Hoopoe: This long staying bird that has taken up residence in a small housing estate just north of York, happily feeding on the manicured lawns has been here for over a week now.
With its pinkish-brown body, distinctive black and white wings, long, black, downcurved bill and a long pinky-brown crest which it raises when it gets excited, the hoopoe is a sight to behold.
They don't breed in the UK, and only about 100 might turn up in the UK each year - normally on the South Coast in spring when they are migrating north from Africa to Europe and offshoot and end up in England. They tend to be solitary birds.
Kris, Gary and I saw the bird last week wen we were passing back from Flamborough, but only saw the bird a few times briefly before the light went. This time we pulled up, jumped out and bingo! The bird was foraging for leatherjackets outside of number one Fox Grove.
Not particularly rare these days, but forever a such a great bird to watch.
