Wood Duck elevated to Category D of the British List
Craig Higson said
Mon Mar 27 5:09 PM, 2017
Ian McKerchar wrote:
Sorry Craig, getting away with myself there as they are of course Cat D and so don't form part of the official British List!
No probs Ian. As I say I remember one in Shetland being mooted as a possible genuine vagrant, and am sure I'd heard of another, but these could easily have been 'downgraded' too.
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Mar 27 12:45 PM, 2017
Sorry Craig, getting away with myself there as they are of course Cat D and so don't form part of the official British List!
Craig Higson said
Mon Mar 27 12:37 PM, 2017
Ian McKerchar wrote:
My real concern is one of consistency with their acceptance, as if the BOURC state "to identify genuinely wild individuals will therefore require independent corroboration, such as stable isotype analysis or a ringing recovery"then how have any of the four currently accepted records met that criteria?
Blimey - bit surprised to read the last sentence - didn't realise there had been 4 accepted (presumably as Cat A), thought it was just two, the last one a bird up in Shetland a few years ago. No idea when the first one was and had no idea it was up to 4. Haven't done any reading on Wood Duck vagrancy at all but they strike me as the type of bird that, unless turning up on one of the outer Scottish islands, Ireland or the Scillies, following SW gales at the right time of year, has pretty much zero chance of being accepted as anything other than an escape. Sounds like a minefield.
-- Edited by Craig Higson on Monday 27th of March 2017 12:41:57 PM
James Walsh said
Sun Mar 26 11:00 PM, 2017
I'm sure it would be possible to arrive at some reasonable conclusions with a Magnum PI hat on, plenty of spare time, access to the relevant documentation, a 5 grand budget and several large bottles of whiskey
John Rayner wrote:
One or two may be genuine vagrants but how on earth can you tell which?
-- Edited by James Walsh on Sunday 26th of March 2017 11:02:17 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Mar 26 10:14 PM, 2017
Being practically half way to America too, any Azores Wood Ducks have at the very least a 50/50 chance of being wild vagrants (though in all reality probably much more likely to be!).
Whilst there may not be "many Wood Ducks in the wild in the UK", there are still plenty in captivity which are not monitored in pretty much any way and which fairly regularly find their way into the wild through one means or another. So long as we're sensible about their potential status there is no problem with it, but flogging the origins of known escapees (or more likely 'dumped' ex-captive birds) as potential vagrants is only clouding the issue. I've also heard that the species is establishing itself within Germany and the Netherlands but I have no personal info on that so don't know whether it's actually true or not?
My real concern is one of consistency with their acceptance, as if the BOURC state "to identify genuinely wild individuals will therefore require independent corroboration, such as stable isotype analysis or a ringing recovery"then how have any of the four currently accepted records met that criteria?
John Rayner said
Sun Mar 26 8:58 PM, 2017
Interesting stuff James. I suspect though that there are not that many wildfowl collections on the Azores to cloud the issue.
Pulled this map from National Biodiversity Network Gateway - Wood Duck records over the past 12 years. One or two may be genuine vagrants but how on earth can you tell which?
Cheers John.
-- Edited by John Rayner on Sunday 26th of March 2017 08:59:22 PM
It's worth noting that the Wood Duck that is on many Western Palearctic lists happens to be the drake on The Azores, that received official acceptance from the Portuguese Rarities Committee, called "Woody The Tick" - this bird arrived in September/October 2002 and remained for almost 8 years, during this time it could be exceptionally confiding and associated with collection Wood Ducks & Mandarins - this episode tells us "Not To Judge A Duck By It's Cover" and to document every situation From my research there are not that many Wood Ducks present in the wild in the UK these days as this species has not adapted in the same way to the UK environment as Mandarin, therefore, it should be possible to look at this species' status, both in Greater Manchester and the UK, from a scientific point of view, especially with decent documentation
-- Edited by James Walsh on Sunday 26th of March 2017 12:08:48 PM
pete berry said
Tue Mar 21 6:59 PM, 2017
Looking at several UK wildfowl breeding/sale sites,Wood Duck are by far the cheapest of the "rarer" ducks for sale,with a pair costing only 50 quid,whereas Baikal Teal come in at £180 !!! Possibly explains why there are so many Wood Duck about,and very few Baikal Teal
James Walsh said
Tue Mar 21 12:25 AM, 2017
The Status of North American Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) in Greater Manchester might make an interesting paper topic for a Manchester / Salford University Ecology student
Doc Brewster said
Mon Mar 20 10:34 PM, 2017
I totally agree Ian, a sensible approach, recognising migrant potential but not admitting any to the countable British List at present. For those confused the category D definition is as follows (my highlights to clarify it!):
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 in Category D only form no part of the British List, and are not included in the species totals.
