And yet another PURPLE GALLINULE.....

PURPLE GALLINULE in North Lincolnshire

An adult has been discovered this afternoon at Alkborough Flats NR, 8 miles north of Scunthorpe, showing at 250-300 yards range at the reed edge from the first hide. Use the car park off of Whitton Road DN15 9JG. This record comes very hard on the heels of our first considered genuine Purple Gallinule at Minsmere RSPB Reserve (Suffolk) on 31st July to 4th August and associated with a widespread dispersal from breeding grounds in France due to severe drought.

Severe drought in southern France forces PURPLE GALLINULES to disperse north....

A severe drought this summer has seen an exceptional number of PURPLE GALLINULES in southern France having to move, particularly in the Languedoc Region. As a result, a minimum of 7 individuals has been displaced much farther north than normal, including one just south of the Brittany peninsular at Morbihan since 20th July. Nine days later, in coastal Suffolk at Minsmere RSPB, an adult made its way as far north as East Anglia, showing well on the reed-fringed pool behind South Hide until 1st August at least. This represents the first 'considered wild' Purple Gallinule for the British Isles, following some 5 or so records of previous likely escapes (and many records of the closely related Grey-headed Swamphen). The bird has been feeding naturally on the pool, spending most of the day feeding on reedmace. By dusk on Monday 1st August, no fewer than 1,000 birdwatchers had flocked to the site.