About Bird Recording

Rare and Scarce Birds

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About Bird Recording

The Recording Year

Species that are rarely recorded within a bird recording area often require a short description so that the local recorder and committee are satisfied that the species was identified correctly. In most cases all that is required is a brief description based on diagnostic features, which establish the birds identity. These are often species that are less than annual in a county and may easily be confused with other species. Lists of species that require a description are usually given in the local bird report each year.

Rare Birds in Britain

Species which are rarely recorded in Britain, require a description to be submitted to the British Birds Rarities Committee (BBRC). Descriptions of rare birds should be sent to your county bird recorder who will send a copy on to BBRC. The committee is made up of 10 voting members and a non-voting secretary who serve for a fixed term. They adjudicate on all records of species, and some distinctive sub-species, which rarely occur in Britain. Further information about the work of the BBRC in Britain can be found here.

A copy of the BBRC Rarity Form is available here (Acrobat Reader required).

Rare Birds in Ireland

Rare birds seen in Ireland are assessed by the Irish Rare Birds Committee (IRBC). The IRBC is responsible for maintaining a list of the birds recorded in Ireland (Republic). Its primary function is the assessment of records of certain rare and scare species. To visit their website click here.

Descriptions of species on their list can be submitted via email or post, and full details of how to submit can be found here.

Descriptions of rare birds seen in Northern Ireland should be sent to:

George Gordon
2 Brooklyn Avenue
Bangor
Co. Down
BT20 5RB

Scarce Birds in England and Wales

Most county bird reports produce their own list of scarce species requiring a description at the county level. This will vary considerably between counties. Please contact your local county recorder to find out which species require descriptions or look in the latest bird report for your area.

Scarce Birds in Scotland

In Scotland, the Scottish Birds Records Committee (SBRC) assesses all records of birds which are rare in Scottish terms. It has seven voting members and a non-voting secretary and at least six members must vote in favour of a record for it to be accepted. Descriptions should be submitted to SBRC via your county recorder. The species dealt with via the SBRC are additional to those on the BBRC list, for which Scottish records would be reviewed by the BBRC in the usual way. The species currently requiring a description if recorded in Scotland are:

Cory's Shearwater	Tawny Pipit
Great Shearwater	Water Pipit
Night Heron	Nightingale
Purple Heron	Cetti's Warbler
American Wigeon	Aquatic Warbler
Montagu's Harrier	Marsh Warbler
Rough-legged Buzzard	Melodious Warbler
Stone Curlew	Dartford Warbler
Kentish Plover	Woodchat Shrike
Ring-billed Gull	Rose-coloured Starling
Yellow-legged Gull	Serin
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker	Cirl Bunting
Short-toed Lark	Ortolan Bunting
Woodlark	Little Bunting

Scarce Birds in Ireland

Records of scarce birds in Ireland should be sent to the relevant area recorder. If in doubt send records to:

Birdwatch Ireland
P.O. Box 12
Greystones
Co. Wicklow