Pratincole sp.
Glareola sp. (17, 1)
Photo © By GnanaskandanK - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16253354
STATUS
Collared Pratincole: Southern Palearctic and Afro-tropical. Polytypic.
Black-winged Pratincole: Palearctic. Monotypic.
OVERVIEW
Pratincole species not specifically identified.
RECORDS
1). 1807 Cumbria Boldness, Cumberland, shot, undated.
(Graves, 1813; Harting, 1872; Saunders, 1882-84; Harting, 1901’ C. J. McInerny et al., British Birds 117: 152-167).
History Harting (1872: 133) lists both the Cumbria and Lancashire records for 1807.
Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 232, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'The earliest record is perhaps by Graves, who says that one was taken at Boldness, in Cumberland, in 1807.'
Harting (1901: 412-413) says: 'One, Boldness, Cumberland, 1807: Graves Brit. Orn., 1812, Vol. II. unpaged. Recorded also as obtained near Ormskirk, Lancashire, 1807: Bullock, Trans. Linn. Soc., 1815, Vol. XI. p. 177; Graves, op. cit.
According to Montagu, Bullock obtained this bird on May 18, 1804; Graves, who figured it, gives the date Oct. 1809; while Bullock himself, who ought to know best, states that it was killed in 1807.'
2). 1811 Cornwall Near Truro, shot, September.
(Graves, 1813; Harting, 1872, 1880; Penhallurick, 1969).
History Harting, Editor (1880: 83-84) in Rodd's Birds of Cornwall, says: 'Graves, in the second edition of his British Ornithology, published in 1821, thus incidentally alludes in the second volume to a Cornish specimen of this bird: - "The Pratincole may be considered as one of the most rare birds that occasionally resort to this country; the specimen from which our figure was taken was shot near Ormskirk in Lancashire, in October 1809, and we have received accounts of three others that have been shot at various times and places - one in September 1811 near Truro in Cornwall, another in the vicinity of Boldness in Cumberland (1807), and a third on the Eude-waters, on the estate of the Duke of Norfolk in Surrey.'
On June 9th, 1874, I had an opportunity of handling a fine adult Pratincole which was killed near the Lizard. On dissection it proved to he a male. As regards the colour of the plumage it did not differ from the description given by Yarrell, but instead of being only 10 inches in length, it was at least 10½ inches; the closed wings extending half an inch beyond the tail, and the outer tail feathers tapering gradually almost to a filament.
This bird was observed by a boy who was out Coot shooting, flying backwards and forwards like a Swallow over a largo pool on the Lizard Downs, and apparently hawking for insects. On its alighting at the margin of the pool, he shot it.'
Locally, Penhallurick (1969: 150) says '1811, one shot near Truro in September is the second British record (Graves, 1813, Vol. II.).'
Comment The year is correct as recorded by Graves and read to me on 30th November 2004 by the Librarian at the Edward Grey Institute.
3). 1812 Shetland Baltasound, Unst, male, shot, 16th August, now at Natural History Museum, Tring.
(W. Bullock, Transactions of the Linnean Society 11: 177; Atkinson, 1820; Selby, 1833; Jenyns, 1835; Yarrell, 1845; Morris, 1851-57; Gray, 1871; Saxby, 1874; Evans & Buckley, 1899; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Venables & Venables, 1955; C. J. McInerny & R. Y. McGowan, Scottish Birds 44: 222-225).
History William Bullock (1812) in the Transactions of the Linnean Society, Vol. XI. p. 177, read 17th November 1812, says: 'On the 16th of August last I killed another specimen of this bird (now sent for the inspection of the Society) in the Isle of Unst, about three miles from the northern extremity of Britain. When I first discovered it, it rose within a few feet, and flew round me in the manner of a swallow, and then alighted close to the head of a cow that was tethered within ten yards' distance.
After examining it for a few minutes, I returned to the house of T. Edmondston, Esq., for my gun, and accompanied by that gentleman's brother, went in search of it. After a short time, it came out of some growing corn, and was catching insects at the time I fired, and being wounded only in the wing, we had the opportunity of examining it alive. In the form of its bill, wings and tail, as well as in its mode of flight, it greatly resembled the genus Hirundo; but, contrary to the whole family, the legs were long, and bare above the knee, agreeing with Tringa; and, like the Sandpipers, it ran with the greatest rapidity when on the ground, or in shallow water, in pursuit of its food, which was wholly of flies, and of which its stomach was full. Whilst living, the edges of both mandibles, and the base of the lower one were bright scarlet orange, the legs purple brown, and the irides light brown. It was a male, and weighed 2 oz. 11 dwt. None of the gentlemen of the island who saw it ever observed it in the country before.'
Montagu (1813) under 'Appendix' says: 'It will have been observed in the preceding pages, that this bird was first introduced into the British catalogue by Mr. Bullock, from a solitary instance of its having been shot near Liverpool.
We have now to record that the same gentleman met with the Austrian Pratincole in the summer of 1812, in Unst, the most northern of the Shetland Isles, an account of which will appear in Vol. X. of the Transactions of the Linnean Society.'
Atkinson (1820: 54) says: '...Also in the isle of Unst, by Mr. Bullock, see Linn. Trans., Vol. XI.'
Selby (1833 (2): 213) says: 'The Collared Pratincole was first added to the British Rare Fauna by Mr. Bullock, proprietor of the late London Museum...He afterwards, in an excursion to the northern parts of Scotland in 1812, killed another in the island of Unst, the northernmost of the Shetland group.'
Jenyns (1835: 216-217) says: 'A second individual was killed by Mr. Bullock in the Isle of Unst, about three miles from the northern extremity of Britain, on the 16th of August 1812.'
Yarrell (1845 (2): 443, 2nd ed) adds: 'It stayed in Mr. Bullock's possession till the sale of the contents of his museum in 1819.'
Morris (1856 (5): 12) says: 'In Zetland one was shot in Uist [sic], by Mr. M. Bullock, August 16th, 1815 [sic].'
