Western Subalpine Warbler
Curruca iberiae (Svensson, 2013) (1, 0)
Photo © Kris Webb - Garrison, St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, 9 May 2020
STATUS
North Africa, from Tunisia to Morocco, Iberia, southern France, and extreme north-west Italy. Monotypic.
OVERVIEW
In their 10th Report of Taxonomic Recommendations the sub-committee of the BOURC (2015) decided that the Moltoni's Warbler should be split from Subalpine Warbler to give it full species status (Ibis 157: 193-200).
RECORD
1). 1924 Isle of May No locality, adult male, 30th May.
(L. J. Rintoul & E. V. Baxter, Scottish Naturalist 44: 126; Eds., British Birds 18: 302; Rintoul & Baxter, 1935; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953).
History L. J. Rintoul & E. V. Baxter (1924) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. XLIV. p. 126, says: 'On the 30th of May 1924 a Subalpine Warbler (Sylvia cantillans cantillans) appeared on the Isle of May. The wind was a little north of east and light, and there had been some fog. This is the first record for the Forth area and the third for Britain, the other two having been in spring.'
In an Editorial (1925) in British Birds, Vol. XVIII. pp. 302-303, they say: 'A third British occurrence of the Subalpine Warbler (Sylvia c. cantillans) is recorded by the Misses L. J. Rintoul and E. V. Baxter (Scot. Nat., 1924, p. 126) as having appeared on the Isle of May on May 30th, 1924. It is curious that the only three examples of this southern warbler recorded for Great Britain should have been found in Scottish islands.'
Rintoul & Baxter (1935) say: 'This male was discovered by us on the Isle of May on 30th May 1924.'
