The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Just a little querry regarding the location of the 1st Lincs Caspian Tern - this was apparently shot at Caythorpe 'near Grantham' (presumably Caythorpe Lakes) on May 17th 1853 - described by W. F. Foottit in the Zoologist 1853: 3946 (http://www.archive.org/stream/zoologist ... 6/mode/1up) and appearing as such in Lorand and Atkin (1989) yet it is listed in the Birdguides dataset and in British Birds 2:9, 305-308 as Caythorpe Notts (adjacent to the River Trent):

BB: NOTTS.—One at Caythorpe on May 17th, 1863 (J. Whitaker, B. of Notts, p. 279) does not seem to have been noted in the "Manual."

Birdguides: 1853 Nottinghamshire Caythorpe, adult, shot, 17th May. W. F. Foottit, Zoologist 1853: 3946; Felkin, 1866; Sterland, 1879; Yarrell, 1871-85; J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1887: 458; F. L. Blathwayt, Zoologist 1912: 63; Smith & Cornwallis, 1955; Lorand & Atkin, 1989; Whitaker, 1907; H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 2: 306

Maybe this problem was laid to rest in the intervening references but clearly is can't be a 1st for both counties... anyone know anything about it?

cheers

Alex

_________________
Dr Alexander C. Lees
Lecturer in tropical ecology
Manchester Metropolitan University

Lab Associate
Cornell Lab of Ornithology,
Cornell University

http://www.freewebs.com/alexlees/index.htm
@Alexander_Lees

Alex,

As you know there are two Caythorpes, one just north of Grantham and one in Notts near the Trent. Interestingly Google Earth lists the Notts Caythorpe as 'Caythorpe nr Grantham' even though it is closer to Nottingham. Presumably a Caspian Tern is more likely along the River Trent, and unless there was contrary evidence I would have thought that this is more likely a record for Notts.

Alan

Hi Alan

That was the conclusion that I came to given the Trent's track record with this species, yet all the early sources point to the bird being in Lincs. Aside from the original citation it was for instance listed in Morris's History of British Birds:

221. Caspian Tern. Sterna caspia, Pallas.

A specimen of this very rare straggler was killed on the border of the county at Caythorpe on 17 May 1863 and was taken in the flesh to Mr. Foottit of Newark.

In the county of Lincoln one was shot at Caythorpe, near Grantham, many miles from the sea, May the 17th. 1853.

(http://www.archive.org/stream/historyof ... r_djvu.txt)

in Cordeau's Birds of the Humber District:

248. STERNA CASPIA, Pallas. Caspian Tern.

This fine species, the largest of the European Terns, has occurred on several occasions on the eastern coast of England. One specimen recorded by Mr. Yarrell was shot at Caythorpe, near Grantham, in the south of Lincolnshire, in May, 1853 (see also Zool. p. 3946).

The first reference I can find to the bird being in Notts is from the The Victoria history of the county of Nottingham edited by William Page (http://www.archive.org/stream/nottingha ... t_djvu.txt)

221. Caspian Tern. Sterna caspia, Pallas.

A specimen of this very rare straggler was killed on the border of the county at Caythorpe on 17 May 1863 and was taken in the flesh to Mr. Foottit of Newark.

It would therefore seem a bit unsatisfactory to asign the bird to Notts on probability alone, given that its not beyond the realms of possibility that a Caspian Tern could have stopped to fish on the lakes at Culverthorpe and given all the early literature stated that the bird was obtained in Lincs. I think unless evidence is forthcoming that places the bird definitely in Notts then it shouldn't be admitted as a 1st record for either county (rather than as it apparently stands as a 1st for both in their respective county avifaunas!).

cheers

Alex

_________________
Dr Alexander C. Lees
Lecturer in tropical ecology
Manchester Metropolitan University

Lab Associate
Cornell Lab of Ornithology,
Cornell University

http://www.freewebs.com/alexlees/index.htm
@Alexander_Lees

There is also a contradiction in the year the specimen was obtained 1853 or 1863, presumably it must have been 1853.

_________________
www.nickclayton.net
www.nickclayton.co.uk

Well spotted, I guess this is just a mistake by Morris - the other sources state 1853...

_________________
Dr Alexander C. Lees
Lecturer in tropical ecology
Manchester Metropolitan University

Lab Associate
Cornell Lab of Ornithology,
Cornell University

http://www.freewebs.com/alexlees/index.htm
@Alexander_Lees

*bump*

was just looking into this again today...

J. H. Gurney, Jun. Cheviotland, Line. S., York N.E.

On the occurrence in England of the Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia); the eighteen recorded British occurrences recited ; the Northern ones are : — One, Caythorpe, Lincolnshire, May 17th, 1853, twenty miles from sea (Zool. 1853, 3946); one, Filey, Yorks., Sep. 1874, preserved by Baker of Cambridge, and identified by Prof. Newton (R. A. Willis, Field, Nov. 15th, 1879); and one, Fame Islands, June 6th, 1880, seen by E. Bidwell, but not obtained]. Zool., Dec. 1887, xi. 457-458.

http://archive.org/stream/naturalist188 ... t_djvu.txt

and

Cordeaux said 'south of Lincolnshire' http://books.google.com.br/books?id=FtE ... 22&f=false

and Smith & Cornwallis (1955) state Caythorpe, Kesteven.

Anyone know when Caythorpe lake was dug, pre 1853?

cheers

Alex

_________________
Dr Alexander C. Lees
Lecturer in tropical ecology
Manchester Metropolitan University

Lab Associate
Cornell Lab of Ornithology,
Cornell University

http://www.freewebs.com/alexlees/index.htm
@Alexander_Lees