Western Cattle Egret

Bubulcus ibis (Linnaeus, 1758) (3, 0)

Photo © Craig Shaw - Cardoness, Dumfries & Galloway, December 2007

Ex BBRC species 31/12/2008

STATUS

Cosmopolitan. Monotypic.

OVERVIEW

Formerly known as the Little White Heron, Red-billed Heron or mainly as the Buff-backed Heron.

Five individuals were liberated at Cobham in 1930 with some others also being allowed to wander from Whipsnade Zoo during this period. So, records in the 1930s were under suspicion of being escapes. However the 1934 individual from Norfolk, although not admitted by Witherby et al. (1940-52), has been accepted locally.

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RECORDS

1). 1805 Devon South Allington, near Kingsbridge, immature female, shot, late October, now at Natural History Museum, Tring.

(G. Montagu, Transactions of the Linnean Society 9: 197; Montagu, 1813; E. Moore, Transactions of the Plymouth Institution 1: 323; Fleming, 1828; Selby, 1833; Jenyns, 1835; E. Moore, Charlesworth's Magazine of Natural History 1: 320; Yarrell, 1845; Macgillivray, 1837-52; Newman, 1866; Yarrell, 1871-85; Saunders, 1899; Moore, 1969).

History George Montagu (1807) in the Transactions of the Linnean Society, Vol. IX. p. 197, read 5th May, 1807, says: 'This bird was killed in Devonshire the latter end of October, in the year 1805, and is now in my museum. Upon dissection it proved a female.' Later, Montagu (1813) under 'Little White Heron', says: 'We had the honour of announcing this species for the first time as British, in the Transactions of the Linnean Society, a female having been shot near Kingsbridge, the latter end of October, 1805, and was placed in our collection by a gentleman to whom we are obliged upon many similar occasions, Mr. Nicholas Luscombe, of that place.

The length about twenty inches. The bill two inches long to the feathers on the forehead, and of an orange-yellow; the lore and orbits the same: irides pale yellow. The whole plumage snowy white, except the crown of the head, and the upper part of the neck before, which are buff. Legs three inches and a half long, and one inch and a half of bare space above the knee: these parts are nearly black, with a tinge of green; the toes and claws are of the same colour; the middle claw pectinated. The skin was of a very dark colour, almost black, so that on the cheeks and sides of the neck, where the feathers are thin, it is partly seen, or at least gives a dingy shade to the white plumage of those parts. On the back of the head the feathers are a trifle elongated, but scarcely to be called a crest; on the lower part of the neck before, the feathers are more elongated, and, though not slender, hang detached over the upper part of the breast; the tail when closed is in a slight degree forked, and so short at to be entirely covered by the wings when folded.

This elegant little species of Heron had been seen for several days in the same field attending some cows, and picking up insects, which were found in its stomach. It was by no means shy, but suffered a bungling marksman to fire twice before he could kill it. The situation where it was shot is the southern most promontory of Devon very near the coast, between Start and Prawle.'

Fleming (1828: 97) says: 'A. aequinoctialis of Latham. - A. russata of Temminck (Orn. II. 566) - A single individual of this species, a female, was killed, according to Montagu (Linn. Trans. IX, 197), near Kingsbridge, Devonshire, the latter end of October 1805.'

Edward Moore of Plymouth (1830) in the Transactions of the Plymouth Institution, Vol. I. p. 323, says: 'A specimen was shot near Kingsbridge, in October, 1805, which was described by Montagu, and is now in the British Museum, where it was examined by Temminck, who acknowledges it to be the Little White Heron, but does not doubt that it had escaped from some menagerie, as it is not understood to be even a European bird.'

