they are the pair referred to in the Birds of Norfolk, the rough treatment they were admitted to have received (l.c., p. 65) would amply account for this appearance.'
Riviere (1930: 191) says: '...others of doubtful authenticity.'
Ticehurst (1932: 333) says: 'A pair of Pratincoles which were in Boulton's collection and said to have come from Yarmouth were not these birds [1827 Yarmouth], but were probably of foreign origin. The late Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., informed me that a note written by his father stated that a Pratincole was brought into Lowestoft on a boat in 1836, but that it is not known what became of it; it is apparently not the one in the Gurney collection said to have been taken near Yarmouth many years ago and which was purchased at the sale of Thurtell's collection at Eaton, near Norwich (Stevenson, II. p. 65).'
Wood (2007: 57) also states them to be of doubtful origin.
Comment Probable duplicate record for the 1827 Norfolk pair. Not acceptable.
0). Pre 1812 Surrey Eude Waters, shot, undated.
(Graves, 1813; Yarrell, 1871-85; Bucknill, 1900; Harting, 1901; Witherby, 1919-1924).
[C. J. McInerny et al., British Birds 117: 152-167].
History Graves (1813 (2): unpaged) in his British Ornithology, says: 'The Pratincole may be considered as one of the most rare birds that occasionally resort to this country...we have received accounts of three others that have been shot at various times and places - a third on the Eude-waters, on the estate of the Duke of Norfolk in Surrey.'
Bucknill (1900: 280) adds: 'The date must have been prior to 1812, as the plate illustrating the species was published with the letterpress by Graves in July of that year.'
Although in Harting (1872, 1901) and Witherby (1924) it doesn't appear to be accepted locally by Parr (1972) in his Birds of Surrey.
Comment Lacks a precise date for a scientific record. Not known to have been seen by a competent ornithologist. Not acceptable.
0). 1827 Norfolk Breydon Water, pair, shot, 20th May.
(Paget & Paget, 1834; Jenyns, 1835; Yarrell, 1845; Morris, 1866; C. R. Bree, Field 9th Nov., 1867: 385; Stevenson, 1870; Southwell, 1890; Ticehurst, 1932; Allard, 1990; Piotrowski, 2003).
[C. J. McInerny et al., British Birds 117: 152-167].
History Paget & Paget (1834: 10) say: 'A pair shot on the Breydon-wall, May, 1827.' Jenyns (1835) p. 216, says: 'More recently (May 1827) a pair are recorded to have been shot on the Breydon-wall, Yarmouth (Paget's, Nat. Hist. of Yarm., p. 10).'
C. R. Bree of Colchester (1867) in The Field of 9th Nov., Vol. XXX. p. 385, with details of a letter written on 23rd June 1828, between J. D. Hoy and J. P. Selby, says: 'On the 20th of May, 1827, a pair of the Pratincole (Pratincola glareola) were shot near Yarmouth. A few of them breed annually in the fens near Yarmouth, in the same locality as the Ruffs, with which they are sometimes taken. I am, &c. Stoke Priory, J. D. Hoy.
With regard to the breeding of the Pratincole, stated above to occur among the Norfolk Broads, I think there is no doubt Mr. Hoy has made a mistake. The information evidently came to him second-hand. The two birds he mentions were certainly shot on the 20th of May, 1827, as recorded by Yarrell; but I am not aware of any well-authenticated instance of the Pratincole breeding in England.'
Stevenson (1870 (2): 64-65) says: 'In the month of May 1827, as stated by the Messrs. Paget, a pair of Pratincoles were shot on Breydon wall, and the same birds, in Sir William Hooker's MS., are stated to have been male and female, and their stomachs filled with beetles.
These specimens, as I am also informed by Mr. Joseph Clarke, of Saffron Walden (from whom Yarrell obtained his information respecting them), were shot, on the 21st of May by a fisherman named John Bessey, who sold them to the late Isaac Harvey, a game-dealer, at Yarmouth, for twenty shillings. They were extremely dirty and smeared with blood, and Harvey's wife washed them "as she would stockings", and hung them on a pole to dry; but, in spite of this rough usage, they were subsequently re-sold by Harvey for £7.
