How an alcid from the Pacific Ocean ended up north Kent, at a nature reserve known as Oare Marshes to be exact, might never be known, but birders, to use a regretfully common description, are “flocking” to see the rarity. The finder of the bird, Murray Wright, who of course has now launched a thousand twitches, was twitching himself a bit. His description of finding the bird is as follows: “The ID wasn’t a problem. Panic then ensued, but I managed to take a few record shots, despite shaking uncontrollably. I still am.” The Independent has the story.
Corey is a New Yorker who lived most of his life in upstate New York but has lived in Queens since 2008. He's only been birding since 2005 but has garnered a respectable life list by birding whenever he wasn't working as a union representative or spending time with his family. He lives in Forest Hills with Daisy and Desmond Shearwater. His bird photographs have appeared on the Today Show, in Birding, Living Bird Magazine, Bird Watcher's Digest, and many other fine publications. He is also the author of the American Birding Association Field Guide to the Birds of New York.
Corey, can you believe it??
There I was , last week, strolling along the river Neckar in Heidelberg when all of a sudden, a largish alcid made an appearance. I first thought it was an Atlantic Puffin but soon realized it was a Tufted Puffin!!! Amazing, a first for Germany and only the second European record ever!! Luckily, as I was shaking, I managed a few decent pictures.
Hey, wait a minute, some UK birder stole my pictures and claims them as his own, taken in Kent!! No wonder the Brits can’t relocate it.
Sigh.
I SO wish this was true…