Selby (1833 (2): 24-25) says: 'In Britain, it is a rare visitant; and the first instance of its capture is recorded by Montagu, in the 9th volume of the Transactions of the Linnean Society, under the title of Ardea aequinoctialis. He afterwards described it more fully in the Supplement to the Ornithological Dictionary, under the name of the 'Little White Heron.' This specimen, which was a female, and apparently in the plumage of the first year, was shot in October 1805, near to Kingsbridge, in the southern part of Devonshire, where it was seen for several days previous in the same field, amongst some cows, and picking up insects, Of its habits, I am unable to give any detailed account.'

Jenyns (1835: 188) says: 'A single individual of this species, in immature plumage, and probably a young bird of the year, is recorded by Montagu to have been shot near Kingsbridge in Devonshire, the latter end of October 1805. This specimen, which is now in the British Museum, is the only one that has hitherto occurred in this country.'

Edward Moore of Plymouth (1837) in Charlesworth's Magazine of Natural History, Vol. I. p. 320, dated May, 1837, says: 'Little White Heron or Red-billed Heron. Montagu describes one, shot near Kingsbridge, in 1805, which is now in the British Museum; and I add it to the list, although Temminck says "Mais l'oiseau est enchappé d'une menagerie" (Manual, p. 565).'

Yarrell (1845 (2): 526-527, 2nd ed.) adds: 'The length is about twenty inches: the bill two inches long to the feathers on the forehead, and of an orange-yellow: the lore and orbits the same: irides pale yellow. The whole plumage is snowy white, except the crown of the head, and the upper part of the neck before, which are buff: legs three inches and a half long, and one inch and a half bare space above the knee; these parts are nearly black, with a tinge of green; the toes and claws are of the same colour, almost black, so that on the cheeks and sides of the neck, where the feathers are thin, it is partly seen, or at least gives a dingy shade to the white plumage of those parts. On the back of the head the feathers are a trifle elongated, but scarcely to be called a crest; on the lower part of the neck before, the feathers are more elongated, and though not slender, hang detached over the upper part of the breast: the tail when closed is in a slight degree forked, and so short as to be entirely covered by the wings when folded.

This elegant little species of Heron had been seen for several days in the same field attending some cows, and picking up insects, which were found in its stomach. It was by no means shy, but suffered a bungling marksman to fire twice before he could kill it. The situation where it was shot is the southernmost promontory of Devon very near the coast, between Start and the Prawle....I have since learned from the Rev. Robert Holdsworth, that this ornithological prize was shot by Mr. F. Cornish, at South Allington, in the parish of Chivelstone.

It was placed in Colonel Montagu's collection by Mr. Nicholas Duscombe, of Kingsbridge, and the specimen is still preserved in the British Museum. It is a young bird, and proved on dissection to be a female.'

Macgillivray (1852) (4): 478) says: 'Montagu mistook it for Ardea aequinoctialis of Linnaeus; but the error was detected after it had, along with his collection, been transferred to the British Museum. Its dimensions, taken by Mr. Jenyns are as follows....'

Admitted by Howard Saunders (1884-85 (4): 187-188, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds and (Saunders 1899: 375, 2nd ed.) as the only acceptable record.

2). 1917 Norfolk Breydon Marshes, male, shot, 23rd October, photo, now at Booth Museum, Brighton.

(F. W. Smalley, British Birds 11: 146-147; J. H. Gurney, jun., British Birds 11: 253-254; S. H. Long & B. B. Riviere, Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society 10: 503; Seago, 1977; Allard, 1990; Taylor, Seago, Allard & Dorling, 2007).

History F. W. Smalley (1917) in British Birds, Vol. XI. pp. 146-147, says: 'On October 24th I received a letter from Mr. E. C. Saunders, of Great Yarmouth, asking me to go over to see a locally killed bird which had been brought to him for identification and preservation, and which he considered to be an example of the Buff-backed Heron (Ardeola ibis ibis). I, therefore, at once hastened over to Yarmouth, where I saw the bird in the flesh in Mr. Saunders' shop, and found his identification to be correct.

