Rare Breeding BirdsIf you should be lucky enough to come across a rare breeding bird, please submit the record via our Local Recorder to the Rare Breeding Bird Panel (RBBP). A founding objective of the Panel is to collect all information on rare breeding birds in the UK so that changes in status, both increases and decreases, can be monitored.
The data are maintained in a secure archive and are available for a range of conservation uses. For example, they are used by government as a component of Official Statistics related to state of environment reporting; in national reporting for multilateral environmental agreements as part of UK obligations under international treaties; and for assessment of the status of protected areas. The resulting data provide critical information, not only about the changing status of the birds themselves, but also about their key sites, many of which have formal types of protected-area designation. The RBBP produce an annual report, the data from which is published in a series of journals such as Scottish Birds and British Birds. It should be stressed that all birds are protected by law and rare breeding birds more so. This includes photography and licences from appropriate authorities such as NatureScot are required when operating near rare and vulnerable species. The Local Recording team and The SOC demand the highest ethic standards and compliance with the law at all times when birding. Further information can be found at: Protected species list - WCA schedules 1, 1A, A1, 2, 3 and 4 | NatureScot Visit the Rare Breeding Bird Panel species list. Finding and reporting rare birdsIf you should be so lucky as to find a rare bird, please submit the record in the first instance using the appropriate downloadable file below (not recommended on a mobile phone) to our Local Recorder at [email protected] BirdTrack users will be asked to fill in a form that is automatically generated and will be forwarded to the Local Recorder by the BTO. There are three categories of rarities and are assessed by three different bodies. The Clyde Bird Records Panel (CBRP) assesses records of slightly less rare Scottish species (listed below). The panel also reviews records of species in unusual circumstances, e.g. out of habitat or not within their usual date range. Scottish national rarities will be assessed by the Scottish Birds Records Committee (SBRC) and rare birds on a UK scale by the British Birds Rarities Committee (BBRC). The SBRC and BBRC publish annual reports in both Scottish Birds and British Birds. Each of the three bodies have a series of species that they are responsible for and can be viewed below. Due to circumstance, the CBRP had not met in many years; however, a meeting was convened in November 2023. To further enhance transparency, the minutes of each annual meeting will be posted for all to review, and these can be accessed at the bottom of this page. The reason such panels exist is to review the authenticity of a sighting to ensure that the Clyde, Scottish and British natural history is correctly reflected. Each sighting is assessed with honesty and integrity before it can enter the history books, it is that important. The CBRP will review and conclude, either Accept or Not Proven. We will get back to you to thank you for your submission and explain our decision. However, the Clyde panel are keen to encourage you and appreciate the reporting of a rare bird and the completing of a rarity form can be onerous and daunting. To promote this new outlook and encourage submissions, the panel will support you through the process should you require it. It should be stressed that you will not be coached what to say, but to ensure honesty and transparency of process, a panel member will ensure that all the requisite detail is included, appropriate contact details for any follow up information and remind you to include any pictures that were taken of the bird. Being pragmatic, the panel realises that most rare birds are found then seen by many observers. Social media which includes the Clyde SOC WhatsApp Group, Clydebirds Facebook page, Clyde SOC Grapevine, Clyde Birding on X (formerly Twitter) and Birdline Scotland amongst other platforms ensure that word spreads quickly. This means that the completion of the form can be a formality on some occasions. By way of supportive guidance, we would like to remind observers that the following points greatly enhance the quality and integrity of your submission. Your sighting could be of regional or national significance, so give your record every chance, after all, it could end up entering the history books and be written up in branch or national journals for all to enjoy:
The CBRP consists of the following suitably experienced members:
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Ring-necked Duck © Gary Williamson
Great White Egret © Davie Abraham
Green-winged Teal © Andrew Russell
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CBRP and SBRC (in bold) species listed below will only be accepted if a satisfactory written description and/or photograph is submitted. Under certain circumstances a written description may be required for a species not on this list, if requested by at least one member of the Panel.
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Black Brant
Taiga Bean Goose (out of range) Tundra Bean Goose European White-fronted Goose Bewick's Swan Egyptian Goose American Wigeon Green-winged Teal Red-crested Pochard Ring-necked Duck Surf Scoter Nightjar Alpine Swift Turtle Dove Crane Black-necked Grebe Stone-curlew Black-winged Stilt American Golden Plover Black-tailed Godwit (Continental race) Temminck's Stint White-rumped Sandpiper Buff-breasted Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper Red-necked Phalarope Grey Phalarope Lesser Yellowlegs Sabine's Gull Ring-billed Gull Iceland Gull - race L g kumlieni known as ‘Kumlien’s Gull’ Caspian Gull Yellow-legged Gull Roseate Tern White-winged Black Tern Pomarine Skua Long-tailed Skua Black-throated Diver |
White-billed Diver
Wilson's Petrel Storm Petrel Leach's Petrel Cory's Shearwater Sooty Shearwater Great Shearwater Balearic Shearwater White Stork Glossy Ibis Spoonbill Night-heron Cattle Egret Purple Heron Great White Egret Little Egret Honey-buzzard Goshawk (out with range) Montagu's Harrier Black Kite Rough-legged Buzzard Little Owl Bee-eater Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Red-footed Falcon Hobby Woodchat Shrike Golden Oriole Chough Marsh Tit Willow Tit Bearded Tit Woodlark Short-toed Lark Red-rumped Swallow Cetti's Warbler Chiffchaff (except P c collybita) |
Dusky Warbler
Radde's Warbler Pallas's Warbler Yellow-browed Warbler Arctic Warbler Greenish Warbler Blyth's Reed Warbler Reed Warbler Marsh Warbler Melodious Warbler Icterine Warbler Barred Warbler Dartford Warbler Firecrest Rose-coloured Starling Bluethroat Nightingale Red-flanked Bluetail Red-breasted Flycatcher Yellow Wagtail (all forms except subspecies flavissima) Citrine Wagtail Richard's Pipit Olive-backed Pipit Water Pipit Rock Pipit (Scandinavian) Hawfinch Bullfinch (Northern race) Common Rosefinch Common Redpoll Parrot Crossbill Scottish Crossbill Serin Lapland Bunting Corn Bunting Ortolan Bunting Cirl Bunting Little Bunting |
updated November 2023