British Birds » News: 600th species added to the British List

Feb 18th 2016, 16:00, by Roger Riddington A Yelkouan Shearwater Puffinus yelkouan seen off Berry Head, Devon, on 29th July 2008 has finally been accepted, and becomes the 600th bird on the British List. The bird was seen by Mike Langman and Mark Darlaston while looking for a similar species, Balearic Shearwater P. mauretanicus. Balearic (above) and Yelkouan Shearwater (below), Castellon, Spain, December 2014. This side-by-side comparison reveals the larger size and bulky, pot-bellied structure of Balearic, and the slimmer, more attenuated appearance of Yelkouan. Pic by Victor Paris. The Yelkouan Shearwater breeds on islands and coastal cliffs in the Mediterranean Sea, mainly in the east. The majority of the Yelkouan population moves east outside the breeding season to winter in the Black Sea, but small numbers (presumably of the westernmost breeding birds) are known to move west and enter the North Atlantic to find food during the summer and autumn after breeding. Balearic Shearwaters also breed within the Mediterranean, but as their name suggests breed primarily around the Balearic islands and western sea area) and move in to the North Atlantic in summer. They are seen around the shores of the Britain and Ireland every year, with largest numbers in the southwest of England and off southern Ireland. Martin Collinson,  BOURC Chairman, said: ‘It is a testament to over 200 years’ enthusiasm and perseverance of British birders and ornithologists that the national bird list of a small, northern temperate country has reached 600 species. It is also satisfying that this milestone has been reached via an exemplary process of sharp birding, detailed fieldnotes, photographs and research. Yelkouan Shearwater is a fascinating species, and it was both a pleasure and a challenge for the Records Committee to review the identification, migration patterns and vagrancy potential of this species, and its relationship with the critically endangered (and very variable) Balearic Shearwater.’ Paul French, BBRC Chairman, said: ‘After several claims and false starts, this enigmatic seabird has finally earned its place on the British List. Like Scopoli’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea, this species was going to require an exceptionally well seen and described bird to be acceptable, and we believe this record has made the grade in all areas. The submission was well supported by detailed notes from well-respected and experienced observers, backed up by photographs that showed all of the requisite features. All of this made the assessment surprisingly straightforward, and the committee accepted it unanimously in a single circulation.’ An article describing the sighting in detail is in preparation for BB by the two observers, Mark Darlaston and Mike Langman. A major identification paper on Manx/Balearic/Yelkouan Shearwaters was published in BB recently. The post 600th species added to the British List appeared first on British Birds.