American Cliff Swallow

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota (Vieillot, 1817) (0, 13)

Photo © Kris Webb - Salakee, St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, August 2024

STATUS

Alaska to north-western Mexico. Polytypic.

OVERVIEW

Isles of Scilly with six records and two pending is still the leading area to see this Nearctic hirundine.

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BBRC RECORDS

1). 1983 Isles of Scilly St Agnes, juvenile, 10th October; same, Garrison, St Mary's, 10th October; same, Lower Moors, Higher Moors/Longstone area, St Mary's, 11th to 27th October, photo.

(British Birds 77: plates 14-15; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 80: 550; M. J. Crosby, Isles of Scilly Bird Report 1983: 64-65; M. J. Crosby, British Birds 81: 449-452, plate 216; BOURC (1988), Ibis 130: 334; Flood, Hudson & Thomas, 2007: plate 99).

2). 1988 Cleveland/Yorkshire South Gare, juvenile, 23rd October.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 82: 537; R. Little, British Birds 83: 504-506).

3). 1995 Yorkshire Spurn, juvenile, 22nd to 23rd, 28th October, photo.

(Birding World 8 (11): 409, photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 89: 512).

4). 1995 Isles of Scilly Abbey Gardens, Tresco, juvenile, 4th to 5th December, photo.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 89: 512).

5). 1996 Sussex Church Norton, juvenile, 1st October.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 91: 498).

6). 2000 Isles of Scilly Garrison, St Mary's, 28th to 30th September, photo.

(Birding World 13 (9): 349, photo; Birding World 13 (12): 484, photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 94: 483; Isles of Scilly Bird and Natural History Review 2000: plate 7; Flood, Hudson & Thomas, 2007: plate 99).

7). 2000 Dorset Portland: The Verne, 29th to 30th September, photo.

(Birding World 13 (10): 389, photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 94: 483).

8). 2000 Hampshire Titchfield Haven, 1st October; possibly same as Portland, Dorset, 29th to 30th September.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 95: 504; D. Powell, Hampshire Bird Report 2000: 162-164).

9). 2001 Isles of Scilly St Agnes, first-winter, 26th October, photo; same, St Martin's, 26th to 27th October; same, St Mary's, 28th to 30th October, photo.

(Birding World 14 (12): 504, photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 95: 504; Flood, Hudson & Thomas, 2007: plate 99).

10). 2016 Isles of Scilly Porth Hellick, St Mary's, 2CY+, 6th to 10th September, photo.

(C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 110: 597, plate 326).

11). 2016 Suffolk Minsmere RSPB, 1CY, 4th to 6th November, photo.

(British Birds 109: 406; C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 110: 597).

12). 2017 Isles of Scilly Great Pool, Tresco and Airfield, St Mary's, 1CY, 2nd to 6th October, photo.

(C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 111: 594, plate 385).

13). 2019 Highland Milovaig Pier, Skye, Skye & Lochalsh, 2CY+, 27th August, photo.

(Scottish Birds 39: plate 317; S. Langlois Lopez, Scottish Birds 40: 88-90, plates 63-67; C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 113: 620, plate 369).

P). 2023 Kent Joss Bay, North Foreland, 19th to 20th September, photo.

(birding information services).

P). 2023 Isles of Scilly Porth Hellick, St Mary’s, 20th September.

(birding information services).

P). 2023 East Glamorgan Sker Point, 22nd September.

(birding information services).

P). 2023 Devon Lundy, 29th September.

(birding information services).

P). 2024 Isles of Scilly Porth Hellick area, St Mary’s, 7th to 12th August, photo.

(British Birds 117: plate 397).

P). 2024 Outer Hebrides Hirta, St Kilda, 11th to 12th August, photo.

(C. Nisbet & T. Wallis, Scottish Birds 44: 378-380, plates 299-302).