Rüppell's Warbler
Sylvia ruppeli Temminck, 1823
Photo © Kris Webb
STATUS
Eurasia. Monotypic.
OVERVIEW
Species not admitted nationally during the period covered (BOU 1971).
NOT PROVEN
0). 1914 Sussex Baldslow, two, males, obtained, 5th May, one now at Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery (Acc. No. 1962Z10.670).
(H. W. Ford Lindsay, Country Life 35: 821 (30th May 1914); H. W. Ford-Lindsay, British Birds 8: 93-94; BOURC (1918), Ibis 60: 236; Walpole-Bond, 1938; Watson, 2010).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History H. W. Ford-Lindsay (1914) in British Birds, Vol. VIII. pp. 93-94, says: 'On May 6th, 1914, I was shown a couple of small birds in the flesh that had been obtained the previous day in an old stone-quarry at Baldslow, Hastings, Sussex. Upon examination, I came to the conclusion that they were undoubtedly examples of the rare Rüppell's Warbler (Sylvia ruppelli). Not having any work giving an illustration of this species, I took one of the birds after it had been set up to Mr. T. Parkin, who supported my theory that it was a Rüppell's Warbler. On referring to Dresser's Birds of Europe, we found a very good plate given, and there could be no doubt about the species. It seems remarkable that these two birds should have wandered so far west, but I consider that the unusual heat and absence of wind at this period had a very marked effect on migrating birds. This view is strengthened by the fact that a large number of rare birds were recorded about this time. Living as I do on the south coast, and having studied the movements of migrants on arrival and departure for many years, I am convinced that we get more erratic visitors during a period of excessive heat and no wind. Such birds I always look upon as wanderers, and of more interest than those that are blown ashore in a gale, and are, after all, only blown out of their course and naturally alight if lucky enough to reach land. In the case of these two Rüppell's Warblers, the place where they were shot was just the spot for any wanderers to our coasts to drop in, being a very large, open, disused stone-quarry, situated in the midst of a very large wood, and overgrown with brambles and thick undergrowth, the accumulation of years. In addition to having seen the birds in the flesh, I happen to know the man who shot them, and am quite satisfied with the result of an interview I have had with him on the subject. The photograph, of which a reproduction is given here, I took as soon as the bird was mounted. It gives a very good idea of the original and may be interesting to many, as very few even of the most expensive works give an illustration of this species.'
Admitted nationally in the First List Report as the first for Britain (BOURC (1918) Ibis 60: 236).
Accepted locally (Walpole-Bond (1938 (2): 42).
Watson (2010) in detailing the J. L. Auden collection in the Birmingham Museum lists a male specimen that was obtained at Baldslow, Hastings, Sussex, on 5th May 1914, adding that it was bought at the sale of J. B. Nichols collection who had bought it from G. Bristow during May 1914.
Comment Hastings rarities. Not acceptable.
