British Birds - January 2013 (1 Viewer)

[GJWhite]

Is there not a third possibility which, whilst reflevting these two points, is subtly different from either? That is Baillon's Crake have always visited the UK, but it took the exceptional amount of spring rain to incline them to stay around for long enough to be found.

Thanks for the comment John. Yes, completely agree with you. I think we had lumped your thought under option a) but perhaps didn't explore it enough. As you say, how many suitable sites would have the appropriate water levels in June in a normal year if Baillon's turned up. This could apply to Spotted Crake also, which few people deliberately manage for. I think we could manage for, and attract, more crakes with a little effort.

 

[Mark Batten]

Best BB I have read for a while. Like the new format by the way:t:

 

[MJB]

It's good to be able to thank the author of an excellent 'BB' paper directly. It was an excellent read and commendably prompt in its appearance.
You comment that there are two possible explanations for the large numbers of Baillon's Crake found in the UK in 2012; a) we've overlooked them in the past and b) there was an exceptional influx. Is there not a third possibility which, whilst reflevting these two points, is subtly different from either? That is Baillon's Crake have always visited the UK, but it took the exceptional amount of spring rain to incline them to stay around for long enough to be found.

John,
You're most likely not wrong.

"...inhabits flood plains and stagnant fresh water..."
"Many breeding habitats characteristically are transient in nature...vary[ing] in the extent of flooding between and within years..."
"The species (European) stronghold apparently lies in Spain, but its actual abundance is poorly understood and probably varies with changes in water level." Rob Bijlsma, Baillon's Crake species account author, EBCC Atlas 1996.
MJB