Reed Warbler Acrocephalus s. scirpaceus (Hermann, 1804)

Fishing Lodge, Blagdon Lake © Nigel Milbourne 2011

Annotated Site Bird List [1907 & addenda]

An initial list put together by Donald Carr, with near annual additions up to 1934, and published in the reports of the Wells Natural History & Archael. Soc.

Annotated Site Bird List [2024 Revision]

Families, species and sub-species names are listed with links to species pages (note that not all of these have been published yet, with others being updated and improved). For those species that have been designated as ‘extremely rare’ (see abundance key below), I have included the year of the record(s) in the list for quick reference. Some rare, very rare, and extremely rare species, will be linked to their own page (e.g. Pied-billed Grebe) which will provide more details about occurrences at the lake with dates, finders etc. These should be more or less up-to-date, and will be added to accordingly. In time, I hope to complete species accounts for all birds on the list. If you can provide any information to add to my database of bird sightings at the lake I’d be really grateful. I plan to publish a paper in due course and any information that is provided will be duly acknowledged. Records marked with an asterisk have probably not been seen by, or considered, or accepted by the respective local Recorder’s committee. Having said that, it is equally possible that some may have been rejected by the local Recorders’ committees (Somerset as was, or, Avon as is), or the British Birds Rarities Committee (BBRC). Unfortunately, decisions are often not published, which leads to confusion. At some point, I will try and clear up decisions with those listed records for the sake of clarity.

This revision of the list follows the decision made by the British Ornithologists Union (BOU) dated 29th November 2021 to adopt the nomenclature and order given by the International Ornithologists Congress (IOC) World Bird List (v12.2). This document follows the Tenth edition of the British List (BOU, 2022. Ibis 164: 860-910) and subsequent changes to the List included in BOURC Reports and announcements (bou.org.uk/british-list/bourc-reports-andpapers/). I’ve set out the list as follows:

IOC World Bird List Order

IOC World Bird List Family

IOC World Bird List species name, scientific name, authority, BOU list category

BOU name, scientific name, Blagdon Lake abundance & occurrence information.

Categories A, B & C.

Categories A, B & C

Species in Categories A, B and C form the British List. Species in Category A have been recorded in an apparently natural state at least once since 1 January 1950. Species in Category B have been recorded in an apparently natural state at least once between 1 January 1800 and 31 December 1949, but have not been recorded subsequently. Species in Category C, although introduced, now derive from the resulting self-sustaining populations:

C1 – Naturalised introduced species – species that have occurred only as a result of introduction, e.g. Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca.

C2 – Naturalised established species – species with established populations resulting from introduction by man, but which also occur in an apparently natural state, e.g. Greylag Goose Anser anser.

C3 – Naturalised re-established species – species with populations successfully re-established by man in areas of former occurrence, e.g. Red Kite Milvus milvus.

C4 – Naturalised feral species – domesticated species with populations established in the wild, e.g. Rock Pigeon (Dove)/Feral Pigeon Columba livia.

C5 – Vagrant naturalised species – species from established naturalised populations abroad, e.g. possibly some Ruddy Shelducks Tadorna ferruginea occurring in Britain. There are currently no species in category C5.

C6 – Former naturalised species – species formerly placed in C1 whose naturalised populations are either no longer self-sustaining or are considered extinct, e.g. Lady Amherst’s Pheasant Chrysolophus amherstiae.

Click on a link to go to a species page to find out more, including site occurrences, information and photo gallery.

