Masters of Mystery
Mystery photograph V (September)
Mystery photograph VI (December)
names of all entrants with at least one correct identification can be viewed at www.dutchbirding.nl.
• from the website of the Dutch Birding Association at www.dutchbirding.nl
Third round 2007
Entries for the first round have to arrive by 1 July 2007. Please, indicate if you are subscribed to Dutch Birding. From those entrants having identified both mystery birds correctly, one person will be drawn who will receive a copy of the DVD Onze meeuwen en sterns donated by Plomp Digital Video. Swarovski Benelux has generously agreed to sponsor this competition again in 2007. This year, the overall winner after six rounds will receive a pair of marvellous 8,5x42 EL binoculars.
Photographs V and VI represent the third round of the 2007 competition. Please, study the rules (Dutch Birding 29: 39-40, 2007) carefully and identify the birds in the photographs. Solutions can be sent in three different ways: • by postcard to Dutch Birding Association, Postbus 75611, 1070 AP Amsterdam, Netherlands • by e-mail to masters@dutchbirding.nl
Rob S A van Bemmelen, Stavangerweg 535, 1013 AX Amsterdam, Netherlands (masters@dutchbirding.nl) Dick Groenendijk, Elzenstraat 14, 4043 PB Opheusden, Netherlands (masters@dutchbirding.nl) Jan Eerbeek, De Peel 2, 4041 EL Kesteren, Netherlands (masters@dutchbirding.nl)
WP reports This review lists rare and interesting birds reported in the Western Palearctic mainly in March-early May 2007, with some from previous months and early May. The reports are largely unchecked and their publication here does not imply future acceptance by a rarities committee. Observers are requested to submit their records to each country’s rarities committee. Corrections are welcome and will be published. SWANS TO GROUSE A pair of Whooper Swans Cygnus
cygnus with two last-year’s young returned to Drégelypalánk for the third breeding for Hungary of this species since two centuries. A dark-billed first-winter Taiga Bean Goose Anser fabalis at Eilat on 14-24 March which regularly flew to the Aqaba sewage ponds constituted the first bean goose for Israel and Jordan. The second Pink-footed Goose A brachyrhynchos for
168
Sardinia was photographed in the Oristano gulf in midFebruary (the first was in 1997). The second Redbreasted Goose Branta ruficollis for Iceland was an adult with Pink-footed Geese at Fljótsdalshéra∂ on 7 May. The ninth Steller‘s Eider Polysticta stelleri for Iceland first seen in January 1998 was again wintering this year with Harlequin Ducks Histrionicus histrionicus at Borgarfjör∂ur (cf Dutch Birding 23: 156, 2001). The male Black Scoter Melanitta americana at Llanfairfechan, North Wales, stayed for its ninth winter from 24 September until at least 9 April. On 16 May, a male was picked up at Jenny’s Brown Point, Lancashire, England, and released at sea. By early May, the c sixth American White-winged Scoter M deglandi deglandi for Iceland was a (possibly returning) male at Pvottárskri∂ur from 30 April to at least 9 May. The first Asian White-winged Scoter M d stejnegeri for Poland [Dutch Birding 29: 168-183, 2007]