Hoopoe

[Hornbeam]

We have a hoopoe on playing fields in Bishop's Stortford. Been here for a day or two and seems happy to remain a while despite the growing army of twitchers following him around

[agrumpycow]

Originally Posted by Hornbeam

We have a hoopoe on playing fields in Bishop's Stortford. Been here for a day or two and seems happy to remain a while despite the growing army of twitchers following him around

Nice one! I've never seen on of these beauties before. A bit further north than than usual isn't it? The distribution map on the RSPB site places them just around the south coast.

[Tursiops2]

Originally Posted by agrumpycow

Nice one! I've never seen on of these beauties before.

Seconded , and likewise

Originally Posted by agrumpycow

A bit further north than than usual isn't it? The distribution map on the RSPB site places them just around the south coast.

That's true enough as a generalisation, but these Mediterranean "overshoots" have a habit of wandering inland from the South Coast (but never to my patch ). This year there's been the Glossy Ibises at Slimbridge and elsewhere, quite a few Hoopoes, and I believe there's a Bee-eater wandering around Western Scotland at this very moment .
T2

[agrumpycow]

Originally Posted by Tursiops2

Seconded , and likewise
That's true enough as a generalisation, but these Mediterranean "overshoots" have a habit of wandering inland from the South Coast (but never to my patch ). This year there's been the Glossy Ibises at Slimbridge and elsewhere, quite a few Hoopoes, and I believe there's a Bee-eater wandering around Western Scotland at this very moment .
T2

I'm dropping some friends off at Standstead on Saturday and I'm just a little tempted to do a little detour on the way back to see if I can spot one of them!!!!
Although I get quite a nice variety of birds in my garden and in the local area to see something a bit different and rare would set me up for the weekend nicely

[Hornbeam]

The hoopoe is on Grange Paddocks football pitches between the River Stort and the railway.
You can see photos here:
Stort Valley Wild - Hoopoe

[eeyore]

shame john is in lesvos - he'll be kicking himself whn he see this when he gets back

[ianrose82]

I can't get there till Saturday...I hope it will still be around.

[Tursiops2]

Originally Posted by eeyore

shame john is in lesvos - he'll be kicking himself whn he see this when he gets back

Oh I doubt it! If he stands around in Lesvos long enough, he'll have hoopoes nesting in his ears . Just stay upwind of him when he gets back
T2

[mrs fish]

There was one on Languard common nature reserve a couple of weeks ago

[Tursiops2]

Originally Posted by mrs fish

There was one on Languard common nature reserve a couple of weeks ago

Yes I know, mrs fish, don't rub it in They had two Gull-billed Terns there last week, I didn't see them either.
Do you know this site mrs f? http://www.freewebs.com/proldfield/index.htm