The British Ornithologists’ Union
Records Committee (BOURC)
has accepted the Red-footed Booby found at St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, on
2 September 2016 on to its British
list.
The second-calendar-year or older
female bird was seen
arriving exhausted on the beach at the town near Hastings mid-morning
that day, and then held in care until 16 December 2016, when it was
transported to the Cayman Islands. Unfortunately, it then died in
quarantine before release.
This news come after Pale-legged
Leaf Warbler and Eastern Kingbird were
added to the list earlier in the week, both of which were also announced
separately.
The bird was initially observed
flying and landing on water, before moving to a beach, where it was rescued by
the RSPCA, and a full account by its finder, Gail Cohen, was published
in Birdwatch 292: 8-9. Although apparently fully rehabilitated, it
did not survive the transfer to islands in its natural range.
