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.

Friday 22 March 2019

Black swan spotted on Kebble Lough for first time since 1880s


There have been very few sightings over the years
11:43, 8 MAR 2019
A black swan has been spotted on Rathlin Island for the first time in over a century.
Native to Western Australia, black swans sightings are relatively unusual in the wild with many thought to have escaped from private collections.
The birds, which have similar needs to native white mute swans and flock towards the same sort of habitats, were first introduced to the UK as ornamental birds.
An RSPB spokesman said: "It is the first time a black swan has been recorded on Rathlin since the 1880s. It was seen swimming alongside whooper swans on Kebble Lough on the island
"There have been very few sightings of black swans in Northern Ireland over the years. Any that have been spotted are thought to be captive birds that have escaped from private collections.
"Earlier in the week a visitor to RSPB Portmore Lough Reserve near Aghalee in Co Antrim reported seeing a black swan alongside whooper swans in neighbouring fields. It is not unusual to see a black swan on Portmore Lough as there are swans in private collections in the area. Another one was spotted on the lough before Christmas.
"They have also been seen in Inch in Co Donegal recently and there were media reports of one at the Waterworks in north Belfast back in 2012.
"Black swans could be found on almost any water body. They have similar habitat requirements to mute swans and are often found in the same areas."

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