John Cantelo
Well-known member
The topic of the status of the Black Woodpecker in the UK has come up on another thread (on Middle-spotted Woodpecker) but this intriguing topic surely deserves a thread of its own. On that thread Jurek commented “Wasn't also Black Woodpeckers reported from Britain? I am (from European perspective) quite surprised why that one can create a confusion - either it is or is not”.
A little digging reveals that back in 1959 Richard Fitter wrote a paper on this topic (unfortunately for the “Bulletin of the BOC” which is not widely available). Apparently, in this article RF unearthed 82 records (!) of which he considered that there was ‘no reason to reject’ 9 ‘general statements’ (whatever that means), 17 specimens and 37 sight records. He goes on to list 7 ‘unassailable’ reports – single specimens from Dorset, Wilts & Yorkshire and four sight records (Herts, Brecon, Notts & Cheshire). It should also be noted that, according to a later paper on melanism, there appears to be no record of a fully melanistic Green Woodpecker (and only one of a partially melanistic bird). This sounds quite convincing, but a little research I did a few years back on the English status of Crested Tit convinced me that many Victorian records (which most of these are) are a little ‘soft’. Trading in skins was widespread, labels too easily switched (by accident or design) and the word of a ‘gentleman’ too readily accepted.
My scepticism is partially based on what has, or rather hasn’t, happened, since the Victorian/Edwardian hay day of collecting and the ‘what’s hit is history’ mentality. At a time when you would expect more records, due to the species huge expansion westward (they now breed on the Channel coast) and the increasing army of competent observers, reports have declined to a dribble. There may have been some I’ve missed, but I’ve been able to trace the following reports –
Sept 1974 – Two Invinghoe, Bucks
July 1982 – Frensham, Surrey
July 1984 – Ashurst, Hants
May 1987 – Somerset
December 1995 – Horsham Surrey
March 1994 – Benacre, Suffolk
1997 November – Devon
Of these the only one that appears to have been regarded to have much merit was that of a bird flying in-off at Benacre. I have a gut feeling (quite unsubstantiated by any facts!) that most other records came from ‘garden birders’ rather than experienced observers. I suspect the problem is that too many inexperienced observers have access to those books on ‘British birds’ that also include a smattering of European species.
It would be interesting to hear from other readers who can put more flesh on the bones of these previous reports. Incidentally, research on the continent suggests that we have the ‘wrong kind of ant’ in the UK so the species, whilst it may one day visit us, is unlikely to become an established part of our avifauna,
A little digging reveals that back in 1959 Richard Fitter wrote a paper on this topic (unfortunately for the “Bulletin of the BOC” which is not widely available). Apparently, in this article RF unearthed 82 records (!) of which he considered that there was ‘no reason to reject’ 9 ‘general statements’ (whatever that means), 17 specimens and 37 sight records. He goes on to list 7 ‘unassailable’ reports – single specimens from Dorset, Wilts & Yorkshire and four sight records (Herts, Brecon, Notts & Cheshire). It should also be noted that, according to a later paper on melanism, there appears to be no record of a fully melanistic Green Woodpecker (and only one of a partially melanistic bird). This sounds quite convincing, but a little research I did a few years back on the English status of Crested Tit convinced me that many Victorian records (which most of these are) are a little ‘soft’. Trading in skins was widespread, labels too easily switched (by accident or design) and the word of a ‘gentleman’ too readily accepted.
My scepticism is partially based on what has, or rather hasn’t, happened, since the Victorian/Edwardian hay day of collecting and the ‘what’s hit is history’ mentality. At a time when you would expect more records, due to the species huge expansion westward (they now breed on the Channel coast) and the increasing army of competent observers, reports have declined to a dribble. There may have been some I’ve missed, but I’ve been able to trace the following reports –
Sept 1974 – Two Invinghoe, Bucks
July 1982 – Frensham, Surrey
July 1984 – Ashurst, Hants
May 1987 – Somerset
December 1995 – Horsham Surrey
March 1994 – Benacre, Suffolk
1997 November – Devon
Of these the only one that appears to have been regarded to have much merit was that of a bird flying in-off at Benacre. I have a gut feeling (quite unsubstantiated by any facts!) that most other records came from ‘garden birders’ rather than experienced observers. I suspect the problem is that too many inexperienced observers have access to those books on ‘British birds’ that also include a smattering of European species.
It would be interesting to hear from other readers who can put more flesh on the bones of these previous reports. Incidentally, research on the continent suggests that we have the ‘wrong kind of ant’ in the UK so the species, whilst it may one day visit us, is unlikely to become an established part of our avifauna,
