Sora
Porzana carolina (Linnaeus, 1758) (5, 0)
Photo © Graham Catley - Gibraltar Point, Lincolnshire, March 2016
STATUS
Nearctic. Monotypic.
OVERVIEW
Formerly known as the Carolina Crake.
Saunders (1899) only saw fit to place this record in a footnote and didn't believe in long distance vagrancy.
In 2010 a traditionally accepted record of a Baillon's Crake from 1932 in Wales was re-identified as a Sora and this is additional to the four listed in the BOUs Status book of 1971.
RECORDS
1). 1864 Berkshire River Kennet, near Newbury, adult, shot, October, now at Natural History Museum, Tring.
(H. S. Eyre, Zoologist 1865: 9540; A. Newton, Proceedings of the Zoological Society 1865: 196; Eds., Field 11th Mar., 1865: 171; Harting, 1872; Yarrell, 1871-85; BOU, 1883; Eds., Ibis 1911: 772; BOU, 1915; Eds., British Birds 14: 47; Witherby, 1920-24).
History H. S. Eyre of Newington, near Sittingbourne (1865) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. XXIII. p. 9540, undated, says: 'In October last I shot, on the banks of the Kennet, near Newbury, a Carolina Crake. It was exhibited by Mr. A. Newton, of Magdalene College, Cambridge, at the Meeting of the Zoological Society on the 14th of February [1865], who remarked on the fact of the species having also been met with so far from its usual range as Greenland, and also on the vagrant habits of some other Rallidae; for instance, the common English Corn Crake, which has not only occurred once in Greenland, but also in the Bermudas, and several times on the eastern coast of the United States.'
In an Editorial (1865) in The Field of 11th Mar., Vol. XXV. p. 171, they say: 'At a recent meeting of the Zoological Society, Mr. A. Newton exhibited a specimen of the Carolina Crake (Porzana carolina), stated to have been recently obtained on the Kennett [sic], near Newbury, being the first recorded instance of the occurrence of this bird in this country.'
Not admitted nationally in their first List of British Birds (BOU 1883).
Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 147, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'On the strength of a single occurrence it seems inexpedient to add this species to the list of British Birds.' However, in an Editorial (1911) in The Ibis, Vol. LIII. p. 772, under 'Report on the British Museum', they say: 'The first British-killed specimen of the Carolina Crake (Porzana carolina), presented by Mr. H. S. W. Eyre.'
Admitted nationally in their second List of British Birds as the first for Britain (BOU 1915), while in an Editorial (1920) in British Birds, Vol. XIV. p. 47, they admit this as a previous occurrence.
2). 1888 East Glamorgan Cardiff, caught alive, spring.
(Cardiff Naturalists' Society, Transactions of the Cardiff Naturalists' Society 31: 28, 113; R. Bowdler Sharpe, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 12: 26; Witherby, 1920-24; Eds., British Birds 14: 47; Lovegrove, Williams & Williams, 1994; Hurford & Lansdown, 1995).
History Cardiff Naturalists' Society (1900) in the Transactions of the Cardiff Naturalists' Society, Vol. XXXI. p. 28, say: 'A specimen of this American species, the second recorded for the British Isles, was caught by a boy near the Low-water Pier, Cardiff, in the spring of 1888, and brought to Mr. Proger, who presented it to the Zoological Society of London, by whom it was identified....'
R. Bowdler Sharpe, Editor (1901) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XII. p. 26, at the 82nd Meeting of the Club held on 20th November 1901 at the Restaurant Frascati, London, says: '...A second was mentioned as having been caught alive by a boy at the Low Water Pier, Cardiff, in the spring of 1888, and is recorded in the Birds of Glamorgan (p. 113).'
In an Editorial (1920) in British Birds, Vol. XX. p. 47, they admit this as a previous occurrence.
Accepted nationally as the first for Wales (Lovegrove, Williams & Williams 1994).
Hurford & Lansdown (1995) state it was caught in October, 1888, without clarification.
3). 1901 Argyll Tiree, immature male, shot, 25th October.
(R. Bowdler Sharpe, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 12: 26; E. Lort Phillips, Field 7th Dec., 1901: 907; F. G. Gunnis, Annals of Scottish Natural History 1902: 9-10; H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 2: 129; P. Anderson, Scottish Naturalist 33: 218; Witherby, 1920-24; Eds., British Birds 14: 47; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007).