Order Anseriformes

Family Anatidae (Swans, geese & ducks)

 

Order Galliformes

Family Phasianidae (Partridges & pheasants)

Order Apodiformes

Family Apodidae (Swifts)

 

Order Cuculiformes

Family Cuculidae (Cuckoos)

 

Order Columbiformes

Family Columbidae (Pigeons & doves)

 

Order Gruiformes

Family Rallidae (Rails, crakes & gallinules)

Family Gruidae (Cranes)

 

Order Podicipediformes

Family Podicipedidiae (Grebes)

 

Order Charadriiformes

Family Burhinidae (Thick-knees)

Family Haematopodidiae (Oystercatchers)

Family Recurvirostridae (Avocets & stilts)

Family Charadriidae (Plovers)

Family Scolopacidae (Sandpipers & allies)

Family Glareolidae (Pratincoles & coursers)

Family Laridae (Gulls & Terns)

Family Stercorariidae (Skuas)

Family Alcidae (Auks)

 

Order Gaviiformes

Family Gaviidae (Loons/Divers)

 

Order Procellariiformes

Family Hydrobatidae (Storm Petrels)

  • European Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus (Linnaeus, 1758) AF
    • Storm Petrel Hydrobates p. pelagicus (Linnaeus, 1758). Very rare (1983 & 2012), wind-blown, passage migrant.
  • Leach’s Storm Petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa (Vieillot) AF
    • Leach’s Petrel Oceanodroma l. leucorhoa. Very rare (1952, 1983 & 2006), wind-blown, passage migrant.

Family Procellariidae (Shearwaters)

 

Order Suliformes

Family Sulidae (Gannets)

Family Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants)

 

Order Pelecaniformes

Family Threskiornithidae (Ibises & Spoonbills)

Family Ardeidae (Herons & Egrets)

 

Order Accipitriformes

Family Pandionidae (Osprey)

Family Accipitridae (Hawks & Eagles)

  • Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus (Linnaeus, 1758) AF
    • Sparrowhawk Accipiter n. nisus (Linnaeus, 1758). Uncommon, resident. Breeds.
  • Eurasian Goshawk Accipiter gentilis (Linnaeus, 1758) AC3E*F
    • Goshawk Accipiter g. gentilis (Linnaeus, 1758). Very rare (1999 & 2000),  introduced & passage migrant.
  • Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus (Linnaeus, 1758) AF
    • Marsh Harrier Circus a. aeruginosus (Linnaeus, 1758). Rare, passage migrant & summer visitor.
  • Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus (Linnaeus, 1766) AF
    • Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus. Rare, passage migrant & winter visitor.
  • Red Kite Milvus milvus (Linnaeus, 1758) AC3E*F
    • Red Kite Milvus m. milvus (Linnaeus, 1758). Scarce, introduced resident & passage migrant. Breeding attempt 2024.
  • White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla (Linnaeus, 1758) AC3E*F
    • White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus a. albicilla (Linnaeus, 1758). Very rare (2016 & ????), introduced resident & passage migrant.
  • Common Buzzard Buteo buteo (Linnaeus, 1758) AE*F
    • Buzzard Buteo b. buteo (Linnaeus, 1758). Fairly common, resident. Breeds.

 

Order Strigiformes

Family Tytonidae (Barn & grass owls)

Family Strigidae (Typical owls)

 

Order Bucerotiformes

Family Upupidae (Hoopoe)

  • Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops Linnaeus, 1758 AE
    • Hoopoe Upupa e. epops Linnaeus, 1758. Very rare (1948 & 1977), vagrant.

 

Order Coraciiformes

Family Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)

 

Order Piciformes

Family Picidae (Woodpeckers)

  • Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla Linnaeus, 1758 AF
    • Wryneck Jynx t. torquilla Linnaeus, 1758. Very rare passage migrant.
  • Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dryobates minor (Linnaeus, 1758) AF
    • Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dryobates m. comminutus (Hartert, 1907). Rare, resident.
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major (Linnaeus, 1758) AF
    • Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos m. anglicus Hartert, 1900. Uncommon, resident. Breeds.
  • European Green Woodpecker Picus viridis Linnaeus, 1758 AF
    • Green Woodpecker Picus v. viridis Linnaeus, 1758. Scarce, resident. Breeds.

 

Order Falconiformes

Family Falconidae (Falcons)

 

Order Passeriformes

Family Laniidae (Shrikes)

  • Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor Linnaeus, 1758 AEF
    • Great Grey Shrike Lanius e. excubitor Linnaeus, 1758. Very rare (1964 & 1973), passage migrant.
  • Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio Linnaeus, 1758 AF
    • Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio Linnaeus, 1758. Very rare (last record 1927), passage migrant and former summer visitor. Probably bred in the early 20th century.

