Greater Short-toed Lark

Alaudidae

Jun 21

Written By Keith Naylor

Calandrella brachydactyla (Leisler, 1814) (18, 19)

Photo © Kris Webb - Airfield, St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, September 2022

Ex BBRC species 31/12/1993

STATUS

Palearctic. Polytypic.

OVERVIEW

Two inland records, the first in 1841, the other in 1950.

The two races recorded are subject to great variation proving difficult to separate with any degree of accuracy.

RECORDS

1). 1841 Shropshire Near Shrewsbury, caught, 25th October.

(W. Yarrell, Zoologist 1843: 80; Yarrell, 1845; Newman, 1866; Yarrell, 1871-85; BOU, 1883; H. Seebohm, Ibis 1891: 586; Smith et al., 2019).

History William Yarrell (1843) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. I. p. 80, under additions to the British list, says: 'A single example of this species was caught in a lark-net near Shrewsbury, at the latter end of October 1841. The specimen is in the possession of Mr. H. Shaw of Belle-vue Villa, near Shrewsbury.'

Yarrell (1845 (1): 463, 2nd ed.) adds: 'At the end of October 1841, I received a letter from Mr. H. Shaw, of Shrewsbury, informing me that an example of the Short-toed Lark had been caught in a net near that town on the 25th of that month; and shortly afterwards Mr. Shaw very obligingly sent the specimen up to me for my examination.'

Further, p. 464, he adds: 'The whole length of the Shrewsbury specimen was five inches and three-quarters of an inch; the hind toe half an inch, the claw of it only one quarter of an inch; the wing, from the carpal joint to the end of the longest quill-feather three inches and a half; the second quill-feather the longest in the wing, the first and third feathers a little shorter; the tertials extend backwards as far as the end of the closed wing.'

Admitted nationally in their first List of British Birds (BOU 1883: 72).

Henry Seebohm (1891) in The Ibis, Vol. III. 6th series, p. 586, says: '...Alauda pispoletta. It is possible that some of the English records may refer to the latter species, inasmuch as the woodcut in the various editions of Yarrell's British Birds appears to have been made from an example of Alauda pispoletta. This is all the more curious as it is expressly stated in the text of the third edition that in the specimen described (which was caught in a net near Shrewsbury on the 25th of October, 1841) the tertials extend backwards as far as the end of the closed wing.'

Smith et al. (2019) state that the specimen passed to Lord Hill's collection at Hawkstone. At a later date it was sold to Peplow Museum, being catalogued (Forrest 1907). Currently it is unaccounted for.

2). 1854 Isles of Scilly Tresco, shot, 20th September.

(E. H. Rodd, Zoologist 1854: 4477; E. H. Rodd, Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall 1854: 18; E. H. Rodd, Zoologist 1870: 2234; Newman, 1866; Harting, 1880; J. Clark & F. R. Rodd, Zoologist 1906: 297; Clark, 1906; Penhallurick, 1978).

History E. H. Rodd of Penzance (1854) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. XII. p. 4477, dated 23rd September, 1854, says: 'I have received the following interesting communication from Mr. Jenkinson, since his notice of the capture of the Glossy Ibis at Scilly: - September 20th, 1854. "The bird (Alauda brachydactyla) corresponds in general description with the account given in Yarrell: the two central tail-feathers are lighter than the rest (which are dark brown), being olive brown, the same colour as the scapulars and tertials. Irides olive-brown. Bill brownish along the top of the upper mandible towards the point; the rest white, tinged with brown. Whole length 6 inches. Bill from gape, rather over half an inch. Wing, from carpal joint 3¾ inches. Tarsus thirteen sixteenths of an inch. Hind toe and claw together nine sixteenths of an inch. Legs and toes pale brown. The bird was observed among some bents growing on the sand a few yards from the beach, and appeared rather wild, and attracted attention chiefly by uttering a note that was unusual, as well as by its general appearance. The bird was shot by Mr. Augustus Pechell, who has accompanied Mr. Jenkinson to the Scilly Islands".'

E. H. Rodd (1854) in the Reports of the Royal Institution of Cornwall, p. 18, read 18th November 1854, says: 'Short-toed Lark which was obtained last month at the Scilly Isles.'

E. H. Rodd (1870) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. V. p. 2334, adds: 'A specimen shot at Scilly on September 23rd, 1854. (See Zoologist for October, 1854).'

Harting, Editor (1880: 51) in Rodd's Birds of Cornwall, says: 'A specimen of this rare Lark was shot at Scilly on the 23d September 1854. Mr. Jenkinson, who forwarded me a description of the bird which I published at the time in The Zoologist, stated that it was observed among some bents growing on the sand a few yards from the beach, and appeared rather wild. It attracted attention chiefly by its note, which was unusual, and by its general appearance, which struck the observer as being altogether unlike that of the familiar Sky Lark.'

J. Clark & F. R. Rodd (1906) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. X. p. 297, under 'The Birds of Scilly', add: 'On Sept. 28th, 1854, Pechell saw two Short-toed Larks at Skirt Point, Tresco, and secured one - the only record for the county.'

Clark (1906 (1): 336) in the Victoria County History of Cornwall, says: 'An accidental vagrant, of which a single example was shot at Skirt Point, Tresco, by Pechell, 20 September, 1854 is the only record for the county.'

Comment Regards the date we have three candidates: 20th, 23rd or 28th. I trust in Rodd's first article stating the 20th; the 23rd being the date of the letter in The Zoologist and possibly when Rodd received the specimen. The 28th is probably a typo for 23rd or an error. The sight record is also dismissed as there is no mention of it by Rodd at the time.

3). 1888 Sussex Amberley, adult, caught, 18th July.

(H. Saunders, Zoologist 1888: 350-351; Walpole-Bond, 1938; Shrubb, 1979).

History Howard Saunders of London (1888) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XII. pp. 350-351, says: 'On July 27th I examined a living example of this bird, Alauda brachydactyla, in the possession of Mr. Cooper, the well-known taxidermist, of 28, Radnor Street, St Luke's, who informed me that it was taken in the net of a birdcatcher at Amberley, Sussex, on the 18th of the same month. It was a bird of fully a year old.'

Accepted locally (Walpole-Bond 1938 (1): 181).

Comment There are other modern-day records from mid-July.

4). 1904 Outer Hebrides Eilean Mor, Flannan Isles, female, obtained, 20th September, now at National Museums of Scotland (NMSZ 1904.136.1).

(W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 15: 11; W. E. Clarke, Annals of Scottish Natural History 1904: 206-207; W. E. Clarke, Annals of Scottish Natural History 1905: 14; H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 1: 255; Clarke, 1912; Thom, 1986; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007).

History Wm. Eagle Clarke (1904) in the Annals of Scottish Natural History, Vol. XIII. pp. 206-207, says: 'During a recent visit, along with Mr. T. G. Laidlaw, to the Flannan Isles - a remote group of uninhabited islets lying in the open Atlantic, twenty miles west of the Island of Lewis, and forty miles north-east of St Kilda - among the birds which came under our notice were a Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla) and a number of Lapland Buntings. The Short-toed Lark was captured on the morning of the 20th of September and proved to be a female. That this southern European species should have occurred in such an out-of-the-way place is inexplicable, but it is interesting since the Flannans now form the most northerly record of the bird's appearance in Europe or elsewhere....The specimen has been presented to the Collection of British Birds in the Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh.'

W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Editor (1904) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XV. p. 11, at the 108th Meeting of the Club held on 19th October 1904 at the Restaurant Frascati, London, says: 'On behalf of Mr. W. Eagle Clarke, Mr. Howard Saunders exhibited a Short-toed Lark, obtained on one of the Flannan Islands on 20th September last, as recorded in Ann. Scottish N. H. p. 206. Some details from Mr. Clarke's letters were read, and comments made by Mr. Saunders on the line of flight which had landed the Subalpine Warbler at St. Kilda, and had probably taken the Short-toed Lark north-east to the Flannans.'

W. E. Clarke (1905) in the Annals of Scottish Natural History, Vol. XIV. p. 14, adds: '...its light colour and small size attracting attention.'

Admitted by H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst (1908) in British Birds, Vol. I. p. 255, under 'On the More Important Additions to our Knowledge of British Birds since 1899'.

Clarke (1912 (2): 255-256) under 'The Flannan Isles', says: 'Short-toed Lark - This unlooked-for visitor from Southern Europe is believed to have appeared on the night of 19th September. It was detected as a stranger early the following day, its light colour and small size attracting attention. Its note on rising on the wing, when disturbed, resembled that of a Skylark. It proved to be a female, and is the first recorded occurrence of this species for Scotland, and in 1904 the Flannans were the most northerly known locality in Europe visited by this bird.'

Further, pp. 265-266, 270, Clarke adds: '...caught on Eilean Mor.'

Accepted nationally for Scotland by Forrester & Andrews et al. (2007 (2): 971) who add: 'The specimen is at the National Museums Scotland (NMSZ 1904.136.1).'

5). 1907 Fair Isle No locality, male, shot, 11th November, now at National Museums of Scotland (NMSZ 1907.214.8).

(W. E. Clarke, Annals of Scottish Natural History 1908: 77-78; Eds., British Birds 1: 296; H. F. Witherby, British Birds 1: 384; Clarke, 1912; W. E. Clarke, Scottish Naturalist 35: 100; BOU (1918), Ibis 60: 235; K. Williamson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin 3: 14; Thom, 1986).

History Wm. Eagle Clarke (1908) in the Annals of Scottish Natural History, Vol. XVII. pp. 77-78, says: 'The second Scottish specimen was fortunately detected as a stranger among a small party of Sky Larks on 11th November. It may, George Stout opines, have been present on the island for some time before it was noticed; and he mentions that its note was not unlike that of its chosen companions. When recording the occurrence of the first Scotch example for the Flannan Isles, I too remarked that when the bird was disturbed it uttered a note very similar to that of a Sky Lark.'

Admitted in an Editorial (1908) in British Birds, Vol. I. p. 296.

