Sykes's Wagtail
Motacilla flava beema (Sykes, 1832)
Photo © By J.M.Garg - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2903005
Sub-species
STATUS
Southwest Siberia and northeast Kazakhstan to western Himalayas.
OVERVIEW
BOU (1971) mention three records: Fair Isle (May 1910) and in Sussex (May 1923, April 1939) with several sight records mainly from southeast England.
Following a review of the five records of M. f. beema (Sykes’s Wagtail) identifications were considered unacceptable or inconclusive and the subspecies beema was deleted from the British List. (BOURC (2010) Ibis 152: 200-201).
NOT PROVEN
0). 1894 Norfolk Hickling Broad, adult pair, bred, obtained, 11th June, now at Castle Museum, Norwich.
(B. B. Riviere, British Birds 29: 286-287; Taylor, Seago, Allard & Dorling, 1999).
[BOURC (2010), Ibis 152: 200-201].
History B. B. Riviere (1936) in British Birds, Vol. XXIX. pp. 286-287, says: 'Mr. E. C. Arnold's extremely interesting record of the breeding in the south-east counties of Blue-headed Wagtails of the type of Motacilla flava beema (antea, p. 199), and the further notes on the subject by Dr. N. F. Ticehurst and Mr. Walmsley White (antea, pp. 239-241), have prompted me to re-examine the male of a pair of Blue-headed Wagtails in the Norwich Museum, which together with their nest and eggs, were obtained by Mr. R. Vincent at Hickling, Norfolk, on June 11th, 1894. Some years ago both birds were seen by Mr. Witherby, who then thought that the female was a Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava rayi) and the male an unusually pale-headed and much worn Motacilla f. flava. The crown of the latter is of a very pale lavender-grey, darkening slightly towards the nape. The eye stripe is conspicuous and pure white. The posterior portion of the ear-coverts is of the same shade of grey as the nape, but more anteriorly - at about the centre - is a much paler patch which might be described as "dirty white". Both from the description and coloured plate in the Practical Handbook, this bird appears to correspond exactly to Motacilla f. beema, and I think there can be little doubt that it is of the same type as those recorded by Mr. Arnold.'
0). 1898 Sussex Near Rottingdean, male, obtained, 20th April.
(W. R. Butterfield, Zoologist 1902: 232; Witherby, 1920-24).
[H. Saunders, British Birds 1: 11; BOURC (2010), Ibis 152: 200-201].
History W. Ruskin Butterfield (1902) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. VI. p. 232, says: 'In this Journal for 1901, p. 389, I recorded an instance of the breeding of the Blue -headed Wagtail near Winchelsea, in this county, and stated, on the authority of Mr. H. E. Dresser, that the birds came nearest to the form described by Sykes as Motacilla beema. Shortly afterwards Mr. Ernst Hartert informed me that there was a Wagtail in the Tring Museum which from the first he had assigned to Sykes's subspecies. I have had the privilege of examining this specimen (a male, shot near Rottingdean, April 20th, 1898), and after carefully comparing it with the original description, and with skins of allied forms, I fully agree with Mr. Hartert's identification.'
H. Saunders (1907) in British Birds, Vol. I. p. 11, placing the record in square brackets, says: 'Later (Zool., 1902, p. 232) Mr. Butterfield joins Dr. Hartert in identifying with M. beema a male which had been obtained near Rottingdean, Sussex, as long ago as April 20th, 1898. Mr. Dresser's latest concrete opinion now is that "M. beema is unworthy of even subspecific rank" (Man. Palearctic B., p. 206).'
Admitted nationally (Witherby 1920 (1): 196).
0). 1901 Sussex Winchelsea, 31st May.
(W. R. Butterfield, Zoologist 1901: 389).
[Witherby et al., 1938-41].
History W. Ruskin Butterfield (1901) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. V. p. 389, says: 'A nest of the Blue-headed Wagtail, containing four eggs, was found in a turnip-field near Winchelsea on May 31st, 1901, by Mr. George Bristow, Jun. Three of the eggs were accidentally broken, but the remaining egg (unblown), together with the nest and the parents, have been examined by Mr. H. E. Dresser, Mr. Thomas Parkin, and the present writer. Mr. Dresser kindly writes that the birds "come nearest to Motacilla beema, Sykes [Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1832, p. 90; cf. Sharpe, Cat. Birds, Brit. Mus., X. p. 521, pl. vi. fig. 6 (head only)], which species, or rather subspecies, differs from M. flava in having the cheeks white, with only a broad blue streak through the eye....Sharpe gives the range as Eastern Siberia, India, &c.; but it has been obtained several times in Southern Europe".'
0). 1905 Sussex Near Ewhurst, male, 4th June.
(W. R. Butterfield, Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist 1: 41; Walpole-Bond, 1938).
[Witherby et al., 1938-41].
History Walpole-Bond (1938) states that on 4th June 1905 in the Rother Valley below Ewhurst a specimen seen by Drs. N. F. and C. B. Ticehurst was considered to be M. flava flava because of the washed-out hood, but M. J. Nicoll was adamant it was M. f. beema.
0). 1908 Kent Rother Valley, male, 19th June.
(E. C. Arnold, British Birds 29: 199-200; W. R. Butterfield, Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist 5: 126).
[Witherby et al., 1938-41].
