Madeiran Petrel = 600???

Hi all

Following several recent claims from south-west England, Madeiran Storm-petrel has been added to the BOU list as a pending species. We have currently added it as the formerly-recognised species Oceanodroma castro, although note that some authorities are now splitting this species into several cryptic species (which, it is probably fair to say, might be quite challenging to separate on a seawatch off Cornwall...)

If the BOU reject the recent records, then we will remove any pending additions. Moreover, if they accept the records but change the taxonomy to recognise the wider "Band-rumped Storm-petrel" grouping, we will also have to remove any records. For the time being however, if you were one of those lucky observers then enjoy!

As an aside, readers of British Birds will know that a light-hearted competition has been mooted in recent years, asking readers to predict the 600th species on the British list. Currently, the official BOU total is 592 species on Categories A, B and C. BUBO Listing currently allows eight more pending species, which would take the score to 600. However, not all of these eight seem equally likely to get accepted by BOU. Moreover, it is also not certain which order any acceptances might be published in; some refer to records from many years ago, over which deliberations are still continuing.

For interest, the eight pending species are: Lesser Canada Goose, White-winged Scoter, Black-bellied Storm-petrel, Madeiran Storm-petrel, Slaty-backed Gull, Elegant Tern, Alder Flycatcher and House Finch.

Andy

Ah, and following the latest announcements from the BOU's Taxonomic Committee, we might have a few splits to think about in the race to 600. Looks like Hudsonian Whimbrel is in, along with Sibe Stonechat. See useful quick summary by Richard Klim . And perhaps a few others - I can't remember all the details at present. Will wait for the BOU announcements.

Andy

"For interest, the eight pending species are: Lesser Canada Goose, White-winged Scoter, Black-bellied Storm-petrel, Madeiran Storm-petrel, Slaty-backed Gull, Elegant Tern, Alder Flycatcher and House Finch."

I think that with recent decisions most now think that Ibis in January will confirm the current BOU list at 596 for Categories A, B and C. That includes Madeiran Petrel (28.07.07), Hudsonian Whimbrel, Cabot's Tern and Siberian Stonechat. 'Black-bellied Storm-petrel' has now been decided upon and is not admitted to the list as it could not be identified to species.

It would seem inevitable that a relatively historic Lesser Canada Goose will be found acceptable so we have a modern starting basis of 597.

Of the pending species, I would place my money on Yelkouan Shearwater (29.07.08 Berry Head) standing a fighting chance, House Finch falling foul of the escape issue and Elegant Tern and Slaty-backed and Thayer's Gulls falling foul of the identification/hybrid issues. So you have Alder Flycatcher (08.10.08) and White-winged Scoter (11.06.11) to get to 600.

So ignoring Elegant Tern (18.07.02) and with Lesser Canada Goose inevitable, (I think) you have:-

594 - Citril Finch (accepted) - 06.06.08
595 - Yelkouan Shearwater (pending) - 29.07.08
596 - Amur Falcon (accepted) - 14.09.08
597 - Alder Flycatcher (pending) - 08.10.08
598 - Tufted Puffin (accepted) - 16.09.09
599 - Eastern Crowned Warbler (accepted) - 22.10.09
[House Finch (pending) - 04.05.10]
[Thayer's Gull (pending) - 06.11.10]
[Slaty-backed Gull (pending) - 13.01.11]
600 - White-winged Scoter (pending) - 11.06.11

Of course, the starting basis could lose Slender-billed Curlew, four North American passerines and Madeiran Storm-petrel if split which would take it even if Yelkouan Shearwater, Alder Flycatcher and White-winged Scoter are accepted back to 594!

All the best

Paul Chapman

So what was it?

Incidentally, I recently published a snippet on this topic on a Norwegian website entitled “600 arter i Storbritannia”, meaning 600 species in Great Britain.

