Their huge size makes the Great Bustard instantly identifiable.
Males are twice as big as females and differ in breeding plumage
by having a distinctive moustache and chestnut breast-band.
Juveniles are similar to females but are more buff on the neck
and head and less distinctly barred on the upperparts. Males
acquire full adult plumage between the second and sixth summer.
Non-breeding males lose their 'moustache' and the breast becomes
greyer. This species was once common throughout the south and
East Anglia with breeding populations on the Yorkshire Wolds up
to the 19th century, with the only known egg from this
population collected in 1810. Birds were also found as far north
as Scotland. The last native Great Bustard was shot at Lexham in
Norfolk in May 1838. The first record of a vagrant bird was of
one shot near Oakenhead, Morayshire in 1803.
There has been one Great Bustard from the UK re-introduction
programme reported from S. Gloucestershire; (Not counted on the
S. Glos List!)
2008: (1)
A female (Orange 15) from the UK re-introduction programme was
found on January 10th just inside the S. Glos boundary at ST:
674 699 north of the R. Avon just north of Keynsham. It was
present for three days and was last seen on January 12th; On
January 26th the female (Orange 15) was relocated at Oldbury
Power Station in flooded fields by the yacht club at ST: 601
933. Later it was seen in flight north-east, upriver, over the
power station at 15:20.