Gray (1871: 251) says: 'In the Bullock's Museum Catalogue, dated 1812, there is the following brief record of the only specimen of this bird that has ever been found in Scotland: "Austrian Pratincole (Glareola austriaca). We killed this extremely rare British bird in September [sic], 1812, in the island of Unst, within three miles of the northern extremity of Great Britain". Seven years afterwards, at the dispersion of this celebrated collection, the specimen was sold for eight guineas, and placed in the British Museum.'
Saxby (1874: 156) wrote: '...one was shot at Baltasound on the 16th of August 1812, by Mr. Bullock.' While Evans & Buckley (1899: 154) say: 'Saxby states that the specimen is in the British Museum, but Dr. R. B. Sharpe has informed the authors that it is not to be found in the present collection, nor indeed was it included in Gray's list in 1844.
It was purchased at Bullock's sale by Dr. Leach, who is known to have often acted in the interests of the above institution, but possibly an exception must be made in this case.'
Comment William Bullock's London Museum was dispersed in 1819. R. B. Sharpe worked for the British Museum.
4). 1827 Lincolnshire Branston Hall, near Lincoln, shot, 15th August.
(Yarrell, 1845; Cordeaux, 1872; F. L. Blathwayt, Zoologist 1912: 62; Smith & Cornwallis, 1955; Lorand & Atkin, 1989).
History Yarrell (1845 (2): 444, 2nd ed.) says: 'From Mr. F. Holme I learned, that a Pratincole was shot by Frederick Oats, Esq., of Branston Hall, near Lincoln, on the 15th of August 1827, whilst flying about much like a Swallow and near the ground.'
Accepted locally (Cordeaux 1872: 88), while, F. L. Blathwayt (1912) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. XVI. p. 62, admits it to the Lincolnshire county list.
Comment Everything else recorded by Holme is now rejected.
5). 1835 Cambridgeshire Wilbraham Fen, near Quy, shot, 21st May.
(E. Ventris, Loudon's Magazine of Natural History 9: 202; Yarrell, 1845; Yarrell, 1871-85; Lack, 1934; Bircham, 1989).
History E. Ventris of Cambridge (1836) in Loudon's Magazine of Natural History, Vol. IX. p. 202, dated 18th January 1836, says: 'An individual was shot on May 21, 1835, in the parish of Quy, Cambridgeshire, and is preserved in the collection of James Thomas Martin, Esq., of Quy Hall. Only four specimens of this species are recorded as having been killed in this country. As Mr. Jenyns, who lives within three or four miles of this place, has not noticed this fifth in his Manual of British Vertebrate Animals, he, of course, could not have been aware of it.'
Yarrell (1845 (2): 444, 2nd ed.) says: 'The Rev. Leonard Jenyns sent me notice of a Pratincole shot in Wilbraham Fen, Cambridgeshire, in May, 1835; and I have since ascertained that this specimen is now in the collection of J. T. Martin, Esq., of Quy Hall, in that county.'
Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 233, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'The Rev. Leonard Jenyns sent notice of a Pratincole shot in Wilbraham Fen, Cambridgeshire, on 21st June, 1835, which passed into the collection of Mr. J. T. Martin, of Quy Hall, in that county.'
Comment Discrepancy in the date.
6). 1844 Lincolnshire Staxton Wold, near Scarborough, shot, May.
(W. M. E. Milner, Zoologist 1848: 2023; Newman, 1866; Clarke & Roebuck, 1881; Nelson, 1907; Mather, 1986).
History W. M. E. Milner of Nunappleton (1848) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. VI. p. 2023, dated 5th February, 1848, says: 'A fine specimen of the Collared Pratincole was killed, when in company with a flock of Dotterels, in May, 1844, on Staxton Wold, five miles from Scarborough. It is in the possession of Mr. Peter Hawksworth.'
Accepted locally (Clarke & Roebuck 1881: 69; Nelson 1907 (2): 565).
7). 1851 Devon Exmouth, two, seen, 7th September.
(T. L. Powys, Zoologist 1852: 3710; Newman, 1866; Harting, 1872; Yarrell, 1871-85; D'Urban & Mathew, 1892; Moore, 1969; Tyler, 2010).
History T. L. Powys (1852) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. X. p. 3710, dated 9th October, 1852, says: 'On the 7th of September, 1851, my friend W. W. Buller, Esq., saw two Collared Pratincoles on the Warren, a large sand-bank at the mouth of the River Exe, South Devon. They appeared very tame, occasionally alighting on the sand, on which their movements very much resembled those of the Ring Dotterel. Their manner of flight was very much like that of the Swallow.'
Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 233-234, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'On the 7th September, 1851, a pair was observed on a sand-bank at the mouth of the river Exe, where their movements on the sand very much resembled those of the Ringed Plover (Zool., p. 3710); and the late Mr. Ross informed Mr. Gatcombe that he once saw two on the Warren Sands, near Exmouth (Rowe's [1863] B. of Devon, p. 32).'
D'Urban & Mathew (1892) placed the species in square brackets but according to Moore (1969) either this record or the one in 1885 were now acceptable (VCH) and Moore thought that this record sounds convincing.
Comment Thomas L. Powys became Lord Lilford.
9). 1852 Wiltshire Near Tilshead, Salisbury Plain, shot, mid-November.
(A. C. Smith, Zoologist 1853: 3843-3845; Newman, 1866; A. C. Smith, Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine 12: 46-47; Yarrell, 1871-85; Smith, 1887; Buxton, 1981; Wiltshire Ornithological Society, 2007).
History A. C. Smith (1853) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. XI. pp. 3843-3845, dated 7th March 1853, says: 'I have great pleasure in recording the occurrence of that rare visitor to this country, the Collared Pratincole, which pleasure is considerably enhanced by the circumstance of its being shot in my own county, and of its finding its way into my collection, through the kindness of the gentleman who killed it. It appears that in the middle of November last, when Mr. Hussey, a farmer, at Tilshead, was walking over his land, the day being very rough and cold, the wind blowing from the East, he saw a strange bird descend near him with the velocity of lightning, and settle inside a sheep-fold among the sheep.
