There is currently a male Red-headed Bunting in Dumfries and Galloway. I know that the status of this bird on the British list has always been controversial, but I didn't realise it was so controversial that it's not even on the British list (well not on Cat.A)
If Black-headed is, then can someone tell me why Red-headed isn't on the BOU list?
escape potential clouds the issue so impossible to tell........ this maybe the official line - don't shoot the messenger. Saw one probable imm. in 94 i think on scilly but i don't really know if i count it or not as i aint got a list!
[QUOTE=tom mckinney]There is currently a male Red-headed Bunting in Dumfries and Galloway. I know that the status of this bird on the British list has always been controversial but I didn't realise it was so controversial that it's not even on the British list (well not on Cat.A)
If Black Headed is then can someone tell me why it isn't on the BOU list?[/QUOTE]
I suspect it goes like this:
a) more easterly distribution than black-headed.
b) v. popular as cagebird (presumably more so than black-headed).
However I think they have a similar southeast-northwest migration pattern so no reason why a real one couldn't occur. Early June likely to be a good time of year as well ...
Rob