Gyrfalcon (2/2)

Falco rusticolus Linnaeus, 1758 (188, 15)

Photo © Rob Stonehouse - North Uist, Outer Hebrides, 8 April 2016

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1950-57 RECORDS

187). 1950 Shetland Loch of Spiggie, Mainland, white-morph, 30th December.

(Venables & Venables, 1955).

History Venables & Venables (1955) say: 'In Shetland in bright sunshine on snow-covered ground on 30th December 1950 we saw our only Gyr Falcon. It was hunting a Curlew at Spiggie, but was unsuccessful, and in that light looked white enough to be an adult candicans though its underparts were lightly streaked with dark.'

188). 1951 Caithness Reay, 8th November.

(I. D. Pennie & J. Gunn, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin 1 (5): 29).

History I. D. Pennie & J. Gunn (1951) in the Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin, Vol. I (V). p. 29, under 'Greenland Falcon', say: 'Falco rusticolus (?) candicans. Nov. 8th, Gyrfalcon, probably this race, at Reay [Caithness].'

189). 1952 Shetland Brae, Mainland, white-morph, 4th February.

(K. Williamson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin 1 (6): 28; Venables & Venables, 1955; Dymond, 1991).

History K. Williamson (1951) in the Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin, Vol. I (VI). p. 28, says: '...A bird possibly of this species had been seen at Brae, Shetland, in the previous week, attempting to carry off a Grouse (per J. A. Brown.'

Venables & Venables (1955) say: '4th February 1952. Brae (J. A. Brown of Weathersta. The bird was eating a Red Grouse).'

190). 1952 Fair Isle Lower Leogh, white-morph, 9th February.

(K. Williamson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin 1 (6): 28; Dymond, 1991).

History K. Williamson (1951) in the Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin, Vol. I (VI). p. 28, says: 'On the same day that the Ivory Gull was found, Jerome Stout of Lower Leogh saw at very close quarters a large white falcon which he believes was a Greenland Falcon Falco rusticolus candicans. It was attacking a Common Gull. A bird possibly of this species had been seen at Brae, Shetland, in the previous week, attempting to carry off a Grouse (per J. A. Brown).'

191). 1952 Outer Hebrides Near Dalbeg, Lewis, found dead, mid-March.

("Stornoway Gazette" 21st March 1952; P. Cunningham pers. comm.).

History Peter Cunningham (pers. comm..) says: 'In mid-March 1952 one was found dead near Dalbeg; a note with a photograph by John Angus was published in the Stornoway Gazette of 21st March 1952.'

192). 1953 Norfolk Scolt Head, 6th January; same, Wells-next-the sea, January.

(M. J. Seago, Norfolk Bird Report 1953: 23; Seago, 1977; Bloomfield, 1993).

History M. J. Seago (1953) in the Norfolk Bird Report, p. 23, says: 'A large white falcon at Scolt Head, January 6th (R.C.) and near Wells "in January" reported by a keeper (per J.S.A.).'

193.0). 1953 Norfolk Cley-next-the-Sea/Blakeney area, 20th and 26th December; same, Stiffkey, 29th December.

(M. J. Seago, Norfolk Bird Report 1953: 23; Seago, 1977).

History M. J. Seago (1953) in the Norfolk Bird Report, p. 23, says: 'One at Blakeney Point, December 20th was considered to be of the Icelandic race (Falco r. islandus). when this bird was flying away, a second similar, but much darker bird was flying over the sea (M.F.M.M.). This record has been accepted by the Editors of British Birds. What were undoubtedly the same birds were seen over Blakeney harbour on December 26th and near Stiffkey channel on 29th (R.P.B.-O.).'

194). c. 1953 Highland Muck, Lochaber, undated.

(P. R. Evans & W. U. Flower, Scottish Birds 4: 421).

History P. R. Evans & W. U. Flower (1967) in Scottish Birds, Vol. IV. p. 421, under 'The Birds of the Small Isles', say: 'Muck. One in garden about 1953 (same year as recorded in Mull); probably of Greenland race.'

193.1). 1954 Norfolk Cley-next-the-Sea area, 1st to 8th January; same as December, 1953.

(M. J. Seago, Norfolk Bird Report 1954: 28; Seago, 1977; Taylor, Seago, Allard & Dorling, 1999).

History M. J. Seago (1954) in the Norfolk Bird Report, p. 28, says: 'One in the Cley area, January 1st, 6th-8th (R.P.B.-O., A.H.D., N.H.P.). (see Norfolk Bird Report, 1953).'

195). 1954 Cornwall Hayle Estuary, female, 16th April.

(B. H. Ryves, H. M. Quick & A. G. Parsons, Cornwall Bird-Watching & Preservation Society Report 1954: 14; Penhallurick, 1978).

History B. H. Ryves, H. M. Quick & A. G. Parsons (1954) in the Cornwall Bird-Watching & Preservation Society Report, Vol. XXIV. p. 14, say: 'On April 16th, at Hayle Estuary, we saw a bird with head and front entirely white, and upper parts white or slightly greyish. In size it was decidedly larger than a Rook - seen beside it. Stance and appearance, Falcon-like. We were struck by the extreme whiteness and peculiar stance, bending forward. When the tail was fanned it appeared almost white, with possibly a greyish tinge. During the time it was under observation (at least an hour) it was repeatedly mobbed by Rooks, and even the Gulls seemed uneasy. K.M.C. G.G.C. C.W. F.W.

On April 16th, whilst moving down Hayle causeway from Lelant, about 4.15 p.m., I saw a very white speck on the St. Ives railway line across the Estuary: two separate views of it through a telescope suggested that it was a white Homing Pigeon frequently in that area. I met the above four ladies who told me that it seemed to be a white Hawk which had been there for about half an hour and was frequently "mobbed" by Rooks. Further examination suggested that the head and neck of a larger bird than a pigeon could be seen above a depression, but the heat haze prevented a really good view. We all went to the head of the Estuary and walked down the railway line to within about 350 yards of the bird which, through glasses, presented as an obvious Raptor upstanding and pure white.

The back appeared slightly ashy and the head, neck and underparts pure white through a 30x telescope. As we slowly approached it took wing, circled over the Estuary and then swung down towards the sea out of sight. During this flight it was easily held in my telescope field. It then showed as a pure white Falcon, except for tiny, black, wing tips. It was bulkier and had a more prominent head than a Peregrine. The wing was conspicuously broad between the shoulder and carpal joints and the beat was slower than a Peregrine's in a ratio of about 1 : 3. Periods of gliding alternated with periods of flight. Knowing both Peregrine and Gyr Falcon in the field I have no doubt that this bird was F. rusticolus and I believe it to be an old female of the Greenland race, on account of its size on the wing and the snowy whiteness of its plumage. An unforgettable spectacle! A.G.P.'

196). 1954 Highland Strathy Point, Sutherland, 20th August.

(D. I. M. Wallace, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin 2: 211).

History D. I. M. Wallace (1954) in the Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin, Vol. II. p. 211, says: 'This report contains a summary of all observations on migration made in the area of Durness, Sutherland, during the period August 15th to 22nd 1954. The two observers, W. J. Wallace and myself...As the project was very much a "shot in the dark" a gratifying amount of migration was seen. Although the occurrence of two rarities, - a juvenile Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria at the River Dionard on August 16th, and a Gyr Falcon Falco rusticolus at Strathy Point on 20th, - does tend to colour the general picture...'

197). 1954 Norfolk Blakeney Point, 1st October.

(M. J. Seago, Norfolk Bird Report 1954: 28; Seago, 1977; Taylor, Seago, Allard & Dorling, 1999).

History M. J. Seago (1954) in the Norfolk Bird Report, p. 28, says: 'One, Blakeney Point, October 1st (M.M.). "A very large pale grey falcon with no 'moustaches'. Pale greyish underparts".'

198). 1955 Upper Forth Buchanan Old House, Mouth of River Endrick, Stirlingshire, 3rd April.

(M. F. M. Meiklejohn & C. E. Palmar, Scottish Naturalist 68: 159; M. Forrester, Scottish Naturalist 69: 118-119).

History M. F. M. Meiklejohn & C. E. Palmar (1956) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. LXVIII. p. 159, under 'Greenland Falcon', say: 'As recorded in detail elsewhere (Scot. Nat., in press), a bird of this species and race was seen by M.F. near the mouth of the R. Endrick on 3rd April.'

M. Forrester (1957) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. LXIX. pp. 118-119, says: 'On 3rd April 1955, while sheltering from a heavy shower close by Buchanan Old House, near the mouth of the River Endrick, I saw flying down an opening between the trees a large white hawk. The bird was completely white over its whole body, apart from black-tipped wings and faint specklings of black or brown on the upper-parts. It was about the size of a large Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus). The head was not rounded like the head of an owl. The wings were narrow and sharply pointed, not rounded and broad like the wings of a Buzzard or owl. The wing-beat was, I thought, slower than that of a Peregrine (Falco peregrinus), and the bird also glided over the ground. I identified it as a Greenland Falcon (Falco rusticolus candicans).'

199). 1956 Perth & Kinross Loch Leven, Kinross, 29th September and 7th October.

(G. McCaskie & R. W. J. Smith, Edinburgh Bird Bulletin 6: 68; M. F. M. Meiklejohn, Edinburgh Bird Bulletin 6: 68; E. V. Baxter, Scottish Naturalist 69: 173).

History G. McCaskie & R. W. J. Smith (1957) in the Edinburgh Bird Bulletin, Vol. VI. p. 68, say: 'On 29th September 1956 at Loch Leven a large hawk with a white head rose 150 yards ahead of us. It swung round and flew past at a distance of 200 yards giving a fair view in good light. The bird generally resembled a Peregrine but appeared much larger. The tail was noticeably longer, the wings not so pointed, and the wing-beats slower and heavier. The face, throat and underparts were dull white, the upper parts grey-brown, and there was no trace of a moustachial streak. The bird, though a strong flier, had none of the peregrine's dash. it also lacked its plumage contrast - being generally a dull grey and white bird at a distance. it flew to a wood a half mile off, apparently caught something and commenced plucking it on top of one of the birch trees. the bird was obviously a Gyr falcon of the Icelandic or South Greenland type.'

M. F. M. Meiklejohn (1957) in the Edinburgh Bird Bulletin, Vol. VI. p. 68, says: 'On 7th October at about 11 a.m. I was standing on the south shore of Loch Leven when I heard behind me a querulous anger-call of a Peregrine, and two birds of prey came into sight overhead, the smaller making repeated stoops at the larger. The smaller bird was a male Peregrine and the larger was also a falcon, undoubtedly a Gyr Falcon, resembling in colour individuals of the Iceland form. I have seen a Gyr Falcon before, and this bird had the characteristic shape - wings proportionately longer. In colour it was both paler and a browner grey than the Peregrine. Unfortunately, since the bird flew across the loch below me, no good view was had of the head and underparts until it was at some distance. The underparts then appeared whitish; if there were streaks they were not heavy ones. At a distance the tail, which was several times fanned in order to elude the Peregrine, appeared uniform pale brown, but was doubtless brown with lighter bars. I learned later that G. McCaskie and R. W. J. Smith had seen a Gyr Falcon on Loch Leven the previous week.'

E. V. Baxter (1957) in the Scottish Naturalist Vol. LXIX. p. 173, under 'Ornithological Changes in Scotland in 1956', says: 'An Iceland Falcon reported from Loch Leven, on 29th September and 7th October 1956, is new to Kinross (ibid 6: 68).'

200). 1956 Fair Isle No locality, immature, 18th October.

(P. E. Davis, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin 3: 121; Dymond, 1991).

History P. E. Davis (1957) in the Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin, Vol. III. p. 121, says: 'On October 18th, a day of heavy Pinkfoot and Merlin passage, a pair of Peregrines was seen in hot pursuit of a much bigger and broader winged falcon which could only have been a Gyr. It fled from them with a typical falcon scold, strident and hoarse: the tiercel sheered off, but the female Peregrine actually bound to the bigger bird for several seconds, forcing it down towards the sea.'

201). 1957 Cheshire & Wirral Arrowe Park, Birkenhead, 3rd December.

(Hedley Bell, 1962).

History Hedley Bell (1962) says: 'R. J. Raines saw one on 3 December 1957, flying over Arrowe Park, Birkenhead.'

NOT PROVEN

0). 1762 Yorkshire Near Halifax, immature male, shot, undated.

(Pennant, 1776; Hunt, 1815).

[BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213].

History Hunt (1815 (1): 69-70) under 'Grey Falcon', says: 'Mr. Pennant, in the British Zoology, gave a description of a bird (under the above name), shot near Halifax, in Yorkshire, in the year 1762. It now appears, from the opinion of later naturalists, to be the Tiercel or male of the Jerfalcon, in its first plumage. As it appears to be the only specimen shot in this country, we give Mr. Pennant's description: "This bird was about the size of a Raven; the bill was strong, short, and of a blueish colour; the cere and edges of the eye-lids yellow; the irides red; the head was small, flatted at the top, the fore part of a deep brown, the hind part white; the sides of the head and throat were cream-coloured; the belly white, marked with oblong black spots; the hind part of the neck and the back were of a deep grey; the wings were very long, and when closed reached beyond the train; the first quill feathers were black, with a white tip; the others were of a blueish grey, and their inner webs irregularly spotted with white; the tail was long, and wedge-shaped the two middle feathers being the longest, were plain (the colour not mentioned), the rest spotted; the legs were long, naked, and yellow".'