Family Oriolidae (Old World orioles)

  • Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus (Linnaeus, 1758) A
    • Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus. Very rare (1910), passage migrant & summer visitor.

Family Corvidae (Crows)

Family Paridae (Tits & chickadees)

  • Coal Tit Periparus ater (Linnaeus, 1758) AF
    • Coal Tit Periparus a. britannicus (Sharpe & Dresser, 1871). Uncommon, resident. Breeds.
  • Marsh Tit Poecile palustris (Linnaeus, 1758) A
    • Marsh Tit Poecile p. dresseri (Stejneger, 1886). Very scarce, local resident.
  • Willow Tit Poecile montana (Conrad von Baldenstein, 1827) A
    • Willow Tit Poecile m. kleinschmidti (Hellmayr, 1900). Rare (last record 2001), resident.
  • Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus (Linnaeus, 1758) AF
    • Blue Tit Cyanistes c. obscurus (Pražák, 1894). Fairly common, resident, passage migrant & winter visitor. Breeds.
    • Blue Tit Cyanistes c. caeruleus (Linnaeus, 1758). Possible winter visitor.
  • Great Tit Parus major Linnaeus, 1758 AF
    • Great Tit Parus m. newtoni Pražák, 1894. Fairly common, resident. Breeds.
    • Great Tit Parus m. major Linnaeus, 1758. Possible resident.

Family Panuridae (Babblers & laughing-thrushes)

Family Alaudidae (Larks)

  • Woodlark Lullula arborea (Linnaeus, 1758) AF
    • Woodlark Lullula a. arborea (Linnaeus, 1758). Rare, passage migrant.
  • Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis Linnaeus, 1758 AF
    • Skylark Alauda a. arvensis Linnaeus, 1758. Scarce, passage migrant.

Family Hirundinidae (Swallows & martins)

Family Cettiidae (Bush warblers)

  • Cetti’s Warbler Cettia cetti (Temminck, 1820) A
    • Cetti’s Warbler Cettia c. cetti (Temminck, 1820). Scarce, resident. Probably breeds.

Family Aegithalidae (Long-tailed Tits)

Family Phylloscopidae (Leaf warblers)

  • Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix (Bechstein, 1793) A
    • Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix. Rare, passage migrant.
  • Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus (Linnaeus, 1758) A
    • Willow Warbler Phylloscopus t. trochilus (Linnaeus, 1758). Uncommon, passage migrant & summer visitor. Occasionally breeds.
    • Willow Warbler Phylloscopus t. acredula (Linnaeus, 1758). Probable passage migrant.
  • Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita (Vieillot, 1817) A
    • Chiffchaff Phylloscopus c. collybita (Vieillot, 1817). Common, passage migrant, summer visitor. Breeds.
    • Siberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus c. tristis Blyth, 1843. Very rare (1992/3, 1996, 2023), passage migrant & winter visitor.

Family Acrocephalidae (Reed Warblers)

Family Locustellidae (Grasshopper Warblers)

  • Common Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia (Boddaert, 1783) A
    • Grasshopper Warbler Locustella n. naevia (Boddaert, 1783). Very scarce, passage migrant & summer visitor. Formerly bred.

Family Sylviidae (Old World warblers)

  • Eurasian Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla (Linnaeus, 1758) AF
    • Blackcap Sylvia a. atricapilla (Linnaeus, 1758). Fairly common, passage migrant, summer & winter visitor. Breeds.
  • Garden Warbler Sylvia borin (Boddaert, 1783)) AF
    • Garden Warbler Sylvia b. borin (Boddaert, 1783). Uncommon passage migrant & summer visitor. Breeds.
  • Lesser Whitethroat Curruca curruca (Linnaeus, 1758) AF
    • Lesser Whitethroat Curruca c. curruca (Linnaeus, 1758). Scarce, passage migrant & summer visitor. Occasionally breeds.
  • Common Whitethroat Curruca communis (Latham, 1787) AF
    • Whitethroat Curruca c. communis (Latham, 1787). Uncommon passage migrant & summer visitor. Probably breeds.

