Rare seabirds are often extremely hard to identify, and a significant part of the problem is that, when observed from land, circumstances are typically very difficult. In many cases, one or more of the following drawbacks applies: the weather conditions are poor, views are distant and brief, and photographic evidence is impossible. For these same reasons, records of rare seabirds are also difficult to assess, particularly so if they concern what would be a'first for Britain' for the species in question.This was the case when a probable Herald Petrel Pterodroma orminjoniona was seen off Dungeness, Kent, in January 1998. In this paper, the circumstances and the assessment of that record are described, and, more generally, the level of supporting evidence which is necessary for acceptance of records of rare seabirds is discussed.

Pale morph Herald Petrel Pterodroma arminjoniana off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, USA, August 2000, Brian Sullivan

The Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes is poorly monitored in the UK. In order to assess its population changes during 1975-99, data were gathered from county bird reports and additional information obtained from county recorders.Those counties which form the main part of the Hawfinch's range were identified from the New Atlas; annual totals for these counties were then compiled, and used to generate county and UK indices.Three indices are presented, two of which attempt to correct for changes in observer effort.The results indicate that Hawfinches have declined in numbers by 2-27% over a recent 20-year period, and by 37-45% during a recent ten-year period.The reasons for the decline require further study, and observers are encouraged to record this species more carefully, in order to enable careful monitoring of its status.

Male Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes, Kent, May 1990, J., Hollis/Windrush

This biannual feature, started 25 years ago (see Brit. Birds 70: 218), provides the only reliable, continent-wide report on population trends and significant, nationally accepted records of rarities. Some of the highlights in this fiftieth compilation include:
First national records of the following species: Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus (Andorra), Black-browed Albatross Diomedea melanophris (Channel Islands), Swinhoe's Storm-petrel Oceanodroma monorhis (Ireland), Redhead Aythya americans (Iceland), Ring-necked Duck A. collaris (Italy), Lesser Scaup A. affinis (Iceland), Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus (Finland), Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus (Channel Islands), Eleonora's Falcon Falco eleonorae (Germany), Common Quail Coturnix coturnix (Iceland), Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima (Czech Republic), Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus (Great Britain), Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia (Poland), Laughing Gull Larus atricilla and Audouin's Gull L. audouinii (both Germany), Ring-billed Gull L. delawarensis (Denmark), Iceland Gull L. glaucoides (Bulgaria), Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri (France) and Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor (Ireland).
First breeding records of Great White Egret Egretta alba in Belarus, Gadwall Anas strepera in the Channel Islands, Common Eider Somateria mollissima in Italy, Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamoicensis in Germany, Saker Falcon Falco cherrug in Poland, Avocet Recurvirostra avosetto in Slovenia and Herring Gull Lorus argentatus in Spain.
Population increase of the following species: Little Egret Egretto garzetto and Great White Egret in the Netherlands, Eurasian Spoonbill Platolea leucorodia and White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephola in Spain; with range expansion of Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber and Purple Swamp-hen Porphyrio porphyrio in Spain, and of European Bee-eater Merops apiaster in the Czech Republic.
Population declines of Bean Geese Anser fabalis wintering in Germany, Kentish Plovers Charadrius alexandrinus and Dunlins Calidris alpina breeding in Germany, Gull-billed Terns Sterna nitotica in Denmark, and Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers Dendrocopos minor in the Channel Islands.

Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus, Cabo de Praia, Terceira, Azores, November 2001, Theo Bakker