Pine Bunting
Emberiza leucocephalos Gmelin, SG, 1771 (2, 65)
Photo © Ron Knight from Seaford, East Sussex, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
STATUS
Asia. Polytypic.
OVERVIEW
Nearly half of all records have appeared in the Northern Isles, but a few have been found in the Midlands, the south-west and south-east of England with the rest on the eastern seaboard counties. Wales have also recorded two.
Main arrival is October and November with just under 40 records and a further 27 occurrences occurred during January to April with a single each in June and August.
BBRC RECORDS
1). 1911 Fair Isle Locality unknown, male, obtained, 30th October, now at National Museums of Scotland (NMSZ 1912.147.1).
(W. E. Clarke, Scottish Naturalist 1912: 8-9; Eds., British Birds 5: 239-240; Clarke, 1912; W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 32: 281; Anon., Ibis 1912: 553; Pennington et al., 2004; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007).
2). 1943 Orkney Papa Westray, male, seen, 15th October.
(G. T. Arthur, British Birds 37: 196; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007).
3). 1967 Orkney North Ronaldsay, male, 7th to 11th August.
(F. R. Smith and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 61: 359; K. G. Walker, Scottish Birds 5: 225-226).
4). 1975 Dorset Portland: Southwell, male, 15th April.
(J. N. Dymond and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 69: 357; G. Walbridge, British Birds 71: 314-315).
5). 1976 Highland Golspie, Sutherland, 6th to 8th January.
(J. O'Sullivan and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 70: 441; N. Tucker & L. A. Tucker, British Birds 71: 363-364).
6). 1980 Fair Isle Upper Stoneybrek, immature, 14th to 16th October.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 74: 491; I. S. Robertson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report 1980: 25-26, 55).
7). 1980 Fair Isle Quoy, Plantation and roaming, male, age uncertain, 3rd to 6th and 8th November, photo.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 74: 491, plates 285-287; I. S. Robertson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report 1980: 26, 55).
8). 1983 Isles of Scilly Porth Mellon, St Mary's, immature or female, 16th to 18th November.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 82: 557).
9). 1985 Yorkshire Knaresborough, male, 6th April.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 79: 581).
10). 1985 Isles of Scilly Golf Course, St Mary's, male, 19th to 23rd April, photo.
(British Birds 78: plate 170; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 79: 581, plate 283; B. Rabbitts, Isles of Scilly Bird Report 1985: 62; Flood, Hudson & Thomas, 2007: plate 148).
11). 1987 Fair Isle Upper Stoneybrek, male, 11th to 20th October.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 81: 591).
12). 1987 Orkney North Ronaldsay, first-winter male, trapped, 19th October, released 20th October.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 81: 591).
13). 1987 Fair Isle Utra Brecks, immature or female, 22nd October; probably same, Shirva, aged as first-winter female, 29th October to 13th November, trapped 29th October.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 81: 591; N. J. Riddiford, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report 1987: 15, 16).
14). 1987 Orkney North Ronaldsay, first-winter male, 3rd to 9th November, trapped 3rd November, released 4th November.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 81: 591).
15). 1988 Yorkshire Flamborough Head, male, 17th October.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 82: 557).
16). 1988 Orkney North Ronaldsay, male, 27th to 29th October, trapped 27th October.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 82: 557).
17). 1988 Orkney Sanday, male, 30th October.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 83: 490).
18). 1989 Surrey Ewhurst, female, dead at roadside, 29th January, skin now with Surrey Bird Club.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 83: 490; Wheatley, 2007).
19). 1990 Northumberland Big Waters NR, female, about 18th February to 16th March, photo.
(Birding World 3 (2): 47, photo; C. Bradshaw, Birding World 3 (3): 86-88, photos; C. Bradshaw & M. Gray, British Birds 86: 378-386; Birding World 8 (11): 431, photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 88: 551).
20). 1990 Northumberland Bamburgh, male, 21st October.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 84: 501; M. S. Hodgson, Birds in Northumbria 1991: 95-96).