Not admitted nationally (BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213).

0). c. 1770 Shropshire Near Longnor, two, shot, undated.

(Pennant, 1776; Hunt, 1815; H. E. Forrest, British Birds 4: 251-252).

[BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213].

History Pennant (1776) says: 'Two of these birds have been shot near Longnor, Shropshire.' Hunt (1815) Vol. I. pp. 70-71, says: 'Pennant also gave a description of a Falcon (shot at Longnor, in Shropshire), under the name of the Spotted Falcon, and on whose authority ornithologists have continued it as a distinct species. Dr. Shaw, on the authority of Monsieur Daudin, has given this bird as one of the varieties to which the Common Falcon is subject; but from its superior size, and predominance of white plumage, we should suspect it to be a variety of the Jerfalcon; as such we have arranged it under that head.

According to Mr. P. it was of the "size of a Buzzard; bill black; cere and legs yellow; irides pale yellow; crown and hind

part of the neck white, spotted with light reddish brown; back and scapulars of the same colour, edged with white; quill feathers dusky, barred with ash colour; under side of the neck, breast, belly, and thighs white; the two first, also the beginning of the breast marked with a few rusty spots; rump white; middle feathers of the tail barred with white, and a deep brown, the others with a lighter and darker brown; the legs very strong".'

H. E. Forrest (1911) in British Birds, Vol. IV. pp. 251-252, says: 'On a former page (British Birds, III, 165) I recorded two of these birds obtained near Leebotwood, Salop, in April, 1853. Recently, when turning over the pages of Pennant's British Zoology (1776 edition) I came across a description and plate of a species which he calls the "Spotted Falcon", but which is, without a doubt, the bird now known as the Iceland Falcon (F. islandus). The only discrepancy is as to the colour of the irides, which he says were pale yellow; but no importance attaches to this, as he probably had only the stuffed specimens before him, and in those days taxidermists were not careful about such trifles as colour of eyes, feet, etc.! Pennant states that "Two of these birds have been shot near Longnor, Shropshire". No date is mentioned; but it would be about 1770. It is indeed a singular coincidence in the case of so rare a species that the only known Shropshire examples should have been obtained in the same place (Longnor and Leebotwood are in the same parish), and that on each occasion there were two birds.'

[Although nearly all the records of this species are from maritime counties, it is interesting to note that James Pilkington, in his 'View of the Present State of Derbyshire' (1789) notes the occurrence of a pair of "Spotted Falcons" at Spondon in November [1788 ?]. From the description of the plumage of one of these birds which was shot there is little doubt that this was also Falco islandus. Pilkington was evidently acquainted with Pennant's work. - F.C.R.J.]

Not admitted nationally (BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213).

0). 1772 North-east Scotland Near Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, grey-morph, obtained, undated.

(Pennant, 1776; Sim, 1903).

[D. W. Thompson, Scottish Naturalist 4: 279; BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213].

History Pennant (1776 (1): 177, 4th ed.) says: 'Inhabits the north of Scotland; shot near Aberdeen.'

D'Arcy W. Thompson (1877-78) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. IV. p. 279, under 'Birds of South-east Scotland', recording the record in square brackets, says: 'Aberdeenshire, Pennant, ed., 1772.'

Sim (1903: 131) under 'Iceland Falcon', says: 'Pennant states, in his British Zoology, Vol. I. p. 218: 'It inhabits the north of Scotland - our specimen was shot near Aberdeen.'

Not admitted nationally (BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213).

Comment Pennant's description would seem to apply to a white-morph of this species; he doesn't really state which morph the Aberdeen specimen is. Lacks adequate details. Not acceptable.

0). 1809 Orkney No locality, shot, undated.

(Baikie & Heddle, 1848).

[BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213].

History Baikie & Heddle (1848) say: 'Mr. Strang of Lopness shot one in 1809.'

Comment The only Lopness is the Bay of Lopness on Sanday.

0). 1810 Angus & Dundee Hedderwick, Angus, white-morph, seen, September.

(Don, 1812; Gray, 1871).

[BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213].

History Gray (1871: 21) under 'Greenland Falcon', says: 'Don in his Forfarshire Fauna, at page 40, says of this species that he saw one on the estate of Mr. Robertson Scott of Hedderwick, in September, 1810, but I rather think it is rare.'

Not admitted nationally (BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213).

0). Pre 1815 Suffolk Bungay Common, male, white-morph, shot, undated.

(Hunt, 1815; R. Sheppard & W. Whitear, Transactions of the Linnean Society 15: 2; Stevenson, 1866; Harting, 1901; H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 1: 320; Ticehurst, 1932; Piotrowski, 2003).

[BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213].

History Hunt (1815 (1): 68-69) says: 'Our drawing was made from a beautiful specimen in the possession of J. Cooper, Esq. Bungay, Suffolk, who kindly favoured us with the following note: "A species of Falcon was a few years since shot on Bungay Common, and being only slightly wounded in the pinion, it lived with me some years. It had escaped, I doubt not, from some falconer, as it was perfectly tame, eating readily from the hand of the servant who attended him. I am of opinion it was Latham's variety B. of the Iceland Falcon, which he calls the Spotted Iceland Falcon. See 1st part of 1st volume of Latham's General Synopsis of Birds, page 71".'

R. Sheppard & W. Whitear (1826) in the Transactions of the Linnean Society, Vol. XV. p. 2, say: 'Several years since, a beautiful specimen of the Jerfalcon was shot on Bungay common; and being only slightly wounded in the pinion, it lived for some time in the possession of John Cooper, Esq. of that place.'

Stevenson (1866 (1): 7-8) says: 'The late Mr. Hunt, of Norwich, in his British Ornithology, [1815] has figured, or more correctly speaking, caricatured a bird of this species which was killed many years ago back on Bungay common, and being only slightly wounded in the pinion, lived for some time in confinement. This bird, says Mr. Hunt, from its extreme tameness, "eating readily from the hand of the servant who attended him", was generally supposed to have escaped from some falconer. From Mr. T. M. Spalding, of Westleton, I learn that this same specimen was given by King, the man who shot it, to the late John Cooper, Esq., of Bungay, and at his death it was purchased at the sale at North Cove Hall, for the present Lord Huntingfield, in whose collection it is still preserved.

Mr. Spalding who had many opportunities of examining this falcon both at Bungay and Cove, says: - "It was preserved by W. C. Edwards, and was a beautiful male, the spots of black very minute, and the upper portion of the beak much elongated, the only symptom I could see of its ever having been in captivity", and this peculiarity is particularly marked in Mr. Hunt's drawing. The statement of Messrs. Sheppard and Whitear, that this bird formed part of Mr. Spalding's collection is not correct, since, as before stated, it was purchased for Lord Huntingfield, Mr. Spalding bidding up to £5.'

Stevenson further adds that: 'Since that time, this noble falcon has been fully installed amongst the Norfolk rarities...'

Admitted nationally (Harting 1901: 320) and H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst (1908) in British Birds, Vol. I. p. 320, under 'On the More Important Additions to our Knowledge of British Birds since 1899', who add: 'Examples have been obtained in Suffolk and Norfolk, which are additional to the counties mentioned by Saunders (cf. Harting's Handbook, pp. 320-321).'

Accepted locally (Ticehurst 1932: 234). However, it was not admitted nationally (BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213).

Comment Some uncertainty regarding it being an escape, but still acceptable to Suffolk.

0). 1823 Lincolnshire Scunthorpe, shot, undated.

(Anderson, 1847; M. Peacock, Naturalist 34: 400).

[BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213].

History Max Peacock of Cadnam, Brigg (1908) in the new series of The Naturalist, Vol. XXXIV. p. 400, says: 'Gyr-Falcon. Sir Charles Anderson records one shot at Scunthorpe in 1823.'

Not admitted nationally (BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213).

0). c. 1826 Yorkshire Marston Moor, grey-morph, shot, December.

(W. E. Clarke, Transactions of the Yorkshire Naturalist Union 1877: 10; E. R. Waite, Naturalist 17: 99; Nelson, 1907; Mather, 1986).

[BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213].

History William Eagle Clarke (1877) in the Transactions of the Yorkshire Naturalist Union, p. 10, says: 'In the collection of Mr. C. C. Oxley of Ripon is a fine specimen of the Iceland Falcon, which is said to have been shot on Marston Moor, in December 1826 or 1836. This bird was purchased by Mr. Oxley at the sale of the collection of the late Dr. Hobson of Leeds.'

E. R. Waite (1891) in the new series of The Naturalist, Vol. XVII. p. 99, quotes the same story.

Accepted locally (Clarke & Roebuck 1881: 46; Nelson 1907 (1): 355) but not admitted nationally (BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213).

0). 1826 Lincolnshire Twigmoor, white-morph, trapped, undated.

(Cordeaux, 1899; M. Peacock, Naturalist 34: 400; Smith & Cornwallis, 1955; Lorand & Atkin, 1989).

[BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213].

History Cordeaux (1899: 19) says: 'One in the Strickland collection was trapped in 1826 at Twigmoor, in North Lincolnshire.'

Max Peacock of Cadnam, Brigg (1908) in the new series of The Naturalist, Vol. XXXIV. p. 400, says: 'Greenland Falcon. There is a specimen in the Strickland collection, which was trapped at Twigmoor in 1826. Stonehouse names it as having been obtained in the Isle of Axholme.'

Not admitted nationally (BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213).

0). Pre 1829 Orkney Stronsay, seen, undated.

(Baikie & Heddle, 1848; Morris, 1856-62).

[BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213].

History Baikie & Heddle (1848) say: 'Bullock saw one in Stronsay.'

Morris (1856 (1): 63, reissue) says: 'One seen by Mr. Bullock, in Stronsay, one of the Orkney Islands.'

Not admitted nationally (BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213).

Comment William Bullock formed his own famous Museum in Liverpool in 1799, then moved it to London, the contents of which were dispersed in 1819; he died in 1829. Lacks adequate details. Not acceptable.

0). 1830 Cornwall Gwavas Farm, Grade, The Lizard, adult female, white-morph, shot, undated.

(E. H. Rodd, Zoologist 1863: 8678; E. H. Rodd, Zoologist 1870: 2197; Durban & Mathew, 1892; Clark, 1906; Penhallurick, 1978).

[BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213].

History E. H. Rodd of Penzance (1863) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. XXI. p. 8678, dated 12th June 1863, says: 'The specimen which was killed at the Lizard some years since, and which passed into the hands of the late Mr. Humphrey Grylls, of Helston, was, I think, from its larger size, a female bird. This bird shows symptoms of approaching maturity, from the brown spots being at the tip of the feathers, instead of the feathers having a general border or margin of this colour, which is the first change after the brown adolescent plumage. We thus can claim this fine Arctic falcon as having occurred in the eastern as well as the western part of Cornwall.'

E. H. Rodd (1870) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. V. p. 2197, in mentioning two records for Cornwall, adds: 'One killed at the Lizard; it was in the Museum of the late Mr. Magor, of Penventon.'

J. Clark (1906 (1): 338) in the Victoria County History of Cornwall, says: 'Greenland Falcon - An adult female killed at Gwavas Grade, near the Lizard, in 1830.'

Not admitted nationally (BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213).

0). 1832 Orkney Probably Sanday, shot, 30th March.

(Baikie & Heddle, 1848; Booth, Cuthbert & Reynolds, 1984).

[BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213].

History Baikie & Heddle (1848) say: 'Another was killed by Mr. Urquhart of Elseness, March 1930, 1832.'

Not admitted nationally (BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213).

0). 1834 Cornwall River Lynher, Port Eliot, adult male, white-morph, caught, 7th February.

(E. Moore, Charlesworth's Magazine of Natural History 1: 114; Bellamy, 1839; Yarrell, 1845; E. H. Rodd, Zoologist 1863: 8678; E. H. Rodd, Zoologist 1867: 605; Harting, 1880; Clark, 1906; Moore, 1969; Penhallurick, 1978).

[BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213].

History Edward Moore (1837) in Charlesworth's Magazine of Natural History, Vol. I. p. 114, says: 'Mentioned as a Devon bird in Polwhele's History of Devonshire, which is confirmed by the capture of a beautiful specimen on the banks of the Lynher, a branch of the Tamar, February 7, 1834. It had been wounded in the wing, and was kept alive for some days by Pincombe, in whose possession the bird now is. The whole of the plumage is white, barred with brown on the back; wings and tail, head and neck, and sides of the body, with brown streaks; breast, belly, and under tail-coverts, white; thighs white; feathers extending below the knee; cere bluish; bill pale blue, became white by drying; legs blue; iris hazel; tips of the wings brownish black, extending about half the length of the tail. Length about 1 ft. 9 in.'

Bellamy (1839: 199) says: 'Falco islandicus. Gyrfalcon. A specimen procured from the Morwell rocks on the Tamar, Feb. 7th, 1834.'

