Canvasback added to Category A

Cliffe, Kent, 7 December 1996

First record for Britain

The British Ornithologists' Union Records Committee (BOURC) has accepted a record of Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) from Cliffe, Kent on 7th December 1996 as the first British record following prior acceptance of the identification by the British Birds Rarities Committee (BBRC).

This record occurred six weeks prior to the only other accepted British record, a well-watched male at Welney, Norfolk (18th January until 15th March 1997). The Kent bird was also a male, probably first-winter, and it would therefore seem likely that it was the same individual as the Welney bird. The two sites are approximately 70 miles apart.

BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION
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