The body was, by request, sent to Mr. J. H. Gurney, in order that the sternum might be preserved, and Mr. Gurney writes me that the stomach of the bird contained two good-sized water newts, the larva of a noctuid moth and an example of the fish known as the Miller's Thumb (Cottus gobio). The newts, which were sent to me, I submitted to my friend Dr. William Eagle Clarke, of the Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh, from whom I learn that they belonged to the species known as the Smooth Newt (Molge vulgaris).

The bird in question was shot by one Dan Banham, on Breydon Marshes, on the Norfolk side of the river, on October 23rd, 1917. It was first observed by two boys, who reported a small white bird feeding amongst the cattle on the marsh. All three procured guns, and, surrounding the bird, it fell to the second barrel of Banham's gun.

After being mounted, I took the bird over to Norwich, where Mr. Gurney and I compared it with skins in his collection, but were unable to say definitely whether the bird was an adult or a bird of the year in first winter plumage; the whole of the plumage being white with the exception of the head, which is tinged with buff on the crown. Whilst the primaries, secondaries and tail appear freshly moulted, the rest of the plumage on the wings and back shows considerable abrasion, from which I personally am inclined to consider the bird an adult. There were no signs of any active moult. The "powder-down puffs" were four in number, one on each flank and one on each side of the breast.

It proved to be a male on dissection, and careful measurements taken by me at the time gave: Length, 520.5 mm. (20.5 inches); wing, 248 mm. (9.75 inches); culmen, 56mm. (2.2 inches); tarsus, 82mm. (3.25 inches). Mr. E. C. Saunders gives the colour of the soft parts as follows: Beak, chrome yellow, with a brownish tinge at the base and tip of the upper mandible; eyes, golden yellow, skin round eyes a duller yellow inclined to grey, edge golden yellow; legs and feet brown-black, tibia tarsal joints and soles greenish cast, toe-nails black. I believe this bird to be only the second authentic occurrence of the Buff-backed Heron in Great Britain: the first being the immature female from near Kingsbridge (Devon), shot towards the end of October, 1805 (Yarrell, IV. p. 187; Saunders, p. 375), as I do not look upon the evidence for the bird said to have been shot at Martock (Somerset), January 28th, 1909, reported by Mr. Stanley Lewis (Zool., 1915, p. 318; cf. British Birds, Vol. X. p. 70) as being satisfactory.'

J. H. Gurney, jun., of Norwich (1918) in British Birds, Vol. XI. pp. 253-254, says: 'A male of this species was shot on some marshes near Yarmouth (being as usual in attendance on cattle) on October 23rd, as recorded by Mr. Smalley (antea, p. 146).

The wind that day at Cromer was north-west, and I had noted Rooks on passage moving against the direction of the upper clouds, i.e. towards N.W. On the evening of the 22nd it had been registered at Yarmouth as W.S.W., force 4, which would probably mark the time of this rare Heron's arrival in England. It is curious that a hundred and twelve years should have elapsed since the last occurrence of a species which is common so near to England as Spain.

Its stomach contained newts, probably a usual food, although not mentioned by Saunders. I once dissected one in Egypt, which had in it eleven small frogs. The Yarmouth bird also had a River Bull-head.'

Admitted by S. H. Long & B. B. Riviere (1918) in the Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society, Vol. X. p. 503, under 'Additions to Part XI (Seventh List) 1914-18' and accepted locally (Taylor, Seago, Allard & Dorling 2007).

Comment Shot by Mr. Dan Banham who took it in the flesh to Mr. E. C. Saunders, taxidermist, of Yarmouth, who mounted it and then sold it to J. B. Nichols. It is now at the Booth Museum, Brighton. Every specimen recorded in the possession of J. B. Nichols has turned out to be a Hastings Rarities fraud; perhaps this should be checked?

Not claimed by Piotrowski (2007) for Suffolk; the south side of Breydon being in the old Watsonian VC of Suffolk which is still their recording area.