E. H. Rodd of Penzance (1863) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. XXI. p. 8678, dated 12th June 1863, says: 'When I was at Devonport, a few days since, I took the opportunity of calling upon Mr. Pincombe, naturalist, to ascertain some particulars of the capture of the Jer Falcon at or near Port Eliot, St Germans, which took place several years since. He has still the bird in his possession, and in remarkably good preservation: it is a good example of a male bird three or four years old. This bird shows symptoms of approaching maturity, from the brown spots being at the tip of the feathers, instead of the feathers having a general border or margin of this colour, which is the first change after the brown adolescent plumage. We thus can claim this fine Arctic falcon as having occurred in the eastern as well as the western part of Cornwall.'

E. H. Rodd (1867) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. II. p. 605, adds: 'The specimen of the Gyr Falcon which you have recorded in the pages of the Zoologist as having been killed at Port Eliot, near St Germans, has come into my possession. It is nearly an adult male bird, with the head and throat entirely white, as well as the whole of the tail-feathers, both upper and lower surfaces: from the lower part of the throat to the whole of the belly are sparingly distributed drop-like spots pointing downwards; these are largest on the flank above the thigh-feathers, which are also pure white; the shape of these spots underneath may best be described by likening their shape to the down stroke of a note of admiration. Mr. Vincombe [sic], from whom I had the bird, assured me that the cere and legs were blue: he had it alive for some time.'

Harting, Editor (1880) in Rodd's Birds of Cornwall, says: 'A example of this bird, a male, was killed at Port Eliot, near St Germans, and came into my possession. It was nearly similar in plumage to that previously obtained [showed signs of approaching maturity], and had the head and throat entirely white, as well as the whole of the tail feathers. The cere and legs were blue.'

J. Clark (1906 (1): 338) in the Victoria County History of Cornwall, says: 'Greenland Falcon - an adult male at Port Eliot, St Germans, in 1834.'

Not admitted nationally (BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213).

Comment Pincombe was known to be unreliable by another taxidermist (J. Brooking Rowe).

0). 1834 Highland Keoldale, Sutherland, killed, summer.

(P. J. Selby, Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal 1836: 287-288; Eds., Magazine of Zoology and Botany 1: 99; P. J. Selby, Transactions of the Natural History Society of Northumberland, Durham and Newcastle-upon-Tyne 1838: 294).

[BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213].

History P. J. Selby (1836) in the Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal, Vol. XX. p. 287-288 and (1838) in the Transactions of the Natural History Society of Northumberland, Durham and Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Vol. II. p. 294, says: 'The following notices of the quadrupeds and birds inhabiting the county of Sutherland, were made during an excursion to that interesting district in the summer of 1834, expressly undertaken for the purpose of investigating its zoological productions....I do not insert this noble species as a constant inhabitant of Sutherland, but as an occasional visitant. At Keoldale, we met with a recent skin (now in my possession), the remains of one that had been killed near that place a short time before our arrival by Mr. Scobie.'

Not admitted nationally (BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213).

0). c. 1834 Pembrokeshire Stackpole, white-morph, killed, undated, now in British Museum.

(Gould, 1837; T. C. Eyton, Annals of Natural History 1: 286; J. Tracy, Zoologist 1850: 2639; Mathew, 1894; Saunders, 1899; Forrest, 1907; D. Seth-Smith, Field 25th Jun., 1921: 815; Lockley, 1949; Donovan & Rees, 1994).

[BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213].

History Gould (1837 (1): unpaged) under 'Jer-Falcon', says: 'The figure in the forepart of our Plate was taken from a fine example of this bird, presented to the Zoological Society by the Earl of Cawdor, which was shot on His Lordship's estate, Stackpole Court, Pembrokeshire, and was strongly suspected of having carried on successful warfare among some pheasants. The figure behind is that of a young bird.'

T. C. Eyton (1838) in the Annals of Natural History, Vol. I. p. 286, under Falco islandicus, says: 'One of these rare British birds was killed three or four years ago on Lord Cawdor's estate in Wales.'

Yarrell (1845 (1): 34, 2nd ed.) says: 'The bird from which the representation here given was made, was killed in Pembrokeshire, on the estate of the Earl of Cawdor, by whom the specimen was presented to the Zoological Society.'

J. Tracy (1850) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. VIII. p. 2639, says 'The specimen from which Mr. Yarrell made the drawing, in his excellent work on British Birds, was killed on a warren on the estate of the Earl of Cawdor, was set up by me, and afterwards given by the Earl to the Zoological Society. It had been observed by my father (his Lordship's keeper) for eight or ten days, and had almost on each day killed and partly devoured a cock pheasant. It was very shy, always perched on the highest rocky eminences, and therefore difficult to get at; but was accidentally come on, and shot in the act of rising from a cock pheasant it had recently killed.'

Mathew (1894: 52) says: 'A fine specimen of this beautiful Falcon shot many years ago on Lord Cawdor's estate may still be seen in the Gallery of British Birds, at the South Kensington Natural History Museum.' Forrest (1907) p. 234, adds: 'T. C. Eyton writing on the 'Fauna of North Wales' in the Annals of Natural History in 1838 stated this bird to be killed three or four year ago on Lord Cawdor's estate in Pembrokeshire. This is the bird figured in Yarrell and now at the British Museum.'

D. Seth-Smith (1921) in The Field of 25th June, Vol. CXXXVII. p. 815, says: 'This was what happened to a previous example, perhaps the only previous visitor of this species to Pembrokeshire. It was seen on Lord Cawdor's estate in 1850 [c. 1834], and for some days defied the efforts of the keepers to procure it, but they finally succeeded in shooting it, as it rose from the body of a Pheasant it had killed. Its body was presented to the Zoological Society which in those days possessed a museum. The society passed it on to the British Museum and it formed the model from which Yarrell's excellent drawing which illustrates his British Birds and Saunders' Manual was made.'

Accepted locally (Lockley (1949: 51) but not admitted nationally (BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213).

0). 1835 Clyde Dechmont, near Cambuslang, Lanarkshire, white-morph, shot, 10th May.

(Yarrell, 1871-85; Gray, 1871; Harting, 1872; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953).

[BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213].

History Gray (1871: 21) under 'Greenland Falcon', says: 'I have seen this specimen shot at Dechmont, in Lanarkshire in 1835.'

Not admitted nationally (BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213).

0). 1835 Highland No locality, Sutherland, killed, winter.

(Morris, 1856-62).

[BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213].

History Morris (1856 (1): 63, reissue) says: 'One killed in Sutherlandshire, in the winter of 1835.'

Not admitted nationally (BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213).

Comment Could this be the one in 1833-34 winter?

0). 1835 North-east Scotland Near Aberdeen, winter.

(Morris, 1856-62).

[BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213].

History Morris (1856 (1): 63, reissue) says: 'One near Aberdeen in the winter of 1835.'

Not admitted nationally (BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213).

0). 1835 Shetland Unst, immature female, grey-morph, obtained, undated, now at National Museums Scotland, Edinburgh (NMS.Z 1835.2.2).

(Macgillivray, 1836; T. Edmondston, Zoologist 1844: 459; Evans & Buckley, 1899).

[BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213].

History MacGillivray (1836: 467) under 'Appendix' says: 'I have lately seen two skins of this species sent to Professor Jameson from Shetland, the one of an old bird, the other probably of a young female.'

MacGillivray (1840 (3): 291) under 'Progress towards maturity', says: 'In this state also I have examined the skin of a female from Shetland....In the Shetland specimen, which is apparently a female, its length being twenty-four inches, the lower parts are yellowish-white, with longitudinal oblong, brownish-grey spots; the upper parts slate-grey tinged with brown, the feathers margined with paler; the bill light blue, dark at the tip, and yellowish at the base; the feet blue, but with the edges of the scutella yellowish.'

Thomas Edmondston, jun. (1844) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. II. p. 459, says: 'Iceland Falcon, Falco gyrfalco. A straggler: I have seen two fine specimens killed in this island, and one or both are now, I believe, in the Edinburgh College Museum.'

Evans & Buckley (1899: 119) say: 'Mr. Eagle Clarke has kindly informed the authors that the Museum of Science and Art of that town still contains an Iceland Falcon marked 'Shetland, 1835;' it is an immature male, and is probably one of those mentioned by Edmondston.'

BOURC (2011) in The Ibis, Vol. CLIV. p. 213, say: 'The Accession register in the National Museums Scotland has a receipt of a young female, that was part of a collection from Shetland presented by Mr. M. Cameron.'

Comment Being undated means it cannot predate the first for Britain.

0). 1835 Cumbria Deanscale, grey-morph, obtained, undated.

(Macpherson, 1892).

[Macpherson, 1892; BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213].

History Macpherson (1892: 208) says: 'Mr. J. W. Harris informed me that an Iceland Falcon was taken at Deanscale in 1835, but this he thought was probably an escaped bird.'

Not admitted nationally (BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213).

0). 1838 Argyll Islay, immature male, white-morph, killed, February.

(Yarrell, 1871-85; Harting, 1872).

[ap Rheinallt et al., 2007].

History Alfred Newton (1871-74 (1): 42, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'A young male killed in Islay, in February, 1838, has come under Mr. Hancock's inspection.'

Not accepted locally (ap Rheinallt et al. 2007: 150).

Comment John Hancock was the naturalist who distinguished the races of the Gyr Falcon and this record deserves to be accepted.

0). 1838 Highland Rosskeen, Ross & Cromarty, grey-morph, undated.

(Baxter & Rintoul, 1953).

[Baxter & Rintoul, 1953].

History Baxter & Rintoul (1953 (1): 282) say: 'The only record of the Iceland Falcon in either Statistical Account is one at Rosskeen, Ross, in 1838.'

Comment Not known to have been seen by a competent authority. Not acceptable.

0). c. 1840 Highland No locality, Ross & Cromarty, white-morph, seen, undated.

(Salvin & Brodrick, 1855; Yarrell, 1871-85).

[KAN].

History Alfred Newton (1871-74 (1): 43, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'Messrs. F. H. Salvin and Brodrick, in their work [Falconry in the British Isles 1855] before cited, also state that on two occasions, about 1840, a large white Falcon was seen in Ross-shire.'

Comment Lacks a precise date for a scientific record. Lacks supporting identification details. Not acceptable.

0). Pre 1841 Outer Hebrides North Uist, grey morph, shot, undated.

(J. MacGillivray, Annals & Magazine of Natural History 8: 10; Harvie-Brown & Buckley, 1888).

[BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213].

History John MacGillivray (1841) in the Annals & Magazine of Natural History, Vol. VIII. p. 10, says: 'A splendid specimen of the Jer Falcon, F. islandus, was shot in North Uist a few years ago by my friend D. Arbuckle, Esq.'

Accepted locally under 'Iceland Falcon' (Harvie-Brown & Buckley 1888: 88).

Comment A few years ago may be before the first acceptable record in 1835 by the BOURC (2012). No identification details for this sight record of a difficult species. Not acceptable.

0). Pre 1841 Outer Hebrides Pabbay, grey-morph, seen, undated.

(J. MacGillivray, Annals & Magazine of Natural History 8: 10; Harvie-Brown & Buckley, 1888).

[BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213].

History John MacGillivray (1841) in the Annals & Magazine of Natural History, Vol. VIII. p. 10, says: 'Another was seen in the adjacent island of Pabbay by Mr. Nicholson (Berneray), but was not procured.'

Accepted locally (Harvie-Brown & Buckley 1888: 88).

Comment This may be before the first acceptable record in 1835 by the BOURC (2012). Lacks a precise date for a scientific record. No identification details for this sight record of a difficult species. Not acceptable.

0). Pre 1844 Staffordshire Beaudesert Old Park, shot, undated.

(Garner, 1844; McAldowie, 1893; Smith, 1939; Harrison & Harrison, 2005).

[BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213].

History McAldowie (1893) says: 'In Garner's work one is noted as having been "shot in Beaudesert Park" but no date was given.'

Smith (1939) says: 'Garner mentioned a Gyr Falcon that was shot in Beaudesert Park, without giving further details.'

Accepted locally (Harrison & Harrison 2005).

Comment This record could possibly be before the first acceptable record of 1835 by the BOURC (2012). Lacks a precise date for a scientific record. No supporting details of identification. Not acceptable.

0). Pre 1847 Oxfordshire Near Henley-on-Thames, immature, shot, undated.

(A. & H. Matthews, Zoologist 1849: 2594; Aplin, 1889; Radford, 1966).

[Brucker, Gosler & Heryet, 1992].

History A. & H. Matthews (1849) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. VII. p. 2594, say: 'A specimen, also in the immature plumage, was shot a few years since near Henley-on-Thames. - K.'

Accepted locally (Aplin 1889: 24).

Comment Again, without a precise date it could pre-date the first record. Lacks a precise date for a scientific record. No supporting details of identification. Not acceptable.

0). 1847 Yorkshire No locality, obtained, March.

(Morris, 1851-57).

[Morris, 1856-62].

History Morris (1856 (1): 63, reissue) says: 'In Yorkshire, one is said to have been obtained in the year 1847, in the month of March.'