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Mar 20 3:25 PM, 2017
No one's saying Wood Duck can't occur in the UK as a wild bird (they have wings after all) as it seems the opposite may now have been proven, but that, certainly for most other wildfowl, each bird and occurrence should be judged on its own merits, taking into consideration all evidence and a reasonable amount of common sense (like known released birds on inland and extremely urban canals). I for one am glad the BOURC has at least taken a considered and sensible approach in this.
James Walsh said
Mon Mar 20 2:57 PM, 2017
Very complex subject but when you see images and film of Wood Ducks loitering about with Mallards on Central Park Lake in New York, natural vagrancy to the UK does not seem improbable - the decision to elevate the status of Wood Duck to Cat D shows that the BOURC understand this! If Canvasback, Bufflehead, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, American Wigeon, Blue-winged Teal and Green-winged Teal can fly the pond to Greater Manchester then why not a wild Wood Duck ? Could the presence of feral or released birds at a site actually attract natural vagrants - eg wild ringed Barnacle Goose that joined up with feral flock of Barnacle Geese at Carsington Water in Derbyshire ? My advice, as always, document everything you see and try to learn from each situation ! Judging from the increase in the USA population, someone in the UK could hit the Wood Duck jackpot one day !
-- Edited by James Walsh on Monday 20th of March 2017 02:58:16 PM
Doc Brewster said
Mon Mar 20 12:22 PM, 2017
Hahaha it's a great idea James, Think I'll start it as our new line
James Walsh said
Mon Mar 20 11:00 AM, 2017
Isotope analysis kits could be an essential item for birders soon - have you thought about stocking them at Focalpoint Doc ?
Doc Brewster said
Mon Mar 20 10:48 AM, 2017
Steve Suttill wrote:
James Walsh wrote:
/>Anyone been collecting any feathers ?
Someone has been collecting feathers - on most of the Wood Ducks I've seen it's been a whole wing full
Ours on the RWeaver are fully winged but I have traced them back to a nearby collection quite easily, I agree Steve that maybe the owner of those should have collected their feathers like you say as for the wild born young that I have seen on the river here..... they're not captive are they
Steve Suttill said
Mon Mar 20 9:18 AM, 2017
James Walsh wrote:
/>Anyone been collecting any feathers ?
Someone has been collecting feathers - on most of the Wood Ducks I've seen it's been a whole wing full
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Mar 20 7:44 AM, 2017
James Walsh wrote:
Anyone been collecting any feathers ?
Or exotic wildfowl and dumping them on that small stretch of canal?
I know which of the above questions I can definitely put a yes to...
James Walsh said
Mon Mar 20 4:33 AM, 2017
"To identify genuinely wild individuals will therefore require independent corroboration, such as stable isotype analysis or a ringing recovery"
Anyone been collecting any feathers ?
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Mar 19 10:06 PM, 2017
Birds like the Ashton Canal drake are rightly set to remain on category E though
James Walsh said
Sun Mar 19 2:39 PM, 2017
Changes to the British List (Mar 17)
17 March 2017
The British Ornithologists' Union Records Committee (BOURC) is pleased to make the following announcements in relation to the British List:
Wood Duck Aix sponsa
Four records: one, adult female, 1 January to 24 March 2008, Loch Morlich, Highland (sight record, photographed); one, adult male, 16 April to 20 June 2009, Brow Loch, Loch of Spiggie and Loch of Hillwell, Mainland, Shetland (sight record, photographed); one, male, 27-30 March 2014, Loch a Mhuilinn, Stoneybridge (Staoinebrig), South Uist, Outer Hebrides (sight record, photographed); one, adult male, 2 November to 29 December 2014, Banton Loch, Clyde (sight record, photographed).
This species is moved from Category E* to Category D.
The identification was established for all four records, but their origin was unclear. Though there is now compelling evidence that this Nearctic species can exhibit vagrancy and cross the Atlantic being recorded both on the Azores and Iceland, in mainland Europe the situation is far more problematic. The species is held in collections in large numbers across the continent and so many birds seen in Europe are likely to be escapes. To identify genuinely wild individuals will therefore require independent corroboration, such as stable isotype analysis or a ringing recovery. This is the same approach that BOURC takes to other wildfowl on the British List, where there are issues with provenance. However, BOURC felt that the case for potential genuine vagrancy for this species was strong, hence it was decided to move it to Category D, where it will be re-considered periodically, or if new evidence emerges.
Sorry Craig, getting away with myself there as they are of course Cat D and so don't form part of the official British List!