Captain Longe, when residing at Yarmouth, took some pains to trace out this pair, but was unable to do so, nor have I been more fortunate through enquiries made in other quarters (Bessey son's remembers their being killed, and thinks they may have been purchased either by the late Mr. Sparshall, of Norwich, or Sir R. Adair's father). A specimen in Mr. Gurney's collection, said to have been killed near Yarmouth, was purchased some years back at the sale of Mr. Thurtell's birds, at Eaton, near Norwich; and of these, as I have recently ascertained from Mr. Hunt, a cashier in the Norwich Post-office, the larger portion had belonged to his father, whose name I have had frequent occasion to mention as an authority on questions of local ornithology.
It is quite possible, therefore, that Mr. Gurney's bird may have been one of the original Yarmouth pair, which are also recorded by Hunt in his 'List of Birds' published in Stacy's History of Norfolk.'
Southwell, Editor (1890 (3): 407-409) in Stevenson's Birds of Norfolk, under 'Appendix' says: 'The extraordinary statement attributed to Hoy that this species bred annually in the fens of Norfolk, a locality quite unsuited to its habits, and commented upon by Mr. Stevenson in a foot-note, at p. 64, Vol. II. of the Birds of Norfolk, has been corrected by the publication of a more accurate copy of the same letter, with others from celebrated Norfolk naturalists, in the Trans. of the Norfolk and Norwich Nat. Soc. (II. p. 404), where the following note by Professor Newton explains the origin of the error: - "A copy of this letter, which is in an injured condition, was printed by Dr. Bree in The Field newspaper for November 9th, 1867, from a transcript in the handwriting of, and lent to him by, Mrs. Lescher [sister of Mr. Hoy]. Some part of that portion which is now missing must then have been in existence, but the letter had probably already sustained some damage....An attempt has been made here to restore the missing portion with the help of the older copy, the words supplied being enclosed by square brackets".
The portion of the letter as restored by Professor Newton reads as follows: - "On the [20th May, 1827, a pair of the pra] tincole Glareola austriaca, were shot nea[r Yarmouth. A specimen of the Gallinula minuta, of Montague, was [shot near Yarmouth last] May". I have received several sp [ecimens of godwits, Scolopax oegocephalal & Limosa, at different times from Ya[rmouth. A few of them breed an]nually in the fens near Yarmouth, i[n the same locality as the Ruffs, wit]h wh[ic]h they are sometimes taken".
It will thus be seen that the accidental omission of a portion of the letter in the transcript completely altered its sense, and made a remark appear to refer to the Pratincole, which in the original applied, and correctly so, to the godwit. Professor Newton has very kindly forwarded me a series of letters with reference to a pair of these birds said to have been killed in Norfolk, in 1810, now in the collection of Mr. Thomas Boynton of Ulrome Grange, Lowthorpe, Hull.
It appears that Mr. Boynton purchased these birds of Dr. W. W. Boulton, of Beverley, who stated that he was informed they were "shot off the breakwater, near Yarmouth, November, 1810, by Mr. Hunt, Schoolmaster, Yarmouth", but Dr. Boulton has "quite forgotten the name of the old man from whom he purchased them".
Whether these are the pair of pratincoles referred to by Mr. Stevenson (Vol. II. p. 64) as killed in May, 1827, on Breydon wall, and which he, with the assistance of Captain Longe, was unsuccessful in tracing, it is now impossible to say. Hunt, in his 'List of Norfolk Birds', so often before referred to, says these birds were killed in the "autumn" of 1827, but the entry in the Hooker MS. is very precise, and settles the date beyond question. It states in an entry dated "May 21st, 1827", that they were "shot on the marsh near Breydon, Yarmouth, to-day, are now in possession of Mr. Harvey"; the Pagets say they were killed on "Breydon wall", which may well be the "breakwater near Yarmouth", and we only have to supply the forgotten name of Harvey to Dr. Boulton's account of the purchase, and to suppose the date "1810" (in support of which there is no contemporary evidence) to have been a slip of the memory, to identify these birds with the pair killed on Breydon in 1827.
Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., has seen these birds, and is of opinion that their appearance is indicative of their having been set up from skins. Supposing, however, that they are the pair referred to in the Birds of Norfolk, the rough treatment they were admitted to have received (l. c., p. 65) would amply account for this appearance.'
Accepted locally for Suffolk by Ticehurst (1932: 332-333) who adds: 'In a letter written by Hoy to Selby (Field, 9th Nov., 1867) the date is given as 20th May.'
