The North Sea Bird Club

Rare Birds

What is a rare bird? Well, it all depends…. on where you are for one thing! It is normal practice in the world of bird watching to be asked to provide a description of a bird classed as "rare". There are, naturally, different categories of rarity and, for observers based offshore, the situation is quite different to that for those on land.

National Rarities

Certain species are classed as 'national rarities' because they have been seen very few times in Britain. An example is the Dark-eyed Junco found on Maesk Curlew on 4 May 2000 by Lennie Simpson. (Click here for photo) This American species is so rare in Britain that a full description was required for acceptance by the British Birds Rarities Committee (BBRC). Lennie's description (plus photo) was subsequently accepted. Birds falling into the category of national rarities must be accepted by BBRC before they can be added to NSBC records. The Recorder can supply a list of birds in this category if requested. A Pacific Swift, found on Leman in June 1981, was accepted as the first British record of this species - a fantastic coup for the NSBC!

NSBC Rarities Committee

A Committee of five individuals (including the Recorder) assesses any 'North Sea' rarities annually. A list of those subsequently accepted or not accepted will be made in the relevant Annual Report or quarterly Bulletin.

North Sea Rarities

Depending on the county in which you live, a list will exist which defines Local Rarities. This refers to birds seldom encountered in that particular region. In NE Scotland, for example, Little Owl is a local rarity and any sighting would require a full satisfactory description before acceptance to the County List. For most English counties, this bird is, of course, common and no such requirement would be necessary.

Offshore, it is the case that many common land birds become 'rare'! House Sparrow, Tawny Owl and Blue Tit are all good examples - the latter species only having been recorded six times in twenty-one years offshore!

In order for the NSBC database of offshore bird sightings to be creditable and to be of value for research and analysis purposes, it is vital that a high standard of validation of records be maintained.

A list of all species recorded offshore can be found under 'Systematic List' and species requiring descriptions both at Club and National level are marked accordingly.

Descriptions may be requested by the Recorder for any species for any of the following reasons:

i) the bird has been seen offshore very few times over twenty years;
ii) the bird can be easily confused with similar more common species e.g. Wood Warbler/Willow Warbler;
iii) the sighting is in an unusual area or at a very untypical time of year e.g. Hobby in winter months.

Observers should not feel mistrusted if they are asked for descriptions since maintaining the quality of the database is vital if we are to receive sponsorship and/or analyse our data. Hopefully it will also encourage observers to look more closely at certain species.

How do I know when to take a description?

Because the degree of experience varies considerably from one observer to another. Notes should always be made of a bird that is unfamiliar to you. Even if you find out later it is not 'rare', nothing is lost!

What makes a valuable description?

Because of conditions offshore, it is likely that a bird may be seen in very poor weather with no writing materials immediately available. So…….

1. Take a good look at the bird and try to get a first impression of:-
   a) Size - any other birds nearby to compare with?
   b) Overall shape - long legs, thin bill, hooked beak
   c) Main colours - head, back, underparts
   d) Behaviour - hops, flicks it's tail etc.
2. As soon as possible write down what you saw and fill in detail where possible
   e.g. leg colour, stripe through eye. Do a rough sketch.
3. If possible, get someone else to have a look, or better still take a photo.
4. Finally, once you have an impression of the bird, look it up in a field guide to
   see if you get any first ideas of the species.

(Examples of good and poor descriptions can be compared by clicking here)

The North Sea Bird Club, Ocean Laboratory and Culterty Field Station, University of Aberdeen, Newburgh, Aberdeenshire AB41 6AA.

Tel: 01224-274428 fax: 01224-274402 e-mail: nsbc@abdn.ac.uk