As Mr. Hussey chanced very fortunately to be an observer of birds, he immediately remarked that this was one he had never seen before, and pointed it out to his shepherd who was with him, desiring him to watch the bird well while he returned to his home, at the distance of a mile, for his gun. Before he went, however, he saw the bird suddenly rise from the ground, and after a short flight of the most marvellous velocity, return again to the fold, where it seemed to enjoy the shelter from the bleak east wind, and to care nothing for the presence of the sheep, the men and, the dogs. This short excursionary flight was renewed several times, which made Mr. Hussey hesitate whether he should take the trouble to return home on so remote a chance of still finding on his return so singularly restless and swift a bird; however, as the bird always came back to the same spot after each successive excursion, Mr. Hussey hesitated no longer, but hurried home for his gun, giving strict charge to the shepherd to keep quiet, and on no account to lose sight of the bird.
Now the shepherds of Salisbury Plain (in the midst of the bleakest part of which the parish of Tilshead lies), are not remarkable for their sharpness: indeed, I fear we must own them to be the perfection of all that is dull, heavy, and ignorant; no wonder then that a bird so very rapid in its movements as the Collared Pratincole should soon elude the slow gaze of the heavy eyed Argus, and that on Mr. Hussey's return, in answer to his enquiries as to the whereabouts of the strange bird, he should be met with the provoking reply - "Doant knaw, zur, he flee'd away so terrible sudden that I could'n zee 'en nowhere, I could'n: I never zee sech a bird to flee". Upon this, it may be supposed that Mr. Hussey walked on somewhat disappointed, when, in a moment, at the distance of about thirty yards, up sprang the bird, and was darting off at a prodigious rate, but a well-aimed shot laid it dead on the ground.
On picking it up, the long wings and forked tail caused Mr. Hussey and others to suppose it to belong to the Swallow tribe; and the dull-eyed shepherd, seeing no brilliant hues in the dead bird, as if to excuse his slowness, exclaimed with a sneer of contempt, "Well, zur, 'taint much of a bird, arter all, I'm zure".
In addition to the above narrative, Mr. Hussey tells me that "the land on which I found the bird, was of a stiff clay soil. I shot it close to the sheep-fold, where there were sheep feeding off turnips; the bird appeared to be rather tame, but whether from exhaustion or nature I cannot tell".
I have already remarked that Tilshead lies in the middle of Salisbury Plain, and a more bleak, exposed situation can scarcely be imagined. The village is long and straggling, and all around it are large tracts of open down, now in a great measure brought into cultivation, but formerly a vast expanse of unbroken turf.
Here, it is well known, the Great Bustard had a stronghold, where he was chased with greyhounds, and afforded admirable sport to the Wiltshire squires of that day; and here may still be found many of the family Charadriidae, - the Golden Plover, and the Dotterel, as well as the commoner Peewit; so that the situation is just such as seems fitted to the habits of the Pratincole, and yet this is (I believe) the first instance known of the occurrence of that bird in Wiltshire.
Seldom indeed does this singular bird appear to have visited our island; in addition to the few captures recorded in Yarrell's British Birds, the last of which was in 1840, I believe it has but twice been observed, and both these occurrences were in the northern counties. It is singular, too, that while every record of the date of its capture has pointed to the summer as the time chosen for its visit (the months of May and August being the only ones on which it has been seen), the individual of which I am writing chose a cold raw day in the middle of November, to make its appearance during an East wind, on one of the most exposed parts of the bleak Wiltshire downs.
I believe I have nothing more to add to this account, except that my bird scarcely deserves the name of "torquata", his collar being very indistinctly marked; the position of it however is clearly seen by the dark brown spots which almost encircle his pale fawn-coloured throat; hence I conclude, from Mr. Yarrell's description, that mine is a bird of the year.'
A. C. Smith (1870) in the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine, Vol. XII. p. 46-47, says: '…In addition to the above narrative, Mr. Hussey tells me that "the land on which I found the bird, was a stiff clay soil. I shot it close to the sheep-fold, where there were sheep feeding off turnips; the bird appeared to be rather tame, but whether from exhaustion or nature, I cannot tell".'
Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 233, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'In the middle of November, 1842, a specimen of this rare bird was shot by Mr. Hussey, at Tilshead, in the bleakest part of Salisbury Plain, and is now in the collection of the Rev. A. C. Smith, at Yatesbury Rectory, Calne, Wiltshire.'
Accepted locally (Smith 1887: 371-374) who gives a more detailed account of its occurrence, and Buxton (1981) who erroneously stated the date as October, 1852, also copied by the Wiltshire Ornithological Society (2007: 330).
Comment Ten year discrepancy in the date given by Saunders and Smith.
10). pre 1858 Avon/Somerset North Mendips, near Weston-super-Mare, killed, undated.
(M. A. Mathew, Zoologist 1881: 309; M. A. Mathew, Zoologist 1888: 220; M. A. Mathew, Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological & Natural History Society 39: 127; Somerset Ornithological Society, 1988; H. E. Rose, Avon Bird Report 1995: 104; Ballance, 2006).
History Murray A. Mathew of Stonehall, Wolf's Castle, R.S.O., Pembrokeshire (1881) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. V. p. 309, says: 'Mr. H. Mathias, of Haverfordwest, has a small collection of Somersetshire birds which he purchased some few years ago at the sale of Mr. Spalding [sic], of Chilton Poldon, near Bridgwater, who was a collector of local antiquities and rare birds. Among these last were a...all obtained near Bridgwater, and also a Pratincole, shot on the Mendips, "near Weston-super-Mare". As the number of British-killed Pratincoles is very small, it is worth while to record this one, of which no information, so far as I know, exists in any local catalogue.'
M. A. Mathew (1888) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XII. p. 220, says: 'One shot on the Mendip, not far from Weston-super-Mare, was in Mr. Straddling's [sic] collection. This bird is now in the possession of Mr. Henry Mathias, of Haverfordwest, in whose house I have seen it.'
M. A. Mathew (1893) in the Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological & Natural History Society, Vol. XXXIX. p. 127, stated nothing new to above.
Accepted locally by Ballance (2006) who adds that the specimen is in the Stradling collection.
11). 1861 Essex Old Hall Marshes, adult female, shot, August.
(H. Shaw, Field 31st Aug., 1861: 206; R. M. Christy, Zoologist 1890: 219-220; Glegg, 1929; Hudson & Pyman, 1968; Cox, 1984).
