Essex Birdwatching Society

Records are the backbone of the Bird Report. The more that are submitted, the more accurate a picture the Report will give of the birding year. To answer the often asked question “What records are the Society looking to receive?” A list of guidelines has been drawn up detailing the exact data required for each species on the official Essex List. These guidelines are reviewed annually to ensure that declines/increases in numbers of particular species can be monitored. Records are submitted to either the British Birds Rarities Committee (BBRC) if the species is sufficiently rare to be on their recognised list (see British Ornithologists' Union 's The British List 1997, which highlights each species) or to the Society for all other species.

EBS Recorders
Please send your Essex bird records to any of the following County Recorders:-

Submission of Records:
Please submit your bird records by filling in the Microsoft Excel recording form, which can be found here or for a printable version please click here.

A new style Description Form for both local and national rarities can be downloaded to Microsoft Word by clicking here. E-mail submission of this form is the prefered way of submitting such records. Alternatively, a printable version for postal use can be found here.

Any reports of species currently assessed by the BBRC require FULL DESCRIPTIONS to be sent to their Secretary (see Appendix 1). Description forms are available from the County Recorder(s) whose address appear on page 2.

A copy of any correspondence with the BBRC should be sent via a County Recorder to ensure that the Society is kept fully informed. All Category D records (for details of British List Categories see Appendix 2) should also be sent to the BBRC for consideration. It should be noted that it is the current policy of the Society not to publish a national rarity record in the Bird Report until it has been accepted by the BBRC and, in the case of a British first, by the British Ornithologists' Union Rarities Committee (BOURC), at which point it is deemed accepted by the Society. All records on the official Essex List accord to this convention.

Observers may now submit their records via the BTO web site using the Birdtrack facility and should access the following web site: www.bto.org/birdtrack/

Otherwise all records from categories A, B, C, D and E (see Appendix 2) should be submitted via the relevant County Recorder . Guidelines for individual species are set out below. In addition to the criteria listed, any records relating to plumage aberrations e.g. melanism, leucism and notes on any hard-weather movements would be gratefully received. Category D includes White Pelican, Greater Flamingo, Wood Duck, Baikal Teal, Red-headed and Indigo Buntings. Note that Category E refers to ALL escapes - this currently includes Black Swan and Ruddy Shelduck (actually in Category B but all records since 1950 are considered to relate to escapes).

It should, however, be pointed out that these are only guidelines and any record that the observer feels is important should be submitted whether or not it is covered by the listed comments.

Whilst the Society welcomes records, observers should be aware that the Recorders, on behalf of the Recording Committee and the Society, may ask for clarification of a record or records should they consider this to be the appropriate action. Such a request does not imply disbelief in the integrity of a record or records. It is an ongoing attempt to ensure that all records are of the highest calibre and reflect the expertise of the observer and the Society.

Traditionally accepted and commonly used English names have been used instead of the new BOU names, as the Editors feel that until regularly accepted, the existing names should be maintained.

Those species below with a status BBRC are nationally rare that require descriptions. Those with a status of EBSIP (Essex Birdwatching Society's Identification Panel) are rare and unusual species for Essex and require descriptions or notes.

• The first figure denotes the total number of records in Essex up to and including those detailed in the Guide (Cox 1984) plus any historic records that have since been accepted by BBRC/BOURC/EBSIP e.g. 1826 American Bittern, 1868 White-tailed Eagle

• The second figure denotes the total number of records from the period 1981/82 to present, since the publication of the Guide in 1984

Rarity Descriptions should be sent via a County Recorder (address on Page 2) to British Birds Rarities Committee (BBRC): Website: bbrc.org.uk/recorders.htm

Note that it is now BBRC policy to accept descriptions and digital images online wherever possible.

N.B. British Birds Magazine usually publishes every November or December a full listing of BBRC accepted (and rejected) rarity records: 4 Harlequin Gardens , St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex TN37 7PF

The British List is the official list of species that have been recorded in Great Britain and has been maintained for over 100 years by the British Ornithologists' Union (BOU). Each species is categorised according to its status in Britain . The Systematic List provides a summary of published information, since scientific records began about species that have occurred in Essex and fall into the British Ornithologists' Union categories defined as follows:

Category A: Species that have been recorded in an apparently natural state at least once since 1st January 1950.

Category B: Species that were recorded in an apparently natural state at least once up to 31st December 1949, but have not been recorded subsequently.

Category C: Species that, although originally introduced by Man, either deliberately or accidentally, have established breeding populations derived from introduced stock, that maintain themselves without necessary recourse to further introduction.

• (C1) Naturalised introductions Species that have occurred only as a result of introduction e.g . Egyptian Goose.

• (C2) Naturalised establishments Species with established populations as a result of introduction by Man, but which also occur in an apparently natural state e.g. Canada Goose.

• (C3) Naturalised re-establishments Species with populations successfully re-established by Man in areas of former occurrence e.g . Red Kite.

• (C4) Naturalised feral species Domesticated species with populations established in the wild e.g. Rock Dove.

• (C5) Vagrant naturalised species Species from established naturalised populations abroad e.g. some/all Ruddy Shelducks occurring in Britain .

• (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 .

Category D: Species that would otherwise appear in Categories A or B except that:

• (D1) there is reasonable doubt that they have ever occurred in the wild state.

• (D2) they have certainly arrived with a combination of ship and human assistance, including provision of food and shelter.

• (D4) species that would otherwise appear in Category C except that their feral populations may or may not be self-supporting.

Category E: Species that have been recorded as introductions, transportees or escapees from captivity, and whose breeding populations (if any) are thought not to be self sustaining.

Note that both Ruddy Shelduck and Snow Goose are regarded as Category E species within the county.

Five species (Ross's Goose, Baikal Teal, Marbled Duck, White-headed Duck & Red-headed Bunting) have been added to the list as the BBRC are requesting all records with a view to forming a pattern of occurrence. This may well result in the upgrading of any or all to the British list in the future.

There were no new species recorded in 2007, the Essex total therefore remains at 386.

For more details on the decisions of the BOURC see Recent news and decisions from Records Committee (BOURC) on their website: www.bou.org.uk

GUIDELINES FOR OBSERVERS