History R. Bowdler Sharpe, Editor (1901) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XII. p. 26, at the 82nd Meeting of the Club held on 20th November 1901 at the Restaurant Frascati, London, says: 'Mr. E. Lort Phillips exhibited a specimen of the Carolina Crake (Porzana carolina) which he had shot in the island of Tiree, when snipe-shooting with his brother-in-law, Mr. F. Gunnis.
This specimen appeared to be the third recorded British example. The first was shot near Newbury, and was exhibited by Professor Newton at a meeting of the Zoological Society on the 14th of February, 1865. A second was mentioned as having been caught alive by a boy at the Low Water Pier, Cardiff, in the spring of 1888, and is recorded in the 'Birds of Glamorgan' (p. 113).'
E. Lort Phillips (1901) in The Field of 7th Dec., Vol. XCVIII. p. 907, says: 'It may interest your readers to know that when out snipe shooting in Tiree, one of the Inner Hebrides, with my brother-in-law, Mr. F. Gunnis, on Oct. 25 last, I shot a specimen of Porzana carolina. The bird is apparently a young one, having fully completed its first autumn moult, and was extremely fat.
As far as I can determine, this is the third authentic record of the occurrence of the Carolina Crake within the British Islands. The first was killed near Newbury in 1864...In the Birds of Glamorgan, p. 113, a second specimen is mentioned...A third specimen was recorded in The Field of Dec 4, 1897 [sic]. Two birds came on board the yacht Vampa...One of them, taking food freely, reached England alive. As the last mentioned bird was captured near the American coast, and brought by the vessel to England, it can hardly be considered a true British example of the species...'
Francis G. Gunnis (1902) in the Annals of Scottish Natural History, Vol. XI. pp. 9-10, says: 'On the 25th of October last my brother-in-law, Mr. E. Lort Philipps [Phillips], while shooting snipe with me in Runnach bog, at the west end of the island of Tiree, Inner Hebrides, obtained a specimen of the Carolina Crake. The bird was examined by Dr. Bowdler Sharpe, and was exhibited by Mr. Lort Philipps at the meeting of the British Ornithologists' Club on the 26th November last. It was a young male which had completed its first autumn moult, and was very fat - indeed I have seldom seen a bird in better condition, showing that it had been for some time either on the island, or in some other locality well suited for its feeding habits. When on the wing it resembled a diminutive Landrail, with its laboured flight and hanging legs. I believe this crake has not hitherto been recorded for Scotland.
As far as I can make out, it has been captured once near Newbury, in Berkshire, in October 1864 [Newton, P.Z.S., 1865, p. 196]; and again at Cardiff in the spring of 1888 (Birds of Glamorganshire, p. 113).'
Admitted by H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst (1908) in British Birds, Vol. II. p. 129, under 'On the More Important Additions to our Knowledge of British Birds since 1899', who say: 'A young male, which had completed the autumn moult, was shot by Mr. E. Lort Phillips on October 25th, 1901, when snipe shooting with Mr. P. O. Gunnis in Rounach [sic] bog at the west end of Tiree, Inner Hebrides. The bird was very fat (Bull. B.O.C., XII. p. 26; Ann. S.N.H., 1902, p. 9). The species has been twice previously recorded in this country (Berkshire, 1864, Cardiff, 1888), and since it has been recorded several times in Greenland and breeds far north in North America, we think it should be admitted fully to the British list.'
Peter Anderson (1913) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. XXXIII. p. 217, under 'The Birds of the Island of Tiree', says: 'A specimen of this crake was got on the Runnach Bog, near the west end of the island, in the autumn of 1901. The bird was identified by Dr. Bowdler Sharpe, and was exhibited at a meeting of the British Ornithologists' Club. I remember that the bird travelled along under the grass like a mole, and it was only by the keen scent of the spaniel that it was brought to hand.'
In an Editorial (1920) in British Birds, Vol. XX. p. 47, they admit this as a previous occurrence.
Accepted nationally as the first for Scotland (Forrester & Andrews et al. 2007).
4). 1913 Outer Hebrides Ness, Lewis, immature male, shot, 12th November, now at Natural History Museum, Tring (BMNH 1913.11.11.1).
(W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Country Life 21st Nov., 1913: 725; W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, British Birds 7: 202-203; Witherby, 1920-24; Eds., British Birds 14: 47; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Cunningham, 1983; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007).
