29/04/2018 Green Heron - a "lifer"! 200 up!

Sunday 29th April 2018
Llanmill,  nr Narberth, Pembrokeshire, Wales

I am very proud of my time management today.  After walking the dogs then shopping with Sue, I set off after lunch on a long drive down to Narberth in Pembrokeshire to twitch the Green Heron, a rare American vagrant to the UK, arriving back home by 10.45 p.m.

courtesy of Arfon Williams  and twitter

• When I arrived, at 5.30 p.m., there were about 20 birders already watching the bird.  It was showing well in the reeds by a small pond.  Alas it was stationary by the time I got my scope on it and over the next 30 minutes or so it stayed put!  I was so involved with the Green Heron that I missed the Dipper that flew overhead.
  

We owe everything to Simon Hart who owns the land and opened it up to birders to enjoy.  Here is how he announced the arrival of the Green Heron on Twitter.

"And now for something completely different! Completely amazed to welcome a Green Heron to west Wales. As a resident of Costa Rica and the US only 5 have ever been seen in UK and one turns up in my garden. Birders from all over UK heading my way..@exitthelemming"

Simon Hart MP

• Simon Hart Conservative MP, the finder.

• Simon is happy for people to view the bird but parking could be a problem. Llanmill is tiny and there is very limited parking along the road there. However Narberth Crematorium is only 15 minutes walk away from the village and it will not be used tomorrow, sunday. There is plenty of parking there.

• Many Thanks to Simon and Abigail Hart, Kevin Phelps and Dave for getting the news out. 

• Green herons usually live on the other side of the Atlantic, being widespread across their native countries of the United States and southern Canada.

This was my 4th "lifer" this year as well as being my 200th bird for my year list.