0). Pre 1849 Leicestershire & Rutland Near Leicester, shot, undated.
(T. Macaulay, Midland Naturalist 1882: 65; M. Browne, Zoologist 1886: 326; Browne, 1889).
[Fray et al., 2009].
History Thomas Macaulay of Kibworth (1882) in the Midland Naturalist, Vol. V. p. 65, says: 'Mr. M. Browne informs me that "there is a specimen in the Leicester Museum marked in an old MS. catalogue as shot near Leicester".'
Montagu Browne (1886) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. X. p. 326, says: 'The only authority I have for including this bird in the present list is that contained in the MS. catalogue of the contents of the [Leicester Town] Museum when handed over to the Corporation [Council] on 19th June, 1849, wherein one is mentioned with the remark, "shot near Leicester".'
Accepted locally (Browne 1889: 147) but later found unacceptable (Fray et al. 2009: 272).
Comment Lacks a precise date for a scientific record. Not acceptable.
0). 1850 Yorkshire Bridlington, shot, undated.
(J. Duff, Zoologist 1850: 2771; Newman, 1866; Hancock, 1874; J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1875: 4724; Clarke & Roebuck, 1881; Nelson, 1907; Mather, 1986).
[C. J. McInerny et al., British Birds 117: 152-167].
History Joseph Duff of Bishop Auckland (1850) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. VIII. p. 2771, dated 9th February, 1850, says: 'I have just received a specimen of that rare and uncertain visitor, the Collared Pratincole; it was shot at Bedlington, in Northumberland.'
Harting (1872: 133) says: 'In the collection of Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun.' However, Hancock (1874) p. 96, in a footnote, says: 'The Collared Pratincole reported by Mr. Duff The Zoologist 1850, p. 2771, and quoted in Harting's Handbook of British Birds, p. 133, as having occurred at Bedlington, Northumberland, is, according to a letter received from Mr. Duff, a mistake, as the specimen was forwarded to him by a friend from Bridlington, Yorkshire.'
J. H. Gurney, jun. (1875) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. X. p. 4724, says: 'Mr. Duff, of Bishop's Auckland (Zool., s.s. 2771) communicated the occurrence of a Collared Pratincole at Bedlington (Northumberland). This bird is in my collection, and as there was a mistake about the locality, I think it right to point out that it was really shot at Bridlington (Yorkshire). Vide Hancock's Catalogue of the Birds of Northumberland and Durham, p. 96, foot-note.'
Accepted locally (Clarke & Roebuck 1881: 69-70) and by Nelson (1907 (2): 565) who adds: 'Mr. Duff, in conversation with me, confirmed this statement, and added that he disposed of the specimen to Mr. J. H. Gurney.'
Comment Gurney referred to the original story erroneously as in the second series of The Zoologist when it was actually in the first series.
0). 1854 Herefordshire Fownhope, shot, undated, now at Hereford Museum.
(Bull, 1888; Walker & Smith, 1975; I. B. Evans, Herefordshire Ornithological Club Report 1994:180).
[Not in Harting, 1871, or Hartert, 1912; P. H. Downes, Herefordshire Ornithological Club Report 1999: 657].
History Bull (1888: 213) says: 'A specimen was shot at Fownhope, in 1854, which is now in the Hereford Museum.'
Comment I have asked the Museum if the specimen is still extant; so far no positive reply. Could be acceptable.
0). 1876 Co. Durham Near Stanhope, killed, 14th July.
(H. H. Slater, Zoologist 1884: 104).
[Not in Temperley, 1951].
History Henry H. Slater (1884) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. VIII. p. 101, under 'The Ornithology of Riding Mill on Tyne and Neighbourhood', says: 'I may here mention that a specimen of this bird was killed near Stanhope, on July 14th, 1876. For this piece of information I am indebted to the Brothers Tinkler, the Stanhope birdstuffers.'
Not accepted locally (Temperley 1951).
0). Pre 1882 Radnorshire River Wye, near Clyro, seen, undated.
(E. C. Phillips, Zoologist 1882: 213; Yarrell, 1871-85; Bull, 1888; Phillips, 1899).
[Massey, 1976].