Comment Morris used the words "said to have been " placing no faith in the record. No supporting details. Not acceptable.

0). 1847 Oxfordshire Near Tetsworth, immature, grey-morph, seen, 10th October.

(A. & H. Matthews, Zoologist 1849: 2594-95; Morris, 1856-62; Aplin, 1889; Radford, 1966).

[KAN].

History A. & H. Matthews (1849) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. VII. pp. 2594-95, say: 'On Sunday, the 10th of October, 1847, near Tetsworth, in this county, we observed a large bird sitting in a field adjoining the turnpike road: upon a nearer approach it proved to be a very fine Gyr Falcon, in the act of devouring a wood pigeon. He was in no way disconcerted by our attention to him, but finished his meal, and then flew up into a small tree, where he cleaned his beak and talons with the utmost composure. We had been watching him for several minutes at the trifling distance of sixty-five paces, and had enjoyed every opportunity of seeing him to advantage: he was in very fine condition, apparently in the plumage of the second or third year. Unless he was much pressed by hunger, it would be difficult to account for his tameness on this occasion; for within a few days we again met with him near the same spot, but he took good care to keep beyond the range of our guns.'

Morris (1856 (1): 63, reissue) adds: 'In immature plumage.'

Aplin (1889: 23-24) says: 'The distinctions between the forms of northern white Falcons were not at that date fully recognised, and the specimen in question was recorded under the name Gyr Falcon, but the Rev. A. Matthews has recently informed me that it was an Iceland Falcon.'

Comment No identification details for this sight record of a difficult species. Not acceptable.

0). Pre 1848 Norfolk Near King's Lynn, obtained, undated, now at Saffron Walden Museum.

(J. H. Gurney, jun., & T. Southwell, Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society 4: 264).

[Dye, Fiszer & Allard, 2009; BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213].

History J. H. Gurney, jun., & T. Southwell (1884-89) in the Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society, Vol. IV. p. 264, say: 'There is an earlier [than 1848] Norfolk specimen in the Saffron Walden Museum, which was killed near Lynn.'

Not accepted locally by Dye, Fiszer & Allard (2009) who state that the first for Norfolk was of one shot at Beeston on 24th January 1848.

Comment There is a possibility that this could pre-date the first accepted record in November, 1835, by the BOURC (2012). Lacks a precise date for a scientific record. Not acceptable.

0). Pre 1848 Orkney No locality, caught alive, undated.

(Baikie & Heddle, 1848).

[BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213].

History Baikie & Heddle (1848) say: 'Mr. Traill of Woodwick had one which he kept alive for some time.'

Comment There is a possibility that this could pre-date the first accepted record in November, 1835, by the BOURC (2012). Lacks a precise date for a scientific record. Not acceptable.

0). 1850 Norfolk Trimingham, white-morph, seen, 17th October.

(T. Fowell Buxton, Zoologist 1851: 2983, 3028; Harting, 1872; Harting, 1901; H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 1: 320).

[Stevenson, 1866].

History T. Fowell Buxton (1851) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. IX. p. 2983 and again with the same story but a corrected title, p. 3028, both dated 19th November, 1850, says: 'Whilst shooting at Frimlingham [sic], on the coast of Norfolk, on the 17th ult., several gentlemen and myself, saw a Gyrfalcon. He must have been an old bird, as he seemed to us to be almost of a snowy whiteness. This is the second that has been seen in the neighbourhood within the last three years.'

Stevenson (1866 (1): 8) says: 'In The Zoologist, p. 3028, will also be found a notice by Mr. T. Fowell Buxton, of a falcon, supposed, from its "snowy whiteness", to be of this species....'

Admitted nationally (Harting 1901: 320) and by H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst (1908) in British Birds, Vol. I. p. 320, under 'On the More Important Additions to our Knowledge of British Birds since 1899', who add: 'Examples have been obtained in Suffolk and Norfolk, which are additional to the counties mentioned by Saunders (cf. Harting's Handbook, pp. 320-321).'

Comment Not accepted locally (Stevenson 1866). Not acceptable.

0). Pre 1851 Lincolnshire Manton Common, near Brigg, caught, undated.

(Morris, 1856-62).

[BOURC (2012), Ibis 154: 213].

History Morris (1856 (1): 63, reissue) says: 'Another was caught in a trap some years ago near Brigg, in Lincolnshire, on a rabbit warren named Manton Common I believe.'

Comment There is a possibility that this could pre-date the first accepted record in November, 1835. Lacks a precise date for a scientific record. Not known to have been seen by a competent authority. Not acceptable.

0). 1853 Cleveland/Co.Durham/Yorkshire Teesmouth, shot, undated.

(W. Martin, Morris and Bree's Naturalist 3: 60).

[W. Martin, Morris and Bree's Naturalist 1853: 135; Gurney, 1876].

History W. Martin of Stockton-on-Tees (1853) in Morris and Bree's edition of The Naturalist, Vol. III. p. 60, dated 13th December, 1852, says: 'A fine young female specimen of the Jerfalcon was shot by Henry Bales, one of the Floating Light-house keepers at the Tees mouth, on the 3rd of December, 1852, after it had lamed itself by flying against the floating light in close chase of a Wood Pigeon; but the Wood Pigeon not being so much hurt made off as fast as it could; and Henry Bales, to make sure of it, shot the Falcon in the water. (There was another large Hawk seen about the same place a day or two after). It was purchased by F. Green, Bird and Animal Preserver, of this town, and is now in the possession of Crawford Newby, Esq.'

W. Martin of Stockton-on-Tees (1853) in Morris and Bree's edition of The Naturalist, Vol. III. p. 135, dated 11th April, 1853, says: 'I regret that I should have fallen into an error with respect to the Jer-Falcon mentioned at page 60 of the current volume; the bird turns out to be a very large specimen of the Peregrine-Falcon (Falco peregrinus).'

Gurney (1876: 273-274) says: 'I will commence with that splendid species, the Greenland Falcon, though I insert it, I am sorry to say, with some doubt, albeit Mr. Green, naturalist of Stockton, avers positively that he met with one at Teesmouth chasing some terns, and shot it. I have seen the young male Peregrine which lamed itself against a floating-light, and was recorded as the present species (Naturalist, 1853, p. 60) though the mistake was afterwards corrected (p. 135). It is a very fine bird, but not the rarity we could have wished.'

Comment Misidentified. Not acceptable.

0). 1855 Outer Hebrides Benbecula, shot, 21st October.

(per P. Cunningham in litt.).

[KAN].

History P. Cunningham in litt. has sent me a type written MS. of all records of Gyr Falcon in the Outer Hebrides where under 'The Greenland Falcon' he states: 'There were four records of shot birds when Harvie-Brown (1888) summed up: Benbecula, 21st October 1855.'

Comment However, on checking Harvie-Brown (1888) I find no mention of this record and with it lacking supporting details the record is dismissed. Also, the record is not in Mullens et al. (1920). Not acceptable.

0). 1855 Essex Near Coggeshall, shot, undated.

(C. E. Smith, Magazine of Natural History 1860; Naturalist; Christy, 1890).

[Glegg, 1929].

History Christy (1890: 171) says 'C. E. Smith of Coggeshall, records one "shot close to the town by Mr. William Gardiner, 1855". Of its present whereabouts, I know nothing.'

Glegg (1929: 130) square brackets the Gyr Falcon on the basis of incomplete evidence. However, he adds that this specimen was destroyed by moths about 1897.

Comment Cannot find the original article as noted by Christy (1890) in any of the volumes. Not acceptable.

0). 1857 Shetland Norwick, Unst, grey-morph, tideline corpse, autumn.

(Saxby, 1874).

[Pennington et al., 2004].

History Saxby (1874) under 'Iceland Falcon', says: 'In 1858 I was shown the moth-eaten and otherwise dilapidated skin of a male which had been killed in Unst about a year previously, and in the autumn of the same year was barely able to recognise the remains of one among the drift upon the sands at Norwick.'

Not accepted locally (Pennington et al. 2004).

0). 1857 Caithness No locality, killed, undated.

("B.H." Field 4th Apr., 1857: 228).

[KAN].

History "B.H." (1857) in The Field of 4th Apr., Vol. IX. p. 228, says: 'Much has been said in you correspondence about falcons and hawks; but I have received a letter from my keeper in Caithness, in which he speaks of a rara avis. He says: "I have killed a Gyr Falcon;" and in the next line he adds: "and also killed a Peregrine off the same rock a few days afterwards".…My keeper speaks of it as the greatest enemy the grouse has to contend with.'

Comment Anonymous records were unacceptable to ornithologists. Not known to have been seen by a competent authority. Not acceptable.

0). 1859 Northumberland Near Rothbury, shot, November.

(Windham, Field 31st Dec., 1859: 553).

[Galloway & Meek, 1978].

History Windham (1859) in The Field of 31st Dec., Vol. XIV. p. 553, says: 'I saw a fine specimen of a Jer Falcon which was shot about a month ago near Rothbury, in Northumberland, in a gunsmith's shop at Alnwick, the other week. Is not this a very rare bird now-a-days in England?'

Galloway & Meek (1978: 51), only admit one record, that of 1845. Not accepted locally.

0). 1860 Yorkshire Upper Poppleton, immature female, grey-morph, obtained, November, now at Leeds Museum.

(D. Graham, Zoologist 1861: 7312; W. E. Clarke, Transactions of the Yorkshire Naturalist Union 1877: 10; Clarke & Roebuck, 1881; Mather, 1986).

[T. Melling, British Birds 98: 230-237].

History David Graham of York (1861) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. XIX. p. 7312, dated 20th November, 1860, says: 'I have now in my house a very fine specimen of the Gyrfalcon, shot at a place called Upper Poppleton, a few miles from here. It was brought to my house a few hours after it was shot, and purchased by my wife for 5s. It is a young female, and I should suppose a last year's bird.'

Eagle Clarke (1877) in the Transactions of the Yorkshire Naturalist Union, p. 10, says: 'This occurrence was in November 1860, when a fine young female was shot at Upper Poppleton, near York, as mentioned in the Zoologist (1861: 7312) by Mr. David Graham of York, by whom the bird was purchased for five shillings. This bird is now in the collection of Mr. A. Clapham, of Scarborough, who possesses not a few Yorkshire rarities, and who has been at considerable trouble in furnishing valuable information and replying to my numerous enquiries.'

Accepted locally (Clarke & Roebuck 1881: 46) and under 'Iceland Falcon' (Nelson 1907 (1): 355-356).

Comment Due to David Graham being discredited over the 'Tadcaster Rarities' fraud (T. Melling, British Birds 98: 230-237) the record is unacceptable.

0). 1863 Fife Blair Adam Estate, killed, winter/spring.

("Roebuck" Field 25th Apr., 1863: 382).

[Smout, 1986].

History "Roebuck" (1863) in The Field of 25th Apr., Vol. XXI. p. 382, says: 'I saw a few week since a beautiful bird called the Jer-falcon, that was killed on the Blair Adam estate, and had been seen for some time in the neighbourhood; it was killed by Mr. McDiarmid, the gamekeeper on the estate. Is it not a rare occurrence to kill a bird of that description in the county of Fife? It is a male bird, I believe.'

[The Jer-falcon is a rare visitor to this country. We must regret it should have been destroyed. - Ed.]

Comment Anonymous records were unacceptable to ornithologists. Not known to have been seen by a competent authority. Not acceptable locally (Smout 1986).

0). 1864 Yorkshire Lecton Moors, near Pickering, immature, trapped, before July.

(J. Cordeaux, Zoologist 1864: 9244).

[Nelson, 1907].

History J. Cordeaux (1864) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. XXII. p. 9244, dated July, 1864, says: 'A fine specimen of the Jer Falcon, in immature plumage, was trapped a few weeks since on the Lecton Moors, near Pickering. It came into the hands of Mr. Jones, of Bridlington Quay, for preservation: he informed me that he sold it to Mr. A. Clapham, of Scarborough. I was unfortunate in being a few days too late to inspect the bird.'

Nelson (1907 (1): 356-366) under 'Iceland Falcon', says: 'It proved to be a Goshawk.'

Comment Misidentified. Not acceptable.

0). 1864 Outer Hebrides North Uist, washed ashore, autumn.

(Harvie-Brown & Buckley, 1888).

[KAN].

History Harvie-Brown & Buckley (1888: 88) say: '...and a third washed ashore about the same time [October 1864] in North Uist.'

Comment Not known how long the specimen has been dead; perhaps it didn't die in Scottish waters. Not acceptable.

0). 1865 Hampshire Holt Forest, near Farnham, obtained, undated.

(M. C. Cooke, Hardwicke's Science Gossip 1866: 64).

[Clark & Combridge, 2009].

History M. C. Cooke, Editor (1866) in Hardwicke's Science Gossip, Vol. II. p. 64, says: 'Gyr Falcon. - At the meeting of the Zoological Society, held on the 9th January last, a letter was read from Sir C. W. Dilke, Bart., F.Z.S., announcing the occurrence of a Gyr Falcon (Falco gyrfalco) in the Holt Forest, near Farnham.'