History Henry Shaw of High Street, Salop (1861) in The Field of 31st Aug., Vol. XVIII. p. 206, says: 'A specimen of the Collared Pratincole (Glareola austriaca) was shot by Capt. the Hon. G. R. C. Hill, about a fortnight back in Essex, whilst out duck shooting; it is a fine bird, and had much the appearance of having recently sat upon eggs. The stomach was full of beetles. Its appearance on the wing was much like that of the genus Hirundo. It is now with me for preservation, and will in due course be place in the collection of the Viscount Hill, at Hawkstone.'
R. Miller Christy of Chignal St. James (1890) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XIV. pp. 219-220, says: 'I have just investigated the history of an Essex specimen of this rare bird, which seems to have been completely overlooked by ornithologists, though it was briefly recorded at the time of its occurrence in The Field (August 31st, 1861), by Mr. Henry Shaw, taxidermist, of High Street, Shrewsbury, who states that it "was shot by Capt. the Hon. G. R. C. Hill, about a fortnight back, in Essex, whilst out duck-shooting; it is a fine bird, and had much the appearance of having recently sat upon eggs. The stomach was full of small beetles. Its appearance on the wing was much like that of the genus Hirundo. It is now with me for preservation, and will in due course be placed in the collection of the Viscount Hill at Hawkstone". Lord Hill has been good enough to inform me that the specimen, an adult female, is still in his possession, while his brother, Hon. Geoffrey R. C. Hill, writes me that he cannot now remember the name of the parish wherein he shot the bird, but at the time he "was shooting "flappers" on the Kelvedon Marshes with Mr. Philip Bennett (who was in the Blues with me at that time), and I rather fancy the marshes belonged to, or were leased by, his father, of Rougham Hall, Bury St. Edmunds. There was a decoy there in those days, and vary close to that, as we were walking up the side of ditches after ducks, I saw a single bird coming over my head. Not knowing what it was, I shot at it, and not being any the wiser after I had got it in my hand, I asked leave to send it to Mr. H. Shaw, of 45, High Street, Shrewsbury, for preservation for my brother's museum. I may have stated to him at that time more particulars than I am now able to give you". From the above it seems probable that the bird was shot close to the decoy on the Old Hall Marshes, Tollesbury.'
Accepted locally (Glegg 1929: 214; Hudson & Pyman 1968; Cox 1984).
12). 1864 Hampshire Stokes Bay, near Gosport, killed, October.
(H. W. Fielden, Zoologist 1872: 2944-45; Yarrell, 1871-85; Kelsall & Munn, 1905; Clark & Eyre, 1993).
History H. W. Fielden of Aldershot (1872) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. VII. pp. 2944-45, dated 25th November, 1871, says: 'As instances of the Collared Pratincole occurring in Great Britain are extremely rare, I venture to record the capture of one, which, though happening some few years back, may prove of interest to your readers.
A brother officer of mine Lieut. Telfer, informs me that in the month of October, 1864, he was strolling along the beach of Stokes Bay, near Gosport, when he saw a bird fluttering along the margin of the shore, evidently maimed or very weary, as it was unable to fly but a few yards at a time. Not having a gun with him, he pursued it, throwing shingle at the bird, finally knocking it over, when it proved to be a fine example of Glareola pratincola.
Mr. Telfer took the bird home and preserved it, but the skin is no longer in his possession: having shortly after gone abroad to join his regiment he lost sight of the specimen, and now he can find no trace of it. Mr. Telfer could have made no mistake in the species, for, besides being a fair ornithologist, he had just returned, in 1864, to England from Corfu, where the Pratincole is abundant, and where he had procured and skinned many of these birds.'
Accepted locally (Kelsall & Munn 1905: 284), however, since then Clark & Eyre (1993) have assigned this record to Pratincole sp. stating that it was seen at Stokes Bay in October 1864.
Comment The original reference says it was preserved, but it would appear that it was not seen by a competent authority.
13). 1871 Yorkshire Between Ruswarp and Whitby, male, killed, 19th October, now at Whitby Museum.
(M. Simpson, Zoologist 1871: 2870; Clarke & Roebuck, 1881; Nelson, 1907; Mather, 1986).
History Martin Simpson of the Whitby Museum (1871) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. VI. p. 2870, dated 11th November, 1871, says: 'A beautiful specimen of this bird was shot near this place on Thursday, the 19th of October, by Mr. Kitching: it was described as very wild and of rapid flight: it would not have been procured at all but for the tomtits which betrayed its presence. It agrees so well with Montagu's description (Mont. 257) that it need not be further described. There are, however, two or three particulars which he does not seem to have noticed. Towards the base of the upper mandible the arcuated round margin terminated with two slight furrows, on the exterior side of which is a small beak or protuberance, very like the beak of Patella laevis, but minute. On either side of the upper mandible at the base there is a bare impressed parabolic space, but the nostrils are covered with feathers.
The following particulars I had from Mr. Kitching. The bird is a male: it had in its stomach ants and a few beetles. The bird was first seen in the latter part of September, in a ravine near Whitby: it then appears to have crossed a lofty moor, and was shot on the date above mentioned near the Whitby and Pickering Railway. I have omitted to say that there is a single red-feather in the lower wing-coverts on either side. The reddish part of the base of the upper mandible has become light yellow.'
Accepted locally (Clarke & Roebuck 1881: 70) and by Nelson (1907 (2): 565) who says: 'The third Yorkshire bird was obtained between Ruswarp and Whitby, by Wm. Wilson. It was a male, and the stomach contained ants and a few feathers. This specimen is now in the Whitby Museum; but the date on the label, "September, 1871", should be, as Mr. Thomas Stephenson tells me: "19th October 1871".'
14). 1874 Cornwall The Lizard, male, killed, 8th June.
(E. H. Rodd, Zoologist 1874: 4077-4078; E. H. Rodd, Field 27th June 1874: 628; Harting, 1880; Penhallurick, 1969).