3). 1934 Norfolk West Caister Marshes, obtained, October.

(Seago, 1977; Allard, 1990; Taylor, Seago, Allard & Dorling, 2007).

History Accepted locally without further detail (Seago 1977).

Taylor, Seago, Allard & Dorling (2007) say: 'This bird was obtained on the West Caister Marshes in October, 1934, and remained in Harry Smith's little-known collection at Three-mile House on the River Bure until about 1980 when the entire collection was auctioned. Its present whereabouts is unknown.'

Comment This could possibly be an escape as a lot were liberated during the 1930s; it was never accepted nationally or was probably unknown.

NOT PROVEN

0). 1827 Norfolk Martham Broad, immature, killed, undated.

(Stevenson, 1870).

[Yarrell, 1871-85; Southwell, 1890; Patterson, 1905].

History Stevenson (1870 (2): 151) says: 'Like the two preceding species this heron is inserted for the first time on the authority of Mr. Joseph Clarke, who informs me that a young bird, killed at Martham, near Yarmouth, in 1827, is now in the Saffron Walden Museum.'

Howard Saunders (1884-85 (4): 188, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'Mr. H. Stevenson included this species in The Birds of Norfolk (II. p. 151), on the authority of Mr. Joseph Clarke, who informed him that a young bird killed at Martham, near Yarmouth, in 1827, was in the Saffron Walden Museum; but the specimen is no longer in existence, having been destroyed by moth; and as neither Mr. Stevenson nor Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., mention the Buff-backed Heron in their recently published (1884) lists of Norfolk birds, it would seem that its antecedents have not borne investigation.'

Southwell, Editor (1890 (3): 414) in Stevenson's Birds of Norfolk, under 'Appendix D' (species discarded from the Norfolk List), says: 'This species was admitted into the Norfolk list in 1870 by Mr. Stevenson on the faith of a specimen in Saffron Walden Museum, said to have been killed at Martham in 1827; this bird is not, however, entered as British in the museum catalogue published in 1845. Mr. Stevenson never examined it, and it was destroyed in 1873 in consequence of an attack of moth.'

Comment Imported skin. Not acceptable.

0). 1851 Devon Locality in the South, obtained, April.

(A. Clevland, Zoologist 1851: 3116; Harting, 1872; Yarrell, 1871-85).

[Pidsley, 1891; Not in BOU, 1971].

History A. Clevland of Barnstaple (1851) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. IX. p. 3116, undated, says: 'I have obtained a very fine specimen of the Little White Heron (Ardea russata), which was shot in the south of Devon last April.'

Admitted by Howard Saunders (1884-85) in Yarrell's British Birds, 4th edition, Vol. IV. p. 188.

Pidsley (1891: 88) says: 'It is possible that a record of a bird shot in South Devon, April, 1851, and described by Mr. Cleveland as Ardea russata, may refer to this species (Zool., 1851, p. 3116).' However, Saunders (1899: 375, 2nd ed.) adds: 'Col. Irby assures me that the bird mentioned in The Zoologist, p. 3116, came from a well known dealer, and that no reliance can be placed upon the date or locality assigned.'

Comment Not admitted nationally (BOU (1971). Not acceptable.

0). Pre 1865 Lincolnshire Near Boston, obtained, undated.

(F. L. Blathwayt, Zoologist 1912: 62; Lorand & Atkin, 1989).

[Lorand & Atkin, 1989].

History F. L. Blathwayt (1912) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. XVI. p. 62, recording the record in square brackets, says: 'An example of this species is in the Lincoln Museum. It was formerly bought by Mr. F. Baines, of Gainsborough, at a sale in Boston about 1865, and was said to have been captured a few years previously in the fens near that town. The history, however, of the specimen is not satisfactory, and perhaps it is a Continental specimen.'

Comment Probably imported. Not acceptable.

0). 1909 Somerset Martock, shot, 28th January.