Clark & Combridge (2009) say: 'The panel considered two reports, one of which, a singleton obtained at Alice Holt in 1865, appeared in the long-defunct journal Hardwicke's Science Gossip (1866: 64; edited by M. C. Cooke). Because the record lacks detail (including exact dating), was not mentioned by Kelsall & Munn (1905), and no Gyr Falcon records for Hampshire are listed by Witherby et al. (1938–41), the panel considered that the evidence was insufficient to allow it to be accepted retrospectively.'

0). c. 1865 Yorkshire Near Whitby, grey-morph, killed, undated.

(W. E. Clarke, Transactions of the Yorkshire Naturalist Union 1877: 10; Clarke & Roebuck, 1881; Nelson, 1907; Mather, 1986).

[KAN].

History William Eagle Clarke (1877) in the Transactions of the Yorkshire Naturalist Union, p. 11, says: 'Mr. Thomas Stephenson of Whitby informs me that about the year 1865, Mr. Kitching, the bird preserver of that town, found one nailed on a wall along with other "vermin" at Newton House near Whitby, by the gamekeeper Parker, who shot it. Mr. Kitching removed the bird, but it had been exposed too long to make a specimen of; he retained portions and thinks they belong to this species.'

Accepted locally (Clarke & Roebuck 1881: 46) and under 'Iceland Falcon' (Nelson 1907 (1): 356).

Comment Not positively identified. Lacks a precise date for a scientific record. Not acceptable.

0). Pre 1866 Lancashire & North Merseyside Near Liverpool, adult, white-morph, caught, undated.

(C. S. Gregson, Proceedings of the History Society of Lancashire and Cheshire 1865-66; Saunders, 1892).

[Oakes, 1953].

History Howard Saunders (1892: 131, 2nd ed.) in the revised edition of Mitchell's Birds of Lancashire, says: 'In the Proceedings of the Natural History Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, session 1865-66, is published a note by Mr. C. S. Gregson, who says that an old bird is in his possession, which flew on board a vessel coming into the port of Liverpool and was captured by one of the crew.'

Coward & Oldham (1900: 135) say: 'We have seen a specimen of the Greenland Falcon in the collection of the late C. S. Gregson, which was obtained from a sailor who had killed it on a vessel coming into the port of Liverpool. The evidence as to the locality where it was captured is not altogether conclusive, as the bird had been skinned by the sailor before it came into Mr. Gregson's possession. This example was originally recorded by Mr. H. E. Smith as an Iceland Falcon, but Mr. F. S. Mitchell alludes to it as a Greenland Falcon in his 'Birds of Lancashire.' It is in adult plumage, and is undoubtedly referable to the Greenland species, in which the prevailing ground-colour is pure white.'

Oakes (1953: 181) says: 'Cannot be accepted as a genuine occurrence.'

Comment Lacks a precise date for a scientific record. Not acceptable.

0). Pre 1866 Suffolk Cove, white-morph, shot, undated.

(Stevenson, 1866).

[KAN].

History Stevenson (1866 (1): 8) says: 'A man named Martin, formerly keeper to John Lee Farr, Esq., of North Cove Hall, assured Mr. Spalding that he once shot a "large white hawk" at Cove, which he had watched for some nights, always making for a particular wood to roost, and which, from his description, as being pure white with a few black spots, was most probably a Greenland Falcon. Unfortunately, the bird was given to a farmer and was not preserved.'

Comment Lacks a precise date for a scientific record. Not known to have been seen by a competent ornithologist. Not acceptable.

0). 1866 Shetland Balta Isle, Unst, grey-morph, seen, March.

(H. L. Saxby, Zoologist 1866: 291).

[Pennington et al., 2004].

History H. L. Saxby of Shetland (1866) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. I. p. 291, under March, 1866, says: '...A much darker bird of the same species remained in this neighbourhood for some days.'

Not accepted locally (Pennington et al. 2004).

0). 1866 Shetland Buness, Unst, white-morph, seen, March.

(H. L. Saxby, Zoologist 1866: 291).

[Pennington et al., 2004].

History H. L. Saxby of Shetland (1866) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. I. p. 291, under March, 1866, says: '...I also saw a third, closely resembling the one above described [white-phase], flying above some pigeons as they sat upon the corn stacks at Buness. It wheeled about them for some time, as if endeavouring to make them take wing, occasionally making a sudden stoop, but never attempting to strike. The flight was exceedingly rapid; a few quickly repeated beats with the wings seemed to be all that was required to create an impetus sufficient to carry it for several hundred yards.'

Not accepted locally (Pennington et al. 2004).

0). 1868 Suffolk Near Aldeburgh, shot, early May.

(A. Clark-Kennedy, Zoologist 1869: 1695).

[Ticehurst, 1932].

History Alexander Clark-Kennedy (1869) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. IV. p. 1695, says: 'Iceland Falcon. May. A good specimen of this rare species was shot by a fisherman near Aldeburgh, at the beginning of this month, as I am informed by my friend Dr. Hele, of that town.'

Ticehurst (1932: 233) in a footnote, says: 'Hele himself never recorded it in his notes or elsewhere, and it seems probable that Clarke-Kennedy misunderstood Hele, who in reality was referring to the Orford bird of 1867.'

Comment Probable duplicate record. Not acceptable.

0). 1868 Argyll Black Mount Forest, seen, late September.

(Gray, 1871; Harvey-Brown & Buckley, 1892).

[D. W. Thompson Scottish Naturalist 4: 279; ap Rheinallt et al., 2007].

History Gray (1871: 21) under 'Greenland Falcon', says: 'I have since learnt from Dr. Dewar that one was seen in the forest of Black Mount, Argyllshire, about the end of September, 1868, by Mr. Peter Robertson, who states that he had several opportunities of observing the bird. It was very fearless, and made repeated swoops at his dogs when out with a shooting party.'

D'Arcy. W. Thompson (1877-78) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. IV. p. 279, recording Gyr Falcon in square brackets, lists: 'Argyllshire, Sept. 1866 and 1868.'

Accepted by Harvie-Brown & Buckley (1892: 109) who add: '...by the head forester - Mr. Peter Robertson (fide Dr. Dewar).' Later, however, it was not accepted locally (ap Rheinallt et al. 2007: 150).

0) 1868 Highland Sciberscross, Sutherland, immature, grey-morph, undated.

(T. E. Buckley, Proceedings of the Natural History Society of Glasgow 5: 131; Harvie-Brown & Buckley, 1887).

[KAN].

History T. E. Buckley (1880-83) in the Proceedings of the Glasgow Natural History Society, Vol. V. p. 131, says: 'Iceland Falcon. A fine specimen, which is in the Dunrobin Museum, was killed at Sciberscross, in 1868.'

Harvie-Brown & Buckley (1887: 173) say: 'Iceland Falcon. Has occurred on two occasions at least - once at Sciberscross in 1868. This bird is preserved in the Dunrobin Museum. It appears, from a single feather examined, to have been a bird in its second year's plumage - at all events an immature bird of about that age.'

Comment Duplicate record for 1865. Not acceptable.

0). 1869 Shropshire Harlescott, near Shrewsbury, female, shot, 25th September.

(P. S. Selous, Field 9th Oct., 1869: 305; Forrest, 1908; Rutter, Gribble & Pemberyon, 1964).

[Smith et al., 2019].

History Percy S. Selous of Nobold, near Shrewsbury (1869) in The Field of 9th Oct., Vol. XXXIV. p. 305, says: 'A specimen of the Ger-falcon (female) was shot on Saturday, Sept. 25, by Mr. Edward Childe, of Harlescott, near Shrewsbury. Not knowing what bird it was, he sent it to me to skin, and I have taken it to Mr. John Shaw, of this town, to be mounted.'

H. E. Forrest (1908 (1): 185-186) in the Victoria County History of Shropshire, under 'Addenda' says: 'In the Field October 1869 Mr. Percy C. Selous records a female Gyr falcon shot on 25 September by Mr. Edward Childe of Harlescott near Shrewsbury. I have not been able to trace this specimen, but one of the two Iceland falcons mentioned above as obtained at Leebotwood is in the Hawkstone collection; it is an adult female.'

Smith et al. (2019) make no mention of this record and possibly imply that it is one of the earlier pair in Shropshire.

Comment Not known to have been seen by a competent authority. Not acceptable.

0). 1870 Cornwall St Merryn, near Padstow, immature female, grey-morph, caught, early January.

(E. H. Rodd, Zoologist 1870: 2017-2018; E. H. Rodd, Field 22nd Jan., 1870: 76; E. H. Rodd, Field 5th Feb., 1870: 115; E. H. Rodd, Zoologist 1870: 2060; C. Hawkins Fisher, Field 26th Feb., 1870: 189; Harting, 1880; Penhallurick, 1978).

[C. Hawkins Fisher, Field 26th Feb., 1870: 189; Harting, 1880].

History E. H. Rodd of Penzance (1870) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. V. pp. 2017-2018, dated 17th January, 1870, says: 'A fine young female of this variety of the Jer Falcon (Falco islandus), in the immature state of plumage denoted by the dorsal feathers being bordered with white, with the under parts mottled with brown on a yellowish white ground, legs and feet of a pale greenish blue, was lately captured when entangled amongst sedges on some coarse ground in the parish of St. Merryn, near Padstow. It was kept alive for some time by Mr. J. Old, of Carnevas, in that parish, who sent the bird to be preserved by Mr. Vingoe. The ovary contained a bunch of eggs, the largest about the size of ordinary shot. The bird when set up was forwarded to Mr. Gould, when it also came under the observation of Prof. A. Newton, who both verified its value as the rarer variety than the Falco greenlandicus or F. candicans. Mr. Gould retains the specimen to make a drawing of it. On comparing the relative sizes of the breast-bone of this and the common kite I was surprised to find that it was nearly, if not quite, double the bulk.'

E. H. Rodd (1870) in The Field of 22nd Jan., Vol. XXXV. p. 76, dated 17th January, says: 'An immature female of this variety of the Jerfalcon, as distinguished from the Greenland Falcon (F. candicans), was captured when entangled on some sedgy ground near Padstow. It was sent for preservation to Mr. Vingoe, and I had thus an opportunity of examining it minutely. Mr. Gould and Professor A. Newton have also seen the bird, and verified its name. The upper plumage may be described as a bluish brown, each feather bordered all round with a narrow edge of yellowish white, the under parts blotched on a light ground with brown occupying the principal surface of the feathers; legs and feet pale greenish blue. The breast bone was double the size of that of the common Kite.'

E. H. Rodd (1870) in The Field of 5th Feb., Vol. XXXV. p. 115, dated 3rd February, says: 'I received a few days since a letter from C. H. Fisher, Esq., in which he expresses well-grounded doubts as to the title of the Iceland Falcon lately reported to you a shaving been captured in the North of Cornwall being a British-bred bird. He says there have been lately three large importations of this fine falcon from Iceland direct for falconer's use, and he has no doubt but that this specimen will turn out to be one of them, from Cardiff, where most of them have been trained and flown loose.'

E. H. Rodd (1870) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. V. p. 2060, dated 5th February 1870, adds: 'Just after the issue of your last number of the Zoologist, I received a letter from Captain Fisher, in which, in reference to my note (s.s. 2017), he says: "I should have written, but from being too unwell, to inform you of what I think you are ignorant, viz. that there have been lately three large importations of this fine falcon from Iceland direct for Falconers' use, and I have little or no doubt but that your so-called Cornish specimen of Falco islandus will turn out to be one of these birds, almost certainly I think from Cardiff, where most of them have lately been kept, trained and flown loose for months".

Looking at the relative positions of Cardiff and St Merryn on our north coast, and the easy distance across the Bristol Channel for a Falcon's flight, I fear I must relinquish its claim to be a true British and Cornish killed specimen.'

C. Hawkins Fisher (1870) in The Field of 26th Feb., Vol. XXXV. p. 189, says: 'I have recently received from Mr. H. E. Rodd [sic] of Penzance a letter to him from Dr. Old, to whom, I believe, the falcon in question was brought alive after its capture. He states that she had no strap of leather attached to her legs, nor a swivel; that the feathers were perfect when she was captured, but broken off by her being confined in a small cage, against the back and sides whereof, of course, they were constantly rubbed. As I have alluded to this hawk in my rent note to you on "Practical Falconry", I think it right to ask you to mention the above facts. Of course she may have been a genuine British example of the occurrence of this rare Jerfalcon in Cornwall; but, as Mr. John Barr lost precisely such an Iceland Jerfalcon from Cardiff some few months ago, with no bell on, but only jesses (short leather straps on the legs), I wished to put ornithologists on their guard. Many Iceland Falcons have been, and I doubt not now are, still alive and in training in England; and very likely hawks they are to be lost, after passing Wood Pigeons, ducks, &c.

With regard to Dr. Old's statement about the absence of leather straps on his hawk's legs when first caught, if his informant be perfectly trustworthy, so much the better for the "British specimen" view of the matter. However, both jesses and bells are often removed from my own lost hawks by their destroyers; or this falcon's sharp beak might have done so too.'