H. F. Witherby (1908) in British Birds, Vol. I. p. 383, says: 'An example of this remarkable visitor from the south was detected among a small party of Skylarks on November 11th. It is the second Scottish specimen, the first being captured on Flannan Isle in September, 1904.'

Clarke (1912 (2): 100) under George Stout's diary of 1908 'A Year at Fair Isle', says: '28th November - South-south-west breeze; rain. Short-toed Lark in company with Skylarks.' However, p. 118, it says of this species, "the first visitor, a male, was detected by its lighter colouring and smaller size, amongst some Skylarks on 11th November 1907; the second, a female, was found on 18th June 1908".'

Wm. Eagle Clarke (1915) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. XXXV. p. 100, says: 'On the 11th of November 1907 a stranger was detected among a small party of Skylarks at Fair Isle. It proved to be a Short-toed Lark, and was recorded (Annals of Scottish Natural History, 1908, p. 77) as the second known Scotch example of that rare visitor to the British Isles. On the acquisition of further material it was noticed that this bird was much greyer in plumage than the rest of the specimens.

The question then arose whether this difference in plumage was simply to be attributed to individual variation, or was it an example of the Asiatic race, Calandrella brachydactyla longipennis, and the bird was reserved for comparison, when opportunity arose, with a series of specimens representing the various subspecies of Short-toed Larks.

This opportunity was afforded, a few weeks ago, by a visit to Tring, where it was compared by the Hon. Walter Rothschild, Dr. Hartert, and myself with the large series in the museum, with the result that the bird was identified as Calandrella brachydactyla longipennis of Eversmann (Bull. Soc. Imp. Nat. Moscow, XXI. p. 219 [1848]).

As this bird does not appear to have hitherto been known to visit Europe, it is desirable to give a short description of its plumage, and an indication of its geographical distribution. Calandrella brachydactyla longipennis is to be distinguished from the Western Short-toed Lark (C. brachydactyla brachydactyla) by the appreciably greyer tone of the upper plumage, which entirely lacks the reddish sandy-fawn coloration. Like the back the upper surface of the head is never reddish, and the same observation applies also to the rump and the upper tail coverts. The white superciliary streak is very distinct. The beak is almost always more slender, the wing 3 to 5 mm. shorter....'

Admitted nationally in the First List Report as the first for Britain of the Eastern form, C. b. longipennis (BOU (1918) Ibis 60: 235).

6). 1908 Fair Isle No locality, female, shot, 18th June.

(Clarke, 1912; Eds., British Birds 6: 151).

History Clarke (1912 (2): 75) under 'A Year at Fair Isle' in George Stout's diary of 1908, says: '18th June - Westerly light wind, early; changed to south-east later in the day. An interesting visitor was detected today - namely a female Short-toed Lark.'

In an Editorial (1912) in British Birds, Vol. VI. p. 151, under 'Additional records for Fair Isle and St Kilda', they say: 'In his Studies in Bird-migration, Mr. Eagle Clarke gives a good deal of hitherto unpublished information about the rarities observed in Fair Isle and St. Kilda, and a few new facts about those in the Flannans and Sule Skerry. The most important additions thus made to the details given in our Hand-List of British Birds are as follows: - Short-toed Lark (Calandrella b. brachydactyla). - Fair Isle: One June 18th, 1908, and one November 28th, 1910, making three occurrences.'

7). 1908 Fair Isle No locality, female, shot, 28th November, now at National Museums Scotland, Edinburgh (NMSZ 1909.126.6).

(Clarke, 1912; Eds., British Birds 6: 151; K. Williamson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin 3: 14; C. J. McInerny & R. Y. McGowan, Scottish Birds 44: 121, corr.).

History Clarke (1912 (2): 118) under 'The Birds of Fair Isle', says: 'Short-toed Lark, a male was obtained on 28th November 1910.'

In an Editorial (1912) in British Birds, Vol. VI. p. 151, under 'Additional records for Fair Isle and St Kilda', they say: 'In his Studies in Bird-migration, Mr. Eagle Clarke gives a good deal of hitherto unpublished information about the rarities observed in Fair Isle and St. Kilda, and a few new facts about those in the Flannans and Sule Skerry. The most important additions thus made to the details given in our Hand-List of British Birds are as follows: - Short-toed Lark (Calandrella b. brachydactyla). - Fair Isle: One June 18th, 1908, and one November 28th, 1910, making three occurrences.'

8). 1913 Orkney Auskerry, male, obtained, 1st October.

(W. E. Clarke, Scottish Naturalist 34: 6; Eds., British Birds 7: 303; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953).

History Wm. Eagle Clarke (1914) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. XXXIV. p. 6, says: 'This bird is new to the fauna of Orkney. A male was found in the garden on the morning of 1st October; was very wild, and for some time eluded attempts to prove its suspected identity.'

In an Editorial (1914) in British Birds, Vol. VII. p. 303, they say: 'Mr. Clarke now (Scot. Nat., 1914, pp. 5-8) gives a remarkable list of other rare and interesting migrants noted on the island in the autumn of 1913. Of these the following are the most interesting: - Short-toed Lark (Calandrella b. brachydactyla). - A male on Oct. 1st.'

9). 1925 Fair Isle No locality, male, shot, 9th November, now at National Museums of Scotland.

(J. Stout, Scottish Naturalist 46: 4; Eds., British Birds 20: 27; E. V. Baxter & L. J. Rintoul, Scottish Naturalist 46: 72; K. Williamson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin 3: 14).

History James Stout of Fair Isle (1926) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. XLVI. p. 4, says: 'A Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla brachydactyla) was obtained by me here on 9th November.'

[The typical Short-toed Lark has been met with previously on four occasions in Scotland and all in the Northern Isles. The skin is now in the Royal Scottish Museum. - Eds.]

In an Editorial (1926) in British Birds, Vol. XX. p. 27, they say: 'On the same page [Scot. Nat. 1926, p. 4] Mr. J. Stout states that he obtained at Fair Isle on November 9th a male Short-toed Lark (Calandrella b. brachydactyla). All these have been preserved in the Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh.'

Admitted by E. V. Baxter & L. J. Rintoul (1926) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. XLVI. p. 72, in the annual report, who add that it is "...the fifth known occurrence in Scotland".'

Comment It is actually the sixth record for Scotland, and the fourth for Fair Isle including both forms; only one was longipennis.

10). 1926 Fair Isle No locality, female, shot, 19th October.

(J. H. Stenhouse, Scottish Naturalist 47: 53-54; Eds., British Birds 21: 20; E. V. Baxter & L. J. Rintoul, Scottish Naturalist 47: 135; K. Williamson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin 3: 14).

History J. H. Stenhouse (1927) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. XLVII. pp. 53-54, says: 'I revisited Fair Isle in the autumn of 1926, remaining on the island from 8th September to 6th October....I may here add that after my departure, a female Short-toed Lark, Calandrella b. brachydactyla, was obtained by Mr. George Stout on 19th October.'

In an Editorial (1927) in British Birds, Vol. XXI. p. 20, they say: 'Fair Isle. - Surgeon Rear-Admiral J. H. Stenhouse records (Scot. Nat., 1927, pp. 53-4) the occurrence of the following scarce visitors to Fair Isle in the autumn of 1926: - Short-toed Lark (Calandrella b. brachydactyla). - A female was obtained on October 19th.'

Admitted by E. V. Baxter & L. J. Rintoul (1927) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. XLVII. p. 135, in the annual report.

11). 1927 Fair Isle No locality, male, shot, 29th October.

(J. H. Stenhouse, Scottish Naturalist 48: 16; Eds., British Birds 22: 67; E. V. Baxter & L. J. Rintoul, Scottish Naturalist 48: 107; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953).

History J. H. Stenhouse (1928) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. XLVIII. p. 16, says: 'Mr. Jerome Wilson has recently forwarded to the Royal Scottish Museum a Short-toed Lark shot by him at Fair Isle on October 1927. The specimen, which unfortunately is not sexed, but is probably a male (wing 92 mm.) was suspected to belong to the Eastern race: this identification has been very kindly verified at Tring by Dr. Hartert, to whom the bird was forwarded. This is the second recorded occurrence in the British Isles: the first was obtained, also at Fair Isle, on 11th November 1907.'

In an Editorial (1928) in British Birds, Vol. XXII. p. 67, they say: 'Surgeon Rear-Admiral J. H. Stenhouse records (Scot. Nat., 1928, p. 16) that a Short-toed Lark obtained by Mr. J. Wilson at Fair Isle, Shetland, "on October, 1927", has been determined by Dr. Hartert as belonging to the greyer eastern race Calandrella brachydactyla longipennis. The bird was not sexed, but was probably, by the wing-measurement of 92 mm., a male. This is the second recorded occurrence of the bird at Fair Isle, but it has not yet been detected elsewhere in the British Islands.'

Admitted by E. V. Baxter & L. J. Rintoul (1928) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. XLVIII. p. 107, in the annual report for 1927.

12). 1928 Devon Dawlish Warren, seen, 2nd August.

(W. Walmesley White, British Birds 22: 108; Moore, 1969).

History W. Walmesley White (1928) in British Birds, Vol. XXII. p. 108, says: 'On August 2nd, 1928, while watching birds on Dawlish Warren Golf Links, I had the good fortune to see among a party of Sky Larks and Meadow Pipits a Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla). I first noticed a conspicuously pale-coloured bird with the others on the wing.

The little flock then obligingly settled near at hand, and I at once recognised the Short-toed Lark from its general similarity to Calandrella minor rufescens, resident in Tenerife, with which in former years I was well acquainted. I was able to watch this Lark for some ten minutes and note its plumage carefully before the approach of some players drove the whole party of birds away, and I failed to pick them up again. The upper-parts of this bird were pale buffish-fawn with darker markings; the breast unspotted and pale buff. The pale buff eye-stripe was pronounced, and there were two faint buffish wing-bars. The primaries and tail-feathers were edged with pale buff and there was a ruddy tinge on the wing-coverts. The beak was short, stout and yellowish; the legs pale brown. The dark marks on the sides of the breast were not very noticeable, less so than I should have expected, but the bird struck me as being a young one. It uttered no note.

