Western Reef Heron Draws 300 Birdwatchers to Wales as UK Awaits 1st Official Record
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 10
Western Reef Heron Draws 300 Birdwatchers to Wales as UK Awaits 1st Official Record
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 10
Summary
About 300 birdwatchers reached Caernarfon within hours after ornithologist Simon Hugheston-Roberts identified a western reef heron at Y Foryd on Saturday, a sighting described as the first ever in Britain.
10:00 BST was when Hugheston-Roberts spotted the grey-blue bird and confirmed it by ruling out similar species, including dark little egrets and North American herons, then alerted a birdwatching WhatsApp group.
Warm southern winds likely blew the African and southern European species off course to north Wales, broadcaster Iolo Williams said, adding he did not link the appearance to recent 32C heat in Wales.
The heron has since moved between Caernarfon harbour, nearby woods, Morfa Dinlle and the estuary, attracting photographers and artists as well as twitchers while observers kept their distance.
A report will now go to the British Birds Rarities Committee; if accepted, the sighting will be added to the British List as the species' first official UK record.