Harting (1901: 323) adds: 'In The Zoologist for 1870 (p. 2017), Mr. Rodd reported the capture of a young Iceland Falcon in the parish of St. Merryn, near Padstow. This proved to be a trained falcon of Lord Bute's lost from Cardiff, and hung by its leash in a tree (Birds of Cornwall (p. 8) and letter from Capt. F. H. Salvin).'

Comment Probable escape. Not acceptable.

0). 1871 Shetland Baltasound, Unst, two, grey-morphs, seen, February.

(Saxby, 1874; Evans & Buckley, 1899).

[Pennington et al., 2004].

History Saxby (1874) under 'Iceland Falcon', says: 'Having now carefully corrected my scanty notes, rejecting all which appeared doubtful, and therefore useless, I can now speak with confidence of the two as separate species. Until within the last fifteen years, the Iceland Falcon used to visit these islands, Unst especially, with some regularity, between autumn and spring, usually after a snow-storm accompanied by a heavy gale; now, however, two or three years may pass without the appearance of a single individual being recorded. I saw the last in February 1871, when two, possibly a pair, visited Balta Sound, and remained there several days, keeping mostly near the beach, and feeding upon the snipes and starlings which had been driven from inland by the frost.

I kept them under careful and almost constant observation, and could distinguish but little difference between their habits and those of the preceding species, except that these, although occasionally coming near the pigeon-boxes and poultry-yards, seemed more inclined to avoid the haunts of man.

Although the two birds were seldom more than half a mile or a mile apart, each hunted independently for itself. Once, when the larger of the two struck a Rock Dove into the water, the other came up hurriedly, but whether with a selfish motive, or with a desire to render assistance, is uncertain. Both, however, hovered about the victim for nearly a quarter of an hour, but without attempting to recover it.'

Evans & Buckley (1899: 119) say: 'Iceland Falcon....Saxby writes...I saw the last in February 1871, when two, possibly a pair, visited Baltasound.'

Not accepted locally (Pennington et al. 2004).

0). Pre 1872 Yorkshire Flamborough, white-morph, shot, undated.

(Cordeaux, 1872; Nelson, 1907).

[KAN].

History Cordeaux (1872: 3) says: 'Was shot at Flamborough several years since by that well known bird-slayer, Thomas Long, fisherman. Long was shooting Rock Pigeons at the time from the Speeton rocks, and says that at some distance the bird looked quite white, but on a nearer view he distinctly saw that its plumage was speckled with black, although it was altogether a very light bird. It fell to the bottom of the cliff, and he sent his son down, also descending himself to recover it, but was unsuccessful, as the rising tide had carried it out.'

Accepted locally (Nelson 1907 (1): 354).

Comment Not known to have been seen by a competent ornithologist. Lacks supporting details of identication. Not acceptable.

0). 1872 Meirionnydd Bwlch-y-groes, Dinas Mawddwy, killed, undated.

(Forrest, 1907).

[Pritchard, 2012].

History Forrest (1907) says: 'Captain W. Buckley informs me that one day in the early seventies his father Sir E. Buckley was on the Bwlch-y-groes, above Dinas Mawddwy, when he saw a strange bird perched on the rocks. Approaching it very cautiously, he managed to get pretty near as to examine it at close quarters, and found that it was one of the species of Gyr Falcon.'

Locally, Pritchard (2012) does not include Gyr Falcon.

Comment Lacks a precise date for a scientific record. Not known to have been seen by a competent authority. Not acceptable.

0). Pre 1873 Dorset Cranborne Chase, grey-morph, found dead, undated.

(Mansel-Pleydell, 1873, 1888).

[F. L. Blathwayt, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society 55: 183].

History Mansel-Pleydell (1873: 5-6) says: 'Iceland Falcon. Viscount Portland has one in his collection at Bryanston, which was found dead in one of the "rides" at Cranborne Chase with a Pigeon half-eaten by its side, a bone of which had got across his throat and suffocated it.'

Mansel-Pleydell (1888: 3, 2nd ed.) says: 'Iceland Falcon. one was found dead in the early part of the present century in Cranbourne Chase....'

Not admitted by F. L. Blathwayt (1934) in the Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society, Vol. LV. p. 183, under 'A Revised List of the Birds of Dorset', who square brackets the record, saying: 'The only record is of one Cranborne Chase, early in 19th century, but the specimen was not critically examined.'

Morrison (1997: 59) adds: 'Without further information about this record it should be regarded as dubious.'

Comment Not known to have been seen by a competent authority. Not acceptable.

0). 1882 Devon/Dorset Rousden, near Lyme Regis, seen, 11th to 15th June; also in East Sussex.

(F. Fuller, Field 14th Oct., 1882: 536; T. J. Monk, Zoologist 1883: 34; J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1883: 80; F. L. Blathwayt, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society 55: 183; Moore, 1969; Boys, 1973; Prendergast & Boys, 1983).

[Morrison, 1997; A. H. J. Harrop, British Birds 112: 89-98].

History F. Fuller (1882) in The Field of 14th Oct., Vol. LX. p. 536, says: 'About the 11th of June last a Gyr Falcon took up its quarters amongst the grand rocks of Rousden [Devon], near Lyme Regis [Dorset], the property of Sir W. H. Peek, Bart. For two days numerous gunners gave the poor bird no rest, and on the 15th it left the neighbourhood. About five miles to the east of Rousden [probably Dorset] it was observed to strike a Pigeon, which fell dead at the feet of a labourer in the fields.

The woods by Arundel Castle [Sussex] appear to have been the next place visited, after which it appeared at Goodwood, from whence it was also driven, and when near Brighton fell to the gun of a man, who sold it for a sovereign to a publican, who in turn sold it the same day for £4 to a gentleman, who refuses to accept £50 for it. The bird, which proved to be a female, is now in the hands of Mr. Swaysland, of Brighton, for preservation. It is white from age, and in splendid plumage. Would it not be wise if noblemen and gentlemen with large estates would order their keepers not to destroy every strange bird which visits our shores? The owners of the estates visited by this Gyr Falcon along the south coast might boast of having on their property specimens of nearly every British bird, instead of which the keepers destroy everything that is curious or beautiful.'

[Our correspondent does not state to which species of Gyr Falcon the bird in question belongs. Perhaps he is not aware that two species of Gyr Falcon occasionally visit the British Islands, namely, the Greenland Falcon and the Iceland Falcon. From the reference to the peculiar whiteness of the plumage, we imagine the bird shot near Brighton was a Greenland Falcon. But it would be well to place the identification of the species beyond doubt. - Ed.]

T. J. Monk of Lewes (1883) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. VII. p. 34, says: '...By a curious coincidence it is not at all unlikely that this Falcon was seen by Mr. Henry Swaysland, jun., in June last, who, writing to his father at Brighton, described the bird's plumage in accurate terms, having approached it within a distance of thirty yards, when sitting on the cliffs near Rousden, Lyme Regis, the seat of Sir Henry Peek, M.P., for which gentleman Mr. Swaysland, jun., has been arranging a collection of birds, and on whose domain the wild and lofty cliffs fronting the sea form a splendid haunt for many of our noblest birds, and where, I have been informed, the Peregrine and the Raven have been seen nesting within a short distance of each other.'

J. H. Gurney, jun., of Northrepps Hall, Norwich (1883) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. VII. p. 80, says: '...Mr. Swaysland informed me that the Falcon (probably the same individual) which his son saw at Rousden in June had been observed about that locality for some two months previously, and therefore it had probably not nested.'

Admitted locally by F. L. Blathwayt (1934) in the Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society, Vol. LV. p. 183, under 'A Revised List of the Birds of Dorset', and Boys (1973: 20), but, Morrison (1997: 59) states that without further information about this record it should be regarded as dubious.

Comment The reference is to the Bullock Hill, Sussex, individual of September, 1882. A very unusual date and way out of known migration period, but accepted by the latest avifauna's of Devon (Moore 1969), Sussex (James 1996) and Dorset (Green 2004). Possible escape. Swaysland has been discredited (A. H. J. Harrop, British Birds 112: 89-98). Not acceptable.

0). 1882 Sussex Bullock Hill, Woodingdean, adult female, white-morph, shot, 26th September, now at Booth Museum, Brighton (BoMNH 207235); same as Devon/Dorset.

(F. Fuller, Field 14th Oct., 1882: 536; C. A. Wright, Ibis 1883: 119-120; T. J. Monk, Zoologist 1883: 34; J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1883: 80; Walpole-Bond, 1938; Shrubb, 1979; James, 1996).

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

History F. Fuller (1882) in The Field of 14th Oct., Vol. LX. p. 536, says: 'About the 11th of June last a Gyr Falcon took up its quarters amongst the grand rocks of Rousden [Devon], near Lyme Regis [Dorset], the property of Sir W. H. Peek, Bart. For two days numerous gunners gave the poor bird no rest, and on the 15th it left the neighbourhood. About five miles to the east of Rousden [probably Dorset] it was observed to strike a Pigeon, which fell dead at the feet of a labourer in the fields. The woods by Arundel Castle [Sussex] appear to have been the next place visited, after which it appeared at Goodwood, from whence it was also driven, and when near Brighton fell to the gun of a man, who sold it for a sovereign to a publican, who in turn sold it the same day for £4 to a gentleman, who refuses to accept £50 for it. The bird, which proved to be a female, is now in the hands of Mr. Swaysland, of Brighton, for preservation. It is white from age, and in splendid plumage. Would it not be wise if noblemen and gentlemen with large estates would order their keepers not to destroy every strange bird which visits our shores? The owners of the estates visited by this Gyr Falcon along the south coast might boast of having on their property specimens of nearly every British bird, instead of which the keepers destroy everything that is curious or beautiful.'

[Our correspondent does not state to which species of Gyr Falcon the bird in question belongs. Perhaps he is not aware that two species of Gyr Falcon occasionally visit the British Islands, namely, the Greenland Falcon and the Iceland Falcon. From the reference to the peculiar whiteness of the plumage, we imagine the bird shot near Brighton was a Greenland Falcon. But it would be well to place the identification of the species beyond doubt. - Ed.]

Charles A. Wright (1883) in The Ibis, Vol. XXV. pp. 119-120, in a Letter dated 27th Sep., 1882, says: 'Greenland Falcon (Falco candicans) was shot in the neighbourhood of Lewes on the 26th inst. The bird passed into the hands of Mr. Monk, of that town, and was taken to Mr. Swaysland to be preserved and set up. It was a very fine specimen, of the female sex, in the snowy-white plumage, speckled on the back, wings, and tail with brownish black; measured 52 inches across the wings, and weighed no less than 8 pounds 11 ounces. It had scarcely completed its autumnal moult, some of the new feathers having not attained their full length. I have had the pleasure of handling this rara avis in the flesh, through the kindness of Mr. Swaysland, who had just commenced skinning it. It is a curious coincidence that rather more than three months ago, as I am informed, one of Mr. Swayland's sons, who was at Lyme Regis, distinctly recognized a Falcon in similar plumage, when out walking with a friend on Sunday, 11th June. He wrote to his father at Brighton for his gun and licence, set traps for it, but never saw it again. A strange white bird was also seen lately about the Brighton coast, and is said to have been fired at on the 1st September. There can be little doubt that these statements all refer to the same bird.'

Further, in another Letter dated 5th Oct, he adds: 'P.S. Since writing the foregoing I have seen a letter from Mr. Swaysland's son Henry to his mother, dated Rousdon, 28th Sept., in which he gives some further particulars of the circumstances respecting his meeting with the Falcon above alluded to. He says he was out with a friend on the 11th June, down the landslip, when a bird flew up, and then went down a steep place and up the other side. He exclaimed, "That is a rare Gull; it has not any black tips to its wings; it must be an Iceland Gull. Keep quiet; we will go and look over and see if we can see it again". On looking towards the other side of the cliff, about sixty yards off, where the landslip is, Henry said, "It is a Falcon; look! it's sitting straight upright". The letter then goes on to say that he had a good look at it with his field-glass: The bird was sitting on a stone looking at us; it seemed quite white, except the tail. Had I gone to the other side of the landslip, I could have approached within ten yards of it. But I left, and went about two miles to the keeper's house, and told him I would give him a pound if he would let me shoot it, or, if he would shoot it, I would give him the same amount. I put down four traps baited with young rabbits. Two days after, on the 13th June, it was seen at Seaton to strike a tame Pigeon close to a man; it dropped the Pigeon, which was dead. Several persons saw it during the week. It was last seen at Lyme Regis, Dorset.'

T. J. Monk of Lewes (1883) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. VII. p. 34, says: 'A fine specimen of this noble Falcon was shot by Mr. G. Foord, of Balsdean, on September 26th. It was brought to Lewes Market on the above-mentioned day, sold to Mr. R. J. Woodman, and re-sold by him to me. It had been seen for some weeks previously on the Downs, near Balsdean. The exact locality where the bird was killed was on the top of Bullock Hill, near Balsdean, which hill is well known to the followers of the Brookside Harriers. It was sent to Mr. Swaysland, taxidermist, of Queen's Road, Brighton, to be preserved, and from him I have learned the following particulars: - The Falcon proved to be a female, in good plumage, and, from the colouring, an adult bird of some age, and in excellent condition. Length from point of beak to end of tail, 24¾ in.; breadth of wings, when extended, from tip to tip, 52 in.; weight, 3 lbs. 11 oz. By a curious coincidence it is not at all unlikely that this Falcon was seen by Mr. Henry Swaysland, jun., in June last, who, writing to his father at Brighton, described the bird's plumage in accurate terms, having approached it within a distance of thirty yards, when sitting on the cliffs near Rousden, Lyme Regis, the seat of Sir Henry Peek, M.P., for which gentleman Mr. Swaysland, jun., has been arranging a collection of birds, and on whose domain the wild and lofty cliffs fronting the sea form a splendid haunt for many of our noblest birds, and where, I have been informed, the Peregrine and the Raven have been seen nesting within a short distance of each other.'