History E. H. Rodd of Penzance (1874) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. IX. pp. 4077-4078, dated 10th June, 1874, says: 'I had an opportunity yesterday of handling an adult full-plumaged bird of this species, which was captured near the Lizard on Monday [8th] last. There was nothing peculiar in the colour of the plumage from the general description of the adult bird by Mr. Yarrell. I may remark, however, that instead of being ten inches in length, this bird was fully ten and a half inches, the wings extending the tail by at least half an inch; the exterior tail-feathers taper away into almost a filament.
In handling the bird in the flesh, it was quite bewildering to try to reconcile its characters to the place it ought to take in our British Avifauna: for in the character of its beak you could understand its claim to the family of the swallows; we must take leave of the forked tail as a character of the swallow tribe, and allow this feature to claim its kindred to the terns, with which it has been associated; but when you look at the feet and tarsi and the naked part of the tibia, you are at once drawn to the stints and sandpipers, with which it has been associated, and then, knowing that the bird is found on open downs and dry pastures, and that it has extraordinary cursorial powers, with a tone of plumage and mode of flight not unlike the common Dotterel, you are tempted to be reconciled to the place now allotted it by our naturalists, by the side of the plovers. There is a record of the Pratincole having been obtained in Cornwall once or twice many years ago; but this is the first example of a bird in the flesh coming under my notice.
P.S. - The bird was observed, by a boy who was Coot shooting, flying backwards and forwards over a large pool on the Lizard downs, exactly like the swallow tribe, and apparently hawking for insects. It alighted for a time on the margin of the pool, where it was shot.'
E. H. Rodd (1874) in The Field of 27th June, Vol. XLIII. p. 628, says: 'On the 9th June I had an opportunity of examining in the flesh a good plumaged adult specimen of the Pratincole (Glareola pratincola), which was captured at The Lizard, and sent by the Rev. P. V. Robinson to Penzance to be preserved by Mr. Vingoe.
The bird was in fair condition, but in length it exceeds the dimensions given by Yarrell, being at least 10½ in. to the end of the outer tail feathers, which in their extremities are rather inclined to be filamental, certainly more tapering than in Yarrell's figure. This may account for its excessive length. I have never succeeded before in detecting this curious miscellany of a bird in Cornwall throughout a period of nearly half a century. I believe all the specimens hitherto obtained in Britain have been killed in the summer season.' [This is one of the so-called rarer British birds. Only eighteen instances of its occurrence in the British Islands are enumerated by Mr. Harting in his Handbook to British Birds, p. 133. - Ed.]
Harting, Editor (1880: 84) in Rodd's Birds of Cornwall, says: 'On June 9th, 1874, I had an opportunity of handling a fine adult Pratincole which was killed near the Lizard. On dissection it proved to be a male. As regards the colour of the plumage it did not differ from the description given by Yarrell, but instead of being only 10 inches in length, it was at least 10½ inches; the closed wings extending half an inch beyond the tail, and the outer tail feathers tapering gradually almost to a filament. This bird was observed by a boy who was out Coot shooting, flying backwards and forwards like a Swallow over a largo pool on the Lizard Downs, and apparently hawking for insects. On its alighting at the margin of the pool, he shot it.'
Comment The wings longer than the tail is suggestive of Black-winged Pratincole. Mr. Bullock in Yarrell gives a description with the under wing-coverts bay coloured, but whether this is what Rodd refers to "as the same as Yarrell" or just simply the generic description at the head of the page we shall never know.
15). 1934 Fair Isle No locality, seen, May.
(G. Waterston, Scottish Naturalist 56: 63; Eds., British Birds 30: 231; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Dymond, 1991).
History George Waterston (1936) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. LVI. p. 63, under 'Bird Notes from Fair Isle', says: 'Collared Pratincole - First record for Fair Isle. Although this bird has been recorded from Forfar, Moray, Outer Hebrides and Shetland, its occurrence on Fair Isle was not detected until May 1934, when George Stout recorded it. Another bird was recorded in May 1935.'
In an Editorial (1936) in British Birds, Vol. XXX. p. 231, they say: 'Fair Isle. - Mr. G. Waterston gives details (Scot. Nat., 1936, pp. 61-64) of a number of interesting birds, which have occurred in Fair Isle and have not hitherto been recorded. Amongst these we may mention the following: - Pratincole (Glareola pratincola). - One is recorded for May, 1934, on Mr. G. Stout's authority and another for May, 1935, but without details.'
Pennington et al. (2004) This sighting by George Stout, in May 1934, is best regarded as unconfirmed, given the absence of supporting evidence and the difficulty of separating this species from Black-winged Pratincole, especially since they were both considered to be forms of the same species at that time.'
16). 1935 Fair Isle No locality, seen, May.
(G. Waterston, Scottish Naturalist 56: 63; Eds., British Birds 30: 231; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Dymond, 1991).
History George Waterston (1936) in Scottish Naturalist, Vol. LVI. p. 63, under 'Bird Notes from Fair Isle', says: 'Collared Pratincole - Another bird was recorded in May 1935.'
In an Editorial (1936) in British Birds, Vol. XXX. p. 231, they say: 'One is recorded for May, 1935, on George Stout's authority, but no details.'
Pennington et al. (2004) says: 'This sighting by George Stout, in May 1935, is best regarded as unconfirmed, given the absence of supporting evidence and the difficulty of separating this species from Black-winged Pratincole, especially since they were both considered to be forms of the same species at that time.'
17). 1948 Greater London/Surrey Barn Elms Reservoirs, Surrey, seen, 8th and 11th September.
(H. A. Baylis, A. Williams & R. S. Brown, British Birds 42: 221; London Natural History Society, 1957; Parr, 1972).
History H. A. Baylis, A. Williams & Rosemary S. Brown (1949) in British Birds, Vol. XLII. p. 221, say: 'On September 8th, 1948, at about 2 p.m., one of us (R.S.B.) saw a bird which appeared to be a Pratincole at Barn Elms Reservoir, Barnes. During the afternoon of September 11th the other two of us together watched what was probably the same bird at the same place for about an hour. We made (with glasses) as careful a study as possible of its appearance and behaviour at the time, and all of us have since examined the series of skins of Glareola pratincola and G. nordmanni in the Bird-room at the British Museum (Natural History).
