British Baikals?

Hi all

A few people have contacted us about the recent "teaser" from the BOU that Baikal Teal will be upgraded to Category A of the British List in the 38th report of the BOU Records Committee, due out in Ibis early in 2010. The announcement (which relates mostly to changes to Category D of the British List) does not state which individual(s) have led to this change in status for Baikal Teal, although many suspect it to be the Minsmere bird late in 2001.

So, the question for BUBO Listing is, do we make it available for addition to British BOU Lists (and Britain & Ireland lists, Suffolk lists, etc) immediately, or should we wait until we see the full announcement. Well, we try to be fairly democratic about such things, so what do folk think?

Cheers

Andy

Hi Andy

As BOU have de facto already announced that Baikal Teal is going on to Category A then I would have thought you could add it to the BUBO list in the same way you have for other 'pending' species. As you know, they usually pick one individual deemed to be the first acceptable record. Subsequent records are assessed by BBRC in the usual way. I guess the previously published birds at present on Category D (at least post the first 'acceptable' individual) are likely to be elevated to A. One could speculate that the stable isotope results from the recent Danish bird influenced this process.

If BBRC subsequently decides not to publish some individuals then you could deem them 'not countable' at some future date.

all the best

John Martin

Hi Andy

I would add it now. In the absence of changing the lists to purely accepted records (and even then you still have the issue of disagreements on the timing of any such sightings - such as my Royal Tern sighting at 8.10pm on 20.06.09!), you will always have individuals adding non-accepted individuals - such as Hooded Mergansers and Great Bustards. So I see nothing to wait for.

My money is that there will be a record accepted predating the Minsmere bird - though I'm still failing to find out which records survived the Ibis 135:495 review and were placed in Category D at that stage. The article is not available free on-line alas.

Regards

Paul

Paul Chapman wrote:

I'm still failing to find out which records survived the Ibis 135:495 review and were placed in Category D at that stage.

Regards

Paul

Paul, just three records - Loch Spynie 5 Feb 1958, Brownsea Island 1 Jan 1969 and Caerlaverlock 19 Feb - 17 Apr 1973. Two early records (Essex 1906 and Norfolk 1929) were felt to be escapes, and for all other claims, the identification was regarded as unproven.

Steve

Thanks Steve

Yes, the three you mention were those that initially "made the cut". Note that the Loch Spynie bird was shot and the Brownsea Island bird was caught and ringed.

Since then, the only ones listed as accepted Category D records within BBRC reports are:

Male at Old Hall Marshes, Essex, 28th May to 12th June 1994 {which seems a rather late date for a wild bird?)

1st-winter male at Minsmere, Suffolk, 18th November to 29th December 2001.

OK, I'm convinced of the argument and will add it to BUBO Category A shortly. I just wish I'd been to see the Minsmere bird. Mind you, I was amongst a group of birders who found a female in Belgium in spring 1991, so perhaps I'll treat myself to a Western Pal tick to make up for it...

Cheers

Andy

Looks like the Oxon bird is accepted too, which I'm pleased about, see duffbirder.blogspot.com/2010/10/baikal-teal.html

Thanks to Alan Whitehead for seeking this info out.

Ah yes, thanks Mike, I'd overlooked this. Will alter the "notes" on Baikal Teal to this effect

Cheers

Andy