21). 1991 Orkney Senness, North Ronaldsay, female, 12th to 13th October.
(C. Bradshaw & M. Gray, British Birds 86: 378-386; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 88: 551).
22). 1991 Orkney North Ronaldsay, first-winter female, 1st to 5th November, photo.
(C. Bradshaw & M. Gray, British Birds 86: 378-386, plate 123; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 88: 551).
23). 1992 Northumberland Blakemoor Farm, Cresswell, male, 29th January to 19th February, photo.
(S. J. M. Gantlett, Birding World 5 (2): 48, 49, photo; C. Bradshaw & M. Gray, British Birds 86: 378-386; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 86: 531, plate 127).
24). 1992 Greater London/Essex Dagenham Chase, male, 12th February to 17th March, photo.
(S. J. M. Gantlett, Birding World 5 (2): 48, 49, photos; British Birds 85: plates 204 & 207; C. Bradshaw & M. Gray, British Birds 86: 378-386; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 86: 531; K. Barrett, Essex Bird Report 1992: 135-136, plate 20; London Bird Report 1992: photo; Birding World 8 (11): 431, photo; Birding World 9 (2): 64, photo; Birding World 14 (9): 395, photo; Wood, 2007).
25). 1994 Shetland Out Skerries, first-winter female, 22nd to 23rd October.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 88: 551; D. Suddaby, Shetland Bird Report 1994: 94-96).
26). 1994 Shetland Sumburgh Airport, Mainland, male, 23rd October.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 88: 551).
27). 1994 Orkney Sangar, North Ronaldsay, male, 28th October.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 88: 551).
28). 1994 Fair Isle Haa then Skerryholm and Leogh, male, probably first-winter, 7th November.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 88: 551; R. Riddington, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report 1994: 65).
29). 1995 Lincolnshire Gibraltar Point NNR, male, 29th to 31st March, photo.
(Birding World 8 (3): 87, photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 89: 525; N. Lound, Lincolnshire Bird Report 1995: 70-71).
30). 1995 Orkney North Ronaldsay, male, 17th June.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 89: 525).
31). 1995 Norfolk/Suffolk Hopton-on-Sea/Corton, male, 28th October; also in Suffolk.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 89: 525; R. Fairhead & R. Wilton, Norfolk Bird & Mammal Report 1995: 593; R. Fairhead, Suffolk Birds 1995: 162).
32). 1995 Fair Isle Lower Stoneybrek and Midway, male, 29th to 30th October.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 97: 620; R. Riddington, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report 1995: 66).
33). 1996 Worcestershire Bibby's Hollow, Halesowen, male, 6th to 20th February, photo.
(Birding World 9 (2): 47, photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 90: 510).
34). 1996 Yorkshire Harthill, male, 14th to 17th March, photo.
(Birding World 9 (3): 88, photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 90: 510).
35). 1998 Co. Durham Langley Moor, female, 22nd to 24th March, dead 28th March, photo, mounted specimen retained by N. Urwin.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 96: 604; Bowey & Newsome, 2012: photo).
36). 1998 Fair Isle Skerryholm and Kenaby, female, 8th to 11th October.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 92: 276, 604; C. Holt, P. Baker & H. Baker, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report 1998: 36, 85).
37). 2000 Pembrokeshire Skokholm, male, 28th April.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 97: 620).
38). 2001 Yorkshire Filey CP, 3rd March.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 96: 604).
39). 2001 Caernarfonshire Bardsey, adult male, 30th April.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 97: 620).
40). 2003 Shetland Haroldswick, Unst, male, 31st October to 1st November.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 97: 620; M. Maher, Shetland Bird Report 2003: 115-116).
41). 2003 Yorkshire Flamborough Head, first-winter or female, 11th to 12th November.
(Yorkshire Birding 12: 125-129; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 97: 620).
42). 2004 Devon Wembury, male, 27th January, 8th February and 17th March.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 98: 690; D. Wright, Devon Bird Report 2004: 173-175).
43). 2004 Norfolk Choseley, male, 28th February to 11th March.
