Flamingo sp.
Phoenicopterus sp.
Photo © By Benjamin Smith from United States - American aka Caribbean Pink Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber), CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=47794824
NOT PROVEN
0). 1909 East Glamorgan Kenfig, seen, mid-January.
(M. A. Wright, Field 30th Jan., 1909: 198; M. A. Wright, Field 6th Feb., 1909: 243).
[M. A. Wright, Field 30th Jan., 1909: 198].
History M. A. Wright of Cardiff (1909) in The Field of 30th Jan., Vol. CXIII. p. 198, says: 'On Dec. 26 last, a Flamingo escaped from the grounds of Cardiff Castle. A reward was offered for the recapture of the bird, which was the property of the Marquis of Bute, but without success, and nothing was heard of it for nearly three weeks. Some days ago, however, residents of Porthcawl saw a strange bird feeding on the sands at Kenfig, on the Glamorganshire coast, and the description given leaves no room for doubt that it was the missing Flamingo.'
M. A. Wright of Cardiff (1909) in The Field of 6th Feb., Vol. CXIII. p. 243, says: 'The Flamingo belonging to the Marquis of Bute which escaped from Cardiff Castle about six weeks ago, and which was last reported as seen on the sands near Porthcawl, has since been shot. The bird was one of a pair which Lord Bute placed in the moat at the castle. Its mate also came to an untimely end, having been killed, strange to say, by a Swan.'
Comment Known escape.
0). 1909 Essex Bradwell-on-Sea, shot, September.
(Glegg, 1929; Wood, 2007).
History Glegg (1929) states that one was said to have been shot in September 1909 at Bradwell.
0). 1910 Essex Near Tollesbury, May.
(Glegg, 1929; Wood, 2007).
History Glegg (1929) states that one was reported to have been seen in May 1910 on the Blackwater, near Tollesbury.
0). 1911 Nottinghamshire River Trent, near Gainsborough, shot, mid-November.
(H. H. Wardle, Field 18th Nov., 1911: 1129).
History H. H. Wardle of Egremont, Cheshire (1911) in The Field of 18th Nov., Vol. CXIV. p. 1129, says: 'It is reported in a Sheffield paper of the 18th inst. that a Flamingo, standing 5 ft. in height and having an expanse of wing 5 ft. 6 in., was shot a few days previously on the Nottinghamshire side of the Trent, about three miles from Gainsborough, and has been forwarded for preservation to a taxidermist at Lincoln. It is not unlikely, therefore, that this may be the bird mentioned in last weeks Field as having been lost by Colonel Hopton.'
Comment Colonel Hopton's escaped specimen was from Ledbury, Herefordshire.
). 1913 Essex Bridgemarsh Island, Crouch Estuary, shot, 23rd September.
(Ed., Zoologist 1913: 439; Glegg, 1929; Wood, 2007).
History In an Editorial (1913) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. XVII. p. 439, quoting from The Essex Weekly News of 26th Sep., 1913, he says: 'Mr. James Parker, of Burnham, shot a Flamingo on the evening of Sept. 23rd. The bird, which is a splendid specimen of its species, measures 5 ft. 8 in. across the outstretched wings. When shot it was swimming on the Crouch off Bridgemarsh Island.'
0). 1917 Norfolk Salthouse, seen, 4th to 26th July; same, Breydon, seen, late July.
(J. H. Gurney, jun., British Birds 11: 255; Pashley, 1925).
History J. H. Gurney, jun., of Norwich (1918) in British Birds, Vol. XI. pp. 253-254, recording it in square brackets, says: 'Between July 4th and 25th a Flamingo was seen at Salthouse by various persons; it then changed its quarters to Breydon Broad, where I tried unsuccessfully to got a view of it. It was possibly the South American Flamingo, of the escape of which Mr. Witherby was informed earlier in the year.'
Pashley (1925) says: '1917. July. A Flamingo has been on the Salthouse marshes. It was first seen on the 4th, and then every day up to the 23rd. (It was seen again, or another, during the first week in August). Soldiers stationed on the beach saw it daily up to Saturday, July 21st, also again on the 26th. Mr. J. H. Gurney wrote me to say it was in Breydon on Saturday 21st.'
Further, under 'List of Cley Birds', he adds: 'One seen on Salthouse marshes July 4th-26th, 1917.'
