Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta (Linnaeus, 1758)
(Extremely rare PM)
Avocet, Butcombe Bank © Mike Noel-Smith, 29th Dec. 2017.
- One, not aged or sexed, 6th Nov. 2006 (R.M. Curber et al.).
- One, adult not sexed, 29th Dec. 2017 (M. Noel-Smith, photo & video). It is likely that this bird escaped from Bristol Zoo.
- One, adult not sexed, 19th July 2020 (N.R. Milbourne, M. Hynam).
The first record for the lake, was of a bird found by Roy Curber at Burmah Road on a foggy autumn afternoon. Unfortunately, it left overnight, despite the low water level.
The second record was of a bird on Butcombe Bank in high water conditions that stayed long enough for the observer, Mike Noel-Smith, to get a couple of shots and a video clip on his phone before it flew off towards the North Shore.
The third record was of a bird seen at Wookey Point for a few minutes early in the morning by the author and Mark Hynam, but was lost to view and assumed to have flown off. However, during another check in the evening I noted back in the same place, so had presumably been present all day.
Bibliography (sources of information):
- Rose, Dr H.E. (ed.). Avon Bird Report, 2006. Avon Ornithological Group.