Balearic Woodchat Shrike
Lanius senator badius Hartlaub, 1854
Photo © By Joan Carles Hinojosa Galisteo - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20172148
Sub-species
STATUS
Western Mediterranean Islands.
OVERVIEW
Formerly known as Corsican Woodchat.
This sub-species not admitted nationally during the period covered (BOU 1971).
NOT PROVEN
0). 1909 Kent Romney Marsh, shot, 29th June.
(W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 25: 76-77; C. B. Ticehurst, British Birds 3: 369; E. N. Bloomfield, Hastings & East Sussex Naturalist 1: 304, 306).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Editor (1909) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XXV. pp. 76-77, says: 'Dr. C. B. Ticehurst exhibited a specimen of the Corsican Woodchat Shrike, and made the following remarks: - "This Woodchat (Lanius senator badius, Hartl.) was shot by a shepherd in Romney Marsh, Kent, on the 29th June, 1909, and was given to Mr. Bristow, of St. Leonard's, the following day. On the 1st of July the latter, who regarded it as a specimen of the Common Woodchat, showed it to me in the flesh. It was still fresh and had evidently been shot. It proved to be a male. The very noticeable absence of any white speculum at the base of the primaries at once attracted my attention. Having compared it with specimens of the Corsican Woodchat from Corsica and with the Common Woodchat, I have no doubt that it is an example of the former, the above distinction, as well as the stouter bill and rather longer wing, being characteristics of L. badius.
This is the first instance of the occurrence of this bird in Great Britain, and, I believe, also of its occurrence outside its somewhat indefinitely known range. It breeds in Sardinia and Corsica and winters in N. W. Africa. It has also occurred in Madeira. The bird now forms part of the collection of Mr. J. B. Nichols, who has kindly lent it to me for exhibition".'
C. B. Ticehurst (1910) in British Birds, Vol. III. p. 369, says: 'On June 29th, 1909, a shepherd shot, in Romney Marsh, Kent, a Woodchat Shrike, which he gave to Mr. G. Bristow, of St. Leonards, on the following day, remarking that it was a very fine "Butcher-bird". On July 1st I examined the bird in the flesh in Mr. Bristow's shop, and the absence of any white speculum at the base of the primaries at once attracted my attention. Having (through the kindness of the authorities at the Tring Museum) compared this bird with the examples of the Corsican Woodchat and Common Woodchat, I had no doubt that it belonged to the former subspecies (Lanius senator badius, Hartl.), the characteristic distinctions - absence of white speculum, stouter bill and rather longer wing - being well marked.
The breeding range, so far as is known at present, of this bird is confined to Sardinia and Corsica, while in winter it is found in north-west Africa and has occurred in Madeira. The occurrence of the Corsican Woodchat in Great Britain is very remarkable, especially in June, and it is possible, though there is no proof, that these wanderers that are found in the summer, hundreds of miles from their breeding range, are birds which have either lost their mate or never found one, and have been compelled by some instinct to migrate further. This bird is now in the collection of Mr. J. B. Nichols, through whose kindness I was enabled to exhibit it before the British Ornithologists' Club on February 16th, 1910.'
E. N. Bloomfield (1911) in the Hastings & East Sussex Naturalist, Vol. I. pp. 304, 306, 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 Kent - Lanius senator badius, Corsican Woodchat, Romney Marsh, June 29th, 1909, first British specimen.'
Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.
