Parrot Crossbills in Britain

01 October 1985
Comments Main paper Following an exceptional influx of Parrot Crossbills Loxia pytyopsittacus into Britain in the autumn of 1982 (Brit. Birds 76: 46, plates 12, 13 & 220) and subsequent wintering records, we decided to summarise all known past records of this species ...
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PhotoSpot. 15. Oriental Cuckoo

01 October 1985
Comments Main paper Oriental Cuckoo Cuculus saturatus is notoriously difficult to distinguish from Cuckoo C. canorus in the field, other than by its diagnostic call, typically rendered 'oo-poo-poo-poo' and recalling a Hoopoe Upupa epops. Without direct comparison, many of...
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Letters

01 October 1985
Comments Letters Distinction between Mandarin and Wood Duck in female-type plumages. A comprehensive description of differences between Mandarin Aix galericulata and Wood Duck A. sponsa was given by C. Holt {Brit. Birds 11: 227-232). As he noted, however, some of the c...
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Notes

01 October 1985
Comments Notes Feeding behaviour and voice of Cory's Shearwater at sea. On 18th August 1982, on board the Cypriot ferry Sol Phryne nearing Piraeus, Greece, I spent several hours trying to photograph a group of up to 70 Cory's Shearwaters Calonectris diomedea followin...
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Mystery photographs

01 October 1985
Comments Main paper The sturdy wader in plates 209 & 240 readily proclaims its identity to us, even though its bill, the most consistently useful character among waders, is almost entirely concealed. The heavy body is supported by pale, thick legs that are noticeably ...
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Reviews

01 October 1985
Comments Reviews A Sound Guide to Waders in Britain. Compiled from recordings by 15 recordists; produced (and sleeve notes) by John Burton and Nigel Tucker. REC545 Album, ZCM545 Cassette. BBC Records, London, 1984. £2.99.This well-produced record succeeds admirably in...
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Recent reports

01 October 1985
Comments News and comment These are largely unchecked reports, not authenticated records. The dates in the report refer to July unless otherwise stated. A brief spell of hot, continental weather, with air arriving from the southeast, lasted until 5th, when the cooler, u...
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