Rock Bunting
Emberiza cia Linnaeus, 1766 (3, 0)
Photo © Kris Webb
STATUS
Eurasia. Polytypic.
OVERVIEW
Much confusion with the Meadow Bunting E. cioides by Naturalists during this era.
There are just two further records to date (April 2020), both coastal, one mid-February to mid-March and the other 1st June, so no real date pattern emerging.
RECORDS
1). 1902 Sussex Near Shoreham-by-Sea, two, caught at the end of October, one now at Dyke Road Museum, Brighton.
(R. Bowdler Sharpe, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 13: 38-39; W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 1904: 312-313; H. Saunders, British Birds 1: 13; BOURC (2006), Ibis 148: 198-201).
History R. Bowdler Sharpe, Editor (1903) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XIII. pp. 38-39, at the 93rd Meeting of the Club held on 21st January 1903 at the Restaurant Frascati, London, says: 'Dr. Bowdler Sharpe reported that he had recently examined a living example of the Meadow Bunting (Emberiza cia) which had been captured near Shoreham at the end of October, out of a flock of Chaffinches, Linnets, Yellow Buntings, &c.
The specimen in question had been brought to Dr. Sharpe for identification by its present owner, Mr. E. A. Hackett, of 35, Lincoln Road, East Finchley, and was in beautiful condition.
At Dr. Sharpe's request, Mr. Hackett had taken pains to obtain full particulars of the capture of the bird, of which two individuals were taken at the same time, but one had died. This was the first record of the capture of the Meadow Bunting in Great Britain, and made an addition to the British list.'
W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Editor (1904) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XV. p. 28, at the 110th Meeting of the Club held on 14th December 1904 at the Restaurant Frascati, London, says: 'On behalf of Mr. C. J. Carroll, of Rocklow, Fethard, Clonmel, Mr. Ogilvie-Grant exhibited adult male examples of the Meadow Bunting (Emberiza cia) and the Little Bunting (E. pusilla), both captured in England in 1902.
Though both these specimens had already been recorded, neither of them had been exhibited, and Mr. Carroll had therefore forwarded them, hoping that they might prove of interest to the members of the Club.
The Meadow Bunting was the specimen recorded by Dr. Sharpe in the Bull. B.O.C., XIII. no. xciv, p. 38 (1903). It had been taken alive near Shoreham, in Sussex, at the end of October 1902, and died on the 27th October, 1903.'
C. J. Carroll of Rocklow, Fethard, Tipperary (1904) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. VIII. pp. 312-313, says: '...I have also in my collection the male Meadow Bunting (Emberiza cia), which was captured alive near Shoreham at the end of October, 1902, but which, unfortunately, only survived a few months. A second bird of this species was also obtained at the same time, but perished shortly afterwards, and the skin, I understand, was not preserved. Dr. Bowdler Sharpe, who examined the bird now in my possession, stated that this was the first appearance of the Meadow Bunting in Great Britain, and made an addition to the British list.'
Howard Saunders (1907) in British Birds, Vol. I. p. 13, under 'Additions to the List of British Birds since 1899', says: 'On January 21st, 1903 (Bull. B.O.C., XIII. p. 38), Dr. Bowdler Sharpe reported that he had recently examined a living example of this species, captured (with another which had died) near Shoreham, at the end of October, 1902. A third is recorded in the Ibis, 1905, p. 291, by Mr. O. J. Carroll, as having been taken alive near Faversham, Kent, about February 14th, 1905. For exhibition of the first specimen see Bull. B.O.C., XV. p. 28. That this bird should occur in the south of England is not remarkable, for it frequents the valley of the Somme in France, and the slopes of the Rhine and the Neckar in Germany; while, as a wanderer, it has been taken in Belgium, Holland, and Heligoland. In Central and Southern Europe it is abundant.'
Still acceptable after a review as the first record for Britain (BOURC (2006) Ibis 148: 198-201).
3). 1905 Kent Perry Woods, near Faversham, caught alive, 14th February.
(C. J. Carroll, Ibis 1905: 291; H. Saunders, British Birds 1: 13; Ticehurst, 1909; Harrison, 1953).
