Green Heron
Butorides virescens (Linnaeus, 1758) (1, 7)
Photo © Iain H Leach
STATUS
North and Central America. Polytypic.
OVERVIEW
The first for Britain was not accepted until 1974. Four records in the west and four in eastern counties.
BBRC RECORDS
1). 1889 Cornwall Penrice, St Austell, immature, shot, 27th October, photo, now at Royal Cornwall Museum, Truro.
(M. A. Mathew, Zoologist 1890: 105-106; J. E. Harting, Zoologist 1890: 181-182; Eds., Ibis 1890: 386-387; Saunders, 1899; J. Clark, Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall 17: 131; Clark, 1907; R. Hudson, British Birds 65: 424-427; Penhallurick, 1978: 414, photo p. 404; BOURC (1974), Ibis 116: 578; BOURC (1993), Ibis 135: 220).
2). 1982 Yorkshire Stone Creek, 27th November (possibly since 13th or 14th) to 6th December, photo, seen with a Great White Egret, Ardea alba.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 76: 480, plates 40 & 41; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 77: 510, plate 219; A. G. Ross & P. T. Bell, British Birds 78: 106-107; BOURC (1984), Ibis 126: 442).
3). 1987 Lothian Tyninghame, first-winter, freshly dead, probably killed by fox, 25th October, photo, now at National Museums of Scotland (NMSZ 1988.18.1).
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 81: 542; Scottish Bird Report 1987: photo; P. R. Gordon, Lothian Bird Report 1987: 80; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007: photo).
4). 2001 Lincolnshire Messingham Quarry, 24th September to 2nd October, photo.
(A. Stanworth, Birding World 14 (9): 370-371, plates 1-5; Birding World 14 (12): 498, photo; British Birds 94: plate 316; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 95: 481).
5). 2005 Anglesey Wharf Bay, 7th to 20th November, photo.
(A. Davies, Birding World 18 (11): 458-460, plates 1-4; Birding World 18 (12): 516, photo; British Birds 99: plate 17; P. A. Fraser, M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 100: 27, plate 2).
6). 2008 Kent Royal Military Canal, West Hythe, first-winter, 19th October to 9th November, photo.
(Birding World 21 (10): 399, photos; British Birds 101: plate 385; Birding World 21 (11): 443, photo; Birding World 21 (12): 512, photo; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 102: 542-543, plate 359).
7). 2010 Cornwall Lost Gardens of Heligan, first-winter, 6th October to 1st December, photo.
(Birding World 23 (10): 411, photo; Birding World 23 (11): 456, photo; Birding World 23 (12): 538, photo; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 104: 569, plate 297).
8). 2018 Pembrokeshire Llanmill, 2CY, 28th April to 7th May, photo.
(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 112: 570, plate 312).
