Friday 31 August 2012

WHITE PELICAN in Stevenage


Photo insert - Martin Hanson

News came through of a European White Pelican at Fairlands Valley Park, Stevenage, last night and I made my way over today, once it was confirmed to be still present. It was ringed on one leg (red ring with white letters 'CSF') and this quickly enabled me to trace it to Blackbrook Zoological Park in Staffordshire. According to the Zoo, it and another Pelican had escaped a week ago and had been present at a moorland site until Wednesday. One was recaptured but the other went awol. It was some scene today, with this starving bird turning to resident birds for food - devouring 2 baby Moorhens and 2 young Mallards whilst I was there. Two keepers have been despatched from the Zoo and it is hoped to recapture it either later this evening or tomorrow.

Other news around the county today includes a number of migrant COMMON REDSTARTS and numerous WHINCHATS and an OSPREY seen twice again at Panshanger Park (between 1200 and 1330 hours)

1 comment:

  1. I just read that the Pelican was eventually caught in Sawbridgeworth and returned to the zoo safe and sound but slightly underweight.

    When the bird was holidaying in Stevenage I treated it to some juicy whitebait to stop it from eating our resident baby waterfowl and to keep the local fishing community happy.

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