History E. C. Phillips (1882) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. VI. p. 213, says: 'One of these curious birds was seen near Hay, in Breconshire, some time since by the brothers of Mr. Baskerville, of Clyro Court. They are quite certain it was the Collared Pratincole, for it alighted several times, and allowed them to walk close to it. They knew the bird well, as they had both been stationed in South Africa, where they had often observed it.'
Phillips (1899: 85) quotes the same as above.
Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 234, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'Mr. E. C. Phillips states that one was observed some time since by two competent observers near Hay, in Breconshire.'
Bull (1888: 213) says: 'One was also seen at Clyro, in 1880, by the Messrs. Baskerville, who knew the beautiful bird at once, from having frequently seen it abroad, where it is plentiful.'
Massey (1976: 66) says: 'The record is unacceptable both from identification and place of sighting.'
0). Pre 1894 Pembrokeshire Llanstinan, seen, undated.
(Mathew, 1894).
[Mathew, 1894].
History Mathew (1894: 85) recording the record in square-brackets, says: 'It is the lucky fate of the Pratincole when it wanders northwards to the British Isles to be more often seen only than to be secured. This rare bird is included in Mr. Mathias' list on the strength of one that was seen several times by Mr. Bowen at Llanstinan many years ago. Mr. Bowen pursued the bird for some time, and had one unsuccessful shot at it. Mr. Mathias went to Llanstinan on purpose to search for it, but was not fortunate enough to see it.'
0). 1903 Sussex Jury's Gap, male, shot, 30th May.
(R. Bowdler Sharpe, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 13: 77-78; N. F. Ticehurst, Zoologist 1903: 420, 421; H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 2: 149; 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. 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 first was a male Collared Pratincole (Glareola pratincola), which had been shot by Mr. Southerden at Jury's 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)....This specimen is now in the possession of Mr. Fleetwood Ashburnham, of Broomham Park, Sussex, who had kindly allowed it to be exhibited.'
N. F. Ticehurst (1903) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. VII. p. 420, 421, says: 'May 30th. A male Collared Pratincole (Glareola pratincola) shot by Mr. Southerden at Jury Gap, in Romney Marsh. It was seen by me in the flesh, and exhibited at the British Ornithologists' Club (vide Bull. B.O.C., XCIX.). This is probably the first occurrence of this species in Kent....This Pratincole is now in the possession of Mr. Fleetwood Ashburnham, at Broomham Park.'
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', who say: 'A male was shot by Mr. Southerden at Jury's Gap, Romney Marsh, on May 30th, 1903. The specimen, which was the first recorded example from Kent, is in Mr. Fleetwood Ashburnham's collection (N. F. Ticehurst, Bull. B.O.C., XIII. p. 77).'
Accepted locally for Kent by Ticehurst (1909: 412) who says: '...Through the kindness of Mr. Bristow I was able to see this bird in the flesh soon after he received it for preservation'.
Accepted locally for Sussex (Walpole-Bond 1938 (3): 118).
Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.
0). 1904 Sussex Jury's Gap, adult pair, shot, 19th July.
(H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 2: 149; Ticehurst, 1909; Walpole-Bond, 1938; Harrison, 1953).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History 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', who say: 'An adult pair were shot near the same place [Jury's Gap, Romney Marsh] on July 19th, 1904 (N.F.T.).'
Ticehurst (1909: 412) says: 'On the 19th of July of the following year [1904] a pair of adult birds were shot in the same locality and seen in the flesh by Mr. M. J. Nicoll, to whom I am indebted for the information. These are also in Mr. Fleetwood Ashburnham's collection.'
Accepted locally (Walpole-Bond 1938 (3): 118).
Comment Locality is in Sussex (Sussex Bird Report 1953: 5). Hastings rarities. Not acceptable.
0). 1904 Sussex Near Rye, obtained, 19th September.
(Walpole-Bond, 1938; Harrison, 1953).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History Walpole-Bond (1938 (3): 118) says: 'One "died" near Rye on September 19th, 1904 (G. Bristow, in litt.).'
Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.
0). 1904 Gloucestershire Near Dumbleton, obtained, undated, now at Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery (Acc. No. 1924Z18.4174).
(Watson, 2010).
[A. G. Knox, British Birds 94: 66].
History Watson (2010) in detailing the R. W. Chase collection in the Birmingham Museum lists this specimen and
quoting from his Notebooks adds that it was shot by a keeper (? Ballenger) who set the bird up himself being an amateur taxidermist. Sometime afterwards, being in Cheltenham he called up E. T. Clarke to purchase eyes. Clarke identified the bird as Glareola pratincola and secured it. Upon being informed of the circumstances I went to Cheltenham and purchased the specimen.
