Blue Rock Thrush

Monticola solitarius (Linnaeus, 1758) (0, 10)

Photo © Bryan Thomas

STATUS

Eurasia and north-west Africa.

OVERVIEW

Earlier records in 1966 (Orkney), 1977 (Sussex) and 1996 (Herts.) were considered escapes with the 1985 and 1987 records initially placed in Category D (Ibis 133: 222). However, two years later the latter two records were admitted into Category A of the British List (Ibis 133: 221).

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BBRC RECORDS

1). 1985 Argyll Skerryvore Lighthouse, SSW of Tiree, first-summer male, 4th to 8th June when found dead, now at Natural History Museum, Tring (BMNH  1986.2.4).

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 79: 585; BOURC (1991), Ibis 133: 222; BOURC (1993), Ibis 135: 221; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 86: 509; R. A. Hume, British Birds 88: 130-132).

2). 1987 Caernarfonshire Moel-y-gest, male, 4th June.

(BOURC (1991), Ibis 133: 222; BOURC (1993), Ibis 135: 221; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 86: 509).

3). 1999 Isles of Scilly Porthloo, St Mary's, male, 14th to 15th October, photo.

(M. S. Scott, Birding World 12 (10): 412-413, photos; Birding World 12 (12): 491, photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 93: 551, plate 330; Isles of Scilly Bird Report 1999: photo; Flood, Hudson & Thomas, 2007: plate 113).

4). 1999 Cornwall Cot Valley, St Just, male, 25th October; possibly same as Scilly.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 93: 551).

5). 2000 Cornwall Geevor, Pendeen, first-summer female, 14th to 18th May, photo.

(M. Southam, Birding World 13 (5): 196-197, photos; Birding World 13 (12): 489, photo; British Birds 93: plate 191; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 94: 488; Birds in Cornwall 2000: photo).

6). 2007 Radnorshire Caban Quarry, Elan Valley, male, 11th April, photo.

(S. Bridgman, Birding World 20 (4): 149, photos; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 101: 559; S. Bridgman, Welsh Birds 5: 355).

7.0). 2016 Gloucestershire Stow-on-the-Wold, 2CY+ male, 14th December to 4th April 2017, photo, DNA analysis; also in Sussex.

(British Birds 110: plate 55; C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 110: 613, plate 339; C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 111: 606).

7.1). 2017 Sussex Belle Tout, Beachy Head, 3CY+ male, 6th April, photo; same as Gloucestershire.

(C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 111: 607, plate 395).

8). 2019 Isles of Scilly Garrison to Giant's Castle, 1CY, female, 22nd September to 28th October, photo.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 113: 636, plate 385).

9). 2019 Orkney Lamb Holm Quarry, Lamb Holm, 1CY, male, 8th to 18th November, photo.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 113: 636).

P). 2022 Essex The Naze, male, 12th May, photo.

(birding information services).

10). 2022 Norfolk Winterton-on-Sea, first-winter, 20th October, photo.

(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 116: 588).