Two extremely rare birds which
were blown across to the UK due to prolonged wind currents could remain in the
country due to their dislike of sea crossings, experts have said.
A Dalmatian pelican which has
been spotted in Cornwall had not been seen in the country for hundreds of
years.
Meanwhile, a bearded vulture has
been seen in Wales, Devon and Cornwall.
Experts said the birds, which are
both "major rarities" had arrived in the UK on prolonged south
easterly airflows.
The species are more commonly
found across south eastern Europe, India and China.
Paul Freestone, from the Cornwall
Birding website, said thousands of birdwatchers had travelled from across the
country to try to see the birds.
"It's completely
unprecedented to have two major rarities in the South West," Mr Freestone
said.
'Reached end of the land'
Paul Stancliffe, from the British
Trust for Ornithology, said both birds were first seen in other parts of
Europe, with the pelican seen in Poland and vulture reported in Belgium before
they arrived in the UK.
Mr Stancliffe said both birds,
which are currently in Cornwall, "don't like sea crossings" so it was
"possible" for them to remain in the UK for the foreseeable future.
The pelican was first
seen on 9 May in West Cornwall and the vulture was first
photographed close to the second Seven Crossing on 12 May.
The Met Office said that since
the beginning of May south easterly winds had been regular across central and
southern Europe.
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