Great Bustard
Chlamydotis tarda Linnaeus, 1758 (64, 21)
Photo © Kris Webb
STATUS
Palearctic. Polytypic.
OVERVIEW
This species has been added here because of its rarity status since 1950, with just eleven records of twenty-one individuals. In 2004 the Great Bustard was introduced onto Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, where it has since bred. Individuals from this program being found as far away as Kent.
RECORDS
1). 1963 Norfolk South Creake, female, found dead beneath power cables, 28th March, now at Castle Museum, Norwich.
(M. J. Seago, British Birds 57: 181-182; D. D. Harber and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 57: 267).
2). 1970 Kent Rockhill Farm, St Margaret's Bay, two, 11th January.
(F. R. Smith and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 64: 349).
4). 1970 Fair Isle Reeva, adult female, 11th January, caught 16th January and released 24th February, photo; it was caught again on 5th March and kept in captivity until 6th April when it was removed from the island unable to survive in the wild and taken to a wildlife park in Buckinghamshire.
(F. R. Smith and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 64: 349; R. H. Dennis, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report 1970: plate 6; R. H. Dennis, Scottish Birds 6: 171-173, plate 12; Birding Scotland 6 (2): plate 66; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007: photos).
5). 1977 Gloucestershire Flying South over Leckhampton and Leckhampton Hill, adult, 24th May.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 71: 498).
6). 1978 Kent St Nicholas-at-Wade, Thanet, first-winter male, 7th January to 8th April, again, 9th April, photo.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 72: 519; Kent Bird Report 1978: photo; J. N. Hollyer, British Birds 73: 220; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 73: 505, corr., plate 217; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 83: 460).
7). 1979 Norfolk Horsey, adult male, 26th February, photo.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 73: 505).
8) 1979 Norfolk Bacton, two, 2nd March.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 73: 505).
10). 1981 Kent Walland Marsh, three, 20th December.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 75: 498).
13). 1981 Kent High Halstow, one, 29th to 30th December.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 75: 498).
14). 1987 Suffolk Various localities, five at least, probably six, possibly nine: Harkstead, four males 16th to 20th January; three of same, Kirton and Waldringfield area, 18th January to 7th February; presumed same, Theberton, 11th to 21st February; presumed same, Sizewell Levels, Minsmere and Blythburgh, all briefly; also 21st February; Horsham, two males 14th to 28th February; presumed same, Benacre and Kessingland, 7th March; probably one of above, Sudbourne, immature male, 7th March.
(Eds., Twitching 1: 37-38; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 81: 554; Suffolk Bird Report 1987: photos).
19). 1987 Norfolk New Buckenham, two, immature males, 7th to 10th February.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 81: 554; D. A. Dorling, Norfolk Bird & Mammal Report 1987: 97-98).
