Discovery of these six 'mega-rare' birds will bring British List to 641 when it is published in January 2025

                                                         

Canada Warbler - photo William Majoros via Wikimedia

 

A FURTHER six species are to be  added to the British List, bringing it to no fewer than 641.

Following deliberation, the rarities committee of the British Ornithologists' Union has accepted records  of the following six species:

* Canada Warbler (Stack Rocks Pembrokeshire, September 23, 2023)

* Soft-plumaged Petrel (Flamborough Head, Yorkshire,  July 1, 2021)

 * Band-rumped/ Madeiran Storm-petrel (off Bishop’s Rock, Scilly Isles, November 16, 2021)

* Grey-headed Lapwing ( Low Newton-by-the-Sea, May 1, 2023)

* Black-winged Kite (Glan-Mule, Montgomeryshire April 18, 2023)

* Western Olivaceous Warbler  (Skibberhoull, Whalsay, Shetland, October 20, 2023)

The most curious of these records is that of  the Band-rumped/ Madeiran Storm-petrel.

It was not actually seen in British waters, but was located off the Scillies by virtue of having been logged via a GPS tag attached to it on the island of Tenerife in the Canaries earlier that month.

The additions are due be published by the BOU in its journal, Ibis, in January next year.

                                                                

Grey-headed Lapwing - photo Alpsdake via Wikimedia Commons