White-winged Snowfinch
Montifringilla nivalis (Linnaeus, 1766)
Photo © By Wald1siedel - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=66421985
STATUS
Eurasia. Polytypic.
OVERVIEW
Species not admitted nationally (BOU 1971).
NOT PROVEN
0). 1905 Sussex Rye Harbour, adult male, seen, 21st February, shot, 22nd February.
(W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 15: 58; Ed., Field 8th Apr., 1905: 591; M. J. Nicoll, Ibis 1905: 647-648; H. Saunders, British Birds 1: 13; Walpole-Bond, 1938).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Editor (1905) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XV. p. 58, at the 113th Meeting of the Club held on 15th March 1905 at the Restaurant Frascati, London, says: 'Mr. M. J. Nicoll exhibited a mounted example of the Snowfinch (Montifringilla nivalis), new to the British list, which had been shot at Rye Harbour, Sussex, on February 22nd, 1905. The bird was an adult male. He remarked: - "On the previous day I was shooting at Rye Harbour and I saw this same bird amongst a large flock of Sky Larks. It was exceedingly wild, and finally it flew across the harbour. It was shot next day and forwarded to Mr. Bristow, of St. Leonards, who showed it to me in the flesh. There had been a north-easterly gale blowing for three days, accompanied by heavy hailstorms. The flight of the bird somewhat resembled that of a Lark, and was much less buoyant than that of a Snow Bunting".'
In an Editorial (1905) in The Field of 8th Apr., Vol. CV. p. 591, he quotes from the above.
M. J. Nicoll (1905) in The Ibis, Vol. XLVII. pp. 647-648, says: 'At a meeting of the B. O. Club held on March 15th of this year, I had the pleasure of exhibiting an adult male example of the Snow Finch (Montifringilla nivalis) which had been shot at Rye Harbour, Sussex, on February 22nd. On the day previous, while shooting at Rye, I saw this bird amongst a large flock of Skylarks; but owing to its excessive shyness, I was unable to secure it. The next day, however, the bird was shot and sent to Mr. Bristow, of St. Leonard's, for preservation, and I had the good fortune to examine it in the flesh. When seen alive this bird appeared to me to be not unlike a Snow Bunting, but the flight was much less buoyant than that of the latter species. The occurrence of this bird, new to the British list, is of interest, as it is a bird which is said to have no proper migrations, but merely descends from the highest mountain-ranges of Europe to the lower lying districts in winter....A strong north-easterly gale had been blowing for three days, accompanied by heavy hailstorms. The bird obtained at Rye is, I believe, in the possession of the man who shot it.'
Howard Saunders (1907) in British Birds, Vol. I. p. 13, under 'Additions to the List of British Birds since 1899,' says: 'On February 22nd, 1905, an adult male of this Alpine species was shot at Rye Harbour, Sussex, and shown in the flesh to Mr. M. J . Nicoll, who was on the look-out for the bird, having noticed it among a large flock of Skylarks the previous day. It was duly exhibited (Bull. B.O.C., XV. p. 58). Two occurrences of this bird at Heligoland are on record; one in the north of France (near Amiens); and a few in Germany, at more or less distance from the Alpine ranges. On both sides of the Pyrenees also a wanderer has now and then been noticed, but there is no migration.'
Accepted locally (Walpole-Bond 1938 (1): 117).
Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.
0). 1906 Kent Paddock Wood, two, shot, 28th December, one now at Leicester Arts & Museums (Acc. No. Z28.2006.133.1).
(N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 1: 189; Ticehurst, 1909; Harrison, 1953; A. H. J. Harrop, British Birds 111: 228-230).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History N. F. Ticehurst (1907) in British Birds, Vol. I. p. 189, says: 'The spell of cold weather that swept across Europe at the end of last year resulted in one of the most remarkable daylight migrations that has ever been witnessed in the south of England. Amongst other birds procured at this time was a specimen of the Snow-Finch (Montifringilla nivalis), the second that has been obtained in this country (cf. H. Saunders, supra, p. 13). It was shot from a flock of four or five similar-looking birds (whether of the same species or not, I do not know) at Paddock Wood, in Kent, on December 28th, 1906. I examined the bird in the flesh, and still in a quite fresh condition, on January 2nd. A second was, I believe, procured at the same time, but as I have no personal knowledge of it I do not venture to record it.'
Ticehurst (1909: 151-152) says: 'In the winter of 1906 an unusually severe spell of cold swept over continental Europe and reached this island on December 20th. On the 26th of that month commenced one of the most remarkable daylight migrations from east to west that has ever been witnessed in the south-eastern counties. Many species of Passeres and waders were seen passing over in large and small flocks in a continual stream on that and the two following days. On December 28th two men were taking advantage of this great influx of small birds, frozen and half-starved as they were, to have a day's easy "sport" in the neighbourhood of Paddock Wood. In the course of their walk they were attracted by a small flock of four or five birds with white in their wings, and they succeeded in shooting two of them. Not knowing what they were, they sent them to Mr. Bristow, who received them on January 2nd, 1907, and kindly brought one of them to me in the flesh. It was then perfectly fresh, the legs and eyes being quite soft, and I was able to match it exactly with a skin of the Snow-Finch in my possession. I afterwards recorded this bird in British Birds (Mag.), I. p. 189; the second specimen I did not see.'
Comment Hastings rarities. Not acceptable.
0). 1916 Sussex Rye Harbour, three: male and two females, obtained, 28th February, one female now at Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery (Acc. No. 1962Z10.466).
(J. B. Nichols, British Birds 12: 66-67; Walpole-Bond, 1938; Watson, 2010).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History J. B. Nichols (1918) in British Birds, Vol. XII. pp. 66-67, says: 'Three Snow Finches (Montifringilla n. nivalis) were shot at Rye, Sussex, on February 28th, 1916. They proved to be a male and two females, and were examined in the flesh by Mr. W. Ruskin Butterfield. All three are now in my collection. Only three specimens of this species have previously been obtained, one from Sussex and two from Kent.'
Accepted locally by Walpole-Bond (1938 (1): 117) who adds: '...the male is now in the Booth Museum, Brighton.'
Watson (2010) in detailing the J. L. Auden collection in the Birmingham Museum lists a female specimen that was obtained at Rye, Sussex, on 28th February 1916, adding that it was bought from J. B. Nichols who had bought it from G. Bristow on 11th March 1916.
Comment Hastings rarities. Not acceptable.
0). 1945 Sussex Alexandra Park, Hastings, five, seen, 31st January.
(N. F. Ticehurst, Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist 7: 12).
[KAN].
History N. F. Ticehurst (1946) in the Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist, Vol. VII. p. 12, says: 'A party (5) seen, perched on branches overhanging Harmer's Pond, Alexandra Park, Jan. 31st (G. Bristow). This makes the third record for our area and the fourth in England. Mr. Bristow knows the bird well, having preserved all the others, while the only possible confusion could be with Snow Buntings, which, besides being noticeably larger, would not be found in such a habitat.'
Comment George Bristow was a taxidermist at the centre of the 'Hastings rarities' fraud (E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-336).
