Hoopoe sightings?

[GME]

Just wondering if anyone has seen a Hoopoe recently when out and about?

I know not technically a British bird but it's such a magnificent one that does pass by on its migration. I read in a magazine fairly recently that some had been cropping up on the South coast and so thought a few keen WAB members may have been lucky enough to spot one.?

I'm going off to browse the Gallery now to see if anyone has got some nice shots of them in the past...

[Deer Stalker]

There was one at Calshot in Hampshire back in May, but I havn't heard of any recently.
They will be coming back through in the autumn.

[GME]

I've searched our Gallery to find 5 shots. Only 2 of them were taken in this country. John got one in 2005 then ianrose82 got the other in Bishops Stortford as you say in May this year. So, I'm guessing not too many other members have been so lucky

Bit too far for me to just pop down and hope for the best but anyone more local keep your cameras at the ready through Autumn for me!!

Cheers

[Oscar2006]

Originally Posted by GME

I've searched our Gallery to find 5 shots. Only 2 of them were taken in this country. John got one in 2005 then ianrose82 got the other in Bishops Stortford as you say in May this year. So, I'm guessing not too many other members have been so lucky

Bit too far for me to just pop down and hope for the best but anyone more local keep your cameras at the ready through Autumn for me!!

Cheers

Seeing them is not easy as they do not reach our shores in any great numbers.
Getting a photograph of one therefore is even more difficult.

[GuyF]

Portland Bill normally gets atleast 1 in spring, normally May's the best time. I've still yet to see one in this country though, maybe next year or this autumn.
Guy

[Garden Carpet]

In Spain,where in the past I have seen Hoopoe each day of my holiday, this year there were none...and articles in the local papers about the lack of them. Hope you are lucky GME and actualy get to see one in the UK
jaki

[Za]

There was one sighted in Chidham near Chichester Harbour in May.
(Copied from Chidham and Hambrook website)
Hoopoe spotted in Chidham (Thanks to Diana Beale)

An exotic visitor has been spotted in South Chidham On Monday morning, May 14th, Tom Edom was driving up the Cobnor lane on his way to work when he saw a hoopoe fly in front of his car!
As far as we know, this is the first time this wonderfully showy Mediterranean bird has been seen in this neck of the woods. Does anyone know of any other sightings, recently or in the past? It is a striking and unmistakeable bird - even the bird book says it can't be confused with any other species, with its pink Mohican crest and black and white barred wings and tail. Keep a look out... Another bird from the Med is the pure white little egret, which started visiting. and then settling, in Chichester Harbour in the sixties, obviously encouraged by the gradual trend to warmer winters. Now they are a common sight and have started to breed here. Could the hoopoe be next?

[colinaj]

May or September to November is the Hoopoe time in the UK.

One day I rang birdline to say a Hoopoe was on the roundabout at Ipswich and as I have not seen one I decided to travel the 45 miles from Lowestoft to see it as It had been reported as showing well.
On arrival I met with an elderly gentleman who had made the call to birdline proudly point out his find to me.

"Its a JAY you T$&T!"
I said as I stormed off to ring birdline with the negative news

[mrs fish]

There was one at Felixstowe ferry for a few days earlier this year.

[widgeon0]

I think Hoopoe has bred in the UK before(welsh border)comes to mind.
so does this make it some sort of British Bird?.