Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

Merops persicus Pallas, 1773 (1, 10)

Photo © Kris Webb

STATUS

Egypt and the Middle East to Kazakhstan and western India. Polytypic.

OVERVIEW

The first record was discovered by John Parslow nearly forty-one years later in the Tresco Abbey collection, predating the 1951 record that was already accepted as the first for Britain.

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BBRC RECORDS

1). 1921 Isles of Scilly St Mary's, adult, shot, 13th July, M. p. persicus, photo, now at Isles of Scilly Museum.

(J. L. F. Parslow, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 92: 57-59; BOURC (1972), Ibis 114: 446; Penhallurick, 1978; BOURC (2003), Ibis 145: 178-183; Flood, Hudson & Thomas, 2007: plate 94).

2). 1951 Isles of Scilly St Agnes, adult, 22nd June.

(H. Quick, British Birds 45: 225-227; H. M. Quick, Cornwall Bird Watching & Preservation Society Report 1951: 41-42; BOURC (1956), Ibis 98: 154; Quick, 1964; Penhallurick, 1978).

3). 1982 Cambridgeshire Peterborough, Huntingdonshire, adult, 17th September.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 78: 564).

4). 1987 Devon Otter Estuary, 30th June to 2nd July.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 82: 535).

5). 1989 Cornwall Kennack Sands and Cadgwith, 1st June.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 83: 471).

6.0). 1989 Yorkshire Cowden, 8th to 10th July, possibly since 25th June, photo; also in Lincolnshire.

(S. J. M. Gantlett, Birding World 2: 242-243, photo; Birding World 2 (8): 273, photos; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 83: 471).

6.1). 1989 Lincolnshire Leverton Marsh, 12th July; presumed same as Yorkshire individual.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 83: 471; Mr. & Mrs. R. Humberston, Lincolnshire Bird Report 1989: 67).

7). 1989 Kent Church Hougham, 18th July.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 83: 471).

8). 1997 Shetland Bressay, 20th June; same, Asta, Tingwall Valley and Lerwick area, Mainland, 20th June to 3rd July, photo.

(K. Osborn, Birding World 10 (6): 220-221, photos; Birding World 10 (7): 249, photo; Birding World 10 (12): 473, photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 91: 497, plate 128; Birding Scotland 2 (2): plate 36; Birding Scotland 6 (2): plate 69; Birding Scotland 8 (3): plate 109; Shetland Bird Report 1997: photo; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007: photo).

9.0). 2009 Hampshire Needs Ore, 21st June, photo; also in Devon.

(C. Dawson, A. Dawson, S. Powles & J. Chantler, Birding World 22 (7): 280-282, plate 1; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 103: 604).

9.1). 2009 Devon Braunton Burrows, 30th June, photo; presumed same as Hampshire.

(C. Dawson, A. Dawson, S. Powles & J. Chantler, Birding World 22 (7): 280-282, plates 2 & 3; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 103: 604).

10). 2009 Kent Bockhill Farm, St Margaret's, adult, 22nd July, photo.

(Birding World 22 (7): 266, photo; C. Dawson, A. Dawson, S. Powles & J. Chantler, Birding World 22 (7): 280-282, plate 4; British Birds 102: plate 353; Birding World 22 (12): 502, photo; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 103: 604, plate 328).

11). 2019 Highland Achnahaird, Achiltibuie, Ross & Cromarty, 2CY+, 23rd June, photo.

(S. Edwards, Scottish Birds 40: 81, plate 59; C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 113: 616).

P). 2023 Shetland Ham, Foula, 10th June, photo.

(D. Atherton & G. Atherton, Scottish Birds 43: 285-286, plates 231 & 232).