(S. Lewis, Zoologist 1915: 318; Eds., British Birds 10: 70; S. Lewis, British Birds 11: 215).

[F. W. British Birds 11: 146-147, 215; Witherby et al., 1940-52].

History Stanley Lewis of Wells (1915) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. XIX. p. 318, says: 'A specimen of the Buff-backed Heron was shot at Martock, Somerset, on January 28th, 1909, and preserved as a skin by a Mr. Sherring. I received the specimen from a friend of Mr. Sherring, and sent it to Mr. Ogilvie-Grant, who verified my suspicions as to the species. The data are preserved, pinned around the neck of the bird, which unfortunately has rather a neglected appearance. This is, I think, the only occurrence in Somerset, and a rarity for any part of England.'

In an Editorial (1916) in British Birds, Vol. X. p. 70, they say: 'Mr. Stanley Lewis states (Zool., 1915, p. 318) that a specimen of Ardeola ibis was shot at Martock, Somerset, on January 28th, 1909, and was preserved by a Mr. Sherring.

The data were pinned round the neck of the bird, and Mr. Lewis received the specimen from a friend of Mr. Sherring. The specimen has been submitted to Mr. Ogilvie-Grant, who has verified the identification, but the history of the bird does not seem quite clear.'

F. W. Smalley (1917) in British Birds, Vol. XI. pp. 146-147, says: '...I believe this bird to be only the second authentic occurrence of the Buff-backed Heron in Great Britain: the first being the immature female from near Kingsbridge (Devon), shot towards the end of October, 1805 (Yarrell, IV. p. 187; Saunders, p. 375), as I do not look upon the evidence for the bird said to have been shot at Martock (Somerset), January 28th, 1909, reported by Mr. Stanley Lewis (Zool., 1915, p. 318; cf. British Birds, Vol. X. p. 70) as being satisfactory.'

Stanley Lewis (1918) in British Birds, Vol. XI. p. 215, in a Letter, says: 'Sirs, - Mr. F . W. Smalley (antea, p. 147), while recording a Buff-backed Heron from Norfolk, writes: "I do not look upon the evidence for the bird said to have been shot at Martock (Somerset), January 28, 1909, as being satisfactory".

I agree regretfully that I have no certain proof of the authenticity of this bird, such as the handling of the specimen in the flesh, but the purely circumstantial evidence points to its having been genuinely obtained, viz. the skinning looks like an amateur's work, as the head is stuffed with cotton wool, and it was left behind in vacated lodgings at Shepton Mallet in an old cardboard box, together with skins, similarly prepared and equally old, of a Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff and a Stoat, six 12-bore cartridges, thirteen very small bore dust-shot cartridges, a pair of scissors and a small quantity of cotton wool. Around the Heron's neck was rolled and pinned a piece of an old newspaper, on the margin of which was pencilled "Martock, January '38, 1909, male".

This raises the question, on what evidence are we to include rare visitors to Britain? If only on the examination of a specimen in the flesh, dead or alive, our ornithological publications will need considerable revision.'

Comment History of the specimen is unclear. Not acceptable.

0). 1930 Surrey Foxwarren Park, Cobham, five, seen, April.

(Eds., British Birds 24: 85).

[A. Ezra, The Times 24th July 1930; Eds., British Birds 73: 347].

History In an Editorial (1930) in British Birds, Vol. XXIV. p. 85, they say: '...Mr. Alfred Ezra states that he liberated five at Foxwarren Park, Cobham, Surrey, in April, and has lost two of them (Times, July 24th, 1930). One was reported in May from Godalming as having died of starvation (Field, June 7th, 1930, p. 851), and Mr. Ezra has no doubt that the bird observed by Mr. Butters, whose description of the bird Mr. Ezra has read, is the other.

These birds were of the Indian race, Ardeola ibis coromanda, which is very nearly allied to the European bird. No doubt there is some personal gratification in liberating fully winged captive birds, but when these are of species likely to occur naturally in the country in which they are let loose, the result is most confusing to ornithologists.