As far as I know, this is the first definite record of the Short-toed Lark from Devon, though D'Urban and Matthew have a notice of it within brackets.'

Comment D'Urban and Matthew published in 1892 with a second edition in 1895.

13). 1930 Fair Isle No locality, female, shot, 10th May.

(J. Wilson, Scottish Naturalist 50: 94; Eds., British Birds 24: 84).

History Jerome Wilson of Fair Isle (1930) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. L. p. 94, says: 'A female example of a Short-toed Lark was obtained here on 10th May this year.'

[The bird was examined at the Royal Scottish Museum and proved to belong to the typical race, Calandrella b. brachydactyla. It is the fourth recorded for Fair Isle and the sixth for Scotland. - Eds.]

In an Editorial (1930) in British Birds, Vol. XXIV. p. 84, they say: 'A female was obtained on May 10th, 1930, and has been identified as of this form at the Royal Scottish Museum (J. Wilson, p. 94).'

Comment There have been eight single birds from Fair Isle, all but two of the nominate form.

14). 1930 Fair Isle No locality, male, shot, 24th October, now at Natural History Museum, Tring.

(J. Wilson, Scottish Naturalist 50: 188; Eds., British Birds 25: 25; K. Williamson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin 3: 14).

History Jerome Wilson of Fair Isle (1930) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. L. p. 188, says: 'On 24th October a male example of the Short-toed Lark (Calandrella b. brachydactyla), was obtained here.'

[It has been forwarded to the British Museum, London. - Eds.]

In an Editorial (1931) in British Birds, Vol. XXV. p. 25, they say: 'One was obtained at Fair Isle on October 24th, 1930 (J. Wilson, Scot. Nat., 1930, p. 188).'

15). 1935 Shetland Whalsay, shot, 25th October.

(Venables & Venables, 1955).

History Venables & Venables (1955) say: 'R. S. Bruce and J. G. Grierson (1899 et seq.) recorded this record as being shot on 25th October 1935 in an annotation in a copy of Evans & Buckley (1899) and Saunders (1899, 2nd ed.).'

16). 1936 Shetland Whalsay, shot, March.

(Venables & Venables, 1955; Pennington et al., 2004).

History Venables & Venables (1955) say: 'R. S. Bruce and J. G. Grierson (1899 et seq.) recorded this record as being shot in March 1936 in an annotation in a copy of Evans & Buckley (1899) and Saunders (1899, 2nd ed.)'

Pennington et al. (2004) say: '...it is an early date and possibly a mistake for May.'

17). 1936 Shetland Whalsay, shot, 28th September.

(G. Waterston, Scottish Naturalist 57: 26; Venables & Venables, 1955; Pennington et al., 2004).

History George Waterston (1937) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. LVII. p. 26, under 'Bird Notes from Shetland', says: 'Eastern Short-toed Lark. - Mr. Tom Bruce, jun., showed me a specimen of a Short-toed Lark which he had obtained some years ago on Whalsay, and as there was a doubt as to whether it was brachydactyla or longipennis I sent it down to the British Museum, where it was kindly identified by Mr. N. B. Kinnear as undoubtedly longipennis. I have obtained definite corroborative evidence that this bird was shot on Whalsay, but the date is wanting. (Hitherto unrecorded in Shetland).'

Venables & Venables (1955) say: 'R. S. Bruce and J. G. Grierson (1899 et seq.) recorded this record as being shot on 28th September 1936 in an annotation in a copy of Evans & Buckley (1899) and Saunders (1899). There is a possibility that this is the same record as recorded by Waterston.' Still accepted locally (Pennington et al. 2004).

18). 1947 Shetland Whalsay, shot, 26th October, now at Shetland Museum.

(Pennington et al., 2004).

History Pennington et al. (2004) state that one was shot on Whalsay on 26th October 1947 and is now in the Shetland Museum.

1950-57 RECORDS

19). 1950 Nottinghamshire Nottingham Sewage-farm, 30th July.

(R. J. H. Raines, British Birds 44: 311-312; A. Dobbs, Birds of Nottinghamshire Report 1950-54: 36).

History R. J. H. Raines (1951) in British Birds, Vol. XLIV. pp. 311-312, says: 'On July 30th, 1950, while walking round an area of the Nottingham sewage farm, I flushed a lark which immediately attracted my attention by its rather small size, harsh call and pale coloration. Fortunately the bird flew a short distance only before alighting on a dry sewage tank from whence it ran quickly to a patch of light vegetation where it assumed a crouching attitude. I flushed the bird several times while endeavouring to get close views and each time it behaved in precisely the same manner, flying a short distance, alighting on a dry area, running for cover and crouching. I finally obtained very clear views of the bird at about ten yards range when it crouched in some scant vegetation on a bare tank.

The bird appeared almost uniform sandy brown on the head and upper-parts, and only on close examination could darker streaks be seen on the back. The under-parts were dull white, but the upper breast was clearly buff with almost a pinkish tinge to it. The breast was unmarked and I did not see any dark marking on the upper breast, though such a mark may well have been obscured by the posture of the bird.

[As is stated in The Handbook, this dark mark is a very uncertain field character; the photographs of this species published in a recent number (Vol. XLIII. plates 65 to 68) show that it is sometimes quite prominent (plate 68) sometimes almost invisible (plate 65). - Eds.]

The bill was conspicuously short and broad at the base, yellowish horn in colour, and easily attracted my attention. I was unable to view the legs.

In flight the bird was more reminiscent of a Wood-Lark (Lullula arborea) than of a Sky-Lark (Alauda arvensis) in its small size, undulating flight and shortish tail. Though the tail was by no means as short as that of a Wood-Lark it appeared to me shorter than that of a Sky-Lark. In colour, when on the wing, it appeared uniform sandy brown on the upper-parts with a distinctly dark tail. A call-note which was similar to that of a Sky-Lark, but harsher and concluded sharply, was uttered once each time the bird was flushed. After having watched this bird for over half an hour I flushed it again, but on this occasion it gained height and flew off up the river valley.'

20). 1951 Sussex Pagham Harbour, two, 29th April.

(B. Metcalf, British Birds 45: 28-29; G. des Forges & D. D. Harber, Sussex Bird Report 1951: 7; K. Williamson, Bird Migration 2: 34-37; Shrubb, 1979).

History B. Metcalf (1952) in British Birds, Vol. XLV. pp. 28-29, says: 'On April 29th, 1951 Michael Gore and myself saw two larks in appearance sufficiently different from any birds known to us to rouse our immediate attention. The birds were encountered feeding on the short grass of a water meadow adjacent to Pagham Harbour, Sussex, a site extremely popular with many types of migrant passerines.

After observing them for two minutes we concluded that the birds were not Sky- or Wood-larks and were probably of a species that is seldom met with in Britain. The birds were seen for a total of about ten minutes at 15-20 yards and briefly at 10 yards, 10.5 x 40 and 6 x 30 glasses being used. Light was good but cloudy, thus an accurate account of detail was possible.

The bill appeared relatively stouter than a Sky-Lark's (Alauda arvensis) and yellowish in colour. Legs were flesh coloured. Gait, a walk with occasional hop. The back was very boldly marked, feathers black-brown with light edgings, producing a chequer or zigzag pattern quite unlike that of any familiar lark. Underparts were pale sandy in colour and quite unstreaked except for a faint uniform collar on lower part of throat, formed by small streaks. An obscure darkish patch, difficult to define, on the side of the upper breast near the wing-coverts, was observed on one of the birds by myself and this detail was only seen for the duration of one short inspection, being at other times not visible or noticed. The head was that of a typical lark, crown sandy-brown with darker streaks running from forehead. Nape was lighter with uniform faint streaks. A pale sandy eye-stripe running from the eye was not very extensive. There was no trace of a crest.

The tail was longer than a Woodlark's (Lullula arborea) and near enough to that of a Sky-Lark, though I have found the latter species to vary to some small degree. In colour, when in flight, the central part of the tail was distinctly darker than the rest of the plumage. The outer feathers were light. The wing pattern was not so clearly seen but possessed no distinctive feature.

The birds did not call. No accurate estimate could be made of size, but it was obvious that in this respect, they were not far removed from Sky-Larks and could have been smaller.'

22). 1951 Suffolk Havergate Island, 24th June.

(B. King, British Birds 45: 29-30; Payn, 1978).

History B. King (1952) in British Birds, Vol. XLV. pp. 29-30, says: 'Commander F. H. Phillips, Mr. R. L. Vernon and the writer visited Havergate, Suffolk, on June 24th, 1951. Whilst quietly watching waders, terns and gulls from a hide, our attention was attracted by the appearance of a lark looking noticeably light-brown in colour, which had settled on marshy ground not more than 25 yards distant. Such unusual characters as stout but pale yellowish bill, broad buffish-white lores and superciliary stripe, whole of throat, breast and belly unstreaked except for blackish-brown markings on either side of neck, were clearly visible through x 8 binoculars and x 30 telescope, It was in fact so unlike the numerous Sky-Larks (Alauda arvensis) present that we were convinced the bird was indeed one of the rare British larks.

Later, on consulting The Handbook it was evident the bird could be none other than a Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla).

The following are the plumage details as we made them: - Head and nape light brown, finely streaked ; mantle, back and wings greyish brown with prominent dark brown markings; tail dark brown. Lores whitish with superciliary stripe pale buffish-white, ear coverts dark brown, finely streaked. Chin and neck white, breast and belly pale buffish-white with deeper buff across the upper breast. Pronounced blackish-brown markings on either side of the upper neck, with few light brown markings. Bill pale yellowish-brown, legs same colour. The bird was under review for at least five minutes, then with strong undulating flight it flew out of our field of view, only to return for just a short period. Once it sang from the ground, the gape being a bright yellow-brown colour. Unfortunately, much of its song was inaudible due to the constant calling of terns and gulls, but thin high-pitched notes were occasionally heard.

It is believed that this is the first recorded instance of a Short-toed Lark for Suffolk.'

23). 1952 Pembrokeshire Skokholm, 9th to 13th April, trapped, 10th April.

