British Birding Association UK400 Club

See http://uk400clubrarebirdalert.blogspot.com/

 

If you have additional information/further records or images of these oddly displaced birds, can you kindly email them to me. Has anyone any theories as to why so many have strayed inland?

 

Since mid-August 2008, up to 27 Eurasian Shags have been displaced inland, from Greater Manchester south to London. None so far have been ringed and only one (at Withins Reservoir) has been in poor health.

 

 

All records involve juveniles

 

The first to appear was at Hilfield Park Reservoir (Hertfordshire) on 15-17 August. This was followed by the first of at least 7 in Cambridgeshire - at Ferry Meadows Gunwade Lake on 18-19, then on Overton Lake on 21st.

 

Following one at Pitsford Reservoir Yacht Club (Northamptonshire) on 19th, up to 5 were then discovered at Grafham Water (Cambs), with three showing well as they roosted on pontoons off the Fishing Lodge from 20-21 and two more off the Dam on 21st; one remained until 22nd. Nearby, a further juvenile was at Diddington Pits, Paxton Pits NR (Cambs) on 20-21, with possibly the same bird on Island & Pumphouse Pit on 22 and Heronry South Pit on 23-25.

 

The first of 6 juveniles arrived at Draycote Water (Warwickshire) on 21st, with all 6 noted on 23rd and up to 5 remaining until 26th. At the main Nene Barrage Lake at Clifford Hill GP (Northants), a juvenile remained there or on the adjacent Fishing Lake from 21-25, with a second bird present on 24th.

 

In Greater Manchester, a juvenile at Withins Reservoir from 23rd was taken into care on 25th, with further singles appearing at Harrold Country Park (North Beds) on 23-25, Fowlmere RSPB (Cambs) (flew off south at 0750), Calvert BBOWT Lake (Bucks) on 24th (present from mid-morning to midday), Rother Valley Country Park (South Yorks) on 24th, Earls Barton Mary's Lake (Northants) on 24th and Farmoor Reservoir (Oxfordshire) on 24th.

 

More recently, singles were at Daventry Reservoir Country Park (Northants) on 25th, Eyebrook Reservoir (Leics) on 25-26 (flew off at 0745) and at Queen Mother Reservoir (London/Berks) on 26th.