Lanceolated Warbler
Locustella lanceolata (Temminck, 1840) (7, 1)
Photo © Phil Woollen - Fair Isle, 15 October 2023
STATUS
Palearctic. Polytypic.
OVERVIEW
BOU (1971) state six occurred between 1908-28, another in 1938, and five during 1953-61. However, in a review of records during 1950-57, the 1953 record was found not proven (British Birds 99: 463) and the only other in 1957 remains acceptable. The rest were outwith this period.
RECORDS
1). 1908 Fair Isle No locality, first-winter, shot, 9th September, now at National Museums of Scotland (NMSZ 1909.222.62).
(W. E. Clarke, Annals of Scottish Natural History 1911: 71; Eds., British Birds 4: 368; Clarke, 1912; Witherby, 1920-24; Saunders & Clark, 1927; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007).
History Wm. Eagle Clarke (1911) in the Annals of Scottish Natural History, Vol. XX. p. 71, under 'On the Occurrence of Temminck's Grasshopper Warbler in Orkney', says: '...am now convinced, however, that a bird I shot at Fair Isle on 9th September 1908 is a young bird of this species - a view that is also shared by my friend Dr. C. B. Ticehurst, who has seen the specimen and compared it with other members of the genus....'
In an Editorial (1911) in British Birds, Vol. IV. p. 368, they say: 'Mr. W. Eagle Clarke announces (Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist., 1911, p. 71) that a specimen (a bird of the year - sex not mentioned) of the Lanceolated Grasshopper Warbler (Locustella lanceolata) was captured at the Pentland Skerries (Orkney) on October 26th, 1910, and sent to him in the flesh. Mr. Clarke, who acknowledges the assistance of Dr. C. B. Ticehurst, finds that a bird which he shot at Fair Isle, on September 9th, 1908, also belongs to this species. This is likewise a bird of the year.'
Clarke (1912 (2): 136) under 'The Birds of Fair Isle', says: 'On the 9th September 1908, I secured a bird of the year of this species, as it rose from some rough grass. It was new to Scotland, and had only twice been recorded for Western Europe, namely at North Cotes in Lincolnshire on 18th November 1909; and at Heligoland of 13th October 1909.'
Forrester & Andrews et al. (2007 (2): 1167) add: 'Specimen now at National Museums Scotland (NMSZ 1909.222.62).'
Comment Initially believed to be a young Grasshopper Warbler until re-examined after receiving another specimen from Orkney in 1910. It was the first record for western Europe and pre-dates the 1909 Lincolnshire record already recorded.
2). 1909 Lincolnshire North Cotes, male, 18th November.
(G. H. Caton Haigh, British Birds 3: 354-355; W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 28: 216; F. L. Blathwayt, Zoologist 1912: 61; Witherby, 1920-24; Smith & Cornwallis, 1955; Lorand & Atkin, 1989).
History G. H. Caton-Haigh (1910) in British Birds, Vol. III. pp. 354-355, says: 'When walking along the sea-bank at North Cotes, Lincolnshire, on November 18th, 1909, I shot an example of the Lanceolated Warbler (Locustella lanceolata).
I first observed the bird in the long grass on the side of one of the marsh-drains, out of which it ran on to the short grass of the adjoining field. I watched it for a short time as it ran about the ground like a mouse, and I noticed that it kept its tail depressed, and not erected over the back, as is usually the case with the Grasshopper Warbler (Locustella naevia) when running over open ground. At one time it flew up to a barbed-wire post close by, up which it climbed with the facility of a Tree-Creeper. It soon flew back to the ground, and I shot it just as it reached the long grass again.
Unfortunately the bird was much shattered by the shot, and I had great difficulty in making a skin of it. It proved to be a male, and I think adult, and was excessively fat. In appearance this bird is considerably smaller than the Grasshopper Warbler. (The wing measures 56 mm. as against 60-66 in L. naevia). In the colour of the upperparts it closely resembles that bird, but the dark centres of the feathers are larger and more clearly defined, and the upper surface of the wings is a trifle more rufous. The underparts are thickly spotted with long-shaped blackish spots or streaks on a nearly white ground; the spots on the middle of the breast being larger and rounder than those on the throat and flanks. There is a slight tinge of buff on the lower throat. The beak had the base of the lower mandible pale yellow, the rest horn-colour. The legs and feet were white, with a very faint tinge of flesh-colour; claws white.