(P. J. Conder, British Birds 46: 189-190; P. J. Conder, British Birds 46: 436; Field Studies Council, Skokholm Bird Observatory Report 1952: 7; Betts, 1992; Lovegrove, Williams & Williams, 1994).

History P. J. Conder (1953) in British Birds, Vol. XLVI. pp. 189-190, says: 'On April 9th, 1952, a Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla) was seen on Skokholm, Pembs. The first impression gained was of a small reddish-brown lark, about the size of a Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis). At a range of 20-30 yards the crown of the head appeared to be a uniform light reddish-brown. The superciliary stripe, which was a paler chestnut-fawn, was very pronounced, particularly over the ear coverts, which were darker, but not so dark as the crown. The contrast between the superciliary stripe and the darker crown gave the bird a capped appearance. The side and back of neck appeared slightly greyer than the head. The warm buff, which was pronounced on the sides of the breast, seemed to form a shallow V-shaped gorget across the breast.

On April 10th, in better conditions, it was possible to see that on the crown of the head there were, in fact, some small darker brown streaks. The pattern of the wing-coverts was also fairly pronounced, the area of the median coverts being a dark brown with pale edge giving the impression of a broad, dark wing-bar above a paler one. The centres of the greater coverts were also dark brown (though not so dark as the median coverts) with pale tips to the greater coverts which showed up as another thinner, pale wing bar. The broad chestnut edges to the central tail-feathers were also conspicuous.

The flight was undulating, rather more jerky than that of a Sky-lark (Alauda arvensis). The flight notes were also reminiscent of the Skylark, but the trills were rather shorter and harsher; once or twice the bird was heard to utter a "wit" note. It appeared very tame and exhausted on both days. On the 10th, two pull nets were set and after a little careful driving the bird was caught and the identity confirmed.

This individual did not agree in general colouration with the field description in The Handbook where it is described as "a small, rather pale, sandy-looking lark with under-parts nearly white". Under sunny conditions the Skokholm bird was very reddish-brown - much more so than a Meadow Pipit. In other respects, however, our observations agree with those of The Handbook. The brown mark on the side of the neck was seen, but only when the bird stretched up its head. This would seem to be the first record of the Short-toed Lark for Wales.

[A laboratory description which fully confirms the identification and a list of 10 other observers who saw the bird have also been supplied. - Eds.]

24). 1952 Fair Isle No locality, adult male, 6th to 7th October, when shot.

(K. Williamson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin 1 (9): 27-28; K. Williamson, British Birds 46: 210-211; K. Williamson, British Birds 46: 423).

History K. Williamson (1953) in British Birds, Vol. XLVI. pp. 210-211, says: 'Eastern Short-toed Lark (Calandrella cinerea longipennis). October 6th-7th and 9th-11th. A. G. S. Bryson found what was undoubtedly the first of these birds on the 6th, but was unable to identify it because of its wildness and the poor light.

Search next day was unproductive until Colonel R. Meinertzhagen found it in stubble in the late afternoon and collected it. The determination was made later on a comparison with material in his own collection. The bird was an adult male, very fat, and had been eating seeds of Cerastium. Its weight was 26.3 gm. and the wing measured 92 mm., bill 12 mm. from skull, tarsus 21 mm. and tail 60 mm. The 2nd and 3rd primaries were longest, and the 4th 2 mm. shorter....These are the third and fourth occurrences of the Eastern Short-toed Lark at Fair Isle, the previous ones being dated November 11th, 1907, and October 29th, 1927.

This race has also occurred on Whalsay, in Shetland, but not elsewhere in the British Isles so far as is known. In this connection attention should be drawn to the inaccurate record of its appearances given in the new Check-list of the Birds of Great Britain and Ireland (London, 1952), p. 61.'

25). 1952 Fair Isle No locality, 9th to 11th October.

(K. Williamson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin 1 (9): 27-28; K. Williamson, British Birds 46: 210-211; K. Williamson, British Birds 46: 423).

History K. Williamson (1953) in British Birds, Vol. XLVI. pp. 210-211, says: 'Eastern Short-toed Lark (Calandrella cinerea longipennis). October 6th-7th and 9th-11th....Colonel Meinertzhagen found an identical bird in the same stubble-field on the 9th, and during the next few days this was also watched by Dougal G. Andrew, Dan Bateman and myself.

At this period a strong westerly gale was blowing, with frequent heavy showers - conditions which made critical observation difficult. My best views were in a good light on the morning of the 10th: the general impression was of a pale greyish-brown bird streaked with darker brown above, and whitish below with some slight streaking on the breast. The crown was sandy-brown flecked with darker, and lacked a crest; the ear-coverts were dark in contrast with the paler eye-stripe and cheeks. I could see no indication of black spots at the side of the neck. The bird struck us as being very unlike a Skylark (Alauda arvensis) in its habits.

Many of this species were feeding in the same stubbles, but the bird did not associate with them, nor did it ever call (as they did) on being flushed. Whereas the Skylarks climbed on rising and usually passed to another field this bird flew low and alighted only a short distance away, to stand upright in the stubble with its head raised alertly.

We did not see it crouch as larks normally do when suspicious. These are the third and fourth occurrences of the Eastern Short-toed Lark at Fair Isle...'

26). 1954 Fair Isle Kennaby, 9th to 14th October.

(K. Williamson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin 2: 197-199; R. K. Cornwallis, British Birds 48: 437-438; K. Williamson & H. A. Craw, British Birds 48: 457-458).

History K. Williamson & H. A. Craw (1955) in British Birds, Vol. XLVIII. pp. 457-458, say: 'In mid-October 1954, two Short-toed Larks (Calandrella brachydactyla) were present in stubble-fields and adjoining root-crops at Fair Isle. The first was not identified until 9th October, although its call-note had been heard for some days previously; the second was first seen on 11th October; both were present on the 14th, but had apparently left with a large proportion of the Skylarks (Alauda arvensis) by the next day.

A full description of the birds has been given in F.I.B.O., Bull. (Vol. II. pp. 197-199), but as we formed the opinion that they were most probably of the Eastern race (C. b. longipennis), on the call-notes of which there seems to be no published information, it may be worth while summarizing our observations here. The most distinctive and probably a diagnostic call was one which first attracted our attention to one of the birds, as it flew with Skylarks when we entered the field, and which resulted in our giving it the nickname "Tinkerbell".

The first bird used this metallic, bell-like jingle a great deal, when flying and also sometimes when on the ground, but the second bird resorted to it much less often. We cannot find this note, which could be written as a musical "wink, wink" repeated, mentioned in The Handbook (Vol. I. p. 171) for the Eastern or the typical race. There was also a "tewp, tewp" of uneven rhythm, used by both birds on rising; and sometimes they went off with a slurred rippling note not unlike the Skylark's alarm.

The bird which spent much of its time alone in crops was especially prone to give this call when flushed. Another plaintive single note, not often heard, was we think the "tee-oo" call described in The Handbook for the typical form. Points in their behaviour which impressed us were their extremely rapid feeding-action (much more vigorous than the Skylark's) and a curious sideways hopping movement which sometimes alternated with the normal running gait. We should now add that we ourselves have every confidence that the birds were of the Eastern race. In October 1952 an Eastern Short-toed Lark was collected at Fair Isle to establish identification (antea, Vol. XLVI. p. 210), and this skin is now kept in the laboratory and was available to take into the field (K.W. on 14th October) for comparison with the two birds. They were often watched at close quarters and in good light and were to all appearances identical in plumage with this specimen.'

27). 1954 Fair Isle Busta, 11th to 14th October.

(K. Williamson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin 2: 197-199; R. K. Cornwallis, British Birds 48: 438; K. Williamson & H. A. Craw, British Birds 48: 457).

History K. Williamson (1954) in the Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin, Vol. II. pp. 197-199, says: '...The second example was first seen, but not recognised, on October 11th. It was not on stubble, but in the Busta turnips, and it used an entirely different and in fact more lark-like call. It was found again next day, when it did take to the stubble field after leaving the roots, and although it later sought the turnips on several occasions, it behaved well and gave excellent close views....'

K. Williamson & H. A. Craw (1955) in British Birds, Vol. XLVIII. pp. 457-458, say: 'In mid-October 1954, two Short-toed Larks (Calandrella brachydactyla) were present in stubble-fields and adjoining root-crops at Fair Isle. The first was not identified until 9th October, although its call-note had been heard for some days previously; the second was first seen on 11th October; both were present on the 14th, but had apparently left with a large proportion of the Skylarks (Alauda arvensis) by the next day. A full description of the birds has been given in F.I.B.O., Bull. (Vol. II. pp. 197-199)...'

28). 1954 Isles of Scilly Porth Mellon, St Mary's, 26th to 28th October.

(B. H. Ryves, H. M. Quick & A. G. Parsons, Cornwall Bird-Watching & Preservation Society Report 1954: 30-31; I. C. T. Nisbet, British Birds 49: 409; Penhallurick, 1978).

History B. H. Ryves, H. M. Quick & A. G. Parsons (1954) in the Cornwall Bird-Watching & Preservation Society Report, Vol. XXIV. pp. 30-31, say: 'On October 26th, 27th and 28th, a bird was seen at Porth Mellon, St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly. It could not be found on October 29th. The bird was seen at all times during its stay on the beach near high tide line. When disturbed it invariably returned to the same beach. Once or twice it flew a short distance with waders. Flight was characteristic of a lark, showing a tail which was black or blackish with white outer tail feathers, No wing bars seen. Decidedly smaller than a Skylark.

The dull yellow bill was short and strong enough to give the impression of a bunting. The crown was darkly streaked, there was a pale superciliary streak, and a fine, dark, moustachial streak bordering an especially pale whitish throat. Below the throat was a broken dark line which was less marked towards the centre. Below this was a band of reddish-buff which merged into the pale underparts. This band widened laterally and was continued along the flanks. There were no spots or streaks on the underparts as in most larks. The mantle and back had dark streakings on a paler, buff ground colour. Tail feathers, although appearing black, seemed to have narrow buff edgings. Leonard thought that when the wings were folded the inner primaries appeared longer than might have been expected. The legs were pink, similar in colour to the nearby Rock Pipits. A lark-like flight note "chirrup" was heard, but it was rather weaker than a Skylark. When we had studied the bird closely we had no doubt that is was some species of lark, though we must make the humiliating admission that for some time we thought it was a bunting.

