Cretzschmar's Bunting
Emberiza caesia Cretzschmar, 1827 (0, 7)
Photo © Phil Woollen - Fair Isle, 2 May 2014
STATUS
Greece and west, south Turkey to Israel and Jordan. Monotypic.
OVERVIEW
Spring arrivals date from 27th April to 10th June. There is just one autumn record that occurred in mid-September in the northern isles. Six were males with just the lone female.
BBRC RECORDS
1). 1967 Fair Isle Gaila, first-summer male, 10th, 14th and 18th to 20th June, trapped 14th June, photo.
(F. R. Smith and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 61: 359; R. H. Dennis, British Birds 62: 144-148, plate 26; R. H. Dennis, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin 5: 232-233; BOURC (1971), Ibis 113: 144; M. Grantham, Birding World 18 (5): 219; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007: photo).
2). 1979 Fair Isle Gully and Bull's Park, male, 9th to 10th June.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 73: 528; I. S. Robertson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report 1979: 20; W. E. Oddie, British Birds 74: 532-533).
3). 1998 Orkney Stronsay, male, 14th to 18th May, photo.
(J. F. Holloway, Birding World 11 (5): 192-193; Birding World 11 (6): 210, photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 94: 499).
4). 2008 Orkney Sangar, North Ronaldsay, first-winter male, 19th to 21st September, photo.
(Birding World 21 (9): 354, photo; P. Donnelly, Birding World 21 (9): 384-386, plates 1-5; British Birds 101: plate 352; Birding World 21 (12): 509, photo; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 102: 594, plate 393; Scottish Birds 31: plate 141).
5). 2014 Fair Isle Burkle, then Boini Mire, male, 27th April to 2nd May, photo.
(British Birds 107: plate 197; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 108: 626, plate 373).
6). 2015 Caernarfonshire Bardsey, 2CY+ male, in song, 10th to 20th June, photo.
(British Birds 108: plate 281; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 109: 624, plate 348).
7). 2019 Suffolk Minsmere, 2CY+, female, 31st May, photo.
(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 113: 647, plate 395).
