As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Monday 25 June 2018

Rare Harry Potter owl spotted in North Wales for only the fourth time in history




Bird Notes columnist Julian Hughes of RSPB Conwy reveals how the Snowy Owl got twitchers in a flap, and outlines 11 birding events in the coming days

Andrew Forgrave Rural Affairs Editor
11:02, 19 JUN 2018
UPDATED11:39, 19 JUN 2018
ANGLESEY'S FIRST SNOWY OWL IN ALMOST HALF-A-CENTURY

Early June can be an excellent time for rare birds, Anglesey’s most memorable being a Black Lark at RSPB South Stack in 2003 that brought thousands of birders from across the UK to see a bird hardly ever witnessed in western Europe.

Last week’s twitch to Amlwch was not on the same scale, but the sight of a Snowy Owl on the Anglesey coastal path will live long in the memory of those fortunate to see it.

Reported by walkers over several days, it proved a one-Friday wonder for birders with no sign since.

This same female was in Pembrokeshire in late May; readers may recall that one was also reported from Holy Island in late March .

Snowy Owls found in Britain usually originate from Arctic Canada, some undoubtedly hitching a ride on trans-Atlantic freighters.

More than a dozen appeared in Britain last winter but this is only the fourth ever seen in North Wales, and the last on Anglesey was in 1972, so it drew a keen crowd from as far away as the English Midlands.


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