[Our contributor does not state to what species of Gyr Falcon the bird in question belongs; but another correspondent, Mr. Thomas Parkin, of Halton, near Hastings, who has seen it, assures us that it is a Greenland Falcon. - Ed.]

J. H. Gurney, jun., of Northrepps Hall, Norwich (1883) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. VII. p. 80, says: 'I have taken advantage of a visit to Brighton to call on Mr. Swaysland, to whom I am indebted for an inspection of the Greenland Falcon recorded in the last number of the Zoologist (p. 34). I found it to be a fine adult Hierofalco candicans (Gmel.), of a medium character as regards the extent of its dark markings, but I think inclining to the light rather than to the darker phase of this very variable species. The bird, when shot on the 26th September, had just completed its moult, except as to the quill-feathers of the wings and tail; in the latter only two new feathers had yet appeared, both lateral and one on either side. Each of these new feathers is an immaculate white, which is noteworthy, as the older rectrices show traces of dark transverse bars, which, however, are but very light and rudimentary, except upon the central pair. Mr. Swaysland informed me that the Falcon (probably the same individual) which his son saw at Rousden in June had been observed about that locality for some two months previously, and therefore it had probably not nested.'

Accepted locally (Borrer 1891: 6-7), while, Walpole-Bond (1938 (2): 236) says: '...At the close of 1899 Monk passed away, and about seven years later the bird was obtained for the Booth Museum, but not before it had been remounted by the Messrs. Pratt, of Brighton.'

Comment See notice concerning the Devon/Dorset sighting. A very unusual date and way out of known migration period, but accepted by the latest avifauna's of Devon (Moore 1969), Sussex (James 1996) and Dorset (Green 2004). Swaysland has been discredited (A. H. J. Harrop, British Birds 112: 89-98). Not acceptable.

0) 1882 Highland Loch Shin, Sutherland, white-morph, seen, December.

(Harvie-Brown & Buckley, 1887).

[KAN].

History Harvie-Brown & Buckley (1887) under 'Greenland Falcon', say: 'In a letter to Harvie-Brown, dated December 20th, 1882, Lord Clifton mentions that a large white falcon with black-tipped wings was seen on Loch Shin, presumably about that date, and he referred it to this species.'

Comment Not known to have been seen by a competent authority. No identification details for this sight record of a difficult species. Not acceptable.

0). 1884 Devon Sidmouth, seen, 6th October.

(C. E. Ashworth, Field 18th Oct., 1884: 530).

[Loyd, 1929; Moore, 1969].

History Charles E. Ashworth (1884) in The Field of 18th Oct., Vol. LXIV. p. 530, says: 'Whilst walking on the 6th inst. with two of my friends, a few miles from Sidmouth, we were fortunate to obtain a sight of one of the rarest of British birds, the Jerfalcon. With opera glasses we had a good view of him thirty yards or so below us, as he left the cliffs overhanging the sea. We saw him again from below an hour afterwards, returning to the same place in the rocks.'

Not accepted locally (Moore 1969).

0). c. 1885 Gloucestershire Near Cheltenham, immature, caught, undated.

(Mellersh, 1902).

[Swaine, 1982].

History Mellersh (1902) says: 'One killed near Cheltenham 1885: Major Fisher.'

Rejected by Swaine (1982) who adds: 'Mellersh appears to have accepted a somewhat bizarre account given by Witchell and Strugnell of an immature bird caught near Cheltenham about 1885. It is said to have hit the ground while in pursuit of finches, and was then caught by W. B. Strugnell, who "seized it in his soft felt hat".'

0). Pre 1888 Outer Hebrides Glen Meabhaig, Harris, shot, undated.

(Harvie-Brown & Buckley, 1888).

[KAN].

History Harvie-Brown & Buckley (1888: 88) say: 'From the description given by Mr. Findlay MacLeod - long time head forester in North Harris - to Harvie-Brown, we have little doubt that he shot an Iceland Falcon in Glen Meabhaig, in Harris. He described it as "nearly white, with black marks, and very big".'

Comment Lacks a precise date for a scientific record. Not known to have been seen by a competent authority. Not acceptable.

0). 1888 Essex Paglesham, seen, February.

(Christy, 1890).

[Glegg, 1929].

History Christy (1890: 172) says: 'Mr. J. Pettitt, of Colchester, informs me that, in Feb., 1888, one visited Paglesham, where his uncle, Mr. R. Pettitt, made various unsuccessful attempts to obtain it; one day, when he had no gun, he was able to get near enough to see distinctly what it was.'

Glegg (1929: 130) placed the Gyr Falcon in square brackets on the basis of incomplete evidence, including this record.

0). 1888 Essex Paglesham, shot, mid-November.

(E. Burton Durham, Field 22nd Dec., 1888: 912; Christy, 1890).

[Glegg, 1929].

History E. Burton Durham of Southend-on-Sea (1888) in The Field of 22nd Dec., Vol. LXXII. p. 912, says: 'A pair of Jerfalcons were lately noticed several times flying about this neighbourhood, and, unfortunately, one of them met the usual fate of most rare feathered visitors, and was shot. I was informed that several shooters were on the watch for the other, but I have not heard of its capture yet.' [We should be glad to know whether the bird obtained was the Iceland or Greenland Jerfalcon, and whether it has been preserved and can be seen. - Ed.]

Christy (1890: 172) says: 'Mr. J. F. T. Wiseman informs me that one was shot there [Paglesham] about the middle of Nov., 1888.'

Glegg (1929: 130) placed the Gyr Falcon in square brackets on the basis of incomplete evidence, including this record.

0). 1888 Argyll Islay, grey-morph, shot, winter.

(Harvie-Brown & Buckley, 1892; Elliott, 1989).

[ap Rheinallt et al., 2007].

History Harvie-Brown & Buckley (1892: 110) under 'Iceland Falcon', say: 'Mr. James Brown also fired at one in the winter of 1888.' Not accepted locally (ap Rheinallt et al. 2007: 150).

Comment James Brown was a gamekeeper on Islay. Lacks adequate details. Not acceptable.

0). 1891 Essex Hatfield Broad Oak, trapped, December.

(R. Bowdler Sharpe, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 11: 65-66; Harting, 1901; Glegg, 1929).

[Glegg, 1929; Wood, 2007].

History R. Bowdler Sharpe, Editor (1901) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XI. pp. 65-66, at the 79th Meeting of the Club held on 22nd May 1901 at the Restaurant Frascati, London, says: 'Mr. Harting exhibited a specimen of a Falcon killed in Essex, and invited the opinion of the members present as to whether the bird was a Peregrine or a Norway Jer Falcon. A discussion took place, in which Mr. J. G. Millais, Mr. G. E. Lodge, Mr. Neale, Mr. Munro, and Mr. Dresser favoured the idea of the bird being a dark variety of a female Falco peregrinus, while the Hon. Walter Rothschild, Mr. Hartert, Mr. Harting, and Dr. Bowdler Sharpe emphatically pronounced it to be a Jer Falcon.'

H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst (1908) in British Birds, Vol. I. p. 321, under 'On the More Important Additions to our Knowledge of British Birds since 1899', who say: 'A female was trapped at Hatfield Broad Oak in December, 1901 (Harting's Hndbk., 2nd ed., p. 319). In the opinion of some authorities this bird is a dark variety of a female Peregrine (F. peregrinus) (cf. Bull. B.O.C., XI. p. 65).'

Glegg (1929: 130) placed the Gyr Falcon in square brackets on the basis of incomplete evidence, including this record. However, he says: 'One trapped in December, 1891, at Hatfield Broad Oak, had the best credentials. It was exhibited on the 22nd May, 1901, at a British Ornithologists' meeting where J. G. Millais, G. E. Lodge, Neale, Munro and Dresser thought it was a dark variety of the Peregrine, while the Honourable W. Rothschild, Ernst Hartert, Edmund Harting and Dr. Bowdler Sharpe were unanimously in favour of it being a Gyr Falcon.'

Comment Not specifically identified. Hartert worked in Rothschild's Museum, later BMNH, and Harting was a Falconer. Not acceptable.

0). 1896 Hampshire Mottisfont, obtained, 18th January.

(Meinertzhagen, 1959; Cohen & Taverner, 1972; A. G. Knox, Ibis 1993: 320-325).

[Clark, 2022].

History Cohen & Taverner (1972) state that Meinertzhagen saw one on 18th January 1896 descend on an Aylesbury duck, carry it 20 yards where it proceeded to eat nearly all of it.

John Clark (2009) by e-mail, says: 'We have been doing some research on the 1896 Hampshire Mottisfont Gyr Falcon (Meinertzhagen). It appears that George Lodge was staying on the estate at the time of the occurrence and he painted the bird. The picture is in Meinertzhagen's 1959 book Pirates and Predators, plate 37. We are of the opinion that the record should stand.'

Comment Meinertzhagen’s reputation has been proved unreliable, therefore, this record is unacceptable.

0). 1902-03 Cornwall St Just-in-Penwith, immature, intermediate morph, shot, winter.

(Clark, 1906).

[KAN].

History J. Clark (1906 (1): 338) in the Victoria County History of Cornwall, says: 'Greenland Falcon - a young falcon, either Greenland or Iceland, was shot at St Just-in-Penwith in the winter of 1902-03. It may have escaped from the Norwegian bark Luna, which foundered with all hands off Pendeen.'

Comment Not known to have been seen by a competent authority. Not acceptable.

0). 1906 Argyll Glendaruel, adult, shot, undated.

(W. H. Cripps, Field 16th Feb., 1907: 259).

[ap Rheinallt et al., 2007].

History W. Harrison Cripps of Glendaruel (1907) in The Field of 16th Feb., Vol. CIX. p. 259, says: 'I regret to say a beautiful specimen of the Jerfalcon in mature plumage was accidentally shot last year on my estate. I believe this bird is of extreme rarity in Scotland. My keepers have strict orders not to interfere with Peregrines or Golden Eagles, both of which breed on this estate....' Not accepted locally (ap Rheinallt et al. 2007).

0). 1907 Argyll No locality, white-morph, seen, January.

(A. Mackenzie, Field 26th Jan., 1907: 149; Eds., Annals Scottish Natural History 1908: 123; J. Paterson, Annals Scottish Natural History 1908: 198).

[ap Rheinallt et al., 2007].

History Austin Mackenzie (1907) in The Field of 26th Jan., Vol. CIX. p. 149, says: 'It may interest you to hear that a Greenland Falcon has been seen at a spot in Argyllshire for the last three weeks. He constantly is seen hunting grouse and wild duck.'

In an Editorial (1907) in the Annals of Scottish Natural History, Vol. XVI. p. 123, they say: 'Greenland Falcon in Argyllshire. - Austin Mackenzie, The Field, 26th January 1907, p. 149. - One seen, but exact locality not specified.'

Admitted by John Paterson (1908) in the Annals of Scottish Natural History, Vol. XVII. p. 198, in the annual 'Report on Scottish Ornithology.' Not accepted locally (ap Rheinallt et al. 2007: 150).

0). 1911 Shetland North Unst, two, 5th January.

(Baxter & Rintoul, 1912).

[Pennington et al., 2004].

History Baxter & Rintoul (1912: 6) under 'Uncommon Visitors and Birds New to Faunal Areas', say: 'Two Iceland Falcons (Falco rusticolus islandus) were noted at North Unst, 5th January.'

Comment I believe this to be a typographical error for North Uist and that is the reason it was overlooked by Pennington et al. (2004). Not acceptable.

0). 1911 Dumfries & Galloway Galloway House, Wigtownshire, seen, undated.

(Mearns & Rollie, 2016).

[KAN].

History Mearns & Rollie (2016) quoting from Jack Gordon's MS. state that Straiton, the keeper at Galloway House, thought he saw a Norwegian Falcon there during 1911.

Comment Not known to have been seen by a competent authority. Not acceptable.

0). 1912 Dorset Ballard Down, Swanage, white-morph, seen, 5th February.

( N. M. Richardson, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History Society and Antiquarian Field Club 34: 204; F. L. Blathwayt, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History Society and Antiquarian Field Club 39: 51; F. L. Blathwayt, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society 55: 183; Prendergast & Boys, 1983; Morrison, 1997).

[Boys, 1973; Morrison, 1997].