Comment E. T. Clarke has been found to be unreliable (A. G. Knox, British Birds 94: 66). Not acceptable.
0). 1905 Sussex Rye, obtained, 5th June, now at Reading Museum.
(Walpole-Bond, 1938).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History Walpole-Bond (1938 (3): 118) says: 'On June 5th, 1905, Rye furnished us with another example. This is in the Reading Museum.'
Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.
0). 1906 Sussex Boreham, near Hurstmonceaux, killed, 21st April.
(E. N. Bloomfield, Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist 1: 18; Walpole-Bond, 1938).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History 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 - Glareola pratincola, L., Collared Pratincole, Boreham, April 21st, 1906.'
Walpole-Bond (1938 (3): 118) says: 'On April 21st, 1906, a Pratincole was killed at Boreham, near Hurstmonceaux (H.E.S.N., I. p. 18).'
Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.
0). 1915 Gower No locality, autumn.
(Hurford & Lansdown, 1995).
[Hurford & Lansdown, 1995].
History Hurford & Lansdown (1995) state the basic details of this rejected record.
0). 1919 Sussex Pevensey, male, obtained, 22nd May.
(W. R. Butterfield, Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist 3: 131; Walpole-Bond, 1938).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History W. Ruskin Butterfield (1920) in the Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist, Vol. III. p. 131, says: 'Major W. H. Mullens has presented to the Hastings Museum a male shot at Pevensey Sluice on May 22nd.'
Accepted locally (Walpole-Bond 1938 (3): 118).
Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.
0). 1957 Dorset Stanpit Marsh, Christchurch Harbour, Hampshire, immature, 14th September.
(J. K. Bowers & E. L. Jones, British Birds 51: 119; Anon., Papers & Proceedings of the Hampshire Field Club and Archaeological Society 20: 28; Cohen & Taverner, 1972; Green, 2004).
[D. I. M. Wallace, C. Bradshaw & M. J. Rogers, British Birds 99: 461-463].
History J. K. Bowers & E. L. Jones (1958) in British Birds, Vol. LI. p. 119, say: 'On 14th September 1957, at Stanpit Marsh, Christchurch Harbour, Hampshire, we observed a Pratincole (Glareola pratincola). We first saw it, with the sun behind us, at about twenty yards' range, when it was some fifteen feet above the ground. The bird flew in a 400-yard arc across the Marsh, before speeding low, south-west, across the Harbour. Shortly afterwards it appeared again and was watched fluttering up several times before finally settling on the water, where it was visible only as an elongated dark shape. From here it left to the north-west, up the Harbour.
The following points were noted: primaries and deeply-forked tail black, base of tail conspicuously though not extensively white, narrow white diagonal line from base of wing to carpal joint along edge of coverts, rest of upper-parts uniformly very dark brown; under-wing smoky with noticeably russet "lining" (i.e. axillaries and under-wing coverts), body beneath buff-white, darker in the upper breast and facial regions; shape and flight recalling Hirundines (an impression heightened by head-shape and short bill) and terns, although very broad base to rapidly-narrowing wing gave quite different proportions; fast, twisting flight with rapid, shallow wing-beats comparable only to that of a bat; size a little greater than Black Tern (Chlidonias niger), this species being present.
Although the bird was generally moving away from us and our gaze was directed mainly at the critical colour of the under-wing, we feel that, had a clear-cut throat shield been present, this would have been noticed. The bird was probably an immature changing into adult plumage.'
Although accepted by Cohen & Taverner (1972) for Hampshire, the county boundary changes in 1974 resulted in this locality being transferred to Dorset, but Green (2004) in the latest Birds of Dorset doesn't admit any records from the Christchurch area with Hampshire having relinquished them!
D. I. M. Wallace, C. Bradshaw & M. J. Rogers (2006) in British Birds, Vol. XCIX. p. 461-463, in a review of certain rarities during the period 1950-57, found this record to be unacceptable. However, they listed it as occurring in 1951 at the same site but on the 13th September. They also stated that the reason for rejection was its reported "landing on water and swimming" which none of the international experts consulted had ever seen or heard of this behaviour.