History W. R. Ogilvie-Grant (1913) in Country Life, 21st Nov., Vol. XXXIV. p. 725, says: 'On November 12th an immature male of the Carolina Crake (Porzana carolina) was killed by Mr. A. Blaine in a bog near Ness, Stornoway, and forwarded in the flesh to the Natural History Museum. As this is only the fourth known instance of the occurrence of this American species in the British Isles, it is of special interest to ornithologists.
The three previous records are as follows: (1) An adult, killed by Mr. H. S. Eyre on the Kennet, near Newbury, Berks, in October, 1864; (2) a specimen taken near Cardiff in 1888; and (3) an immature male, shot by Mr. E. Lort-Phillips on the Island of Tiree on October 25th, 1901. The specimen now recorded was forwarded as an example of the Spotted Crake (Porzana porzana), but immature examples of the two species though bearing a general resemblance, are easily distinguished. In the Spotted Crake the brown neck and mantle are profusely marked with small spots of white, whereas in the Carolina Crake these parts are uniform brown, and there is a black patch on the middle of the crown of the head.
Mr. Blaine's specimen from Lewis has been made into a skin and will be added to the National Collection, which also contains the first and third examples mentioned.'
W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Editor (1913) in British Birds, Vol. VII. pp. 202-203, says: 'An immature male Carolina Crake (Porzana carolina) was shot by Mr. A. Blain (Galson Lodge, Stornoway), near Ness, Lewis, Outer Hebrides, on November 12th, 1913, and sent to the Natural History Museum in the flesh. It may be remarked that three out of the four examples of this species which have been recorded from Great Britain are in the Museum collection. I have already recorded this specimen in Country Life of November 21st.'
In an Editorial (1920) in British Birds, Vol. XX. p. 47, they admit this as a previous occurrence.
Accepted nationally for Scotland (Forrester & Andrews et al. 2007).
5). 1932 Meirionnydd Aberdyfi Golf Course, juvenile, found dead below wires, 7th January, now at National Museum of Wales, Cardiff.
(E. H. T. Bible, British Birds 25: 305; Lovegrove, Williams & Williams, 1994; J. Green, Welsh Birds 7: 146).
History E. H. T. Bible (1932) in British Birds, Vol. XXV. p. 305, says: 'After a storm on January 6th-7th, 1932, a Baillon's Crake (Porzana p. intermedia) was picked up on the Aberdovey Golf Links and brought to me. I sent it to Professor J. H. Salter of Llanbadarn, Aberystwyth, for identification. This bird appeared to have met its death by contact with the telephone wires.
As far as I can ascertain there is only one other authentic record of this species in North Wales, one in November, 1905, in Caernarvonshire. (See Forrest, Fauna of North Wales and Zoologist, 1905, p. 465).'
J. Green (2010) in Welsh Birds, Vol. VII. p. 146, says: 'It has now been found to be a juvenile Sora after being taken to a BTO Conference in 2006 from the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff.'
Accepted nationally for Wales as a Baillon's Crake (Lovegrove, Williams & Williams 1994).
NOT PROVEN
0). 1897 At sea North Atlantic, 20° N 55° W, two came on board the yacht Vampa, taking food and one reaching England, undated.
(C. C. Bayley, Field 27th Nov., 1897: 869; Saunders, 1899; Eds., British Birds 14: 47).
[KAN].
History C. Clive Bayley (1897) in The Field of 27th Nov., Vol. XC. p. 869, says: 'During a voyage from Madeira to St Thomas Virgin Islands in the yacht Vampa, while in latitude 20° 08' and longtitude 54° 50', two specimens of the Sora Rail (Porzana carolina) came on board, one of which was captured, and is now on board, while the other unfortunately was drowned. The specimen captured was in good plumage, but very thin, and appeared much fatigued and in want of food and water, both of which he eagerly took when offered, the food consisting of rice and canary seed. The nearest point of land is the island of Barbuda, just about 400 miles from the place the birds came on the yacht. The wind was from the E.S.E., and there was a slight swell running from the southward. The general flight of these birds while on land is so small, some twenty to thirty yards at a time, that their distance from land on this occasion would appear to be something out of the ordinary.'
In an Editorial (1920) in British Birds, Vol. XX. p. 47, they admit this as a previous occurrence.
Comment Outwith British waters. Not acceptable.
