THE BIRDS OF SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE
THE BIRDS OF SOUTH
GLOUCESTERSHIRE
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON – Nycticorax nycticorax
As with all reports of
rare and scarce birds they are subject to ratification by the respective
rarities committees
The scientific name 'nycticorax' means 'night raven' and refers to this species nocturnal habits and harsh crow-like call. They are ranked among the unclean birds, its Hebrew name is 'anaphah' and indicates that the bird so named is remarkable for its angry disposition. Herons are wading birds, peculiarly irritable and remarkable for their voracity. The subspecies N. n. hoactli breeds in North America and winters in Mexico, the southern United States, Central America and the West Indies.
There have been two Black-crowned Night Herons reported from S. Gloucestershire, they are;
1971: (1)
On November 19th at the ICI Chemical Works on Severnside an immature was found inside a building and taken into care. It was ringed and subsequently released at CVLake on November 28th where it remained until December 19th. It was considered by some at the time to have been the North American form: N. n. hoactli. This occurrence constitutes the first record of this species for S. Gloucestershire.
1986: (1)
On May 2nd an adult was seen near the R. Avon in the Keynsham/ Hanham area. It was present until May 5th when it was seen to fly off in the evening in near darkness.