Ornithos 7-4 (2000)

Les oiseaux rares en France en 1999. Rapport du Comité d'homologation national.
(Jean-Yves Frémont & le CHN)

Premier cas de nidification du Bruant mélanocéphale Emberiza melanocephala en France (Alpes-Maritimes).
(Daniel Dupuy & Jean-Louis Dupuy)

En direct du CHN. Compte rendu de la réunion annuelle du Comité d'homologation national (13-14 mai 2000).
(Pierre Crouzier, Marc Duquet & le CHN)

En direct de la CAF. Décisions prises le 11 juillet 2000 par la Commission de l'avifaune française (CAF).
(Pierre Le Maréchal & la CAF)

Nouvelles ornithologiques françaises : août-octobre 2000.
(Marc Duquet)

Notes :

L'Aigle royal Aquila chrysaetos attaque des mouflons dans l'Espinouse (Hérault).
(Jean-Marc Cugnasse & Eric Golliot)

Hivernages successifs d'une Buse féroce Buteo rufinus en Camargue.
(Julien Gonin, Julien Gernigon & Yves Kayser)

Rare birds in France in 1999.
(Jean-Yves Frémont & CHN)

A new species was added to the French list in 1999, Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri, whichb alos included the first record of Spanish Imperial Eagle Aquila adalberti this century. 1999 also included the second Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata, and the second and third records of Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus. In 1997, a new sub-species was accepted for France, Moroccan White Wagtail Motacilla alba subpersonata, whilst in 1998 there were records of the second Pied Wheather Oenanthe pleschanka and the fourth Bufflehead Bucephala albeola.
In 1999, record numbers included a total of 6 Surf Scoters Melanitta perspicillata (5 together!), 128 Ruddy Ducks Oxyura jamaicensis, 4 Pallid Harriers Circus macrourus, 24 Little Crackes Porzana parva, 6 White-rumped Sandpipers Calidris fuscicollis, 133 Long-tailed skuas Stercorarius longicaudus and 8 Dusky Warblers Phylloscopus fuscatus.

Black-headed Bunting, a new breeding bird for France.
(Daniel Dupuis & Jean-Louis Dupuy)

In spring 2000, bredding of Black-headed Bunting was recorded in Alpes-Maritimes, south-eastern France. One pair plus a male were observed near Cipières from 6 June to 17 July. A nest with 3 young was found; these young successfully fledged. This is the first breeding evidence of this species in France. It follows an increasing number of records (from 1998) in that area (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Var and Alpes-Maritimes).

From the CHN.
(Pierre Crouzier, Marc Duquet & CHN)

From the CAF.
(Pierre Le Maréchal & CAF)

French reports: August-October 2000.
(Marc Duquet)

NOTES

Golden Eagles attacking wild sheeps.
(Jean-Marc Cugnasse & Eric Golliot)

From May to July 1997, an immature Golden Eagle (presumed the same bird) was seen several times attacking young wild sheep in Caroux-Espinouse Reserve (Hérault, south-central France).
This is the first example of this hunting behaviour of Golden Eagle in this region (end in the Massif central mountains as a whole), whereas it is commonly noted in the Pyrénées and the Alps. Golden Eagles frequently fead on dead wild sheep in Caroux-Espinouse Reservce, since theri introduction there in 1956, but it was the first time that the species had been observed attacking live sheep. It is not known if this new predatory behaviour concerns a native younf Golden Eagle trying to take advantage of a new food resource or a wandering bird from the Pyrénées or the Alps. Since no new attacks have been recorded since those dates, the second hypothesis could be the more likely.

Successive wintering of a Long-legged Buzzard in the Camargue.
(Julien Gonin, Julien Gernigon & Yves Kaiser)

A first-winter Long-legged Buzzard, belonging to the race rufinus, was discovered on 22 February 1999 in the Camargue (Provence); it remained there until 7 April 1999. The following autumn it was rediscovered at the same site. This represents a remarkable case of successive wintering of a vagrant species which is very rarely found in France; only 12 previous records exist. Its return has also permitted an examination of the development of its plumage.