(Birding World 17 (3): 101, photos; British Birds 97: plates 120 & 121; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 98: 690; A. Saunders, Norfolk Bird & Mammal Report 2004: 289-290, photos).
44). 2004 Yorkshire Bempton, male, 10th to 11th April.
(P. A. Fraser, M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 100: 99).
45). 2005 Worcestershire New Farm, Wadborough, male, 15th to 24th January, photo.
(Birding World 18 (1): 10, photo; P. A. Fraser, M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 100: 99; West Midland Bird Club Report 72: photo).
46). 2005 Shetland Challister, Whalsay, first-winter male, 4th to 5th November, photo.
(Birding World 18 (11): 451, photo; British Birds 99: plate 28; P. A. Fraser, M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 100: 99, plate 38; Shetland Bird Report 2005: photo; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007: photo).
47). 2005 Outer Hebrides Carinish, North Uist, female, 16th November.
(P. A. Fraser, M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 100: 99).
48). 2007 Fair Isle Barkland, first-winter male, 25th October to 10th November, photo.
(Birding World 20 (10): 417, photo; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 101: 571, plate 294; M. Breaks, Scottish Birds 29: 180-182, plates 159-161; D. N. Shaw, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report 2007: 25).
49). 2009 Cornwall Nanjizal, male, 9th to 19th January.
(N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 103: 632).
50). 2011 Shetland Clibberswick, Unst, first-winter female, 5th to 7th November, photo.
(British Birds 104: plate 452; Birding World 24 (11): 454, photo; Scottish Birds 32: plate 77; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 105: 617, plate 365; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 106: 632).
51). 2016 Fair Isle Barkland, Quoy and Burkle, 1CY, female, trapped, 11th to 17th October, photo.
(C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 110: 624; Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report 2016: plate 92).
52). 2016 Fair Isle Quoy and Midway, two, 1CY+, females, 16th to 19th October, photo.
(Scottish Birds 37: plate 70; C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 110: 624, plate 347; Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report 2016: plate 92).
54). 2016 Shetland Brake, Mainland, 1CY+, male, 21st October, photo.
(C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 110: 624).
55). 2016 Fair Isle Bull's Park, 1CY, male, 22nd to 26th October, photo.
(C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 110: 624; Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report 2016: plate 92).
56). 2016 Yorkshire Kilnsea, 1CY+, male, 25th October, photo.
(C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 110: 624).
57). 2016 Dorset Portland BO, 1CY, female, trapped, 26th October, photo.
(C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 110: 624; Dorset Bird Report 2016: photo).
58). 2016 Norfolk Blakeney Point, 1CY+, female, 26th October, photo.
(C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 110: 624; N. Franklin, Norfolk Bird & Mammal Report 2016: 42, photo).
59). 2016 Shetland Baltasound, Unst, 1CY, male, 30th October, photo.
(C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 110: 624).
60). 2017 Shropshire Venus Pool, 2CY+, female, 1st to 6th January, photo.
(C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 111: 619).
61). 2017 Yorkshire Dunnington, 2CY+, male, 20th January to 9th March, photo.
(C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 111: 619).
62). 2017 Norfolk Felmingham, 2CY, female, 21st January.
(C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 111: 619).
63). 2017 Kent Little Murston, 2CY+, male, 24th January to 1st March, photo.
(C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 111: 619; J. Massey & B. Wright, Kent Bird Report 2017: 183-184, plate 3).
64). 2018 Norfolk Holt, 2CY+, female, 20th January to 22nd February.
(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 112: 616).
65). 2020 Shetland Skaw, Unst, 1CY+, female, 20th to 22nd October, photo.
(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 114: 619).
66). 2022 Norfolk Near Lower Bodham, 2CY+, female, 12th January.
(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 116: 594).
67). 2023 Orkney Holland, Papa Westray, 2CY+, male, 29th April to 2nd May, photo.
(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 724).
P). 2025 Dorset St Aldhelm’s Head, first-winter, 13th November.
(birding information services).