The general impression was of a bird which was dull and whose markings were rather lacking in clear cut definition. On the ground, at a distance, it looked like a rather dingy sparrow-coloured bunting. In flight, even at 50 yards or more, it impressed us as a small lark with a black tail and white outer tail-feathers. H.G.H. L.H.H.'

[This record was submitted to Mr. Kenneth Williamson, of Fair Isle, for his opinion. He writes as follows: "To my mind it is an excellent field description of a Short-toed Lark, almost certainly the South European bird - the bird's habitat seems rather a strange one, but perhaps it was finding some seeds washed up along the tide-line".

He further writes in regard to the weather: "On late 25th a massive ridge of anticyclonic weather moved over Great Britain from the Atlantic and with conditions over France and much of Southern Europe excellent for migration this lark might well have arrived as a drift-migrant at that time".]

29). 1955 Fair Isle Busta, 4th May.

(K. Williamson, British Birds 48: 512-513; K. Williamson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin 3: 14; K. Williamson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report 1955-56: 17).

History K. Williamson (1955) in British Birds, Vol. XLVIII. pp. 512-513, says: 'Among a number of Skylarks (Alauda arvensis) feeding on a small area of plough at Busta, Fair Isle, on 4th May, 1955, there was a smaller and very much redder bird which I identified as a Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla). Compared with the Skylarks its under-parts were a creamy-white, entirely unstreaked, though suffused buffish on the breast; and the two blackish marks on the sides of the neck which are characteristic of the smaller species were noticeable. There was also a small but nevertheless pronounced tuft or crest to the rear of the rufous crown, a buffish-white superciliary stripe, narrow pale wing-bars formed by buffish tips to the greater and median coverts, and buffish-white outer tail-feathers.

The Skylarks were almost imperceptible against the background of grey-brown soil until they moved, but this bird was very conspicuous, and I can fully endorse P. J. Conder's impression of a small, reddish-brown lark rather than a "pale, sandy-looking" one as described in The Handbook (cf. antea, Vol. XLVI. p. 190), though it must be admitted that in coloration this is a very variable species.

Although similar in build, plumage-pattern and behaviour (but with a more marked "crest" and neck-spots) to the Short-toed Larks I watched at Fair Isle in October 1952 (antea, Vol. XLVI. p. 210) and October 1954 (antea, p. 457), the present example was very different in colour, and the reddish-brown upper-parts indicate that it belonged to the group inhabiting the Mediterranean basin (brachydactyla, rubiginosa, hermonensis), and not to the eastern population longipennis, a grey-brown bird which is the more usual form at Fair Isle in autumn.

There are spring records of brachydactyla at Fair Isle for 18th June 1908 and 10th May 1930. The bird was also seen by Miss V. M. Thorn, Mr. William Crawford and Mr. Ivor McLean.'

30). 1955 Fair Isle Busta, 20th October.

(R. K. Cornwallis, British Birds 50: 112; K. Williamson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin 3: 14, 61, 64; K. Williamson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report 1955-56: 19).

History K. Williamson (1955) in the Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin, Vol. III. p. 14, says: 'On October 20th, in the Busta stubble, I. J. Ferguson-Lees identified a Short-toed Lark which he described as a very grey type of bird, and which may therefore have inclined towards the eastern form Calandrella c. longipennis, rather than the reddish south European type.'

K. Williamson (1955) in the Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report, p. 19, says: 'Short-toed Larks were in the root-crops on October 20th, November 14th and November 27th. The mid-November bird belonged to the south European race brachydactyla whereas the others had greyer plumage suggesting affinity with the eastern longipennis, which is the more usual at Fair Isle in autumn.'

31). 1955 Fair Isle Taft, obtained, 14th November.

(K. Williamson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin 3: 14; K. Williamson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report 1955-56: 19).

History K. Williamson (1955) in the Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin, Vol. III. p. 14, says: 'At Taft on November 14th James A. Stout found a specimen of a Short-toed Lark which he sent to me and which I have compared with skins in the Royal Scottish Museum. This is a very reddish example and is clearly referable to Calandrella c. brachydactyla. There are a few previous autumn records of this form, mostly very late in the season: male, 11th November 1907; female, 28th November 1910; male, 9th November 1925; female, 19th October 1926; male, 24th October 1930.'

32). 1955 Fair Isle Taing, 27th November.

(K. Williamson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin 3: 14; K. Williamson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report 1955-56: 19).

History K. Williamson (1955) in the Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin, Vol. III. p. 14, says: 'Finally, on November 27th James Wilson observed a Short-toed Lark at Taing which he describes as much paler than the example shown to him a few days earlier by James Stout, and which seems likely therefore to have had closer affinity with the grey-brown eastern bird.'

33). 1956 Pembrokeshire Skokholm, 10th to 20th April.

(Field Studies Council, Skokholm Bird Observatory Report 1956: 10; Betts, 1992).

History Field Studies Council (1956) in the Skokholm Bird Observatory Report, p. 10, say: 'One April 10th to 20th. Second record for Skokholm.'

34). 1957 Outer Hebrides St Kilda, 29th May to 5th June.

(W. J. Eggeling, Scottish Birds 1: 60; J. W. Campbell, Scottish Birds 1: 257; Thom, 1986).

History W. J. Eggeling (1958) in Scottish Birds, Vol. I. p. 60, says: 'A very rufous example, probably of the race brachydactyla, seen by Kenneth Williamson from 29th May to 5th June 1957.'

J. W. Campbell (1960) in Scottish Birds, Vol. I. p. 257, says: 'One, "probably of the race brachydactyla" at St Kilda, 29th May 1957 (S. B. I: 60); first for island.'

35). 1957 Fair Isle Stackhoull, 19th July to 8th August.

(P. E. Davis, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin 4: 14; P. E. Davis, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report 1957: 16, 19; Dymond, 1991).

History P. E. Davis (1957) in the Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report, p. 16, says: 'One notable rarity was a Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla), which appeared on the quite exceptional date of July 19th, and lived in the crofting area until August 8th. It was a very red bird, attributable to the Southern European form.'

P. E. Davis (1958) in the Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin, Vol. IV. p. 9, says: 'During the morning of July 19th 1957, I was called to Stackhoull to examine an unusual red lark which Alan Till had seen there. Miss E. Garden and Peter Jones were already there, and I was able to confirm there opinion that the bird was a Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla. It was much the reddest bird of the species that I had ever seen, seeming almost pink in flight, and the colour of the mantle was almost as red-brown as that of the crown.

Birds I saw in the Camargue in 1950, and one at Skokholm in April 1956, clearly referable to the western form C. b. brachydactyla, were much closer to the Handbook description of "pale, sandy-looking" birds, with mantles paler in shade than the crown.'

36). 1957 Fair Isle Easter Lother Water, two, 22nd September, one remaining to 24th September.

(P. E. Davis, British Birds 51: 243; P. E. Davis, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report 1957: 19; P. E. Davis, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin 4: 9, 14).

History P. E. Davis (1957) in the Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report, p. 19, says: 'The 22nd [Sept.] was another day of general decrease, but there was one new species for the log; two Short-toed Larks of the very grey eastern form longipennis, fellow-countrymen of Richard's Pipit in the steppes of Russian Asia.'

P. E. Davis (1958) in the Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin, Vol. IV. p. 9, says: 'On September 22nd, during the big September "rush", two other Short-toed Larks were found near Easter Lother Water.

They were very grey birds, hardly recognisable, at first glance, as being of the same species as the July bird. The general effect was of a dull, sandy-grey plumage, though the crown and mantle had darker brown striations, and the wing-coverts were edged with dark spots and sandy buff tips. The primaries were widely edged sandy-buff giving a warmer appearance to the closed wing. This was more pronounced in one bird than in the other. The white of the lower breast and belly was less pure than in the summer bird.

Clearly these two larks should be referred to the eastern form Calandrella b. longipennis, a record that accords with the appearance of a Richard's Pipit Anthus richardi and a Lanceolated Warbler Locustella lanceolata on the previous day.'

Further, p. 14, he adds: 'Two, September 22nd, one until 24th.'

P. E. Davis (1958) in British Birds, Vol. LI. p. 243, says: 'A remarkable "rush" of Continental birds affected Fair Isle between fifth and 22nd September 1957, and three species from central and southern areas of the U.S.S.R. appeared in the last two of these days. These were a Lanceolated Warbler (Locustella lanceolata) and a Richard's Pipit (Anthus richardi) on the 21st, and two very grey Short-toed Larks (Calandrella cinerea) on the 22nd. These last were considered to be of the Eastern race, longipennis, of which several previous individuals have been identified on Fair Isle in recent years (e.g. antea, Vol. XLVI. p. 210; Vol. XLVIII. pp. 457-458)...'

NOT PROVEN

0). 1854 Sussex Near Brighton, caught, 26th September, now at Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery (Acc. No. 1924Z18.3812).

(A. Hussey, Zoologist 1855: 4558; J. C. Wilson, Zoologist 1859: 6605; G. D. Rowley, Ibis 1859: 330; Newman, 1866; Yarrell, 1871-85; Harting, 1872; Borrer, 1891; Walpole-Bond, 1938; Shrubb, 1979; Watson, 2010).

[A. H. J. Harrop, British Birds 112: 89-98].

History A. Hussey of Rottingdean (1855) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. XIII. p. 4558, dated November, 1854, says: 'Mr. Swaysland, of Brighton, the fortunate captor, as recorded in The Zoologist for this month, of the Sylvia galactotes, possesses a Short-toed Lark and a Lapland Bunting, both which were caught in lark nets in the neighbourhood of Brighton, and were kept alive for a time.'

J. C. Wilson (1859) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. XVII. p. 6605, adds: 'Short-toed Lark. Caught at Brighton. I am assured by Mr. Wells, who saw and examined the bird, that it could not be mistaken for any other member of the family.'