History N. M. Richardson (1913) in the Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History Society and Antiquarian Field Club, Vol. XXXIV. p. 204, says: 'Feb. 5th, 1912. Jesse Baker ("Sunbeam", of Poole) reports to us a large white falcon about the size of a Peregrine, which he watched for some time off Ballard Head. On cross examination I assume that it must have been a Falco candicans (Greenland Falcon) driven south by the recent blizzard. (I do not offer identity as conclusive.).'

F. L. Blathwayt (1918) in the Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History Society and Antiquarian Field Club, Vol. XXXIX. p. 51, under 'New Species of Birds observed in Dorset', says: 'One seen off Ballard Head, Feb. 5, 1912, after a blizzard. (D.F.C. Vol. XXXIV. p. 204).'

Boys (1973: 20) says: 'One on 5 Feb, 1912, at Swanage, claimed as the Greenland race.'

Admitted by F. L. Blathwayt (1934) in the Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society, Vol. LV. p. 183, under 'A Revised List of the Birds of Dorset'.

Morrison (1997: 59) says: 'A "white bird size of a Peregrine" seen on Ballard Down on 5th February 1912, is not convincing. But then there are not many white falcons in the world. Without further information about this record it should be regarded as dubious.'

0). 1914 Pembrokeshire Skomer, seen, June to 1916; same as Irish At sea record.

(J. S. Neale, Field 9th July 1921: 65).

[Lockley, 1949].

History J. S. Neale of Penarth, South Wales (1921) in The Field of 9th July, Vol. CXXXVIII. p. 65, says: 'Referring to your remarks in your issue of June 25 concerning the Greenland Falcon which was caught in Pembrokeshire, and which is now at the Zoological Gardens, it may interest your readers to know that during a severe storm in the winter of 1913 two of these fine birds took refuge on two different steamers off the coast of Ireland in an exhausted condition.

They were both landed at Cardiff and brought to my father, the late J. J. Neale, J.P. One subsequently died and was stuffed, and is now in the possession of my mother at Oxton, Kenton, Exeter. The other bird was kept in captivity for about six months, and when it was strong enough was liberated on Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire, together with a pair of Golden Eagles, in June, 1914.

Each of these birds remained in the vicinity of Skomer for at least two years, when, owing, to the war, my father was unable to continue his observations concerning them. It would be interesting to know whether the falcon recently captured in Pembrokeshire is the same bird. I should be inclined to say it is without any doubt; but, unfortunately, the bird which we liberated was not marked in any way which would lead to its identification.'

[The measurements of this bird given in our last issue show that it had lost in captivity 3½ in. of the tail feathers, and 3¼ in. of each wing, detracting much from the beauty of the specimen. Should it live, however, over the next month, this defect will be remedied. - Ed.]

Not accepted locally (Lockley 1949).

0). c. 1918 Carmarthenshire No locality, obtained, undated.

(Ingram & Salmon, 1954).

[Ingram & Salmon, 1954].

History Ingram & Salmon (1954) say: 'Another said to have been obtained about 1918 (E. Cooke).'

Comment Said to have been obtained and with no further details is an inadequate record. Not acceptable.

0). 1919 Suffolk Thorpe Mere, Aldeburgh, seen, 12th February.

(J. K. Stanford, British Birds 13: 172; Ticehurst, 1932; Payn, 1978).

[J. K. Stanford, British Birds 13: 172].

History J. K. Stanford (1919) in British Birds, Vol. XIII. p. 172, says: 'Greenland Falcon (?) (Falco r. candicans ?). - On February 12th, 1919, a bitterly cold day, a greyish-white bird rose about sixty yards from me on Thorpe Mere, which I momentarily thought from its colour was a Gull, but its flight and appearance on the wing were unmistakably a Falcon's. I could not identify it with any greater certainty, as it went off very rapidly towards the Aldeburgh river.'

Comment Not specifically identified. Not acceptable.

0). 1922 Suffolk Glemham Park, picked up dead, grey-morph, 20th September.

(D. Cranbrook, Field 7th Oct., 1922: 539; J. H. Gurney, jun., British Birds 16: 233).

[Not in Ticehurst, 1932; Not in Payn, 1978].

History Dorothy Cranbrook of Great Glemham House, Saxmundham (1922) in The Field of 7th Oct., Vol. CXL. p. 539, says: 'On Sept. 20 our keeper found a strange bird lying dead in the park with wings outspread; no sign of injury, but very thin, and the crop absolutely empty. It had obviously died of exhaustion; otherwise in perfect condition.

I sent it to the Army and Navy Stores to be set up, asking them to identify it, and heard this morning it was an Iceland Falcon, obviously a young bird. The feet and legs are a bluish grey, the plumage most beautifully marked; the feathers brown, distinctly edged with white, and yellow touches under the wings, the tail barred. The body measured roughly 18 in., with a wonderful spread of wing - a good 5 ft. 8 in from tip to tip. Several of us had noticed a strange bird about the park for two or three days before it was picked up dead, but no one could identify it.

Can you suggest how such a bird could have found its way here?' [The appearance of both the Iceland and Greenland Falcons in the British Islands is not so rare as many people suppose. We have notes of the recorded occurrences of twenty-two Icelanders and forty-one Greenlanders. They usually arrive as winter visitors between October and April, but a few have been met with as early as the end of September. - Ed.]

J. H. Gurney, jun., of Norwich (1923) in British Birds, Vol. XVI. p. 233, in the Norfolk Annual Report, says: 'Picked up on September 20th in Glemham Park, Suffolk (Field, October 7th).'

Locally, it is not mentioned by Ticehurst (1932: 232-234) or in the list of four accepted records (Piotrowski 2003: 125).

0). 1931 Outer Hebrides North Uist, seen, 12th February.

(S. W. P. Freme, British Birds 24: 370-371).

[KAN].

History S. W. P. Freme (1931) in British Birds, Vol. XXIV. pp. 370-371, says: 'Probable Iceland Falcon (Falco rusticolus ? subsp.). - On February 12th, 1931, in N. Uist, whilst driving to some ground where numbers of Golden Plover were supposed to be, I saw a Falcon which was very much larger and heavier than a Peregrine. It flew low and slowly from a rock by the hillside and seemed exactly of the figure of the Iceland Falcon, a bird which I know very well by sight. My only doubt as to this bird's identity was its decidedly brown appearance. I have seen many Iceland Falcons ranging from a sort of pale cinnamon - like one now in my possession - to the usual dark grey notched with white. This bird was far darker than any I have met with, excepting a specimen in a shop window at Reykjavik which puzzled me very much, being as dark as a Buzzard! I think this bird in N. Uist could only have been an Icelander, but whether Icelander or Gyr, it was certainly not a Peregrine.'

Comment Not specifically identified. Not acceptable.

0). 1932 Sussex Henfield, seen, 24th April.

(Walpole-Bond, 1938).

[KAN].

History Walpole-Bond (1938 (2): 235) says: 'It may be worth narrating that on April 24th, 1932, over the Henfield "brooks" - though at one time the bird was in a tree where it was mobbed, albeit very respectfully, by a Crow and Kestrel - Dr. Bryant and I detected an immense Falcon which we are convinced was a Gyr- or Iceland. Certainly it was no Peregrine.'

Comment Possible only. Not identified with certainty. Not acceptable.

0). 1933 Suffolk Blyford, shot, late January.

(J. A. Brandeston, Field 11th Feb., 1933: 262).

[Piotrowski, 2003].

History J. A. Brandeston (1933) in The Field of 11th Feb., Vol. CLIX. p. 262, says: 'While out Pheasant shooting about a fortnight ago at Blyford, Suffolk, I noticed a large hawk hanging on the vermin pole in one of the coverts. It was quite a new species to me, and on enquiring I found it to be a Gyrfalcon. It seems a pity that the bird was shot, since they are extremely rare visitors to this country. The keeper told me he killed another there about three years ago. I see one of the Gyrfalcon's previous occurrences was at Orford, Suffolk.'

[The Gyrfalcon is a very rare visitor to Great Britain. and if the carcase, or any part of it, has been preserved, we should be interested to see it. - Ed.]

Locally, it is not in the list of four accepted records (Piotrowski 2003: 125).

0). 1940 Cumbria Ambleside, Westmoreland, white-morph, seen, February.

(S. Moorhouse, North Western Naturalist 16: 82; E. Blezard, Transactions of the Carlisle Natural History Society 1943 (6): 70).

[KAN].

History S. Moorhouse, Editor (1941) in the North Western Naturalist, Vol. XVI. p. 83, says: 'Greenland Falcon. One reported from Ambleside early in February.'

Ernest Blezard (1943) in the Transactions of the Carlisle Natural History Society, Vol. VI. p. 70, says: 'The presence of a Greenland Falcon at Ambleside, Westmoreland, during the winter of 1940 is recorded by S. Moorhouse (North Western Naturalist, Vol. XVI. p. 82).'

Comment Second-hand report. Not known to have been seen by a competent authority. No identification details for this sight record of a difficult species. Not acceptable.

0). 1945 Dumfries & Galloway Near Glencaple, Dumfriesshire, white-morph, seen, October.

(J. G. Young, Transactions of the Dumfries & Galloway Natural History Society (3rd series) 82: 31-40).

[DGRC].

History J. Young (2008) in the Transactions of the Dumfries and Galloway Natural History & Antiquarian Society, 3rd series, Vol. LXXXII. p. 39, under Extracts from the Notebook of the Late James H. Wilson: A Glencaple Wildfowler 1872-1947', says: 'In October 1945, his son Robert had "a fine view of the Iceland Falcon, and had no trouble of identifying it in Howard Saunders book, he was within 15 yards of it".

Robert wrote reasonably full notes on this bird at the time and this and other records were discussed at length with him, other illustrations were examined and, I am confident that, he did indeed observe a Gyr Falcon Falco rusticolus (white morph; Greenland).

None of these more rare records can now of course be substantiated, although it remains, to examine the catalogues of birds sent by Wilson to the Royal Scottish Museum and to Gladstone at Capenoch.'

Comment An Iceland Falcon is a grey-morph! No identification details for this sight record of a difficult species. Not acceptable.

0). 1952 Lancashire & North Merseyside Lytham, white-morph, 6th December and 17th January 1953.

(White, McCarthy & Jones, 2008).

[White, McCarthy & Jones, 2008].

History White, McCarthy & Jones (2008) say: 'No Lancashire species has a more uncertain status. A white morph Greenland bird was reported at Lytham on 6 December 1952 and again on 17 January 1953, but no details were published.'

0). 1953 Argyll Mull, undated.

(P. R. Evans & W. U. Flower, Scottish Birds 4: 421).

[ap Rheinallt et al., 2007].

History P. R. Evans & W. U. Flower (1967) in Scottish Birds, Vol. IV. p. 421, under 'The Birds of the Small Isles', say: 'Muck. One in garden about 1953 (same year as recorded in Mull); probably of Greenland race.'

Not accepted locally (ap Rheinallt et al. 2007).

0). 1954 Cleveland/Yorkshire Coatham Sands, Yorkshire, January.

(R. Chislett, Naturalist 80: 76).

[I. C. T. Nisbet, British Birds 49: 404-407].

History R. Chislett (1955) in the new series of The Naturalist, Vol. LXXX. p. 76, recording the record in square brackets, says: 'A large pale hawk, described as "banded all over with brown markings" came in from sea at Coatham Sands in January and was seen by a fisherman to pounce on some starlings and take one. It might have been of the Iceland or the Greenland race of the species (P.J.S.). A probable Gyr Falcon escaped from captivity in Hull in early October and a similar bird was seen later at Beverley and at Flamborough; a string was attached to one leg.'

I. C. T. Nisbet (1956) in British Birds, Vol. XLIX. p. 406, says: 'There are interesting reports of feral Goshawk and Gyr Falcon.'

0). 1955 Fife Tentsmuir Point, 20th February; presumed same, Shelly Point, 21st February.

(F. D. Hamilton & K. S. Macgregor, Edinburgh Bird Bulletin 5: 43, 49).

[J. Grierson, Scottish Birds 2: 142].

History F. D. Hamilton & K. S. Macgregor (1955) in the Edinburgh Bird Bulletin, Vol. V. p. 43, say: 'The most interesting occurrence was a probably Gyr Falcon on the Eden on 20th February.' Further, p. 49, they add: 'What was almost certainly a Gyr Falcon was seen on the Eden on 20th February 1955 (by J.G.) and again at Tentsmuir Point the following day by W.J.E. Both of us noted that the flight was much less rapid than that of the Peregrine and devoid of glides, though J.G. watched the bird indulge in one short glide of a few yards only. An hour after seeing this bird, J.G. had the chance of watching a Peregrine and the difference in flight was very marked. Another noticeable feature was the complete absence of any moustachial stripe. Neither of us viewed the bird under ideal conditions and no accurate assessment of colour was possible. J.G. noted that it was perhaps lighter than the Peregrine but W.J.E. failed to get any definite idea of colour. W.J.E. thought it was larger, stockier bird than the Peregrine and that its wings were stubbier.'

J. Grierson (1962) in Scottish Birds, Vol. II. p. 142, placing the record in square brackets, says: 'A bird seen by different observers at Tentsmuir Point on 20th February 1955, and again the following day at Shelly Point, was probably this species (E.B.B. 5: 49).'

Comment Not specifically identified. Not acceptable.