We are satisfied that it was a bird of one or other of these species that we saw, but believe that it was a bird of the year, and we are unable to state whether or not the chestnut-coloured axillary patches characteristic of G. pratincola were present. Captain C. H. B. Grant, who knows both species well, tells us that they are very difficult to distinguish on the wing. For the whole of the time it was under observation, the bird was actively hawking to and fro, mainly low over the water. Once, when chased by a wagtail, it rose to some height. Its flight was reminiscent of that of a swallow.
The following field notes were written by one of us (H.A.B.): - "Head, nape, back and wings sooty-brown. Rump white. Tail forked; appeared black. Belly white. Underside of wings appeared blackish. Chin and throat dark; at times appeared buffish-brown. Flight swift-like, very restless, flapping most of the time, but occasionally a short glide. Hawking most of the time low over water. Shape of wings swallow-like rather than swift-like".'
[A field sketch by Mrs. Brown has also been submitted to us. It shows the blunt head, swallow-like wings, white rump and belly, and black forked tail and confirms the identification. - Eds.]
Comment Probably best regarded as Pratincole sp.
1950-57 RECORD
18). 1955 Sussex The Midrips, 21st August.
(G. des Forges & D. D. Harber, Sussex Bird Report 1955: 14; J. W. Donovan, British Birds 51: 120; Shrubb, 1979; James, 1996; P. A. Fraser and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 100: 710).
History J. W. Donovan (1958) in British Birds, Vol. LI. p. 120, says: 'Sussex. - On 21st August 1955, a pratincole (Glareola sp.) was seen at the Midrips, near Camber, Sussex, by K. Linford, W. S. Nevin, B. P. Pickess, H. J. C. Seymour and the writer. The bird was first noticed flying overhead at a height of 40-50 feet, calling in a rather harsh, urgent manner. It appeared as a grey-brown plover with a long tapering body. Although the tail could be seen to be forked it did not open widely until the bird turned in flight. The chin, belly and under tail-coverts appeared to be pale, but the under wing-coverts seemed to be black with the remainder of the under-wing dark grey. Noticeable flight features were the short neck, small bill and long, pointed wings. Some of the observers likened the bird to a huge Hirundine. As it flew overhead it gave us good views in excellent light, but it did not stop and could not afterwards be located. The observers all considered the bird to be a Black-winged Pratincole (G. nordmanni), but it is appreciated that on such a view it is not always easy to differentiate between this and the Pratincole (G. pratincola).'
[We regret the delay in the publication of this note which originally prompted the preparation of P. J. Hayman's short paper entitled "A note on field-identification of pratincoles" which appeared in 1956 (antea, Vol. XLIX. pp. 312-313, plate 44), and readers are asked to turn to that to see why we do not consider that this record can be assigned with certainty to either bird. The observers say that the under wing-coverts "seemed to be black", but in flight overhead the undersides of the wings of G. pratincola look extremely dark, much more so than one might expect; and other points in the description fail to suggest the contrasting black-and-white appearance of G. nordmanni.
The record of a Black-winged Pratincole in Somerset, however, which appears above, is entirely consistent with typical nordmanni. It should be added that intermediates do occur (see R. Meinertzhagen's Birds of Arabia, p. 474) and, in fact, the Taxonomic Sub-Committee of the British Ornithologists' Union now recommends (Ibis, Vol. XCVIII. p. 161) that "G. nordmanni be treated as a colour phase of G. pratincola, being more or less dominant in south-east Europe and south-west Asia. G. nordmanni has been found breeding in Iraq alongside G. pratincola, from which it differs nowise in either habit or migration". - Eds.]
Comment Locality is in Sussex (Sussex Bird Report 1953: 5).
NOT PROVEN
0). 1800s Lincolnshire Brumby Common, Scunthorpe, shot, undated.
(M. Peacock, Naturalist 26: 97).
[A. H. J. Harrop, British Birds 104: 162-166].
History Max Peacock of Bottesford, Doncaster (1900) in the new series of The Naturalist, Vol. XXVI. p. 97, dated 6th February 1900, says: 'A specimen of this bird (Glareola pratincola), sex unknown, was shot by the late Mr. Clark, of Brumby, N. Lincs., Nat. Hist. Div. 2, on Brumby Common, which borders on the River Trent, early in this century. Until lately the stuffed skin was in the possession of his heirs at Glentworth Hall, where I inspected it a few years ago.'
Comment Lacks a precise date for a scientific record. Not acceptable.
0). 1840 Lincolnshire Tetney, seen, winter.
(G. Jeans, Naturalist 1865: 291).
[G. Jeans, Naturalist 1865: 291].
History George Jeans of Bilsby (1865) in The Naturalist, Vol. I. p. 291, says: 'One was said to have been seen at Tetney in the winter of 1840, by a pupil of mine, F. Holt, but I cannot answer for it. His description answered to the habits of the bird.'
Comment Misidentified. Out of season. Not acceptable.
0). 1855 Dorset Radipole Lake, seen, November.
(Mansel-Pleydell, 1873, 1888; Yarrell, 1882-84; F. L. Blathwayt, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society 55: 195; Morrison, 1997).
[Morrison, 1997].
History Mansel-Pleydell (1873: 26) says: 'Mr. W. Thompson saw one in November, 1855, flying over the backwater at Weymouth.'
Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 234, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, acknowledges the above as a sight record.
Admitted by F. L. Blathwayt (1934) in the Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society, Vol. LV. p. 195, under 'A Revised List of the Birds of Dorset'.
Morrison (1997: 70) calls it an obscure record, and I have to agree.
Comment This area is now known as Radipole Lake. No identification details for this sight record of a difficult species. Not acceptable.
0). c. 1860 Wiltshire Avebury, killed, undated.
(Smith, 1887).
[Smith, 1887].
History Smith (1887: 373) says: 'I have also a notice - but an unsatisfactory one - which I have not been able to verify, and without detail of time or place or circumstances, that a second specimen was killed at Avebury about 1860. Possibly this notice may enable some trace of it to be discovered.'
Comment Lacks a precise date for a scientific record. No identification details. Not acceptable.
0). Pre 1873 Dorset Near Christchurch, Hampshire, seen, undated.
(Mansel-Pleydell, 1873; Yarrell, 1882-84).
[Morrison, 1997].