Blimey - bit surprised to read the last sentence - didn't realise there had been 4 accepted (presumably as Cat A), thought it was just two, the last one a bird up in Shetland a few years ago. No idea when the first one was and had no idea it was up to 4. Haven't done any reading on Wood Duck vagrancy at all but they strike me as the type of bird that, unless turning up on one of the outer Scottish islands, Ireland or the Scillies, following SW gales at the right time of year, has pretty much zero chance of being accepted as anything other than an escape. Sounds like a minefield.
-- Edited by Craig Higson on Monday 27th of March 2017 12:41:57 PM
-- Edited by James Walsh on Sunday 26th of March 2017 11:02:17 PM
Being practically half way to America too, any Azores Wood Ducks have at the very least a 50/50 chance of being wild vagrants (though in all reality probably much more likely to be!).
Whilst there may not be "many Wood Ducks in the wild in the UK", there are still plenty in captivity which are not monitored in pretty much any way and which fairly regularly find their way into the wild through one means or another. So long as we're sensible about their potential status there is no problem with it, but flogging the origins of known escapees (or more likely 'dumped' ex-captive birds) as potential vagrants is only clouding the issue. I've also heard that the species is establishing itself within Germany and the Netherlands but I have no personal info on that so don't know whether it's actually true or not?
My real concern is one of consistency with their acceptance, as if the BOURC state "to identify genuinely wild individuals will therefore require independent corroboration, such as stable isotype analysis or a ringing recovery" then how have any of the four currently accepted records met that criteria?
Pulled this map from National Biodiversity Network Gateway - Wood Duck records over the past 12 years. One or two may be genuine vagrants but how on earth can you tell which?
Cheers John.
-- Edited by John Rayner on Sunday 26th of March 2017 08:59:22 PM
http://www.birdingazores.com/?page=rarebirdref&id=34#NotFirst
Here is some more info about "Woody The Tick"
http://www.birdingazores.com/?page=woody
-- Edited by James Walsh on Sunday 26th of March 2017 12:08:48 PM
I totally agree Ian, a sensible approach, recognising migrant potential but not admitting any to the countable British List at present. For those confused the category D definition is as follows (my highlights to clarify it!):
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 in Category D only form no part of the British List, and are not included in the species totals.
No one's saying Wood Duck can't occur in the UK as a wild bird (they have wings after all) as it seems the opposite may now have been proven, but that, certainly for most other wildfowl, each bird and occurrence should be judged on its own merits, taking into consideration all evidence and a reasonable amount of common sense (like known released birds on inland and extremely urban canals). I for one am glad the BOURC has at least taken a considered and sensible approach in this.
-- Edited by James Walsh on Monday 20th of March 2017 02:58:16 PM
Hahaha it's a great idea James, Think I'll start it as our new line
Ours on the RWeaver are fully winged but I have traced them back to a nearby collection quite easily, I agree Steve that maybe the owner of those should have collected their feathers like you say
as for the wild born young that I have seen on the river here..... they're not captive are they 
Someone has been collecting feathers - on most of the Wood Ducks I've seen it's been a whole wing full
Or exotic wildfowl and dumping them on that small stretch of canal?
I know which of the above questions I can definitely put a yes to...
Anyone been collecting any feathers ?
Birds like the Ashton Canal drake are rightly set to remain on category E though
17 March 2017
The British Ornithologists' Union Records Committee (BOURC) is pleased to make the following announcements in relation to the British List:
Wood Duck Aix sponsa
Four records: one, adult female, 1 January to 24 March 2008, Loch Morlich, Highland (sight record, photographed); one, adult male, 16 April to 20 June 2009, Brow Loch, Loch of Spiggie and Loch of Hillwell, Mainland, Shetland (sight record, photographed); one, male, 27-30 March 2014, Loch a Mhuilinn, Stoneybridge (Staoinebrig), South Uist, Outer Hebrides (sight record, photographed); one, adult male, 2 November to 29 December 2014, Banton Loch, Clyde (sight record, photographed).
This species is moved from Category E* to Category D.
The identification was established for all four records, but their origin was unclear. Though there is now compelling evidence that this Nearctic species can exhibit vagrancy and cross the Atlantic being recorded both on the Azores and Iceland, in mainland Europe the situation is far more problematic. The species is held in collections in large numbers across the continent and so many birds seen in Europe are likely to be escapes. To identify genuinely wild individuals will therefore require independent corroboration, such as stable isotype analysis or a ringing recovery. This is the same approach that BOURC takes to other wildfowl on the British List, where there are issues with provenance. However, BOURC felt that the case for potential genuine vagrancy for this species was strong, hence it was decided to move it to Category D, where it will be re-considered periodically, or if new evidence emerges.
https://www.bou.org.uk/british-list/changes-british-list-mar-17/
Photo: Drake Wood Duck at Fairfield, Greater Manchester, October 2016