Family Regulidae (Kinglets)

  • Common Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla (Temminck, 1820) A
    • Firecrest Regulus i. ignicapilla (Temminck, 1820). Very rare, passage migrant & winter visitor.
  • Goldcrest Regulus regulus (Linnaeus, 1758) AF
    • Goldcrest Regulus r. regulus (Linnaeus, 1758). Fairly common, resident, passage migrant & winter visitor. Breeds.

Family Troglodytidae (Wrens)

  • Eurasian Wren Troglodytes troglodytes (Linnaeus, 1758)) AF
    • Wren Troglodytes t. indigenus Clancey 1937. Common, resident. Breeds.
    • Wren Troglodytes t. troglodytes (Linnaeus, 1758). Possible passage migrant & winter visitor.

Family Sittidae (Nuthatches)

Family Certhiidae (Treecreepers)

Family Sturnidae (Starlings & mynas)

Family Turdidae (Thrushes)

Family Muscicapidae (Flycatchers & chats)

Family Cinclidae (Dippers)

  • White-throated Dipper Cinclus cinclus (Linnaeus, 1758) AF
    • Dipper Cinclus c. gularis (Latham, 1801). Very rare, former resident & breeder (1930s).

Family Passeridae (Sparrows)

Family Prunellidae (Accentors)

  • Dunnock Prunella modularis (Linnaeus, 1758) A
    • Dunnock Prunella m. occidentalis (Hartert, 1910). Fairly common, resident. Breeds.
    • Dunnock Prunella m. modularis (Linnaeus, Linnaeus, 1758). Possible passage migrant & winter visitor.

Family Motacillidae (Wagtails & pipits)

Family Fringillidae (Finches)

Family Calcariidae (Longspurs)

Family Emberizidae (Buntings & New World sparrows)

Sub-total 251 spp.

 

Category D

Species that would otherwise appear in Category A except that there is reasonable doubt that they have ever occurred in a natural state. Species placed only in Category D form no part of the British List, and are not included in the species totals.

 

Category E

Species that have been recorded as introductions, human-assisted transportees or escapees from captivity, and whose breeding populations (if any) are thought not to be self-sustaining. Species in Category E that have bred in the wild in Britain are designated as E*. Category E species form no part of the British List (unless already included within Categories A, B or C).

  • Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris (Linnaeus, 1758) E*
    • Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris. Very rare (2011), escapee.
  • Fulvous Whistling Duck Dendrocygna bicolor (Vieillot, 1816) E
    • Fulvous Whistling Duck Dendrocygna bicolor. Very rare (1998), escapee.
  • Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis (Pallas, 1769) AE*
    • Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis. A presumed escapee visited the lake for many years.
  • Cackling Goose Branta hutchinsii (Richardson, 1832) AE
    • Richardson’s Cackling Goose Branta h. hutchinsii. Very rare (2011), Nearctic vagrant or probable escapee.
  • Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus (Latham, 1790) E*
    • Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus. Rare, feral escapee. See note 1.
  • Swan Goose Anser cygnoides (Linnaeus, 1758) E*
    • Swan Goose Anser cygnoides. Very rare, escapee.
  • Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus (Linnaeus, 1758) AE*
    • Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus. Very rare (1991), bird of unknown origin.
  • Black Swan Cygnus atratus Latham, 1790 E*
    • Black Swan Cygnus atratus. Very rare, feral escapee.
  • South African Shelduck Tadorna cana (Gmelin, J.F., 1789) E*
    • South African Shelduck Tadorna cana. Very rare (an adult female in 2021), escapee.
  • Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata (Linnaeus, 1758) E*
    • Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata domestica Donkin, 1989. Released domestic birds.
  • Ringed Teal Callonetta leucophrys (Vieillot, 1816) E
    • Ringed Teal Callonetta leucophrys. Very rare, escapee.
  • Cinnamon Teal Anas cyanoptera (Vieillot, 1816) E*
    • Cinnamon Teal Anas cyanoptera ssp. unknown. Very rare (1993), escapee.
  • Chiloe Wigeon Mareca sibilatrix (Poeppig, 1829) E
    • Chiloe Wigeon Mareca sibilatrix. Very rare, escapee.
  • White-cheeked Pintail Anas bahamensis Linnaeus, 1758 E
    • White-cheeked Pintail Anas bahamensis ssp. unknown. Very rare, escapee.
  • Yellow-billed Pintail Anas georgica Gmelin, J.F., 1789 E
    • Chilean Pintail Anas georgica spinicauda. Very rare (2008), escapee.
  • Yellow-billed Teal Anas flavirostris Vieillot, 1816 E*
    • Yellow-billed Teal Anas flavirostris. Very rare (2011), escapee.
  • Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris (Ménétrés, 1832) DE
    • Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris. Very rare (1984), bird of unknown origin.
  • Rosy-billed Pochard Netta peposaca (Vieillot, 1816) E
    • Rosy-billed Pochard Netta peposaca. Very rare (1993), escapee.
  • White Stork Ciconia ciconia Linnaeus, 1758 AE
    • White Stork Ciconia c. ciconia Linnaeus, 1758. From the Knepp Estate ‘rewilding’ scheme bearing blue ring GB5B (2019). Very rare, introduction.
  • Harris’s Hawk Parabuteo unicinctus (Temminck, 1824) E*
    • Harris’s Hawk Parabuteo unicinctus ssp. unknown. Very rare (1992), falconer’s bird or escapee.
  • Cockatiel Nymphicus hollandicus (Kerr, 1792) E
    • Cockatiel Nymphicus hollandicus. Very rare (2014), escapee.
  • Monk Parakeet Myiopsitta monachus (Boddaert,1783)
    • Monk Parakeet Myiopsitta monachus ssp. unknown. Very rare (2024), escapee or from feral UK population.

Note 1: Some, or all, of the Bar-headed Geese recorded locally were Bar-headed x Snow Goose hybrids. It would be worth reviewing photos of those reported where they’re available.

Sub-total 22 spp.

Total 273 spp.

Other species noted at Blagdon Lake:

Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus (a ‘ringtail’ harrier on 26th Sep 1965 recorded by Harry Thornhill thought to have been this sp.).

Cockatiel/Parakeet sp. (an unidentified white bird noted flying over Top End calling during the 1990s by Nigel Milbourne).

Night-heron Nycticorax nycticorax (a record submitted to AOG by Nigel Milbourne of a bird heard calling in a tree at Top End, then  watched in flight for several minutes at dusk on 17th June 2002 before flying off east, that was rejected).

Eastern Rosella Platycercus eximius (probable) found dead at the Lodge Dec 2011 by BW staff.

Key to abundance (in a Blagdon Lake context):

  • Very rare – five or less records
  • Rare – less than annual; several years may pass between records
  • Very scarce – less than annual; typically recorded every two or three years
  • Scarce – very small numbers virtually every year (1 – 10)
  • Uncommon – low numbers recorded every year (11 – 100)
  • Fairly common – occurs in reasonable numbers (101 – 1000)
  • Common – occurs regularly in good numbers (1001 – 10000)
  • Abundant – large numbers occur (count 10000+)

Occurrence (in a Blagdon Lake context) :

  • Resident
  • Summer Visitor
  • Winter Visitor
  • Passage Migrant
  • Introduction
  • Feral
  • Vagrant
  • Storm/Wind-blown visitor
  • Irruptive
  • Breeder or suspected breeder in recent years

Bibliography (sources of information):

    1. BOU Website
    2. Carr, D. Report of the Wells Natural History and Archaelogical Society, various 1907-1934.
    3. Eaton et al. Birds of Conservation Concern 4: the population status of birds in the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man. Brit Birds 108: 708-746, Dec. 2015.
    4. Parkin, D.T. & Knox, A.G. 2010. The Status of Birds in Britain & Ireland. Christopher Helm, London.

 

Last update: 1st December 2024