0). 1917 Norfolk/Suffolk Breydon, seen, 21st July; same as Norfolk.
(Pashley, 1925; Piotrowski, 2003).
History Pashley (1925) says: '1917. July. A Flamingo has been on the Salthouse marshes....Mr. J. H. Gurney wrote me to say it was in Breydon on Saturday 21st.' Further, under 'List of Cley Birds', he adds: '...while on July 27th and 28th it was observed on Breydon.'
0). 1931 Kent Higham Bight, seen, April to June.
(Gillham & Homes, 1950).
History Gillham & Homes (1950) state that one was present for a period of six weeks during April to June 1931, during which time G. J. Scholey photographed it as well as being seen by a number of observers.
0). 1931 Kent Shellness, Sheppey, two, seen, early June.
(H. Idle, Country Life 25th June 1931: 107; P. Fraser, Country Life 27th June 1931: 821; Gillham & Homes, 1950).
History H. Idle (1931) in Country Life, 25th June, Vol. LXX. p. 107, says: 'Your correspondent, Geo. J. Scholey, has interested us in his letter of May 30th which you publish. We also have seen the Flamingo recently in Kent. In Whit. Week we were staying at Shellness, Isle of Sheppey, and on two occasions saw a Flamingo - in fact, two, one just like the photograph you print. One time it was standing in a few inches of water, at another on a sandbank, while the companion was flying near. At our approach - say within 50 yds. - it spread itself out in a straight line and flew away seawards - Whitstable way. They certainly seem very much at home. The conditions at Shellness are similar to those stated by Mr. Scholey - sea holly, low water, and plenitude of clam shells.'
Peter Fraser (1931) in Country Life, 27th June Vol. LXIX. p. 821, says: 'I frequently sail over to Sheppey from Whitstable, and I saw the Flamingo on two occasions - about the middle of June and again a week later. He was wading in a muddy lagoon about 250 yds. from Shellness Point in the company of numerous Oystercatchers, Redshanks and various other waterfowl. Now and again he would walk a pace or two, giving vent to a hoarse "ar-r-r-k aa-r-k" when I approached within 100 yds. I have since sailed across to see him, but on account of bad weather I have been unable to land. Anyhow, I hope to see him again, and a murrain on the vile persons who hunt him with shot-guns.'
0). 1941 Devon Exe Estuary, seen, 4th April; same, 13th ad 14th April.
(F. C. Butters, E. W. Hendy, R. W. Howell & H. G. Hurrell, Devon Bird-Watching and Preservation Society Report 1941: 17).
[F. C. Butters, E. W. Hendy, R. W. Howell & H. G. Hurrell, Devon Bird-Watching and Preservation Society Report 1941: 17].
History F. C. Butters, E. W. Hendy, R. W. Howell & H. G. Hurrell (1941) in the Devon Bird-Watching and Preservation Society Report, Vol. XIV. p. 17 say: 'Known escape from Major Dorrien Smith's collection on Scilly.'
0). 1953 Suffolk Blythburgh, 5th to 12th April.
(P. R. Westall, Suffolk Bird Report 1953: 201).
History P. R. Westall (1953) in the Suffolk Bird Report, p. 201, recording the record in square brackets, says: 'One at Blythburgh, 5th - 12th April, seen by many observers, was almost certainly an escape.
0). 1955 Lothian Cramond Island, Firth of Forth, 7th September.
(Anon., Edinburgh Bird Bulletin 6: 33; E. V. Baxter, Scottish Naturalist 69: 171).
History E. V. Baxter (1956) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. LVIX. p. 171, under 'Review of Ornithological Changes in Scotland in 1956', recording the record in square brackets, says: 'A flamingo said to be a Chilean bird was seen at Cramond on 7th September 1955 (Edin. Bird Bull., 6: 33)...Both probably escapes.'
0). 1955 Upper Forth Loch ma Haik, Stirlingshire, early September.
(Scottish Field, February 1956; E. V. Baxter, Scottish Naturalist 69: 171).
History E. V. Baxter (1956) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. LVIX. p. 171, under 'Review of Ornithological Changes in Scotland in 1956', recording the record in square brackets, says: 'A flamingo...reputed to be an African bird was seen at Loch ma Haik in early September 1955 (Scottish Field, February 1956). Both probably escapes.'
