Thursday 17 June 2010

Flamingo dilemma





This afternoon, a pair of CHILEAN FLAMINGOES is present on Minsmere RSPB scrape in Suffolk (photographed above by Craig Holden). First glances appear to suggest both birds are unringed but my guess is - is that these birds are derived from the non-naturalised breeding and semi-resident population in The Netherlands and German border. When I last visited, this population numbered 43 individuals but I would be most grateful for an update on population from our Dutch counterparts.

As such, like some previous Chilean Flamingoes recorded in Britain, these fall into Category C vagrancy. A decision of whether or not to add species such as Australian Black Swan, Bar-headed Goose, Sacred Ibis and Chilean Flamingo to Category C of the UK400 Club/BBA British List is still pending