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The Birds Of South Gloucestershire          Hoopoe - upupa epops

 

The song of the Hoopoe is a trisyllabic 'oop-oop-oop' which gives rise to its English and scientific names. The Hoopoe featured in Greek mythology; Once a man, Tereus was transformed into the form of a Hoopoe. Muslims associate the Hoopoe with the Prophet Suleiman (King Solomon) and the Queen of Sheba's visit. In classical Chinese poetry the Hoopoe is depicted as a celestial messenger often bearing news of spring and is generally considered auspicious thanks to its unique beauty.

 

There have been around twenty-two Hoopoes reported from S. Gloucestershire;

 

2011: (2)

One was seen Oldbury Power Station at lunchtime on May 3rd. It was feeding on the track between Lagoons I & II near Reactor I then in flight when inadvertently flushed by walkers; A local newspaper carried an  article reporting one on May 7th in a garden at Robin Way, Chipping Sodbury.

 

 

2010: (2)

One was seen in a private garden on Kington Lane at Thornbury on March 28th; One was reported from a private estate at Iron Acton between July 20th - 29th in an area with no public access.

 

 

Hoopoe at Kington near Oldbury-on-Severn. March 2010. Joy Irwin.

 

It was an amazing experience seeing the Hoopoe in our garden at Kington not far from Oldbury-on-Severn. Our cottage is in a rural area adjoining open farmland. The Hoopoe was sitting very still on a small lawned area just outside our kitchen window. We watched it for a few minutes and managed to take this photo. The flash from the camera made the bird jump and it flew on to the top of the hedge and then flew off over the fields. It was such a privileged to have seen such a fantastic bird. - March 2010 Joy Irwin.

 

2009: (2)

One was seen on a telegraph pole at Woodmead Lane, Doynton at 18:30 on April 22nd around ST: 725 744; One was reported at Lower Morton near Thornbury on April 26th seen on a fence post.

 

2008: (c.3)

At 11:30 on April 11th one was found at Dyrham on Sands Farm (by the farmer) feeding on a manure heap at  ST: 739 749. It was present throughout the afternoon and was last seen at around 17:10 when it flushed to a near by copse and was not seen again by dusk. At 08:30 on April 12th the bird was relocated and was present throughout the day. Still present on April 13th it was last reported at 15:35.

 

One, possibly two were seen independently on Severnside on April 27th. The first was seen in flight leaving sheep fields at Aust Warth, onto the Warth subsequently returning to the sheep fields at 08:15. The same or another was reported 400 metres south of Severn Beach on the track between the sea wall and railway at around 08:45.

 

 

Hoopoe at Sands Farm Dyrham. April 2008. Martyn Hayes.

 

 

Hoopoe at Sands Farm Dyrham. April 2008. Left Paul Bowerman right Rob Laughton.

 

2004: (1)

A single bird was seen in the Yate area and was present from August 18th - 23rd.

 

1998: (1)

One was seen at Little Badminton April 8th - 13th.

 

1994: (1)

On May 20th one was seen near Hallen, it was also seen on June 13th and 14th.

 

1993: (1)

On April 26th one was found at West Littleton and was still present on April 27th.

 

1978: (1)

One was reported in early July at Rangeworthy and watched on a track through a meadow at 8 metres range.

 

1974: (1)

One was present near Thornbury towards the end of April.

 

1959: (2)

On April 14th one was identified at Almondsbury and was seen briefly in flight; On August 26th (probably from August 22nd) one was seen at Winterbourne Park and was present until August 29th, the observer records that a gardener saw it there a week beforehand.

 

1956: (1)

On August 11th at Siston, one was seen on the lawn of Siston Court and was still present on August 12th.

 

1950: (1)

One was noted on April 4th at Woodlands Farm near Doynton. It was present from April 4th - 10th and an accurate description from the gamekeeper confirmed the identification.

 

1949: (1)

On June 5th at Upton Cheney a bird was photographed on the lawn of Upton Cheney House.

 

1889: (1)

One was seen at New Passage sometime around this date.

 

1878: (1)

One was seen near Charfield sometime around this date.

 

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