History Mansel-Pleydell (1873: 26) says: 'Mr. J. C. Dale saw one on the eastern boundary of the county, near Christchurch.'
Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 234, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, acknowledges the above as a sight record.
Morrison (1997: 70) calls it an obscure record, and I have to agree.
Comment Lacks a precise date for a scientific record. No identification details for this sight record of a difficult species. Not acceptable.
0). Pre 1873 Dorset River Stour, Bryanston, shot, undated.
(Mansel-Pleydell, 1873; Yarrell, 1871-85).
[C. J. McInerny et al., British Birds 117: 152-167].
History Mansel-Pleydell (1873: 25-26) says: 'One which is in the collection of Viscount Portman, was shot at Bryanston some years ago, on the banks of the Stour.'
Admitted by Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 234, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds.
0). 1876 Gloucestershire Near Painswick, shot, May.
(Mellersh, 1902).
[Swaine, 1982].
History Mellersh (1902) says: 'One shot near Painswick, May 1876, by J. T. White.' Rejected by Swaine (1982) who adds: '…killed at Paradise, near Painswick. Different dates are given: "May 1876" and in his MS. as "about 9th July 1882". This record does not appear in The Handbook. The only satisfactory report is…'
Comment The White's have been found to be untrustworthy (A. G. Knox, British Birds 94: 66). Not acceptable.
0). 1885 Devon Near Modbury, seen, 14th August.
("G.C.G." Field 22nd Aug., 1885: 315; Tyler, 2010).
[Moore, 1969].
History "G.C.G." of Modbury (1885) in The Field of 22nd Aug., Vol. LXVI. p. 315, says: 'As three of my sons were rambling in pursuit of butterflies, near the mouth of a river in this neighbourhood, on Friday last, the 14th inst., their attention was attracted to a bird which kept flying around them and in front of them. It looked in colour and flight like a very large swift, but it was conspicuous on account of its large forked tail, which seemed to be almost entirely white, and was very much spread as it wheeled about catching flies. And then another thing surprised them very much, which was, that it kept settling on the ground before them, and on the stones near the river, after the manner of a sandpiper, but very unlike a swift. They watched it for a long time, and noticed that its wings were very long, exactly like those of the swift, and that its general colour was very dark above, and light underneath.
They have studied birds all their lives, and have had plenty of opportunity of doing so from looking at my collection, and the books that I have. They told me of what they had seen after their return, and on looking over Yarrell's birds, they were convinced at once that the Collared Pratincole was the bird which they had seen.
I see by Yarrell that two of the specimens already killed in England were obtained in the month of August. I intend to visit the place very shortly myself where the bird was seen, to notice whether it is still lingering in the neighbourhood; but I do not wish to particularise the spot too closely just at present, as, although I have been a very keen collector in the days of my youth, I am now very anxious that these beautiful strangers, which occasionally visit our shores, should be suffered to remain unharmed, and depart at their own will.'
Not accepted locally (Moore 1969).
0). 1923 Moray & Nairn Loch Spynie, Moray, seen, 17th August.
(A. Stables, Scottish Naturalist 44: 8; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Cook, 1992).
[Eds., British Birds 18: 116].
History Alex. Stables of Nairn (1924) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. XLIV. p. 8, says: 'On 17th August, 1923, while I was watching duck at Loch Spynie, in Moray, there were a lot of Black-headed Gulls and Swifts hawking flies and so forth. Suddenly I saw what seemed a giant Swallow of sorts, which when it got within range I saw was a Pratincole. It never flew directly overhead, so I couldn't see the under wing coverts. For about an hour it cruised about, then disappeared. Every day thereafter I had it watched for, when I myself was unable to be on the lookout, but it was never seen again.'
[The Pratincole (Glareola pratincola) has occurred very rarely in Scotland, only some three visits being on record; this observation is the first from the mainland north of Fife. - Eds.]
In an Editorial (1924) in British Birds, Vol. XVIII. p. 116, they say: 'Morayshire. - Major A. Stables states (Scot. Nat., 1924, p. 8) that on August 17th, 1923, he watched for about an hour at Loch Spynie a bird which he identified as a Pratincole. Beyond the statement that he "suddenly saw what seemed to be a giant swallow of sorts, which when it got within range I saw was a Pratincole", the record does not give any evidence for the correctness of the identification, nor does he state if he was familiar with the species. He adds, however, that as the bird never flew "directly overhead" he could not see the under wing-coverts; but it is not necessary for the bird to fly directly overhead to enable one to see the under-wing.'
Comment No identification details for this sight record of a difficult species. Not acceptable.
0). 1939 Isle of Wight No locality, seen, 26th January.
(F. H. Haines, Ornithological Report of the County of Hampshire, 1939: 379).
[F. H. Haines, Ornithological Report of the County of Hampshire, 1940: 83; Eds., British Birds 34: 115].
History F. H. Haines (1939) in the Ornithological Report of the County of Hampshire, p. 379, says: 'One, Isle of Wight, 26th January (H.M.L.).' Later, F. H. Haines (1940) in the Ornithological Report of the County of Hampshire, p. 83, placing it in square brackets, says: 'The bird seen on 26th Jan., 1939, was thus described by Rev. H. M. Livens, of Totland Bay, I.W.: "General aspect dark, throat white with narrow black band beneath, beak very short, tail forked; when the bird raised its wing, which was proportionately long, it displayed red feathers beneath".
It was said to be about the size of a Blackbird, on a branch, a foot or two from the ground, and about ten yards away. The species does not perch.'
In an Editorial (1940) in British Birds, Vol. XXXIV. p. 115, in a Review of the Ornithological Report of the County of Hampshire, for 1939, they say: 'The Report also contains three unsatisfactory records of rarities....A Pratincole in the Isle of Wight on January 26th (a remarkable date), but in neither of these cases is there any evidence whatever of identification. It should surely be obvious that bare records of this kind without any details of what the bird was like or under what conditions it was seen cannot be accepted.'