George Dawson Rowley of Brighton (1859) in The Ibis, Vol. I. p. 330, in a Letter, says: 'I may here call your attention to the fact of two specimens of the Short-toed Lark (Alauda brachydactyla) having been obtained near Brighton. I saw one alive on September 26th, 1854 which had been caught by boys on the Downs, and kept in confinement some time, not being distinguished from the Skylark. This bird cracked seeds like a Canary, instead of swallowing them whole; it was very tame, and ultimately killed and stuffed.'

Admitted by Alfred Newton (1871-74 (1): 638) in Yarrell's British Birds.

Harting (1872: 110) in a footnote, says: 'This is in all probability the specimen noticed by Mr. Hussey as obtained near Brighton in the autumn of 1854 (Zoologist, 1855, p. 4558).'

Accepted locally (Borrer 1891: 112-113; Walpole-Bond 1938 (1): 180).

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 ex H. Collin's collection of Aldsworth House, Hants.

Comment Swaysland has been found to be unreliable (A. H. J. Harrop, British Birds 112: 89-98). Not acceptable.

0). 1858 Sussex Wish Vortslade, near Brighton, shot, late April, now at Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery (Acc. No. 1924Z18.3811).

(G. D. Rowley, Ibis 1859: 330; Borrer, 1891; Walpole-Bond, 1938; Watson, 2010).

[des Forges & Harber, 1963].

History George Dawson Rowley of Brighton (1859) in The Ibis, Vol. I. p. 330, in a Letter, says: 'I may here call your attention to the fact of two specimens of the Short-toed Lark (Alauda brachydactyla) having been obtained near Brighton. I saw one alive on September 26th, 1854 which had been caught by boys on the Downs, and kept in confinement some time, not being distinguished from the Skylark. This bird cracked seeds like a Canary, instead of swallowing them whole; it was very tame, and ultimately killed and stuffed. The second specimen was killed in April 1858, by a person on the sea-shore, who saw it come to land, and light, after a short rest, upon the road, where it immediately began dusting itself. I did not see this bird, but my informant was the person who killed it, and one who is quite trustworthy: it was afterwards preserved.'

Accepted locally (Borrer 1891: 113; Walpole-Bond 1938 (1): 180) though not later (des Forges & Harber 1963).

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 at the Wish Vortslade, Sussex in the last week of April 1858 by Mr. Harding, Upper North St, Brighton.

0). Pre 1860 Dorset Wood, near Weymouth, obtained, undated, now at County Museum, Dorchester.

(F. L. Blathwayt, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History Society and Antiquarian Field Club 39: 49; F. L. Blathwayt, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society 55: 171; F. L. Blathwayt, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society 56: 87; F. L. Blathwayt, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society 61: 141; W. R. Thompson, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society 62: 115; Prendergast & Boys, 1983; Morrison, 1997).

[Green, 2004].

History F. L. Blathwayt (1918) in the Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History Society and Antiquarian Field Club, Vol. XXXIX. p. 49, under 'New Species of Birds observed in Dorset', says: 'A specimen in the Dorchester Museum from near Weymouth (Thompson collection).'

Still admitted by F. L. Blathwayt (1934) in the Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society, Vol. LV. p. 171, under 'A Revised List of the Birds of Dorset'.

F. L. Blathwayt (1935) in the Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society, Vol. LVI. p. 87, in the Annual Report for 1934, now placing the record in square-brackets, says: 'The ancient specimen in the Dorchester Museum was examined by Mr. Witherby who pronounced it to be of the typical Western race.' However, five year later it was admitted again by F. L. Blathwayt (1940) in the Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society, Vol. LXI. p. 141, under 'A Revised List of the Birds of Dorset'.

W. R. Thompson (1941) in the Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society, Vol. LXII. 115, under 'List of Species of Birds in the Dorset County Museum', says: 'Short-toed Lark near Weymouth, c. 1860 (W. Thompson).'

Prendergast & Boys (1983: 204) say: 'One in the Dorchester Museum, apparently of the western race brachydactyla was obtained at Weymouth prior to 1860.' Not accepted locally by Green (2004) who states the first record occurred in 1985.

Comment William Thompson of Weymouth who died about 1860. Lacks a precise date for a scientific record. Not acceptable.

0). 1861-62 Hampshire Near Southampton, caught alive, winter.

(J. P. Bartlett, Zoologist 1862: 7930-31; Newman, 1866; Kelsall & Munn, 1905).

[Not in Clark & Eyre, 1993].

History J. Pemberton Bartlett of Exbury Parsonage, Hampshire (1862) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. XX. p. 7930-31, dated 3rd February, 1862, says: 'It may be interesting to your ornithological readers to know that I have now in my possession a living specimen of the Short-toed Lark (Alauda brachydactyla). It was caught by a bird catcher in the neighbourhood of Southampton.

It is now getting reconciled to its captivity; indeed, from the first, it was restless rather than wild. Not knowing anything of its domestic habits I placed it in a large cage, with perches, thus giving it the option of roosting either on a perch or at the bottom of the cage. It chose the perch, where it roosts on the same spot nightly, which makes it probable that when at liberty it roosts in trees. A tuft of grass is kept in its cage, but it does not appear to care for it. It spends the day in flitting from perch to perch, occasionally running along the bottom of the cage, from end to end. Not knowing what to feed it on, I at first supplied it with bruised hemp-seed and bread-crumbs, German paste, canary and maw seed; it appears to prefer the hemp-seed and bread, and does not eat the canary seed at all, and but little of the German paste. In order to gain its confidence, I give it daily a couple of meal-worms, of which it appears very fond. The way in which it treats the meal-worms is curious, and different from a fauvette who hangs in a neighbouring cage, and who, upon getting one of those dainties, gives it a pinch with his beak and a tap or two on the perch, and then bolts it whole; my short-toed friend, however, seizes the worm, pinches a hole in him near the head, and then sucks out the entire contents of its inferior, leaving the skin perfectly empty! The only sound it has as yet favoured me with, is a clear and silvery call-note. Never having seen one before, I am unable to decide if it be male or female.

In Morris' British Birds, the male is described as having "chin, throat and breast, white". Now my bird has no white any where about it, save the two outer feathers on either side of the tail. The chin throat and breast are of a lighter tint than the back, but by no means white. It may be a female, or there may be a change of plumage in the winter. In other respects the description answers well. The attitude and expression of the portrait in that work are decidedly good; the colouring not so good. The appearances of the Short-toed Lark in Great Britain seem to have been few and far between. The man who caught the one I have had once taken another ten years ago.

I have looked through the nineteen volumes of The Zoologist, and the only notices of its appearance there recorded are one in Sussex in 1854, in the possession of Mr. Swaysland, of Brighton, and one shot at the Scilly Islands, by Mr. Augustus Pechell, in the same year. The only other British specimen I can hear of is the one mentioned by Mr. Morris, in his British Birds, as having been caught in a net near Shrewsbury, in October, 1841.

In volume 6th of The Zoologist (Zool. 1958), the Rev. C. A. Bury mentions seeing it in the South of Spam, and in volume 15th (Zool. 5357), Lieutenant Irby records it as being found in the Crimea. I may, therefore, think myself fortunate in adding so rare a bird to my collection of British songsters. I have this winter caught in my garden here a fine male Mountain Finch (Fringilla montifringilla) and a male Cirl Bunting (Emberiza cirlus). I have also a male and female Hawfinch (Coccothraustes vulgaris). The female I had last spring, and in May she laid three eggs in the cage, which was remarkable, as she had been in captivity since the preceding autumn. I hope this year, by turning the pair into a small aviary, they may be induced to breed. I have also three Crossbills (Loxia curvirostra), which are very tame and amusing birds. Both the Hawfinch and Crossbill generally visit this county every year: I suspect the former breeds in certain parts of the New Forest.'

Accepted locally (Kelsall & Munn 1905: 97) but not later (Clark & Eyre 1993).

0). 1873 Sussex Near Brighton, caught, 15th November.

(G. D. Rowley, Field 22nd Nov., 1873: 528; G. D. Rowley, Zoologist 1874: 3832; Borrer, 1891).

[N. B. Kinnear, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 46: 123; Walpole-Bond, 1938; A. H. J. Harrop, British Birds 112: 89-98].

History George Dawson Rowley (1873) in The Field of 22nd Nov., Vol. XLII. p. 528, and (1874) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. IX. p. 3832, says: 'On Saturday the 15th November, a Short-toed Lark (Alauda brachydactyla, Leisler) was taken in a net outside Brighton, and brought alive to Mr. Swaysland, who sent it up to me. The bird he says, is a male. On looking into my notes, I find two others have been seen here - September 26, 1854, and April 1858. The last was shot whilst dusting itself in a road, very near the spot where the present example appeared. Curiously enough, the man saw this example about, and went on purpose to catch him.'

[This is only the sixth recorded occurrence of the Short-toed Lark in the British Islands, all of which, with one exception, were captured in the south of England; the exception occurred at Shrewsbury. - Ed., Field.]

Accepted locally (Borrer 1891: 113).

N. B. Kinnear, Editor (1926) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XLVI. p. 123, at the 302nd Meeting of the Club held on 9th June 1926 at Pagani's Restaurant, London, says: 'Mr. A. F. Griffith also exhibited two birds from the Booth Museum at Brighton which had been recently identified by Dr. Hartert as follows: - Calandrella minor kukunoorensis (Przew), female. Lesser Short-toed Lark. Only three other specimens of this rare form are known to exist in England, all males - two in the British Museum and one at Tring. This bird was taken by a bird-catcher near Brighton in November 1874 and brought to Swaysland, the Brighton bird-stuffer, by whom it was sold to Mr. Monk, on whose death it was acquired, with the rest of his collection, for the Booth Museum.

It is recorded in Borrer's Birds of Sussex, p. 113. Until recently this specimen was assumed to be Calandrella brachydactyla, but the late Mr. M. J. Nicol, in May 1919, noticed that it was not that species, but a form of Calandrella minor, a new bird to the British List, and asked that it should be compared and recorded. A new edition of the Illustrated Catalogue of the Collection was commenced in 1914, but stopped by the War, was taken in hand again last year. Thus it was not till February last that the bird was submitted to Dr. Hartert.'