My claim was that there are now 600 species on the British list. Included in this total are species on Categories A and B while those species not having occurred in a natural state (Categories C and E, along with D) have been excluded. Also that Britain is the first European country to reach this ornithological milestone.

According to my small investigation the honorary bird is the Pale-legged Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus tenellipes found dead on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly on 21st October 2016.

Geir Mobakken

Hi Geir - it's all a bit confusing now, as the taxonomy being used for the British list is about to change to follow IOC from January 1st 2018. At that point, there will be 614 species on the British list: 596 in Cat A, 8 in Cat B and 10 in Cat C. I will update BUBO to reflect the new list over the Christmas holidays, ready to go in the New Year.

Cheers

Geir

I believe we stand at 610. From 592 it went:-
596 - add Madeiran Storm Petrel, Hudsonian Whimbrel, Cabot's Tern & Siberian Stonechat
597 - Scopoli's Shearwater (added following split)
596 - lose Madeiran Storm Petrel as superspecies
597 - White-winged Scoter
596 - lose Slender-billed Curlew on identification
597 - Alder Flycatcher
598 - Moltoni's Subalpine Warbler (added following split)
599 - Northern Harrier (added following split)
600 - Yelkouan Shearwater
601 - Lesser Canada Goose
602/603 - Chinese Pond Heron & Slaty-backed Gull
604/605 - Acadian Flycatcher & Chestnut Bunting
606 - Siberian Accentor
607 - Pale-legged Leaf Warbler
608 - Eastern Kingbird
609 - Red-footed Booby
610 - Purple Swamphen

January's taxonomic changes:-
608 - remove Fea's Petrel as Fea's/Desertas Petrel & Hudsonian Whimbrel
609 - add one for Isabelline/Red-tailed Shrike
610 - add one for Taiga/Tundra Bean Goose
611/612/613/614 - Two-barred Warbler, Eastern Yellow Wagtail, Stejneger's Stonechat & Least Tern

Elegant Tern is an inevitable addition now and also various other potentials outstanding - Lammergeier, Dalmatian Pelican & Eastern Orphean Warbler. (Thayer's Gull is a subspecies under IOC taxonomy.)

All the best

Paul

Geir

So excluding the 10 Category C species, the 600th accepted species was Purple Swamphen.

All the best

Paul

I still think Pale-legged Leaf Warbler is the 600th species.

Chronology is what this is about, time of acceptance is of secondary interest, cf. Cackling Goose Branta hutchinsii, this was not, say, the 596th species for Britain.

Geir

Fair enough.

So when the new taxonomy occurs it will be Purple Swamphen again:-
600 - 31st July 2016 - Purple Swamphen
601 - 4th September 2016 - Red-footed Booby
602 - 29th September 2016 - Eastern Kingbird
603 - 9th October 2016 - Siberian Accentor
604 - 21st October 2016 - Pale-legged Leaf Warbler

:lol:

Full checklist here which I think reflects the anticipated changes in this thread:-

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ibi.12536/full

All the best

Paul

So I believe in summary:-
Delete Fea's Petrel (split & none accepted to species level)
Delete Hudsonian Whimbrel (lumped)

Add Tundra Bean Goose in addition to Taiga Bean Goose
Add Least Tern in addition to Little Tern
Add Red-tailed Shrike (Turkestan) in addition to Daurian (Isabelline) Shrike
Add Stejneger's Stonechat in addition to Siberian (maurus) including variegatus ie Caspian)
Add Eastern Yellow Wagtail in addition to (Western) Yellow Wagtail
Add Two-barred Warbler in addition to Greenish Warbler

All the best

Paul

Thanks Paul - yes that's how I read it. I've implemented most of these changes today for BOU, and have my axe sharpened to lop off those Fea's and Hud Whimbrels tomorrow. Enjoy them while you can! Small article coming out to go with the changes...

Andy

Many thanks. I've deleted them off mine. I'd hate to see a number go backwards....

All the best

Paul