Owing to this growing habit of aviculturists, it has become impossible to accept occurrences of many species as those of genuine wild birds, and our knowledge of the distribution of such birds is thus severely handicapped.'

Comment Known to have been liberated. Not acceptable.

0). 1930 Devon Near Axminster, seen, 16th June.

(Eds., British Birds 24: 85).

[A. Ezra, Times 24th July 1930; W. Walmesley White, F. C. Butters & H. G. Hurrell, Devon Bird-Watching and Preservatrion Society Report 1931: 175].

History In an Editorial (1930) in British Birds, Vol. XXIV. p. 85, they say: 'The Rev. F. C. Butters has sent us a detailed account of a Buff-backed Heron which has been observed in south Devonshire since June 16th, 1930. Mr. Butters has watched the bird most carefully and has given very good evidence to prove its identification, which has been confirmed by Mr. W. Walmesley White and others. Mr. Butters described the bird as wary and not as behaving like an escape from captivity. This, however, it would seem certainly to be, since Mr. Alfred Ezra states that he liberated five at Foxwarren Park, Cobham, Surrey, in April, and has lost two of them (Times, July 24th, 1930)....These birds were of the Indian race, Ardeola ibis coromanda, which is very nearly allied to the European bird. No doubt there is some personal gratification in liberating fully winged captive birds, but when these are of species likely to occur naturally in the country in which they are let loose, the result is most confusing to ornithologists.

Owing to this growing habit of aviculturists, it has become impossible to accept occurrences of many species as those of genuine wild birds, and our knowledge of the distribution of such birds is thus severely handicapped.'

Comment Known to have been liberated. Not acceptable.

0). 1934 Gwent Peterstone Wentlooge, shot, 4th July.

(G. C. S. Ingram & H. Morrey Salmon, Transactions of the Cardiff Naturalists' Society 1934: 114; Ingram & Morrey Salmon, 1937).

[Humphreys, 1963; Lovegrove, Williams & Williams, 1994].

History G. C. S. Ingram & H. Morrey Salmon (1934) in the Transactions of the Cardiff Naturalists' Society, Vol. LXVII. p. 114, recording the record in square brackets, say: 'A bird of this eastern race of the species was shot on the flats between Rumney and Peterstone Wentlloog on July 4th, 1934.

[It was evidently an escape from Whipsnade or some private aviary where full winged birds are allowed their liberty. It is a great pity that such birds are not ringed so as to be easily recognised as escapes - Eds.]'

Probably an escape from Whipsnade Zoo, or elsewhere (Ingram & Morrey Salmon 1937).

Not accepted nationally for Wales (Lovegrove, Williams & Williams 1994).

0). 1935 Somerset Shepton Mallet, immature male, obtained, 21st January, now at Bristol City Museum.

(F. L. Blathwayt, Report on Somerset Birds 1935: 29).

[F. L. Blathwayt, Report on Somerset Birds 1935: 29].

History F. L. Blathwayt (1935) in the Report on Somerset Birds, Vol. XXII. p. 19, under Cattle Egret, Ardeola ibis coromanda, recording the record in square-brackets, says: 'An immature male, Jan. 21, at Shepton Mallet; now in the Bristol Museum. This form is not on the British list, and the specimen recorded was doubtless one of those released at Whipsnade (H.T.).'

0). 1935 Lincolnshire Near Spalding, shot, 1st October.

(Lorand & Atkin, 1989).

[Lorand & Atkin, 1989].

History Lorand & Atkin (1989) say: 'One shot near Spalding on 1st October may relate to being an escape from Whipsnade Zoo, Bedfordshire in 1935.'

Comment Probable escape. Not acceptable.

0). c. 1935 Lincolnshire Grainthorpe, undated.

(Smith & Cornwallis, 1955).

[Smith & Cornwallis, 1955].

