Masters of Mystery are excluded from entry in the round(s) in which their work is used. For each round only one entry per person is accepted (which will be the first received). Entries have to arrive by the closing date stated. The Dutch Birding Association cannot be held responsible for possible non-receipt or loss of entries. All species in the photographs have been recorded (or reliably reported) in the Western Palearctic as defined in Birds of the Western Palearctic (BWP). Hybrids will not be featured. Each mystery bird must be identified at the level of species. In this competition, decisions of the Commissie Systematiek Nederlandse Avifauna (Dutch committee for avian systematics; CSNA) are followed (see, for example, Dutch Birding 19: 21-28, 1997; 20: 22-32, 1998). In case of any dispute concerning the identity of a bird, the decision of the editorial board of Dutch Birding will be binding on all parties. The overall winner will be the entrant who has correctly identified most mystery photographs during the competition (six rounds). In case of joint winners, one winner will be drawn.
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Diederik Kok, Pelmolenweg 4, 3511 XN Utrecht, Netherlands (d.s.kok@students.chem.uu.nl) Nils van Duivendijk, Guldenhoeve 34, 3451 TG Vleuten, Netherlands (duivendijk@multiweb.nl)
WP reports This review lists rare and interesting birds reported in the Western Palearctic mainly in January-February 1999 and focuses on north-western Europe. The reports are largely unchecked and their publication here does not imply future acceptance by the rarities committee of the relevant country. Observers are requested to submit records to each country’s rarities committee. Corrections are welcome and will be published. The first Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris for Italy was an adult male staying at Lago di Viverone, Piemonte, from 13 February onwards. The second record of Tufted Duck A fuligula for the Cape Verde Islands was a flock of three and the fourth record of Common Teal Anas crecca was a flock of nine on 22-27 January at the sewage farm on São Vicente. A male Lesser Scaup A affinis was (again) seen in Kerry, Ireland, on 22-24 January. Several were in Britain during January-February. In the Canary Islands, six remained at Roquito del Fraile, Tenerife. At the Bourgas lakes, Bulgaria, a record 620 White-headed Ducks Oxyura leucocephala were counted on 5 January. In Cornwall, England, three sin[Dutch Birding 21: 53-57, 1999]
gle Black Ducks A rubripes remained during February. The influx of Great Northern Loons Gavia immer from November 1998 in the Netherlands (still five present in mid-February) and Germany became also apparent in Switzerland where at least six were present through January-February. In northern Italy, two or three were found at Lago di Como during January and, in Austria, one remained until 2 January in Wien. Right on the borderline between north-eastern France and Germany, a juvenile White-billed Loon G adamsii, probably the same as seen in December 1998, remained in the Rhine river at Illkirch-Graffenstaden, Bas-Rhin, from 16 January to at least 28 February. The adult Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps continued its long stay at Rostellan, Cork, Ireland, during January. An adult in Wales remained in Powys from 17 January to 7 February and was then on 13-24 February at Cosmeston Lakes, Glamorgan. In England, singles were present near Nanjizal, Cornwall, until 12 February, on Tresco, Scilly, during late February, and in Ashford, Kent on 2728 February. On 5 February, a Great Shearwater Puffinus gravis stayed for several hours at Mellbystrand,
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