History C. J. Carroll of Fethard (1905) in The Ibis, Vol. XLVII. p. 291, says: 'A beautiful male example of the Meadow Bunting (Emberiza cia) was captured alive at Perry Woods, near Faversham, Kent, about February 14th last, out of a flock of Yellow and other Buntings. It was sent to London as a "peculiar Yellowhammer", but was seen and identified by Mr. G. E. Weston, into whose possession it quickly passed. This is the third occurrence of the Meadow Bunting in Great Britain, both the previous records being for October 1902.'
Howard Saunders (1907) in British Birds, Vol. I. p. 13, under 'Additions to the List of British Birds since 1899', says: '...A third is recorded in the Ibis, 1905, p. 291, by Mr. C. J . Carroll, as having been taken alive near Faversham, Kent, about February 14th, 1905.'
Accepted locally under 'Meadow Bunting' (Ticehurst 1909; Harrison 1953).
NOT PROVEN
0). 1906 Sussex Ninfield, two, shot, 26th February.
(N. F. Ticehurst, Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist 4: 24; Griffith, 1927; Walpole-Bond, 1938).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History N. F. Ticehurst (1928) in the Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist, Vol. IV. p. 24, says: 'One of the two shot at Ninfield in 1906 (Vol. I. p. 305) is now in the Dyke Road Museum, Brighton.'
Accepted locally by Walpole-Bond (1938 (1): 162) who adds: 'Two Meadow Buntings shot at Ninfield on 26th February, 1906, and formerly in Sir Vauncey Crewe's collection are now mentioned in the fifth edition (1927) of a Catalogue of Birds in the Dyke Road Museum, Brighton, pp. 230-231. But I would not be surprised if these two are the same as the pair in 1910.
All of these were examined by Mr. W. R. Butterfield in the flesh.'
Comment Hastings rarities. Not acceptable.
0). 1910 Sussex Ninfield, two, males, shot, 1st April, one now at Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery (Acc. No. 1962Z10.232).
(E. N. Bloomfield, Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist 1: 304, 305; J. B. Nichols, British Birds 5: 50; Walpole-Bond, 1938; Watson, 2010).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History E. N. Bloomfield (1911) in the Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist, Vol. I. pp. 304, 305, says: 'Dr. N. F. Ticehurst has sent me a long and very interesting list of rare birds which have occurred in our own and neighbouring districts, to which I have added a few others lately presented to the Museum by Mr. W. H. Mullens. In Sussex - Emberiza cia, L., Meadow Bunting, two adult males, Ninfield, April 1st, 1910.
J. B. Nichols (1911) in British Birds, Vol. V. p. 50, says: 'Two male Meadow Buntings (Emberiza cia) were shot at Ninfield on April 1st, 1910, and were examined in the flesh by Mr. Ruskin Butterfield and the late G. Knight respectively. I believe these are the fourth and fifth British specimens.'
Accepted locally (Walpole-Bond 1938 (1): 162).
Watson (2010) in detailing the J. L. Auden collection in the Birmingham Museum lists a specimen that was obtained at Ninfield, Sussex, on 1st April 1910, adding that it was bought from the sale of J. B. Nichol's collection.
Comment Hastings rarities. Not acceptable.
0). 1915 Sussex Westfield, female, 6th April.
(J. B. Nichols, British Birds 12: 89; E. N. Bloomfield, Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist 3: 2; Walpole-Bond, 1938).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History J. B. Nichols (1918) in British Birds, Vol. XII. p. 89, says: 'A female Meadow Bunting (Emberiza c. cia) was shot by a market gardener, Mr. Fellowes, on April 6th, 1915, at Westfield, Sussex.
It was examined in the flesh by Mr. H. W. Ford-Lindsay, and subsequently was submitted to Dr. E. Hartert and Mr. H. F. Witherby after having been set up. Both agreed in assigning it to the European race of this species.
The specimen is now in my collection and is the sixth recorded from England, five of which were obtained in Sussex.'
Accepted locally (Walpole-Bond 1938 (1): 163).
Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.