History Smith & Cornwallis (1955) say: 'Another at Grainthorpe about 1935 was almost certainly an escape.'

0) 1936 Berkshire Near Windsor, two: one, 21st to 28th May, two, June.

(J. Hills, Field 20th Jun., 1936: 1508).

[C. R. Stonor, Field 11th Jul., 1936: 109].

History John Hills of Eton College, Windsor (1936) in The Field of 20th Jun., Vol. CLXVII. p. 1508, says: 'On May 21st some of our bird-watchers saw a small white heron in this neighbourhood. It was identified as one of the Buff-backed Herons recently released from Whipsnade. A week later a second was seen, and the two are now happily searching for their usual diet amongst the local cattle. And very beautiful birds they are. It is particularly interesting to note that they invariably haunt the white cattle, brown and white or black and white, and we should like to know whether this is due to a natural sense of colour protection or to memories of the cattle of their native land....'

C. R. Stonor of the Zoological Society, London (1936) in The Field of 11th Jul., Vol. CLXVIII. p. 109, says: 'The records of Buff-backed Herons reported in The Field refer, of course, to the Indian Cattle Egrets which have been liberated from time to time during the past few years at Whipsnade, and many of which have been reported from various parts of the country....'

0). 1936 Wiltshire Middle Avon, Britford, 28th May.

(W. P. H. Hill, Field 20th Jun., 1936: 1508; C. M. R. Pitman, Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine 48: 36-37).

[C. R. Stonor, Field 11th Jul., 1936: 109; Wiltshire Ornithological Society, 2007].

History W. P. H. Hill of Britford (1936) in The Field of 20th Jun., Vol. CLXVII. p. 1508, says: 'On May 28th a bird appeared on the Middle Avon that has, up to the present, defied identification. As it is ringed on its right leg the report of its whereabouts may be of interest to some readers of the Field. Although comparatively tame, having been subjected to a "close up" photograph, it has not been possible to borrow the ring for identification.

The description of the bird is as follows: Height approximately 14in. to 18in. General characteristics that of a Buff-backed Heron. White in colour, with light buff crest and belly. Belly dark, legs green, beak flesh colour. Spends most of its time on one or other of the numerous planks over the irrigation carriers.'

C. M. R. Pitman (1937) in the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine, Vol. XLVIII. pp. 36-37, under 'Report on the Birds of Wiltshire for 1936', says: 'One of these rare stragglers to our islands was seen for several days during the end of May in the meadows at Britford. The bird was comparatively tame and allowed fairly close inspection when it was noticed that there was a ring on its leg. Upon enquiries being made it was found that a number of these birds were "rung" and released, from the Zoo about that time.'

0). 1936 Lincolnshire Near Caythorpe, 18th to 19th June.

(R. F. Berry, Field 20th Jun., 1936: 1508).

[C. R. Stonor, Field 11th Jul., 1936: 109].

History R. F. Berry of Caythorpe, Grantham (1936) in The Field of 20th Jun., Vol. CLXVII. p. 1508, dated 20th June 1936, says: 'It might interest some of your readers to know that there has been a bird at a pond near here for the past two days which, I think, must be a Buff-backed Heron. It allowed me to approach to within 50 yards of it. The body and wings were almost pure white, but there was a faint buffish tinge on the wings. The sides of the head and the long feathers on the neck were buff-coloured. In size it was a little smaller than the common heron.'

C. R. Stonor of the Zoological Society, London (1936) in The Field of 11th Jul., Vol. CLXVIII. p. 109, says: 'The records of Buff-backed Herons reported in the Field refer, of course, to the Indian Cattle Egrets which have been liberated from time to time during the past few years at Whipsnade, and many of which have been reported from various parts of the country....'

0). 1936 Hertfordshire Near Marsworth Reservoir, mid-August to mid-September.

(J. Adams, The Field 4th Jan.,1937: 34).

[Sage, 1959].