Walpole-Bond (1938 (1): 180) says: '...it proved to be the Lesser Short-toed Lark and is still in the Booth Museum, Brighton. Borrer (1891) erroneously stated it as November, 1874, as did A. F. Griffith following in his Booth Museum Catalogues.'

Comment Misidentified. Another suspicious Swaysland record (A. H. J. Harrop, British Birds 112: 89-98). Not acceptable.

0). 1882 Cambridgeshire Near Cambridge, caught, mid-November.

(F. Doggett, Field 18th Nov., 1882: 741; F. Doggett, Field 25th Nov., 1882: 782; J. E. Harting, Zoologist 1883: 33; Lack, 1934; Bircham, 1989).

[J. S. Clark, Cambridgeshire Bird Report 2004: 140-141].

History Frederick Doggett of Cambridge (1882) in The Field of 18th Nov., Vol. LX. p. 741, says: 'I have purchased from a birdcatcher a fine specimen of the Short-toed Lark (Alauda brachydactyla). My experience has taught me to look upon such a specimen as being very rare. I should feel very much obliged if you would inform me how often it has appeared? I have never seen one before in thirty years' experience.'

[Is our correspondent quite sure that he has correctly identified the species? Where did the birdcatcher get it? The Short-toed Lark is found in Central and Southern Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa. Five instances of its occurrence in England are recorded in Harting's Handbook of British Birds, the localities being Shrewsbury, Brighton (twice), Scilly, and Southampton. - Ed.]

Frederick Doggett of Cambridge (1882) in The Field of 25th Nov., Vol. LX. p. 782, says: 'In reply to the editorial query appended to my letter last week, I may state that there is no doubt about the correct identification of this bird, inasmuch as I forwarded it for the inspection of Professor Newton, and have his permission to say that it has been correctly named.'

J. E. Harting (1883) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. VII. p. 33, says: 'I understand that a specimen of the Short-toed Lark, Calandrella brachydactyla (Leisler), was taken by a birdcatcher near Cambridge in the middle of November last, and submitted for the inspection and opinion of Prof. Newton, who confirmed the surmise as to its species and rarity in the British Islands. Only about half a dozen examples of this bird have been recorded to have been met with in England, and, with one exception, these were all obtained in the southern counties of Sussex, Hants, and Cornwall.'

Locally, Lack (1934: 58) after accepting this record, says: 'Harting (1872) noted that Doggett had a Crested Lark taken alive off a nest some two years before at Ibiston. This record was not generally accepted.'

J. S. Clark (2004) in the Cambridgeshire Bird Report pp. 140-141, under 'Review of Records', adds: 'Although the record has been subjected to scrutiny there is neither a description or specimen available.

Comment Probably imported. Not acceptable.

0). 1883 Greater London/Kent Near Orpington, caught, late June, now at Natural History Museum, Tring.

(T. Fisher, Zoologist 1885: 31; H. A. Macpherson, Zoologist 1885: 68; T. Fisher, Zoologist 1885: 108; Swann, 1893; Ticehurst, 1909; Harrison, 1953; Self, 2014).

[T. N. Hodge & I. P. Hodgson, Kent Bird Report 1986: 56].

History Theo. Fisher of Erfurt Lodge, Greenwich (1885) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. IX. p. 31, says: 'Passing, by chance, a bird-catcher's shop, I stepped in to ask the owner if he had caught any rare birds. He told me that in June, 1883, near Orpington, in Kent, a peculiar lark which no bird-stuffer or bird-catcher of his acquaintance had been able to name. The bird died, but he had it preserved, and showed it to me, when I found it to be the Short-toed Lark, Alauda brachydactyla, Leisler. The bird-catcher kept it for some time; and it soon became accustomed to confinement; but, unfortunately, died soon after completing its moult. "It's song", he remarked, "resembled that of a Sky Lark, but was more varied".'

H. A. Macpherson of Carlisle (1885) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. IX. p. 68, undated, under 'Reported Occurrence of the Short-toed Lark', says: 'Referring to Mr. Fisher's note on the Short-toed Lark (p. 31), I must confess that to my mind the evidence adduced as to the authenticity of the specimen amounts at most only to a probability of its being British. Mr. Fisher is not perhaps aware that Short-toed Larks are imported by London dealers among Goldfinches from France and Spain. At all events, I could myself add the Serin Finch and Cirl Bunting, and Siskin as having bred in Devon, Essex, and North Wales on the strength of hand-reared specimens, which I was assured had been taken in those counties.'

Theo. Fisher of Guy's Hospital (1885) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. IX. p. 108, replies: 'Since Mr. Macpherson doubts whether the Short-toed Lark reported by me (p. 31) is a British specimen, it may be as well to state the facts on which my opinion was founded: - first, the birdcatcher informs me that he never has, nor has had, any birds from abroad; and the absence of Goldfinches, Bullfinches, and Siskins, as well as foreign bird-cages, would lead me to believe him; secondly, he lives in the neighbourhood of Guy's Hospital, which is a poor locality, if he had such birds, he would not be able to sell them; thirdly, I think it very unlikely that a poor man would spend five shillings for preserving and casing a bird, on the mere probability of being able, on some future occasion, to deceive a bird collector. That the birdcatcher did not have the Lark preserved with the idea of profit is the more evident since it was in the house of a friend, and was with some reluctance sent for. When the bird arrived he showed little inclination to sell it; in fact, he told me that he would not have parted with it a few months before. Should it be supposed that this reluctance was assumed with the idea of obtaining a larger sum, I would remark that I paid very little for it, and would willingly have given double the amount asked for. All but two of the Short-toed Larks obtained in England having been trapped by birdcatchers, it seems to me that, in the opinion of Mr. Macpherson, "the authenticity of the specimens amount at most only to a probability of their being British.'

Swann (1893: 128) says: 'In the Natural History Museum is a specimen labelled "Orpington, Kent. May, 1884. Presented by Theo. Fisher".'

Ticehurst (1909: 219-220) after detailing some of the above, says: '...The facts given by Mr. Fisher in his first communication, and the further evidence adduced by him in his second are as follows: - ...Having spent something on its preservation, he would not have done this had he intended to palm off a foreign specimen as British. The bird may now be seen in the British Bird Gallery of the Natural History Museum at South Kensington, where its stand is marked "Orpington, May 1884", though the date originally given by Dr. Fisher was June, 1883. In reply to a query of mine with regard to the discrepancy, this gentleman has kindly furnished me with the following additional information and extract from his notebook. "Oct. 7th, 1884 a bird-catcher told me that towards the latter part of June 1883 he caught a peculiar kind of lark near Orpington. It was caught in a field at night time...On the following day Oct. 8th I saw the bird and bought it with the small case containing it, I think for 7/6, at any rate he cannot have valued it highly as I am not a bargainer and must have given him what he asked, which was probably more than he expected to get. There is not the least reason to suppose that the man was not telling me the truth". Taking everything into consideration, it seems only reasonable to accept this occurrence. The evidence is quite as good as that which has been accepted for most other species that have been captured by bird-catchers.'

Not accepted locally (Kent Ornithological Society).

Comment Late June would be a very unusual date. Not acceptable.

0). 1886 Hertfordshire Tring Park, shot, 9th March.

(J. E. Littleboy, Transactions of the Hertfordshire Natural History Society 5: 77).

[H. H. S. Hayward, Transactions of the Hertfordshire Natural History Society 22: 180; Sage, 1959].

History H. H. S. Hayward (1947) in the Transactions of the Hertfordshire Natural History Society, Vol. XXII. p. 180, placing the record in square brackets, says: 'One said to have been shot in Tring Park On 9th March, 1886 (Trans. Herts. Nat. Hist. Soc., V. 77). In view of the very early date there seems to be some error in this record.'

Sage (1959: 150) adds: 'On 9th March, 1886, one is said to have been shot by Hon. Walter Rothschild in Tring Park and subsequently identified by Mr. Bowdler Sharpe of the British Museum. It is not mentioned by Hartert & Jourdain (1920) and with the spring date it is viewed with scepticism.'

Comment "Said to have been" places no great confidence in the record which has an unusual date. Not acceptable.

0). 1886 Kent Well's Court, Blean, shot, undated.

(Dowker, 1889; Ticehurst, 1909).

[Taylor, Davenport & Flegg, 1984].

History Dowker (1889: 30) says: 'The rare birds of this family that have been met with, are the Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla) which was brought to Mr. Saville in 1886, and shot by Mr. Fleet at Well's Court, Blean. I give this on the authority of Mr. Saville.'

Accepted locally (Ticehurst 1909) though not later (Taylor, Davenport & Flegg 1984, 2nd ed.).

0). 1889 Devon No locality, two, caught, October.

(Anon., Field 9th Nov., 1889: 667; J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1890: 58).

[J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1890: 394; D'Urban & Mathew, 1892].

History Anon. (1889) in The Field of 9th Nov., Vol. LXXIV. p. 667, under 'Zoological Society of London: Additions to the Menagerie, Regent's Park, from Oct. 28 to Nov. 3', says: 'October 28th. Two Short-toed Larks (Calandrella brachydactyla), Devonshire. Presented by Commander W. M. Latham, R.N.'

J. H. Gurney, jun., of Norwich (1890) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XIV. p. 58, says: 'Some are reported to have been caught alive in Devonshire shortly before (Field of Nov. 9th, 1889, p. 667).'

J. H. Gurney, jun., of Keswick Hall, Norwich (1890) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XIV. p. 394, says: 'In The Zoologist for February last allusion was made (p. 58) to two Short-toed Larks, Alauda brachydactyla, reported to have been taken in Devonshire, and to one obtained about the same time at Yarmouth. The former specimens have since been ascertained by the Rev. H. A. Macpherson to have been imported from Italy, and bought by a dealer at Peckham, who was not quite candid about their origin as he might have been. Short-toed Larks seem to be often imported from the Continent, and it may be remembered that Mr. Macpherson alluded to the subject (Zool., 1885, p. 68) when querying the supposed occurrence of a specimen of this bird in Kent.'