The autumn migration was practically over, and the only birds moving were a few Fieldfares, Redwings and Blackbirds. The weather at the time was very cold, with heavy showers, and a strong E.N.E. wind. There had been sharp frosts every night for a week, as much as nine degrees on the 15th and 16th, but only three degrees on the night of the 17th. The whole of the summer and autumn was characterised by the prevalence of north-west winds, and the consequent almost complete absence of visible migration. The Lanceolated Warbler does not appear to have occurred previously in any part of western Europe.*
It breeds in Kamchatka, Japan and Saghalien, through Siberia, and seldom in Russia (Hartert, Vog. Pal. Fauna, p. 554). It passes through China on migration and winters in India, as far west as Etawah, Burma, Pegu, Tenasserim and the Andaman Islands (Oates, Birds of Brit. India, Vol. I. p. 354). The skin was examined by Dr. E. Hartert, to whom it was submitted by Mr. H. F. Witherby, and my thanks are due to both for the trouble they took in the identification of this very much-damaged specimen.' [* We believe that there are only two recorded occurrences of the bird in Europe, one in North Russia, the other near Cattaro, Dalmatia, in November, 1907 (Grossmann, Orn, Jahr., 1908, p. 255). - Eds.]
Locally, F. L. Blathwayt (1912) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. XVI. p. 61, under 'Additions to the Birds of Lincs.', says: 'One shot at North Cotes, November 18th, 1909 (G. H. Caton Haigh). The first recorded British example.'
3). 1910 Orkney Pentland Skerries, first-winter, caught, 26th October.
(W. E. Clarke, Annals of Scottish Natural History 1911: 71; Eds., British Birds 4: 368; L. J. Rintoul & E. V. Baxter, Annals of Scottish Natural History 1911: 135; Clarke, 1912; W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 30: 268; Witherby, 1920-24; Thom, 1986).
History Wm. Eagle Clarke (1911) in the Annals of Scottish Natural History, Vol. XX. p. 71, under 'On the Occurrence of Temminck's Grasshopper Warbler in Orkney', says: 'I received a specimen of this interesting bird from the Pentland Skerries, where it was captured on 26th October 1910. The bird rose, on being disturbed, and darted into an old rabbit's burrow, from which it was taken and sent to me in the flesh for identification, and proved to be Locustella lanceolata of Temminck.
It is a new bird to Scotland, and has only twice previously been recorded for Western Europe, namely at North Cotes in Lincolnshire on18th November 1909; and at Heligoland on 13th October 1909. I am now convinced, however, that a bird I shot at Fair Isle on 9th September 1908 is a young bird of this species - a view that is also shared by my friend Dr. C. B. Ticehurst,, who has seen the specimen and compared it with other members of the genus....This eastern bird resembles our Grasshopper Warbler, but, as a rule, it is a little smaller, and has the dark spots on the centre of the feathers of the upper plumage more clearly defined.
The Orkney specimen, which is a bird of the year, has the under parts greyish yellow with dark brown streaks on the centre of the feathers of the throat and breast.'
In an Editorial (1911) in British Birds, Vol. IV. p. 368, they say: 'Mr. W. Eagle Clarke announces (Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist., 1911, p. 71) that a specimen (a bird of the year - sex not mentioned) of the Lanceolated Grasshopper Warbler (Locustella lanceolata) was captured at the Pentland Skerries (Orkney) on October 26th, 1910, and sent to him in the flesh. Mr. Clarke, who acknowledges the assistance of Dr. C. B. Ticehurst, finds that a bird which he shot at Fair Isle, on September 9th, 1908, also belongs to this species. This is likewise a bird of the year. It will be remembered that this Warbler was added to the British List by Mr. Caton Haigh, who obtained an example in Lincolnshire on November 18th, 1909 (cf., Vol. III. p. 353).'
Admitted by L. J. Rintoul & E. V. Baxter (1911) in the Annals of Scottish Natural History, vol. xx, p. 135, under 'Report on Scottish Ornithology in 1910.'
Clarke (1912 (2): 136) under 'The Birds of Fair Isle', says: 'A second Scottish example was caught at the Pentland Skerries on 26th October 1910....The Orkney specimen, which is a bird of the year, has the under parts greyish yellow, with dark brown streaks on the centre of the feathers of the throat and breast.'