History E. C. Arnold (1935) in British Birds, Vol. XXIX. p. 199, says: '...It seems, then, quite probable that birds of this form have nested or attempted to nest five times in this area, and the question now arises, whether some of the birds previously reported as nesting examples of the Blue-headed (Motacilla f. flava) may not really have been M. f. beema. In support of this I may state that Dr. C. B. Ticehurst has now labelled as M. f. beema a male bird killed in Kent on June 19th, 1908, when accompanying a brood. This bird was wrongly stated to be a female and was reported at the time as a very worn aberrant specimen of M. flava (Bull. B.O.C., Vol. XXIII. p. 53)...'
0). 1910 Fair Isle No locality, male, shot, 18th May, now at National Museums of Scotland (NMSZ 1910.161.43).
(W. E. Clarke, Scottish Naturalist 33: 153-154; Witherby, 1920-24; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007).
[BOURC (2010), Ibis 152: 200-201].
History W. E. Clarke (1913) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. XXXIII. pp. 153-154, says: 'On the 18th of May 1910 I obtained a fine adult male of this Wagtail, which is the eastern form of Blue-headed Wagtail, and is known to science as Motacilla flava beema. At the time it did not occur to me that it was anything more than a pale-headed example of the western bird; but on working at Fair Isle material a few weeks ago, I came to the conclusion that this was without doubt a very typical specimen of the bird described by Sykes, from an Indian example, in 1832 (P. Z. S., 1832, p. 90) – a decision which was afterwards confirmed by a comparison with specimens in the Tring Museum. This sub species has occurred on one previous occasion only in the British Isles, namely, in Sussex on 20th April 1898; and the Fair Isle bird marks the northern-most limit to its known wanderings.'
Admitted nationally (Witherby 1920 (1): 196).
0). 1923 Sussex Eastbourne, obtained, 5th May.
(E. C. Arnold, British Birds 29: 199-200; Witherby et al., 1938-52; BOU, 1971).
[BOURC (2010), Ibis 152: 200-201].
History E. C. Arnold (1935) in British Birds, Vol. XXIX. pp. 199-200, says: 'Sykes's Wagtail (Motacilla flava beema) has hitherto been on the British list as a rare straggler on migration. It is the purpose of this note to show that it sometimes breeds in the south-east corner of England. I have suggested this ever since May 5th, 1923, when an adult male (now in the collection of Eastbourne College) was obtained in this area while, in company with a female....'
0). 1926 Sussex Rye, male, 31st May.
(N. F. Ticehurst, Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist 4: 26; Walpole-Bond, 1938).
[Witherby et al., 1938-41].
History Walpole-Bond (1938) states that on 31st May 1926 at Rye one was found at a nest by W. Walmsley White.
0). 1932 Sussex No locality, adult male, 14th to 15th July.
(N. F. Ticehurst, Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist 5: 125).
[BOURC (2010), Ibis 152: 200-201].
History N. F. Ticehurst (1936) in the Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist, Vol. V. p. 125, says: 'In his paper referred to above, Mr. E. C. Arnold has shown that this pale headed form, with a very conspicuous white eyestripe and pale grey or white cheeks, has nested several times in our area....It was not until 1932, however, that he came across another. This, an adult male, was seen on July 14th and 15th and appeared to be in company with a well grown young one.'
0). 1933 Sussex No locality, four: pair, 13th May; pair, 3rd June.
(N. F. Ticehurst, Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist 5: 125).
[BOURC (2010), Ibis 152: 200-201].
History N. F. Ticehurst (1936) in the Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist, Vol. V. p. 125, says: 'In his paper referred to above, Mr. E. C. Arnold has shown that this pale headed form, with a very conspicuous white eyestripe and pale grey or white cheeks, has nested several times in our area....In 1933, however, he succeeded in watching a pair to their nest on May 13th. At a later visit the cock bird was found lying dead near by it, and, though an unfortunate occurrence, this enabled a critical examination to be made and the identification placed beyond doubt.. On June 4rd, Mr. Arnold found a second pair of birds, apparently nesting, a few miles away.'
0). 1934 Sussex Pevensey, pair, 12th and 17th May.
(N. F. Ticehurst, Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist 5: 87).
[BOURC (2010), Ibis 152: 200-201].
History N. F. Ticehurst (1934) in the Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist, Vol. V. p. 87, says: 'A pair of birds, identified as belonging to this race, was seen in Pevensey Marsh on May 12th and 17th (E. C. Arnold).'
0). 1935 Sussex Near Eastbourne, two: one, 13th May and one, 3rd June.
(Walpole-Bond, 1938).
[Witherby et al., 1938-41].
History Walpole-Bond (1938 (1): 250-251) says: 'On 13 May 1935 in the vale of Rother E. C. Arnold and R. H. Higgins watched one walk to its nest. At a later date this individual died and was therefore examined by H. F. Witherby, H. Whistler and C. B. Ticehurst who pronounced that it was exactly like one. On 3rd June Arnold found another about a mile away which was apparently nesting.'
0). 1936 Sussex Near Eastbourne, pair, summer.
(Walpole-Bond, 1938).
[Witherby et al., 1938-41].
History Walpole-Bond (1938 (1): 251) says: 'Arnold found this species successfully breeding near Eastbourne in 1936. And, I found one myself in the Rother Valley on 9th June.'
0). 1939 Sussex No locality, obtained, April.
(BOU, 1971).
[BOURC (2010), Ibis 152: 200-201].
History BOU (1971) state that one was in Sussex during April, 1939.