Not accepted locally by D'Urban & Mathew (1892: 102-103) who were aware of the importation.

Comment Imported. Not acceptable.

0). 1889 Norfolk/Suffolk Breydon Water, South Wall, Suffolk, male, shot, 7th November, now at Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery (Acc. No. 1954Z1.818).

(J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1890: 58; G. Smith, Zoologist 1890: 77; Riviere, 1930; Ticehurst, 1932; Allard, 1990; Taylor, Seago, Allard & Dorling, 1999; Piotrowski, 2003; Dye, Fiszer & Allard, 2009; Watson, 2010).

[J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1890: 394; Southwell, 1890; Zoologist 1900: 408; Patterson, 1905].

History J. H. Gurney, jun., of Norwich (1890) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XIV. p. 58, says: 'I hear from Mr. George Smith that on November 7th a Short-toed Lark was shot on the South Breydon marshes.'

George Smith of North Town, Great Yarmouth (1890) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XIV. p. 77, says: 'A male example of the Short-toed Lark (Alauda brachydactyla), was shot near South Breydon Wall, Great Yarmouth, on Nov. 7th last, and is, I believe, the first that is known to have occurred in Norfolk.'

Southwell, Editor (1890) in Stevenson's Birds of Norfolk, Vol. III. p. 410, in Appendix C, says: 'The following five species, I think, cannot be unreservedly admitted to the 'Birds of Norfolk'. I have, therefore, thought it best to refer to them in an appendix by themselves, stating, as fully as the evidence enables me, the claims in each individual case. - Mr. George Smith, of Yarmouth, records the occurrence of an example of this species in The Zoologist for 1890, p. 77, stated by him to have been shot near South Breydon Wall, Yarmouth, on the 7th November, 1889. It proved upon dissection to be a male.

There can be no question as to the bird obtained by Mr. Smith being an example of this species, which is doubtless very likely to occur here in a state of nature, but it may be well to note that about the end of October, 1889, Short-toed Larks are known to have been imported into London with Skylarks, and that two are recorded as presented to the Zoological Gardens on the 28th of the same mouth by Commander Latham; it is, therefore, not altogether impossible that the bird in question may have been an "escape".'

Patterson (1905) says: 'The bird in question may be an escape. In October 1889 a number of Short-toed Larks were imported into London (Southwell 1890).'

Accepted locally by Ticehurst (1932: 99) who adds: '...shot near the South Breydon wall, and therefore, on the Suffolk side though always referred to as Norfolk.' Also accepted for Suffolk (Piotrowski 2003: 223).

Watson (2010) in detailing the W. R. Lysaght collection in the Birmingham Museum lists a male specimen from Caister, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, that was obtained on 7th November 1889, without further detail.

Comment Breydon South Wall was in Suffolk, but now in Norfolk since 1974 boundary changes. George Smith was a dealer who has been found to be unreliable in many instances. Probably imported. Not acceptable.

0). 1890 Hampshire Near Portsmouth, caught, October.

(Kelsall & Munn, 1905; H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 1: 255).

[Not in Clark & Eyre, 1993].

History Kelsall & Munn (1905: 97) say: 'In Dr. A. G. Butler's work on British Birds it is recorded that one caught near Portsmouth was exhibited at the Crystal Palace Bird Show in 1890.'

Admitted by H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst (1908) in British Birds, Vol. I. p. 255, under 'On the More Important Additions to our Knowledge of British Birds since 1899'.

Not accepted locally (Clark & Eyre 1993).

0). 1909 Sussex Hollingbury Hill, Brighton, female, caught, 16th November, now at Booth Museum, Brighton (BoMNH 207824).

(H. Langton, British Birds 3: 263; Walpole-Bond, 1938; Shrubb, 1979; James, 1996).

[J. M. Collinson, British Birds 105: 325-331; E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384].

History Herbert Langton (1910) in British Birds, Vol. III. p. 263, says: 'Mr. Brazenor, the taxidermist of Lewes Road, Brighton, showed me in the flesh a Short-toed Lark (Alauda brachydactyla). It was caught on the Downs to the north of Brighton on November 16th, 1909, curiously enough within a short distance of the place where the American Bittern was taken at the end of October. On dissection the bird proved to be a female.'

[This bird is now in the possession of Mr. J. B. Nichols, who very kindly showed it to me. - H.F.W.]

Accepted locally (Walpole-Bond 1938 (1): 181).

Comment Brazenor Bros, taxidermists, of Brighton were known to buy specimens from Leadenhall Market for stuffing (J. M. Collinson, British Birds 105: 325-331). J. B. Nichols was heavily involved in the 'Hastings rarities' fraud. "A short distance from where the American Bittern was obtained" all sounds very suspicious. Not acceptable.

0). 1911 Sussex Winchelsea Marsh, male and female, 22nd September.

(N. F. Ticehurst, Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist 4: 25; Walpole-Bond, 1938).

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

History N. F. Ticehurst (1928) in the Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist, Vol. IV. p. 25, says: 'Two were shot at Winchelsea on September 22nd, 1911, and examined by Mr. W. Ruskin Butterfield in the flesh. They passed into the collection of the late Sir Vauncey Harpur Crewe, and one of them, a female, is now in the Dyke Road Museum, Brighton. This record adds another species to our local list.'

Accepted locally (Walpole-Bond 1938 (1): 181).

Comment Hastings rarities. Not acceptable.

0). 1954 Norfolk Cley-next-the-Sea, two: adult and immature, 16th September, photo.

(R. P. Bagnall-Oakeley, British Birds 48: 36-38, plate 6; Norfolk Bird Report 1954: photo; K. Williamson, Bird Migration 2: 34-37, plate II; R. K. Cornwallis, British Birds 48: 435).

[Not in Seago, 1977].

History R. P. Bagnall-Oakeley (1955) in British Birds, Vol. XLVIII. pp. 36-38, says: 'On 16th September 1954, at Cley, Norfolk, while in a photographic hide facing a series of shallow pools with dry grassy patches between them, I observed two small larks for almost five hours at ranges varying from 100 to 12 feet. After making very careful notes of their characteristics, I identified the birds as Short-toed Larks (Calandrella brachydactyla), one immature and one adult. Several black-and-white photographs were taken and two of these are reproduced on plate 6; in addition some 60 feet of colour film were exposed.

In size and general movements they resembled Lapland Buntings (Calcarius lapponicus). They crept mouse-like amongst the grass, never hopping up onto prominent lumps in the manner of Skylarks (Alauda arvensis), several of which were always feeding in the same area though the Short-toed Larks consistently avoided them. Only one type of call was heard - a sparrow-like "cheep" - used when one of the birds flew over damp patches from one dry area to another. In colour they were richer brown than Skylarks on the back, wing coverts and tail, though not noticeably lighter. A pale sandy-brown band crossed the upper breast and was clearly speckled at the sides in one bird (the immature). Both had very light pale cream under-parts, which looked white in the sunlight when they were preening. The tail was short - as short as that of a Woodlark (Lullula arborea) - with a richer brown showing down the centre. The outer tail-feathers appeared to be cream-coloured and during preening some of the same colour showed on the outer webs of the adjacent feathers. Both birds had very marked pale eye-stripes which extended round the forehead to give the appearance of a cream band above the base of the upper mandible. The ear-coverts were chestnut, richer and unspeckled in the adult bird, though in both the eye-stripe broadened and curved round behind these coverts to join the pale throat. No crest was seen, even when the feathers of the crown were raised in preening. The beaks, especially in the adult bird, were heavier than those of Skylarks or Woodlarks and more reminiscent of those of buntings. These were grey-brown in colour with a yellow-green line at the junction of the mandibles. The legs were flesh-coloured, but no detail of the feet could be observed. Dark patches at the sides of the upper-breast were visible in one bird (the adult), but only on the few occasions when the head was stretched up (see plate 6, upper), while in the other the streaking in this position was noticeably darker.

On my leaving the hide, the birds which had crouched, were flushed, when the "cheep" call was again heard and a very short low flight made by both birds together before diving into grassy cover. This was repeated three times.

One of the birds, the adult, was seen on one of three following days by Mr. and Mrs. D. A. T. Morgan, L. G. Holloway, Miss James, Miss Forster, W. F. Bishop and others. On 13th September, three days before I saw these birds, A. H. Daukes had heard and seen a small, strange lark singing in the same area. His description of the song was "almost interminable, less musical than that of Skylark or Woodlark, with certain phrases repeated almost ad nauseam". He listened to the unbroken song for twenty minutes before moving away with the bird still singing.'

[At our request Mr. Daukes has amplified his description of the song he heard on 13th September. He says that it was quite distinct from a Skylark's (one or two of which were singing nearby), being without any of the canary-like trills uttered by that species and being altogether simpler, much inferior and less loud. While singing, the bird, which appeared to be about the size of a Woodlark, seemed to rise and fall "rather like a spider suspended from its silken thread". This description fits well the characteristic song-flight of the Short-toed Lark. - Eds.]

K. Williamson (1961) in Bird Migration, Vol. II. pp. 34-36, says: 'After looking at skins at NMS was confident that these were Lesser Short-toed Larks.'

Comment Misidentified. Not acceptable.

0). 1955 Yorkshire Spurn, 14th May.

(R. Chislett, Naturalist 81: 69; Mather, 1986).

[R. Chislett, Naturalist 81: 69].

History R. Chislett (1956) in the new series of The Naturalist, Vol. LXXXI. p. 69, recording the record in square brackets, says: 'At Spurn on May 14th, a small Lark came from south to alight in Clubley's field. When approached it flew with three Skylarks than which it was smaller. It had a sandy appearance with a darker tail and with paler underparts. The call, heard three times, was harsh with some suggestion of a rattle, John Cudworth, who knew the species in Egypt, considered the bird to be a Short-toed Lark, but did not see it nearer than c. 60-70 yards.'

AC pass

Keith Naylor

Greater Short-toed Lark

Calandrella brachydactyla (Leisler, 1814) (18, 19)

Crested Lark

European Red-rumped Swallow