Rare bird returns to the West Country - after five thousand years

Last updated Wed 5 Oct 2016 

A Dalmatian pelican has been spotted in North Devon.

It's thought to be the first to visit Britain for thousands of years.

The pelican is "one of the most beautiful and charismatic breeding birds in Europe" according to the RSPB.

We filmed it at Braunton.

There are thought to be around 10,000-20,000 Dalmatian pelicans in the world with the largest colony at at Lake Mikri Prespa in Greece.

Remains have shown the birds used to breed in the Somerset area around 5,000 years ago.

This bird is thought to have been blown off course towards the UK. It was first seen in Poland and Germany before arriving at Lands End earlier this year.

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Glossy Ibis spotted in Fremington Pill

By North Devon Journal  |  Posted: September 12, 2016

The sighting of a rare bird is currently exciting the North Devon bird-watching community as twitchers from the region are flocking to see the unfamiliar visitor.

The Glossy Ibis, also known as the European Ibis, was first seen at Fremington Pill last week and was reported on local bird-watching community website Devon Birds.

Glossy Ibis, Fremington Pill

The Ibis, known for its long slender legs, reddish brown feathers and bottle green wings, is more commonly seen enjoying the warmer climates of southern Europe, north Africa and even the Caribbean, but does occasionally venture to the UK.

Devon Birds member Tim Davis was one of those pleased to see the bird visiting the region.

He said: "They don't breed in Britain. They are from southern Spain and south Europe and they are known here as a vagrant species. They are sometimes spotted in south Devon, but more recently they have been coming further north."

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Barnstaple industrial estate 'under siege' by seagulls

BUSINESSES on a Barnstaple industrial estate say they have been under siege by seagulls for too long and have had enough of the feathered pests.

People working on Pottington Industrial Estate are regularly dive-bombed while buildings and cars have been damaged by layers of bird poo.

Business owners say the estate is constantly strewn with rubbish after seagulls attack bins and employees have to put up with the birds’ constant squawking.

Some firms already pay hundreds of pounds a week for measures to prevent the birds from nesting on their buildings.

But at a meeting on Monday night at the Barnstaple Hotel nearly 40 business owners and representatives met to discuss how they can rid the estate of the birds for good.

The meeting was set up by Chris Bonner, a landlord on the estate.

He said: “We need to set up a business group, like we used to have, and team together to get rid of the birds.”

Business owners and representatives discussed culling the seagulls.

But North Devon Council regulatory services manager Andrew Millie said it was unlikely business owners would get a licence to cull the birds.

Continued

Council ban tie-wearing duck from collecting for charity in permit row

The popular bird, named Star, regularly dons a red dickie bow and waddles alongside his owner Barrie Hayman to raise money for sick youngsters.

Together Barrie and Star collect on average £200 a day by visiting businesses around Devon and have already raised £6,500 for a local children's hospice.

However the duo's fundraising days could be numbered after being told they must apply 28 days in advance for a single day's permit- restricting them to collecting just one day a month.

'If I was putting into my own pocket, I could understand it, but everything goes to the sick children,' explained the Bideford resident.

'If a permit covered me for a year and I was able to visit a different town each day, that would be fine, but on this basis I don't think I can carry on.'

Council officials told Mr Hayman that members of the public could find his feathered sidekick 'irritating'.

Local businesses have slammed the decision and are calling for Star to be allowed to collect money as often as possible.

'He entertains so many people. They crowd around him, and he does an amazing job,' Sally Shephard, of Blazeys Deli in Bideford, said.

'We all feel very upset because it's such an amazing charity. Everyone's in uproar.'

A North Devon District Council spokesman added: 'All he's got to do is apply for a street collection permit, which is a fairly simple process.

'Our policy is to allow one charity collection per day per parish, so that the streets aren't full of people collecting for charity, which is irritating to the public.'

Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/911993-council-ban-tie-wearing-duck-from-collecting-for-charity-in-permit-row#ixzz26v4IzUyg