W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Editor (1912) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XXX. p. 268, on the unexpected occurrences for 1910, says: 'One taken, Pentland Skerries Lt. (Orkney), October 26th.'
4). 1925 Fair Isle No locality, male, obtained, 24th October, now at National Museums of Scotland.
(J. Stout, Scottish Naturalist 46: 4; Eds., British Birds 20: 27; E. V. Baxter & L. J. Rintoul, Scottish Naturalist 46: 73; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953).
History James Stout of Fair Isle (1926) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. XLVI. p. 4, says: 'A male example of the Lanceolated Warbler (Locustella lanceolata) was obtained by me here on 24th October.'
[This is the fourth recorded occurrence of this rare warbler in the British Isles and the third in Scotland. The skin is now in the Royal Scottish Museum. - Eds.]
In an Editorial (1926) in British Birds, Vol. XX. p. 27, they say: 'On the same page [Scot. Nat. 1926, p. 4] Mr. J. Stout states that he obtained at Fair Isle on October 24th, 1925, a male Lanceolated Warbler (Locustella lanceolata), which is only the fourth recorded British occurrence....All these have been preserved in the Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh.'
Admitted by E. V. Baxter & L. J. Rintoul (1926) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. XLVI. p. 73, in the annual report.
5). 1926 Fair Isle No locality, male, obtained, 26th September.
(J. H. Stenhouse, Scottish Naturalist 47: 53; Eds., British Birds 21: 20; E. V. Baxter & L. J. Rintoul, Scottish Naturalist 47: 135; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; J. A. Stout, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report 1999: 23).
History J. H. Stenhouse (1927) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. XLVII. p. 53, says: 'I revisited Fair Isle in the autumn of 1926, remaining on the island from 8th September to 6th October....There were few rarities: a male Lanceolated Warbler, Locustella lanceolata, was obtained on the 26th September.'
In an Editorial (1927) in British Birds, Vol. XXI. p. 20, they say: 'Fair Isle. - Surgeon Rear-Admiral J. H. Stenhouse records (Scot. Nat., 1927, pp. 53-4) the occurrence of the following scarce visitors to Fair Isle in the autumn of 1926: - Lanceolated Warbler (Locustella lanceolata). - One on September 26th. This is the fifth recorded occurrence in Great Britain.'
Admitted by E. V. Baxter & L. J. Rintoul (1927) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. XLVII. p. 135, in the annual report. James A. Stout (1999) in the Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report, p. 23, says: 'Stenhouse usually carried a walking stick gun, which he rarely used, but he used it on the seventh day to get a Lanceolated Warbler, north of where the FIBO is now.'
Comment 26th September 1926 was a Sunday.
6). 1928 Fair Isle No locality, female, obtained, 22nd September.
(J. H. Stenhouse, Scottish Naturalist 49: 9; Eds., British Birds 23: 69; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953).
History J. H. Stenhouse (1929) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. XLIX. p. 9, says: 'During last autumn there was very little migration at Fair Isle. I spent three weeks on the island, from 15th September to 4th October....A female Lanceolated Warbler (Locustella lanceolata) was obtained on the 22nd [September].'
In an Editorial (1929) in British Birds, Vol. XXIII. p. 69, they say: 'Surgeon Rear-Admiral J. H. Stenhouse records (Scot. Nat., 1929, p. 9) the following as occurring at Fair Isle in the autumn of 1928: - Lanceolated Warbler (Locustella lanceolata). - A female on September 22nd.'
7). 1938 Fair Isle No locality, shot, 29th September.
(C. H. B. Grant, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 59: 77; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953).
History C. H. B. Grant, Editor (1939) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. LIX. p. 77, at the 415th Meeting of the Club held on 8th February 1939 at the Rembrandt Hotel, London, under 'Visit to Fair Isle, 1938', says: 'Mr. C. A. Norris, who last September spent a fortnight on Fair Isle with Mr. H. F. Witherby and Mr. P. A. D. Hollom, gave a short account of the island and the birds seen there....an unusually marked Lanceolated Warbler obtained on the island were exhibited, together with a normal Lanceolated Warbler.
Mr. Witherby said he was "personally conducted" to Fair Isle by Mr. Hollom, who, with Mr. Norris, did all the work. He thought they had been exceptionally fortunate in seeing so many scarce birds in such a short time, especially as there were never more than quite small numbers of migrants going through. Under these conditions they found it possible to identify quite satisfactorily almost all the birds they saw, but great care was necessary, and doubtful birds had to be hunted up and put out of cover a number of times before their identity could be established with certainty. The Lanceolated Warbler was a notable exception, and had they not shot it they would never have known what it was.'