History John Adams of Balliol College, Oxford (1937) in The Field of 4th Jan., Vol. CLXIX. p. 34, says: 'May I suggest that the Buff-backed Heron, or Cattle Egret. reported from Reading by your correspondent C. E. Denistoun Webster, was one of about 100 turned down at Whipsnade this year? Other have been reported from Oxford and Tring.'

Sage (1959: 31) says: 'One hundred birds were released from Whipsnade Zoo, Bedfordshire in 1935, and it was thought that this was one of them.'

0). 1936 Lincolnshire North Killingholme area, early September and 25th to 29th October.

(S. A. Cox, Transactions of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union 9: 189; Smith & Cornwallis, 1955; Lorand & Atkin, 1989).

[Smith & Cornwallis, 1955; Lorand & Atkin, 1989].

History S. A. Cox (1936) in the Transactions of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union, Vol. IX. p. 189, says: 'A strange bird was reported at North Killingholme in October, perching on the backs of cattle. Enquiries elicited the fact that the bird had been seen about the Humber marshes since early September, and was well-known to the employees of the Barton and Immingham Light Railway. It was seen by the members of the British Empire Naturalists' Association on October 25th and 26th, and was satisfactorily identified as a Buff-backed Heron - a rare visitor to these parts. Unfortunately it took its departure on October 29th, and the members of the L.N.U. who assembled at North Killingholme on November 1st were disappointed. There seems a doubt as to whether the bird was a true vagrant, as several Buff-backed Herons were released from Whipsnade about a year ago.'

Smith & Cornwallis (1955) say: 'One was at North Killingholme on the Humber for several weeks in the autumn of 1936, and was almost certainly an escape.' While, Lorand & Atkin (1989) say: 'Another in the North Killingholme area during September to November may relate to being an escape from Whipsnade Zoo, Bedfordshire in 1935.'

0). 1937 Cambridgeshire Burwell Fen, July to August, five, 4th August.

(R. N. Ticehurst, Cambridge Bird Club Report 1937: 7).

[R. N. Ticehurst, Cambridge Bird Club Report 1937: 7].

History R. N. Ticehurst (1937) in the Cambridge Bird Club Report, p. 7, recording the record in square brackets, says: '...One was also seen on Burwell Fen during July and August, and a flock of five at the same place flew over on the evening of Aug. 4th (E.A.R.E.). I have heard indirectly from Mr. H. F. Witherby that these birds were either liberated or had escaped from Whipsnade. These records are only included here in order that no question may arise about these birds at a subsequent date.'

0). 1937 Cambridgeshire Fulbourn Fen, late July to late autumn.

(R. N. Ticehurst, Cambridge Bird Club Report 1937: 7).

[R. N. Ticehurst, Cambridge Bird Club Report 1937: 7].

History R. N. Ticehurst (1937) in the Cambridge Bird Club Report, p. 7, recording the record in square brackets, says: 'A single bird of this species frequented Fulbourn Fen from late July until well into the autumn (W.F.)....I have heard indirectly from Mr. H. F. Witherby that these birds were either liberated or had escaped from Whipsnade. These records are only included here in order that no question may arise about these birds at a subsequent date.'

0). 1937 Norfolk River Bure, near Coltishall, seen, late September.

(S. H. Long, Wild Bird Protection in Norfolk 1937: 20-21).

[S. H. Long, Wild Bird Protection in Norfolk 1937: 20-21].

History S. H. Long (1937) in Wild Bird Protection in Norfolk, pp. 20-21, under 'Miscellaneous Notes', says: 'In the last week of September a bird identified as a Buff-backed Heron, was seen by Miss E. A. Foote and others, on a marsh of the upper reaches of the Bure, near Coltishall. It remained for several days and was very tame. An expedition up the river by Major S. W. Trafford and the writer, to find it, failed. There is good reason the believe that, if correctly identified, it originated from Whipsnade Zoo.'