Collared, Black-winged, Oriental and Pratincole sp. updated (7th March 2024).

New first specimens of Collared, Black-winged and Oriental Pratincoles have been identified in a review of museum specimens.

Shrike species resequenced (February 2024).

Little Egret (updated 17th September 2023).

An extant 1822 Dorset specimen now becomes the first for Britain.

Snowy Owl (updated 25th July 2023).

1855 Outer Hebrides Benbecula, shot, 21st October added as an overlooked record.

Gyr Falcon (updated 25th July 2023).

1844 Outer Hebrides now found to be acceptable after further information.

1921 Outer Hebrides now found to be acceptable after further information.

Great Bustard (updated 4th February 2022).

The 1870 Devon record should have read eight individuals not seven.

Great Snipe (updated 4th February 2022).

Two Not proven records added: 1931 and 1933 Devon.

Great Auk (updated 4th February 2022).

Two records for Devon added.

European Roller (updated 29th November 2022).

Two records from Kent have been moved from the not proven page to acceptable on consideration of further evidence: Pre 1844 and 1884, while a hitherto unknown record for 1933 for the same county has been found in Norman Ticehurst’s diary notes.

Black-crowned Night Heron (updated 24th May 2022).

The 1901 Hampshire record is now considered one and the same as the 1880 Hampshire record which was found unacceptable, but is now acceptable with further new information.

Sooty Tern (updated 29th January 2022).

The 1935 Kent record is deemed unacceptable by the Kent Ornithological Society and reduces the total by one.

Whiskered Tern (updated 27th January 2022).

The 1905 not proven Kent record has had both references amended and remains unacceptable.

Gull-billed Tern (updated 23rd January 2022).

After a review of the earlier records the Kent record prior to 1824 has been found to be acceptable and is an addition to the total.

American Bittern (updated 30th December 2021)

Geoff Dobbs who is editing a new Birds of Yorkshire has fresh information regarding the two Yorkshire records (1862 and 1871) which I have now reinstated as acceptable records.

Snowy Owl (updated 28th September 2021)

The pre 1950 total is reduced by one to 192 after the author was informed by the Welsh Orn. Soc. that the 1902-03 Carmarthenshire record in no longer acceptable.

Rosy Starling (updated 27th September 2021)

The 1838 Dorset record was amended to 1841 with other details updated as were the details of the 1862 Dorset record.

Western Black-eared Wheatear (updated 27th September 2021)

The 1917 Sussex male ‘Hastings Rarity’ has had its details updated.

Baillon’s Crake (updated 27th September 2021)

Seven records from the Christchurch area, Dorset have had their details updated. Years involved are , 1863, 1866, 1875, 1886 1894 and a not proven record for 1882. It resulted in two new records to the previous total of 62.

Great Snipe (updated 27th September 2021)

Five records from the Christchurch area, Dorset that occurred in 1849, 1876, 1878, 14th Sep., 1880 and 1883 have all had their details updated.

Surf Scoter (updated 27th September 2021)

The 1876 Orkney record has had its details updated.

Hooded Merganser (updated 27th September 2021)

The 1854 Not proven Dorset record has had its details updated.

Whiskered Tern (updated 27th September 2021)

The 1875 Dorset record has had its details updated.

Ivory Gull (updated 26th September 2021)

A adult male from 1878 Dorset has been added but is very suspicious as it is without location, month and was not recorded in the literature of the day.

Spotted Sandpiper (updated 26th September 2021)

The record forming 1880 Sussex has just been located in the Horniman Museum and probable relates to more ‘Hastings Rarities’.

Common Crane (updated 26th September 2021)

The 1825 Dorset record has been found to be an error for the 1852 Dorset record, so both records have had their details amended.

Woodchat Shrike (updated 25th September 2021)

The 1875 Hampshire record has had its details updated and a new record added is of one in Dorset in 1880.

European Bee-eater (updated 25th September 2021)

The 1888 Dorset record has had its details updated.

Pine Grosbeak (updated 25th September 2021)

The 1864 Hampshire record has had its history amended and I have added a Pre 1876 Hampshire not proven record.

Parrot Crossbill (updated 24th September 2021)

The 1862 Dorset record has had its details updated and two individuals in 1874 and 1901 in Dorset have been added to the Not proven section.

Eagle Owl (updated 24th September 2021)

1855 Hampshire record details updated.

Nutcracker (updated 24th September 2021)

The 1846 Hampshire individual found residing at the Horniman Museum is a new record. The 1868 Dorset record has had the details updated.

European Roller (updated 24th September 2021)

The 1874 Dorset record has had the details updated.

Black-winged Stilt (updated 24th September 2021)

The 1873 Dorset record has had the details updated.

Little Bittern (updated 24th September 2021)

The May 1869 Dorset record and the 1878 Dorset record have had their details updated.

Glossy Ibis (updated 23rd September 2021)

The 1876 Dorset record has had the details updated which also includes an extra individual.

White-winged Tern (updated 23rd September 2021)

The two 1883 Dorset records have had their details updated while extra information on the 1886 Dorset record now has the correct locality which is in Hampshire and becomes their first record. Also, for completeness some overlooked not proven Hampshire records have been added: 1883 (3), 1892 and 1897 (3).

Ferruginous Duck (updated 23rd September 2021)

After further evidence the c. 1875 Hampshire record is now reinstated under Cat. A. The 1861, 1865 and 1879 Dorset records under Cat. A have had some details updated, the 1861 record being misrecorded as 1881.

Little Egret (updated 21st September 2021)

The 1822 Dorset record currently unacceptable has been submitted as a potential first for Britian on new information being discovered by John Clark, with the record being updated accordingly.

Alpine Accentor (updated 10th September 2021).

The Christchurch (Dorset) record has now been proved to have occurred in 1885 and was an adult male. It is now the fourth occurrence instead of third.

Great Reed Warbler (updated 27th August 2021)

1884 Hampshire Ringwood, male, shot, 3rd June.

This record was originally overlooked by the Hampshire Records Committee and as such was found not proven by me as it was not accepted locally. However, they have informed me that having found this record on HRB they see no reason not to accept it, and as such it now becomes the fifth for Britain.

Collared Pratincole (updated 1st July 2021)

1805 Lancashire & North Merseyside North Meols, obtained, April.

There were varying dates and sites of capture but a recent announcement on the BOU web site has now found the definitive date with a extant specimen.