1950-57 RECORD
8). 1957 Fair Isle South Leogh, trapped, 21st September.
(P. E. Davis, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report 1957: 19; P. E. Davis, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin 4: 5, 16; P. E. Davis, British Birds 51: 243-244).
History P. E. Davis (1958) in British Birds, Vol. LI. pp. 243-244, says: 'A remarkable "rush" of Continental birds affected Fair Isle between 16th and 22nd September 1957, and three species from central and southern areas of the U.S.S.R. appeared in the last two of these days. These were a Lanceolated Warbler (Locustella lanceolata) and a Richard's Pipit (Anthus richardi) on the 21st, and two very grey Short-toed Larks (Calandrella cinerea) on the 22nd.
These last were considered to be of the Eastern race, longipennis, of which several previous individuals have been identified on Fair Isle in recent years (e.g. antea, Vol. XLVI. p. 210; Vol. XLVII. pp. 457-458), The Lanceolated Warbler was found when Peter Hope Jones, Geoffrey Trimingham and I examined an overgrown ditch on the croft of S. Leogh late in the afternoon. It was obvious that we were dealing with a locustelline, for in shape and skulking behaviour the bird was a miniature Grasshopper Warbler (L. naevia). It soon left the ditch and dived into a stook of oat-sheaves near-by, then emerged to creep through the bare stubble and the longer grasses at the verge of the field, looking more like a small mammal than a bird.
It was quite indifferent to our presence, often coming within a yard of our feet, so that binoculars were superfluous. Apart from the smaller size, the most obvious points of difference from L. naevia in the field were the well-defined gorget of close, parallel, vertical striations on the breast, the whitish chin and throat, an indistinct buff-white stripe through the eye, and broad dark striations on the mantle. The tail, of the same drab brown colour as the rest of the upper-parts, was very faintly barred with darker brown. The whitish belly had very few striations, but the flanks were washed darker and well streaked. The bill had a dark brown upper mandible and a pale flesh lower one; the legs were pink. The warbler was easily caught with the aid of a piece of string netting and a portable "Craw" aluminium catching-box, and was taken to the laboratory for ringing and examination.
The measurements were: wing (straight) 61 mm., (chord) 59mm., tail 42 mm., bill 11 mm., tarsus 18 mm. Wing-formula: 1st primary 1 mm. longer than primary-coverts, 3rd longest, 2nd and 4th shorter by 2 mm., 5th by 4 mm., 6th by 5.5 mm., 7th by 6.5 mm., 8th by 7 mm. ; 3rd emarginate. The weight was 7.6 gm. at 17.15 hours G.M.T.
The rectrices were rather abraded, the remiges less so, and the rest of the plumage appeared new. This is apparently the eighth British record of the species, and the sixth from Fair Isle.'
NOT PROVEN
0). 1953 Fair Isle No locality, 4th May.
(K. Williamson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin 1 (11): 22; R. K. Cornwallis, British Birds 47: 423; Dymond, 1991).
[D. N. Shaw, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report 2003: 116; D. I. M. Wallace, C. Bradshaw & M. J. Rogers, British Birds 99: 463].
History K. Williamson (1953) in the Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin, Vol. I (XI). p. 22, says: 'This bird was seen and identified by J. A. Stout and James Wilson, both of whom have had previous experience of this and the Grasshopper Warbler. It was found on May 4th, and J.A.S. writes that it was a "dark, streaked warbler with no eyestripe, and the underparts very light and streaked and spotted. Feet a very pale flesh colour". It was first flushed from a drain and was watched later from a distance of no more than 3-4 yds. as it perched on a stone dyke.'
R. K. Cornwallis (1954) in British Birds Vol. XLVII. p. 423, says: 'The spring migration on the East Coast of Britain in 1953 showed remarkably little pattern. All the Observatories reported a lean season without any notable "rushes" of migrants....in the first half of May movements were noted only at Fair Isle....On the 4th there was a Lanceolated Warbler...'
D. I. M. Wallace, C. Bradshaw & M. J. Rogers (2006) in British Birds, Vol. XCIX. p. 463, in a review of certain rarities during the period 1950-57, found this record to be unacceptable.
