Long-billed Murrelet, Dawlish (Devon), 12-Nov-06
A break from the Canada photos to show you what is probably the most amazing bird to have been found in the UK so far this millenium.
This is a Long-billed Murrelet, a species which normally lives 11 or 12 time zones away in the north-west Pacific Ocean. The species is occasionally identified away from its normal range with an increasing number of records along the west coast of North America and even a handful of records inland right across that continent. However for one to reach Europe is extraordinary - although this is the second to have done so: one was found dead in a fishing net in Switzerland a few years ago.
This bird was first seen on Tuesday 7th November but was at the time identified as a Little Auk, a scarce bird in southern England but by no means rare. However on Friday photographs surfaced and the identity was questioned. By now though the "Little Auk" hadn't been reported for several days and we all thought that any opportunity to see this extraordinary bird was long gone.
However on Saturday morning the earth-shattering news broke that it was in fact still there - and showing well. Hundreds if not thousands of the country's keenest twitchers raced to Devon and those who lived within about 7 hours drive from there managed to connect with it before dark. I decided to play it cool and head down overnight in the hope that it would still be there on Sunday. Fortunately it was, and here's the evidence!
To get a feel of how popular this bird was, see this photo of a section of the Sunday morning crowd.
A front view is here.
Comments and faves
stonefaction (68 months ago | reply)
Nice shot, Dave. We were talking about this bird at Guardbridge today. Nice to be able to see a pic of it on here (and without someone's head in the way too). ;-)
diegocon1964 (68 months ago | reply)
Good capture
Jamuudsen (68 months ago | reply)
An amazing bird indeed. The poor thing is a long way from home. Very nice of it to come in close for a clean shot.
prairie.birder (68 months ago | reply)
Nicely done! What a great find for the UK!
Buckeye. (68 months ago | reply)
OK, murrelet-man. Try this one. :-)
poecile05 (68 months ago | reply)
Good going Dave,
Although these likely occur much more often where I live, there is yet to be an accepted record of one here. I think the reason being that they simply get overlooked amongst the Marbled Murrelets. I have been searching for years, and never seen one.
ferran pestaña and Muchaxo added this photo to their favorites.
Muchaxo (68 months ago | reply)
Quite Spectacular. Congratulations Dave.
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Simon Wates (68 months ago | reply)
Although a fantastic record (and an impressive turnout from the twitching crowd) its not completely unheard of, there is a pattern and an explanation: Although this species is the 1st for Britain (2nd for Europe) other N American auik species have occured in Europe. Also in Devon in May 1990 an Ancient Murrelet appeared and returned for 2 succesive years. In December 1880 a Parakeet Auklet was collected on an inland lake in Sweden. In August 1912 a Crested Auklet was collected at sea just North of Iceland. In June 1994 a Tufted Puffin was recorded in Sweden. Its possible that these birds had crossed N America and migrated West to Europe in the wrong ocean but I believe much more likely that the phenomenon of reversed migration (a genetic fault) to be much more plausible: If one draws a line from the N Pacific northwards instead of South, allowing for the Earth's curvature, one sees that the reflection lies in the path of Greenland-Iceland-Scandinavia-Britain and continues to central Europe etc. Other birds like N Pacific waders and gulls and the Sandhill Crane all show a similar pattern of vagrancy in Europe. So maybe its not so surprising that this bird has turned up - but maybe even more interesting to see that this is a genuine phenomenon with man playing no hand.
Dave Appleton (68 months ago | reply)
Thanks for your comments everyone. Selvagemnooeste, I think the 'reverse migration' theory carries some weight for a few species though it doesn't work for many other long-distance migrants. Personally I think vagrancy is much more random and that many of the birds which arrive here are simply disorientated and not heading in any particular direction. The spread of Long-billed Murrelet records across North America shows that the species is capable of dispersing vast distances in unexpected directions. There could be just as much dispersal in the opposite direction but I doubt if a vagrant murrelet in central Asia stands as much chance of being found and reported. The Swiss record to me seems most likely to have come from an easterly direction and I suspect the same is true of the Devon bird. However, it's equally plausible it came over the top as you suggest - the distance is probably shortest that way.
Don't mention the Ancient Murrelet! I caught an early charter boat over to Lundy to see that as it had been disappearing in the mornings before the scheduled boat was due to arrive. That day it changed its habit and didn't appear until after we'd had to get the boat back off the island. To make matters worse for me my brother was on the regular boat that day and saw it. At least this one sort-of makes up for that a little bit!
Thanks for your comment (and everyone else)!
atgrims (68 months ago | reply)
Congratiolations!! WOW what a mega tic! I wont miss it at Utsira. Extreme flat on head. Great shot
jackatlargs (67 months ago | reply)
Fantastic shot Dave , thanks for sharing it with us !!! ...J@L
nkenji (67 months ago | reply)
Cute eyes. Nice shot!
revs&audy added this photo to their favorites. (67 months ago)
revs&audy (67 months ago | reply)
wow, really interesting bird.
must have been super exciting knowing you got a shot of it, i would have sped home right then and there. :)
Phil Eager (67 months ago | reply)
Great shot Dave - I'd read about this sighting (and had seen some photos of it elsewhere).
And thanks for adding it to the Seabirds pool. Undoubtedly the first one in the pool of this species :)
Phil Eager added this photo to his favorites. (67 months ago)
Mark Whittaker (Twit Twoo) (67 months ago | reply)
I really like your Bird photo!
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Dave Appleton (66 months ago | reply)
Incredibly, another one of these turned up in Romania this week. An inland location, further evidence for the now three European records having arrived from the east having travelled overland across the entire continent of Asia. Amazing.
Glisglis (66 months ago | reply)
Fantastic photo! =D
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danaman added this photo to his favorites. (65 months ago)
Henry McLin (65 months ago | reply)
Beautiful shot of this incredible rarity.
Keith@Worldbirds.eu (62 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called The friends of Worldbirds, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
Fabulous shot
schmincy added this photo to their favorites. (46 months ago)
Joaquim Antunes (5 months ago | reply)
Great capture.