In an Editorial (1941) in British Birds, Vol. XXXIV. p. 245, they say: 'In noticing the Ornithological Report for Hampshire 1939 we referred to three unsatisfactory records (antea, p. 115). Mr. W. B. Alexander now informs us that two of these - a supposed Richard's Pipit and a Pratincole from the Isle of Wight - were sent to him in the first place and that he and Mr. Jourdain agreed that further details were very necessary, but owing to the latter's illness these were not obtained before publication of the Report.
Mr. Alexander has now received a leg of the supposed pipit which proves to be that of a Sky Lark with an abnormally long hind claw (the sides of the tarsus have scutes). The correctness of the identification of the Pratincole remains very uncertain.'
Comment Misidentified. Not acceptable.
0). 1944 Hampshire Sombourne, near Stockbridge, pair, one week about 15th May.
(B. Vesey-Fitzgerald, Papers & Proceedings of the Hampshire Field Club and Archaeological Society 1944: 217; R. Whitlock, South Eastern Bird Report 1945: 11; Eds., British Birds 40: 31; Cohen & Taverner, 1972; Clark & Eyre, 1993).
[Clark, 2022].
History B. Vesey-Fitzgerald (1944) in the Papers & Proceedings of the Hampshire Field Club and Archaeological Society, p. 217, and R. Whitlock (1945) in the South Eastern Bird Report, p. 11, says: 'Major M. Portal states: "In the week of May 15th a rabbit catcher, employed by Douglas Seligman, Esq., who farms on a very large scale, asked him what two fair-sized birds, with two long feathers in tail, like Swallows have, were. He said they never flew far and kept settling".
Seligman took an illustrated book on birds and when the man saw the Pratincole illustration he at once said "That's the bird". He said they had a funny sharp call-note when flying. It seem good circumstantial evidence of Pratincole, but does not give any guide as to Glareola pratincola or Glareola nordmanni. I fancy the first named as he did say, when describing, before he saw the illustration, that it had yellow colour under the beak".
Witherby describes and illustrates both species as having a black beak with red base and having yellow, or buff, feathers adjoining according to species.'
In an Editorial (1947) in British Birds, Vol. XL. p. 31, in a review of the 'Ornithological Report for the County of Hampshire', for 1944, they say: 'An interesting record is that of a pair of birds which were evidently Pratincoles seen by a rabbit-catcher, who noticed their swallow-like tail-feathers and sharp call-note in flight and at once recognized them from an illustrated book.'
Clark & Eyre (1993: 199-200) assign this record to Pratincole sp. and say: '...two were seen for a week near Stockbridge in mid-May, 1944.'
0). 1945 Devon Lundy, seen, 21st February, seen again, 14th March.
(F. W. Gade, British Birds 39: 93; M. Brooks-King et al., Devon Bird-Watching and Preservation Society Report 1945: 49; Moore, 1969; Tyler, 2010).
[KAN].
History F. W. Gade (1946) in British Birds, Vol. XXXIX. p. 93, say: 'On February 21st, and again on March 14th, 1945, Charles Robertson, a shepherd on Lundy, had good views of a Pratincole Glareola pratincola on the island. Robertson, who is an observant man, first saw the bird on the wing, hawking up and down a combe on the east side of the island and momentarily took it for some kind of swallow, but immediately realized that it was too large and differently coloured. He watched it for ten minutes or more and was able to note the buff throat and ring of black edging it and the swallow-like tail.
He had no notion what kind of bird it was, but told his wife about it on returning home, and she looked it up in Coward's Birds of the British Isles. Immediately he saw the illustration of the Pratincole he said "That's the bird". On the second occasion the bird, probably the same one, was on the ground by a small pond, but took wing immediately and, after hawking along a streamlet for a turn or two, made off to sea in a south-westerly direction.
Questioned about the bird some weeks later, he said that he did not remark the white at the base of the tail, but explained that the most consistent view he had of it was of the underneath parts, the bird flying about overhead. He was quite definite that the underside of the wing was not black, showing that it was not a Black-winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni.'
M. Brooks-King et al. (1945) in the Devon Bird-Watching and Preservation Society Report, Vol. XVIII. p. 49 quote from British Birds.
Comment Apart from one record on 3rd April all other species of Pratincole have arrived after 12th April to date [June 2020] so this record is well outside known migration period. Not acceptable.
0). 1945 Devon Morte Point, 12th September.
(M. Brooks-King et al., Devon Bird-Watching and Preservation Society Report 1945: 49; Moore, 1969).
[KAN].
History M. Brooks-King et al. (1945) in the Devon Bird-Watching and Preservation Society Report, Vol. XVIII. p. 49, say: 'South side of Morte Point. September 12th, bird about size of Turtle Dove; back and head medium brown; tail and/or rump white; primaries possibly white; most noticeable feature was long wings very sharply angled back like those of a Swallow, only more so. Seen only from above and at distance of about 100 yards; whether tail forked not distinguishable. Was swooping and hawking into a gully in the cliffs and behaving rather like a Swallow. Seemed to be alone; not seen since. Probably Pratincole. (E. L. Shewell).'
Comment Not specifically identified as a Pratincole sp. Not acceptable.
0). 1950 Devon Newton Ferrers, 19th May.
(M. Brooks-King, Devon Bird-Watching and Preservation Society Report 1950: 50; Moore, 1969).
[M. Brooks-King, Devon Bird-Watching and Preservation Society Report 1950: 50]
History M. Brooks-King (1950) in the Devon Bird-Watching and Preservation Society Report, Vol. XXIII. p. 50, recording the record in square brackets, says: 'Newton Ferrers, May 19, report received from Mr. and Mrs. B.W. Sparrow of bird seen from their garden on that date (O.D.H.). "Attention attracted about 7 p.m. (B.S.T.), by harsh rather Jay-like note, twice repeated, to bird approaching from S. at a height of about 70 feet; size of Jay or pigeon (Rook in sight for comparison), with very pointed wings and very deeply forked tail with streamers like a Swallow's, clearly seen in silhouette; general colour dark brown or black with underparts, especially towards tail, pale or whitish; impression of dark band or patch on throat again recalled Swallow as did flight; circled overhead before turning away and disappearing in an easterly direction; in view some two to three minutes, but light not good and conditions hazy, while erratic flight made detail difficult to see. By the time binoculars and telescope available bird was distant and only fleeting views with these obtained".'
